Chapter 11

           ThetimenowapproachedforLadyRussell’sreturn:thedaywasevenfixed;andAnne,beingengagedtojoinherassoonasshewasresettled,waslookingforwardtoanearlyremovaltoKellynch,andbeginningtothinkhowherowncomfortwaslikelytobeaffectedbyit.

           ItwouldplaceherinthesamevillagewithCaptainWentworth,withinhalfamileofhim;theywouldhavetofrequentthesamechurch,andtheremustbeintercoursebetweenthetwofamilies.Thiswasagainsther;butontheotherhand,hespentsomuchofhistimeatUppercross,thatinremovingthenceshemightbeconsideredratherasleavinghimbehind,thanasgoingtowardshim;and,uponthewhole,shebelievedshemust,onthisinterestingquestion,bethegainer,almostascertainlyasinherchangeofdomesticsociety,inleavingpoorMaryforLadyRussell.

           ShewisheditmightbepossibleforhertoavoideverseeingCaptainWentworthattheHall:thoseroomshadwitnessedformermeetingswhichwouldbebroughttoopainfullybeforeher;butshewasyetmoreanxiousforthepossibilityofLadyRussellandCaptainWentworthnevermeetinganywhere.Theydidnotlikeeachother,andnorenewalofacquaintancenowcoulddoanygood;andwereLadyRusselltoseethemtogether,shemightthinkthathehadtoomuchself-possession,andshetoolittle.

           ThesepointsformedherchiefsolicitudeinanticipatingherremovalfromUppercross,whereshefeltshehadbeenstationedquitelongenough.