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poring over his book； and not know when a person speaks to him；
or when one drops one’s scissors； or anything that happens。 Do
you think Lady Russell would like that？”
Lady Russell could not help laughing。 “Upon my word；” said
she； “I should not have supposed that my opinion of any one could
have admitted of such difference of conjecture； steady and matter
of fact as I may call myself。 I have really a curiosity to see the
person who can give occasion to such directly opposite notions。 I
wish he may be induced to call here。 And when he does； Mary； you
may depend upon hearing my opinion； but I am determined not to
judge him beforehand。”
“You will not like him； I will answer for it。”
Lady Russell began talking of something else。 Mary spoke with
animation of their meeting with； or rather missing； Mr。 Elliot so
extraordinarily。
“He is a man；” said Lady Russell； “whom I have no wish to see。
His declining to be on cordial terms with the head of his family；
has left a very strong impression in his disfavour with me。”
This decision checked Mary’s eagerness； and stopped her short
in the midst of the Elliot countenance。
With regard to Captain Wentworth； though Anne hazarded no
enquiries； there was voluntary communication sufficient。 His
spirits had been greatly recovering lately as might be expected。 As
Louisa improved； he had improved； and he was now quite a
different creature from what he had been the first week。 He had
not seen Louisa； and was so extremely fearful of any ill
consequence to her from an interview； that he did not press for it
at all； and； on the contrary； seemed to have a plan of going away
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for a week or ten days； till her head was stronger。 He had talked of
going down to Plymouth for a week； and wanted to persuade
Captain Benwick to go with him； but； as Charles maintained to the
last； Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to
Kellynch。
There can be no doubt that Lady Russell and Anne were both
occasionally thinking of Captain Benwick； from this time。 Lady
Russell could not hear the door…bell without feeling that it might
be his herald； nor could Anne return from any stroll of solitary
indulgence in her father’s grounds； or any visit of charity in the
village； without wondering whether she might see him or hear of
him。 Captain Benwick came not； however。 He was either less
disposed for it than Charles had imagined； or he was too shy； and
after giving him a week’s indulgence； Lady Russell determined
him to be unworthy of the interest which he had been beginning to
excite。
The Musgroves came back to receive their happy boys and girls
from school； bringing with them Mrs。 Harville’s little children； to
improve the noise of Uppercross； and lessen that of Lyme。
Henrietta remained with Louisa； but all the rest of the family were
again in their usual quarters。
Lady Russell and Anne paid their compliments to them once；
when Anne could not but feel that Uppercross was already quite
alive again。 Though neither Henrietta； nor Louisa； nor Charles
Hayter； nor Captain Wentworth were there； the room presented as
strong a contrast as could be wished to the last state she had seen
it in。
Immediately surrounding Mrs。 Musgrove were the little
Harvilles； whom she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of
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the two children from the Cottage； expressly arrived to amuse
them。 On one side was a table occupied by some chattering girls；
cutting up silk and gold paper； and on the other were tressels and
trays； bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies； where
riotous boys were holding high revel； the whole completed by a
roaring Christmas fire； which seemed determined to be heard； in
spite of all the noise of the others。 Charles and Mary also came in；
of course； during their visit； and Mr。 Musgrove made a point of
paying his respects to Lady Russell； and sat down close to her for
ten minutes； talking with a very raised voice； but from the clamour
of the children on his knees； generally in vain。 It was a fine family…
piece。
Anne； judging from her own temperament； would have deemed
such a domestic hurricane a bad restorative of the nerves； which
Louisa’s illness must have so greatly shaken。 But Mrs。 Musgrove；
who got Anne near her on purpose to thank her most cordially；
again and again； for all her attentions to them； concluded a short
recapitulation of what she had suffered herself by observing； with
a happy glance round the room； that after all she had gone
through； nothing was so likely to do her good as a little quiet
cheerfulness at home。
Louisa was now recovering apace。 Her mother could even think
of her being able to join their party at home； before her brothers
and sisters went to school again。 The Harvilles had promised to
come with her and stay at Uppercross； whenever she returned。
Captain Wentworth was gone； for the present； to see his brother in
Shropshire。
“I hope I shall remember； in future；” said Lady Russell； as soon
as they were reseated in the carriage； “not to call at Uppercross in
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the Christmas holidays。”
Every body has their taste in noises as well as in other matters；
and sounds are quite innoxious； or most distressing； by their sort
rather than their quantity。 When Lady Russell； not long
afterwards； was entering Bath on a wet afternoon； and driving
through the long course of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden…
place； amidst the dash of other carriages； the heavy rumble of
carts and drays； the bawling of newspapermen； muffin…men and
milk…men； and the ceasel