Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable;in sense and temper he was undoubtedly superior to his wife,but not of powers, or conversation, or grace,to make the past, as they were connected together,at all a dangerous contemplation; though,at the same time, Anne could believe,with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved him;and that a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits. As it was, he did nothing with much zeal, but sport; and his time was otherwise trifled away, without benefit from books or anything else. He had very good spirits, which never seemed much affected by his wife’s occasional lowness, bore with her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne’s admiration, and upon the whole, though there was very often a little disagreement (in which she had sometimes more share than she wished, being appealed to by both parties), they might pass for a happy couple. They were always perfectly agreed in the want of more money, and a strong inclination for a handsome present from his father; but here, as on most topics, he had the superiority, for while Mary thought it a great shame that such a present was not made, he always contended for his father’s having many other uses for his money, and a right to spend it as he liked.
As to the management of their children,his theory was much better than his wife’s,and his practice not so bad.“I could manage them very well,if it were not for Mary’s interference,” was what Anne often heard him say,and had a good deal of faith in;but when listening in turn to Mary’s reproach of “Charles spoils the children so that I cannot get them into any order,” she never had the smallest temptation to say, “Very true.”
One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house. Known to have some influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at least receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable. “I wish you could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill,” was Charles’s language; and, in an unhappy mood, thus spoke Mary: “I do believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might persuade him that I really am very ill—a great deal worse than I ever own.”
Mary’s declaration was,“I hate sending the children to the Great House,though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them,for she humours and indulges them to such a degree,and gives them so much trash and sweet things,that they are sure to come back sick and cross for the rest of the day.” And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity of being alone with Anne, to say, “Oh!Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing Mrs Charles had a little of your method with those children. They are quite different creatures with you!But to be sure, in general they are so spoilt!It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of managing them.They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen, poor little dears!without partiality; but Mrs Charles knows no more how they should be treated—!Bless me!how troublesome they are sometimes. I assure you,Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is very bad to have children with one that one is obligated to be checking every moment; “don’t do this,” and “don’t do that;” or that one can only keep in tolerable order by more cake than is good for them.”
She had this communication, moreover, from Mary.“Mrs Musgrove thinks all her servants so steady,that it would be high treason to call it in question;but I am sure, without exaggeration,that her upper house-maid and laundry-maid,instead of being in their business,are gadding about the village, all day long.I meet them wherever I go; and I declare,I never go twice into my nursery without seeing something of them.If Jemima were not the trustiest,steadiest creature in the world,it would be enough to spoil her; for she tells me,they are always tempting her to take a walk with them.” And on Mrs Musgrove’s side, it was,“I make a rule of never interfering in any of my daughter-in-law’s concerns,for I know it would not do; but I shall tell _you_,Miss Anne, because you may be able to set things to rights,that I have no very good opinion of Mrs Charles’s nursery-maid:I hear strange stories of her;she is always upon the gad; and from my own knowledge,I can declare, she is such a fine-dressing lady,that she is enough to ruin any servants she comes near.Mrs Charles quite swears by her, I know;but I just give you this hint,that you may be upon the watch; because,if you see anything amiss,you need not be afraid of mentioning it.”
Again, it was Mary’s complaint,that Mrs Musgrove was very apt not to give her the precedence that was her due,when they dined at the Great House with other families;and she did not see any reason why she was to be considered so much at home as to lose her place. And one day when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, “I have no scruple of observing to _you_, how nonsensical some persons are about their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma. Nobody doubts her right to have precedence of mamma, but it would be more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it. It is not that mamma cares about it the least in the world, but I know it is taken notice of by many persons.”
How was Anne to set all these matters to rights?She could do little more than listen patiently,soften every grievance, and excuse each to the other;give them all hints of the forbearance necessary between such near neighbours,and make those hints broadest which were meant for her sister’s benefit.
In all other respects,her visit began and proceeded very well.Her own spirits improved by change of place and subject,by being removed three miles from Kellynch;Mary’s ailments lessened by having a constant companion,and their daily intercourse with the other family,since there was neither superior affection, confidence,nor employment in the cottage, to be interrupted by it,was rather an advantage.It was certainly carried nearly as far as possible,for they met every morning,and hardly ever spent an evening asunder;but she believed they should not have done so well without the sight of Mr and Mrs Musgrove’s respectable forms in the usual places, or without the talking, laughing, and singing of their daughters.
She played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves,but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp,and no fond parents,to sit by and fancy themselves delighted,her performance was little thought of,only out of civility, or to refresh the others,as she was well aware.She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to herself;but this was no new sensation.Excepting one short period of her life, she had never,since the age of fourteen,never since the loss of her dear mother,known the happiness of being listened to,or encouraged by any just appreciation or real taste.In music she had been always used to feel alone in the world;and Mr and Mrs Musgrove’s fond partiality for their own daughters’ performance,and total indifference to any other person’s,gave her much more pleasure for their sakes,than mortification for her own.