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but the only two grown up； excepting Charles； were Henrietta and
Louisa； young ladies of nineteen and twenty； who had brought
from school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments； and
were now like thousands of other young ladies； living to be
fashionable； happy； and merry。 Their dress had every advantage；
their faces were rather pretty； their spirits extremely good； their
manner unembarrassed and pleasant； they were of consequence
at home； and favourites abroad。 Anne always contemplated them
as some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance； but still；
saved as we all are； by some comfortable feeling of superiority
from wishing for the possibility of exchange； she would not have
given up her own more elegant and cultivated mind for all their
enjoyments； and envied them nothing but that seemingly perfect
good understanding and agreement together； that good…humoured
mutual affection； of which she had known so little herself with
either of her sisters。
They were received with great cordiality。 Nothing seemed
amiss on the side of the Great House family； which was generally；
as Anne very well knew； the least to blame。 The half hour was
chatted away pleasantly enough； and she was not at all surprised
at the end of it； to have their walking party joined by both the Miss
Musgroves； at Mary’s particular invitation。
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CHAPTER VI
nne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross； to learn that
Aa removal from one set of people to another； though at a
distance of only three miles； will often include a total
change of conversation； opinion； and idea。 She had never been
staying there before； without being struck by it； or without wishing
that other Elliots could have her advantage in seeing how
unknown； or unconsidered there； were the affairs which at
Kellynch Hall were treated as of such general publicity and
pervading interest； yet； with all this experience； she believed she
must now submit to feel that another lesson； in the art of knowing
our own nothingness beyond our own circle； was become
necessary for her；—for certainly； coming as she did； with a heart
full of the subject which had been completely occupying both
houses in Kellynch for many weeks； she had expected rather more
curiosity and sympathy than she found in the separate but very
similar remark of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove—“So； Miss Anne； Sir
Walter and your sister are gone； and what part of Bath do you
think they will settle in？” and this； without much waiting for an
answer；—or in the young ladies’ addition of； “I hope we shall be in
Bath in the winter； but remember； papa； if we do go； we must be
in a good situation： none of your Queen…squares for us！” or in the
anxious supplement from Mary； of “Upon my word； I shall be
pretty well off； when you are all gone away to be happy at Bath！”
She could only resolve to avoid such self…delusion in future； and
think with heightened gratitude of the extraordinary blessing of
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having one such truly sympathising friend as Lady Russell。
The Mr。 Musgroves had their own game to guard； and to
destroy； their own horses； dogs； and newspapers to engage them；
and the females were fully occupied in all the other common
subjects of housekeeping； neighbours； dress； dancing； and music。
She acknowledged it to be very fitting； that every little social
commonwealth should dictate its own matters of discourse； and
hoped； ere long； to become a not unworthy member of the one she
was now transplanted into。—With the prospect of spending at
least two months at Uppercross； it was highly incumbent on her to
clothe her imagination； her memory； and all her ideas in as much
of Uppercross as possible。
She had no dread of these two months。 Mary was not so
repulsive and unsisterly as Elizabeth； nor so inaccessible to all
influence of hers； neither was there anything among the other
component parts of the cottage inimical to comfort。—She was
always on friendly terms with her brother…in…law； and in the
children； who loved her nearly as well； and respected her a great
deal more than their mother； she had an object of interest；
amusement； and wholesome exertion。
Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable； in sense and temper
he was undoubtedly superior to his wife； but not of powers； or
conversation； or grace； to make the past； as they were connected
together； at all a dangerous contemplation； though； at the same
time； Anne could believe； with Lady Russell； that a more equal
match might have greatly improved him； and that a woman of real
understanding might have given more consequence to his
character； and more usefulness； rationality； and elegance to his
habits and pursuits。 As it was； he did nothing with much zeal； but
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sport； and his time was otherwise trifled away； without benefit
from books or anything else。 He had very good spirits； which never
seemed much affected by his wife’s occasional lowness； bore with
her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne’s admiration； and upon
the whole； though there was very often a little disagreement （in
which she had sometimes more share than she wished； being
appealed to by both parties）； they might pass for a happy couple。
They were always perfectly agreed in the want of more money；
and a strong inclination for a handsome present from his