(End of volume one.)
The remainder of Anne’s time at Uppercross,
comprehending only two days, was spent entirely at
the Mansion House; and she had the satisfaction of
knowing herself extremely useful there, both as an
immediate companion, and as assisting in all those
arrangements for the future, which, in Mr and Mrs
Musgrove’s distressed state of spirits, would
have been difficulties.
They had an early account from Lyme the next morning.
Louisa was much the same. No symptoms worse
than before had appeared. Charles came a few
hours afterwards, to bring a later and more particular
account. He was tolerably cheerful. A speedy
cure must not be hoped, but everything was going on
as well as the nature of the case admitted.
In speaking of the Harvilles, he seemed unable to
satisfy his own sense of their kindness, especially
of Mrs Harville’s exertions as a nurse.
“She really left nothing for Mary to do.
He and Mary had been persuaded to go early to their
inn last night. Mary had been hysterical again
this morning. When he came away, she was going
to walk out with Captain Benwick, which, he hoped,
would do her good. He almost wished she had been
prevailed on to come home the day before; but the truth
was, that Mrs Harville left nothing for anybody to
do.”
Charles was to return to Lyme the same afternoon,
and his father had at first half a mind to go with
him, but the ladies could not consent. It would
be going only to multiply trouble to the others, and
increase his own distress; and a much better scheme
followed and was acted upon. A chaise was sent
for from Crewkherne, and Charles conveyed back a far
more useful person in the old nursery-maid of the
family, one who having brought up all the children,
and seen the very last, the lingering and long-petted
Master Harry, sent to school after his brothers, was
now living in her deserted nursery to mend stockings
and dress all the blains and bruises she could get
near her, and who, consequently, was only too happy
in being allowed to go and help nurse dear Miss Louisa.
Vague wishes of getting Sarah thither, had occurred
before to Mrs Musgrove and Henrietta; but without
Anne, it would hardly have been resolved on, and found
practicable so soon.
They were indebted, the next day, to Charles Hayter,
for all the minute knowledge of Louisa, which it was
so essential to obtain every twenty-four hours.
He made it his business to go to Lyme, and his account
was still encouraging. The intervals of sense
and consciousness were believed to be stronger.
Every report agreed in Captain Wentworth’s
appearing fixed in Lyme.
