This letter to Anne in Ch. 18 is vintage Mary, isn't it? It is completely contradictory!

"The house was cleared yesterday, except of the little Harvilles; but you will be surprised to hear that they have never gone home. Mrs. Harville must be an odd mother to part with them so long. I do not understand it."

And later:

"I do not expect my children to be asked, you know. I can leave them at the Great House very well, for a month or six weeks."

And on the subject of the Crofts:

"I have this moment heard that the Crofts are going to Bath …they have not had the civility to give me any notice, or offer to take anything. I do not think they improve at all as neighbours."

And later:

"I had a note from Mrs. Croft yesterday, offering to convey anything to you … I shall be truly glad to have them back again. Our neighbourhood cannot spare such a pleasant family."

And her opinion of the Hayters:

"Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove have not had one dinner-party all the holidays. I do not reckon the Hayters as anybody … I have not had a creature call on me since the second week in January, except Charles Hayter."

She really needs an attitude adjustment when it comes to the Hayters, for they are the only people outside the immediate family that she sees on a regular basis, and that will only increase when Henrietta gets married. And I thought it very nice of Charles Hayter to pay a call on Mary - he must know what she thinks of him, she is not one to hide her feelings.

I must confess that my favorite bit from the letter is: "my sore throats, you know, are always worse than anybody's."