Chapter 10

"It is the worst evil of too yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be depended on. You are never sure of a good impression being durable; everybody may sway it. Let those who would be happy be firm."

Louisa walked with Captain Wentworth, listening intently to his words. With Henrietta likely to be engaged to Charles Hayter soon, Louisa hoped to receive her own offer of marriage as well. Her mother had married at 18, Mary married her brother at 19, and Henrietta was 20. Louisa was 19 and therefore most anxious to settle down before it was too late.

She felt herself in high luck. A single man in possession of a good fortune had come into her neighborhood, and he was everything a young man ought to be: sensible, good-humoured, charming, and handsome. Captain Wentworth appeared to like her, though he was not nearly as attentive as Charles Hayter had been towards Henrietta, and she had not yet received words of interest or serious warmth from him. He seemed more willing to accept her attentions than to give his own, and she worried that he may never do more than like her, if she did not help him on.

Let those who would be happy be firm.

Louisa certainly wanted to be happy. She looked at their surroundings and saw a stile nearby; here was an opportunity to show the Captain just how firm her mind was, and what a lively, playful disposition she would bring to his life. She walked over to the stile and climbed to the top step.

"Catch me, Captain Wentworth!"

Captain Wentworth smiled slightly and obliged, jumping her down.

"That was delightful! I must go again."

"Miss Musgrove, we should head back to the others."

But Louisa was not done with her exhibition. She climbed back up to the top of the stile, smiled at him and said, "I am determined I will. It is only four steps. If you will not catch me, I will jump down by myself." He decided to help her and put out his hands, but in her eagerness, she was too precipitate by half a second. She landed on the ground and screamed in agony.

Anne, who sat near enough to catch the whole of the conversation, was upon them in an instant. "She was jumping from the stile. I think she has hurt her ankle," Captain Wentworth said.

Anne knelt down and gently felt around Louisa's ankle. In another minute, they were joined by Mary who had heard Louisa's scream, along with Charles, Henrietta, and Charles Hayter who had returned from Winthrop.

"I believe she has a sprain," Anne said. "We should get her seated comfortably indoors and send for the apothecary."

Charles Hayter, in high spirits from just being reunited with Henrietta, was eager to help. "Charles and I will carry her to Winthrop."

Louisa's countenance showed her distress. To be taken to Winthrop, away from Captain Wentworth! It was not to be borne. She had help in her cause from Mary.

"She cannot stay at Winthrop," cried Mary, who did not want the connection with the Hayters strengthened any further. "She had best go back to Uppercross."

"My dear Mary," said her husband, "Uppercross is a full two miles away and Winthrop is just down the hill. I am sure my aunt will not mind."

Louisa, determined to go home, spoke up. "It is not a serious injury. I can walk back to Uppercross." Everyone except Mary protested the folly of such a notion. "If Captain Wentworth will just lend me his arm." Louisa stood up quickly, then cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground again. Defeated, she reluctantly agreed to her cousin Charles' plan.

"I will stay with Louisa," Henrietta declared, with a shy smile towards Charles Hayter. He smiled back. "Yes, Miss Musgrove, of course you will want to stay with your sister. You should both stay as long as you like. I will dispatch a servant to the Great House to inform your parents and bring back a supply of clothes for you both."

Henrietta looked exceedingly pleased. Louisa looked miserable.