Chapter 14

           ThoughCharlesandMaryhadremainedatLymemuchlongerafterMrandMrsMusgrove’sgoingthanAnneconceivedtheycouldhavebeenatallwanted,theywereyetthefirstofthefamilytobeathomeagain;andassoonaspossibleaftertheirreturntoUppercrosstheydroveovertotheLodge.TheyhadleftLouisabeginningtositup;butherhead,thoughclear,wasexceedinglyweak,andhernervessusceptibletothehighestextremeoftenderness;andthoughshemightbepronouncedtobealtogetherdoingverywell,itwasstillimpossibletosaywhenshemightbeabletobeartheremovalhome;andherfatherandmother,whomustreturnintimetoreceivetheiryoungerchildrenfortheChristmasholidays,hadhardlyahopeofbeingallowedtobringherwiththem.

           Theyhadbeenallinlodgingstogether.MrsMusgrovehadgotMrsHarville’schildrenawayasmuchasshecould,everypossiblesupplyfromUppercrosshadbeenfurnished,tolightentheinconveniencetotheHarvilles,whiletheHarvilleshadbeenwantingthemtocometodinnereveryday;andinshort,itseemedtohavebeenonlyastruggleoneachsideastowhichshouldbemostdisinterestedandhospitable.

           Maryhadhadherevils;butuponthewhole,aswasevidentbyherstayingsolong,shehadfoundmoretoenjoythantosuffer.