Chapter 9

           CaptainWentworthwascometoKellynchastoahome,tostayaslongasheliked,beingasthoroughlytheobjectoftheAdmiral’sfraternalkindnessasofhiswife’s.Hehadintended,onfirstarriving,toproceedverysoonintoShropshire,andvisitthebrothersettledinthatcountry,buttheattractionsofUppercrossinducedhimtoputthisoff.Therewassomuchoffriendliness,andofflattery,andofeverythingmostbewitchinginhisreceptionthere;theoldweresohospitable,theyoungsoagreeable,thathecouldnotbutresolvetoremainwherehewas,andtakeallthecharmsandperfectionsofEdward’swifeuponcreditalittlelonger.

           ItwassoonUppercrosswithhimalmosteveryday.TheMusgrovescouldhardlybemorereadytoinvitethanhetocome,particularlyinthemorning,whenhehadnocompanionathome,fortheAdmiralandMrsCroftweregenerallyoutofdoorstogether,interestingthemselvesintheirnewpossessions,theirgrass,andtheirsheep,anddawdlingaboutinawaynotendurabletoathirdperson,ordrivingoutinagig,latelyaddedtotheirestablishment.

           HithertotherehadbeenbutoneopinionofCaptainWentworthamongtheMusgrovesandtheirdependencies.Itwasunvarying,warmadmirationeverywhere;butthisintimatefootingwasnotmorethanestablished,whenacertainCharlesHayterreturnedamongthem,tobeagooddealdisturbedbyit,andtothinkCaptainWentworthverymuchintheway.