A few days after Charles Hayter had returned, Anne was at home at Uppercross Cottage. She was looking after little Charles, whose back was hurting again, when Captain Wentworth walked into the house. He was very surprised to find himself almost alone with Anne Elliot.
“I thought the Miss Musgroves were here,” he said. “Mrs Musgroves told me they were.” Then he went to the window to become calm again.
“They are upstairs with my sister. I am sure they will come down very soon,” replied Anne, full of different feelings. She wanted to leave the room, both for herself and for Captain Wentworth, but little Charles called out to her for something.
“I hope he is feeling better,” said Captain Wentworth politely, staying by the window.
For a few minutes, Anne looked after little Charles while Captain Wentworth stood someone coming into the cottage. But, looking up, she saw it was Charles Hayter. He would not be pleased to see Captain Wentworth, Anne knew. Captain Wentworth came forward to talk to him, but when Anne invited Charles Hayter to sit down, he picked up a newspaper and started to read.
After a short while, Mary’s younger son came into the room. He wanted to play, but when he saw that his brother ill, he climbed onto Anne’s back. Anne spoke to him and tried to push him away, but he would not listen.
“Walter,” she said. “Get down now. You are making me every angry.”
“Walter,” said Charles Hayter. “Do what your aunt says. Come here to me.
Walter would not move. But a moment later, someone took him from Anne’s back. Walter had pushed Anne’s head down. So it was only after his hands had come away from her neck and he was carried away that Anne knew. Captain Wentworth had done it.
She could not speak. His kindness, and the quiet way he had taken Walter from her back, left her full of confused feelings. So when Mary and the Miss Musgroves came back, she left the room at once. It was such a little thing, but it had brought up great feelings inside her. She had to stay alone for a long time, thinking quietly, before she felt better.