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Captain Harville。 True； upon my honour！ Are not you astonished？
I shall be surprised at least if you ever received a hint of it； for I
never did。 Mrs。 Musgrove protests solemnly that she knew nothing
of the matter。 We are all very well pleased； however； for though it
is not equal to her marrying Captain Wentworth； it is infinitely
better than Charles Hayter； and Mr。 Musgrove has written his
consent； and Captain Benwick is expected to…day。 Mrs。 Harville
says her husband feels a good deal on his poor sister’s account；
but； however； Louisa is a great favourite with both。 Indeed； Mrs。
Harville and I quite agree that we love her the better for having
nursed her。 Charles wonders what Captain Wentworth will say；
but if you remember； I never thought him attached to Louisa； I
never could see anything of it。 And this is the end； you see； of
Captain Benwick’s being supposed to be an admirer of yours。 How
Charles could take such a thing into his head was always
incomprehensible to me。 I hope he will be more agreeable now。
Certainly not a great match for Louisa Musgrove； but a million
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times better than marrying among the Hayters。”
Mary need not have feared her sister’s being in any degree
prepared for the news。 She had never in her life been more
astonished。 Captain Benwick and Louisa Musgrove！ It was almost
too wonderful for belief； and it was with the greatest effort that she
could remain in the room； preserve an air of calmness； and answer
the common questions of the moment。 Happily for her； they were
not many。 Sir Walter wanted to know whether the Crofts travelled
with four horses； and whether they were likely to be situated in
such a part of Bath as it might suit Miss Elliot and himself to visit
in； but had little curiosity beyond。
“How is Mary？” said Elizabeth； and without waiting for an
answer； “And pray what brings the Crofts to Bath？”
“They come on the Admiral’s account。 He is thought to be
gouty。”
“Gout and decrepitude！” said Sir Walter。 “Poor old gentleman。”
“Have they any acquaintance here？” asked Elizabeth。
“I do not know； but I can hardly suppose that； at Admiral
Croft’s time of life； and in his profession； he should not have many
acquaintance in such a place as this。”
“I suspect；” said Sir Walter coolly； “that Admiral Croft will be
best known in Bath as the renter of Kellynch Hall。 Elizabeth； may
we venture to present him and his wife in Laura…place？”
“Oh； no！ I think not。 Situated as we are with Lady Dalrymple；
cousins； we ought to be very careful not to embarrass her with
acquaintance she might not approve。 If we were not related； it
would not signify； but as cousins； she would feel scrupulous as to
any proposal of ours。 We had better leave the Crofts to find their
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own level。 There are several odd…looking men walking about here；
who； I am told； are sailors。 The Crofts will associate with them。”
This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth’s share of interest in the
letter； when Mrs。 Clay had paid her tribute of more decent
attention； in an enquiry after Mrs。 Charles Musgrove； and her fine
little boys； Anne was at liberty。
In her own room； she tried to comprehend it。 Well might
Charles wonder how Captain Wentworth would feel！ Perhaps he
had quitted the field； had given Louisa up； had ceased to love； had
found he did not love her。 She could not endure the idea of
treachery or levity； or anything akin to ill…usage between him and
his friend。 She could not endure that such a friendship as theirs
should be severed unfairly。
Captain Benwick and Louisa Musgrove！ The high…spirited；
joyous…talking Louisa Musgrove； and the dejected； thinking；
feeling； reading； Captain Benwick； seemed each of them
everything that would not suit the other。 Their minds most
dissimilar！ Where could have been the attraction？ The answer
soon presented itself。 It had been in situation。 They had been
thrown together several weeks； they had been living in the same
small family party； since Henrietta’s coming away； they must have
been depending almost entirely on each other； and Louisa； just
recovering from illness； had been in an interesting state； and
Captain Benwick was not inconsolable。 That was a point which
Anne had not been able to avoid suspecting before； and instead of
drawing the same conclusion as Mary； from the present course of
events； they served only to confirm the idea of his having felt some
dawning of tenderness toward herself。 She did not mean； however；
to derive much more from it to gratify her vanity； than Mary might
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have allowed。 She was persuaded that any tolerably pleasing
young woman who had listened and seemed to feel for him would
have received the same compliment。 He had an affectionate heart。
He must love somebody。
She saw no reason against their being happy。 Louisa had fine
naval fervour to begin with； and they would soon grow more alike。
He would gain cheerfulness； and she would learn to be an
enthusiast for Scott and Lord Byron； nay； that was probably learnt
already； of course they had fallen in love over poetry。 The idea of
Louisa Musgrove turned into a person of literary taste； and
sentimental reflection was amusing； but she had no doubt of its
being so。 The day at Lyme； the fall from the Cobb； might influence
her health； her nerves； her courage； her character to the end of her
life； as thoroughly as it appeared to have influenced her fate。