AnnerecollectedwithpleasurethenextmorningherpromiseofgoingtoMrsSmith, meaningthatitshouldengageherfromhomeatthetimewhenMrElliotwouldbemostlikelytocall; fortoavoidMrElliotwasalmost a firstobject.
"OldLadyMaryMaclean? I neednotaskafterher. Shenevermisses, I know; andyoumusthaveseenher. Shemusthavebeeninyourowncircle; forasyouwentwithLadyDalrymple, youwereintheseatsofgrandeur, roundtheorchestra, ofcourse."
10
"No, thatwaswhat I dreaded. Itwouldhavebeenveryunpleasanttomeineveryrespect. ButhappilyLadyDalrymplealwayschoosestobefartheroff; andwewereexceedinglywellplaced, thatis, forhearing; I mustnotsayforseeing, because I appeartohaveseenverylittle."
11
"Oh! yousawenoughforyourownamusement. I canunderstand. Thereis a sortofdomesticenjoymenttobeknownevenin a crowd, andthisyouhad. Youwere a largepartyinyourselves, andyouwantednothingbeyond."
12
"But I oughttohavelookedaboutmemore," saidAnne, consciouswhileshespokethattherehadinfactbeennowantoflookingabout, thattheobjectonlyhadbeendeficient.
13
"No, no; youwerebetteremployed. Youneednottellmethatyouhad a pleasantevening. I seeitinyoureye. I perfectlyseehowthehourspassed: thatyouhadalwayssomethingagreeabletolistento. Intheintervalsoftheconcertitwasconversation."
14
Annehalfsmiledandsaid, "Doyouseethatinmyeye?"
15
"Yes, I do. Yourcountenanceperfectlyinformsmethatyouwereincompanylastnightwiththepersonwhomyouthinkthemostagreeableintheworld, thepersonwhointerestsyouatthispresenttimemorethanalltherestoftheworldputtogether."
16
A blushoverspreadAnne's cheeks. Shecouldsaynothing.
17
"Andsuchbeingthecase," continuedMrsSmith, after a shortpause, "I hopeyoubelievethat I doknowhowtovalueyourkindnessincomingtomethismorning. Itisreallyverygoodofyoutocomeandsitwithme, whenyoumusthavesomanypleasanterdemandsuponyourtime."
"I havebeen a gooddealacquaintedwithhim," repliedMrsSmith, gravely, "butitseemswornoutnow. Itis a greatwhilesincewemet."
22
"I wasnotatallawareofthis. Younevermentioneditbefore. Had I knownit, I wouldhavehadthepleasureoftalkingtohimaboutyou."
23
"Toconfessthetruth," saidMrsSmith, assumingherusualairofcheerfulness, "thatisexactlythepleasure I wantyoutohave. I wantyoutotalkaboutmetoMrElliot. I wantyourinterestwithhim. Hecanbeofessentialservicetome; andifyouwouldhavethegoodness, mydearMissElliot, tomakeitanobjecttoyourself, ofcourseitisdone."
24
"I shouldbeextremelyhappy; I hopeyoucannotdoubtmywillingnesstobeofeventheslightestusetoyou," repliedAnne; "but I suspectthatyouareconsideringmeashaving a higherclaimonMrElliot, a greaterrighttoinfluencehim, thanisreallythecase. I amsureyouhave, somehoworother, imbibedsuch a notion. YoumustconsidermeonlyasMrElliot's relation. Ifinthatlightthereisanythingwhichyousupposehiscousinmightfairlyaskofhim, I begyouwouldnothesitatetoemployme."
25
MrsSmithgaveher a penetratingglance, andthen, smiling, said--
26
"I havebeen a littlepremature, I perceive; I begyourpardon. I oughttohavewaitedforofficialinformation. Butnow, mydearMissElliot, asanoldfriend, dogiveme a hintastowhen I mayspeak. Nextweek? Tobesurebynextweek I maybeallowedtothinkitallsettled, andbuildmyownselfishschemesonMrElliot's goodfortune."
27
"No," repliedAnne, "nornextweek, nornext, nornext. I assureyouthatnothingofthesortyouarethinkingofwillbesettledanyweek. I amnotgoingtomarryMrElliot. I shouldliketoknowwhyyouimagine I am?"
"Now, how I dowish I understoodyou! How I dowish I knewwhatyouwereat! I have a greatideathatyoudonotdesigntobecruel, whentherightmomentoccurs. Tillitdoescome, youknow, wewomennevermeantohaveanybody. Itis a thingofcourseamongus, thateverymanisrefused, tillheoffers. Butwhyshouldyoubecruel? Letmepleadformy--presentfriend I cannotcallhim, butformyformerfriend. Wherecanyoulookfor a moresuitablematch? Wherecouldyouexpect a moregentlemanlike, agreeableman? LetmerecommendMrElliot. I amsureyouhearnothingbutgoodofhimfromColonelWallis; andwhocanknowhimbetterthanColonelWallis?"
30
"MydearMrsSmith, MrElliot's wifehasnotbeendeadmuchabovehalf a year. Heoughtnottobesupposedtobepayinghisaddressestoanyone."
31
"Oh! iftheseareyouronlyobjections," criedMrsSmith, archly, "MrElliotissafe, and I shallgivemyselfnomoretroubleabouthim. Donotforgetmewhenyouaremarried, that's all. Lethimknowmetobe a friendofyours, andthenhewillthinklittleofthetroublerequired, whichitisverynaturalforhimnow, withsomanyaffairsandengagementsofhisown, toavoidandgetridofashecan; verynatural, perhaps. Ninety-nineoutof a hundredwoulddothesame. Ofcourse, hecannotbeawareoftheimportancetome. Well, mydearMissElliot, I hopeandtrustyouwillbeveryhappy. MrElliothassensetounderstandthevalueofsuch a woman. Yourpeacewillnotbeshipwreckedasminehasbeen. Youaresafeinallworldlymatters, andsafeinhischaracter. Hewillnotbeledastray; hewillnotbemisledbyotherstohisruin."
32
"No," saidAnne, "I canreadilybelieveallthatofmycousin. Heseemstohave a calmdecidedtemper, notatallopentodangerousimpressions. I considerhimwithgreatrespect. I havenoreason, fromanythingthathasfallenwithinmyobservation, todootherwise. But I havenotknownhimlong; andheisnot a man, I think, tobeknownintimatelysoon. Willnotthismannerofspeakingofhim, MrsSmith, convinceyouthatheisnothingtome? Surelythismustbecalmenough. And, uponmyword, heisnothingtome. Shouldheeverproposetome (which I haveverylittlereasontoimaginehehasanythoughtofdoing), I shallnotaccepthim. I assureyou I shallnot. I assureyou, MrElliothadnotthesharewhichyouhavebeensupposing, inwhateverpleasuretheconcertoflastnightmightafford: notMrElliot; itisnotMrElliotthat--"
33
Shestopped, regrettingwith a deepblushthatshehadimpliedsomuch; butlesswouldhardlyhavebeensufficient. MrsSmithwouldhardlyhavebelievedsosooninMrElliot's failure, butfromtheperceptionoftherebeing a somebodyelse. Asitwas, sheinstantlysubmitted, andwithallthesemblanceofseeingnothingbeyond; andAnne, eagertoescapefarthernotice, wasimpatienttoknowwhyMrsSmithshouldhavefanciedshewastomarryMrElliot; whereshecouldhavereceivedtheidea, orfromwhomshecouldhaveheardit.
34
"Dotellmehowitfirstcameintoyourhead."
35
"Itfirstcameintomyhead," repliedMrsSmith, "uponfindinghowmuchyouweretogether, andfeelingittobethemostprobablethingintheworldtobewishedforbyeverybodybelongingtoeitherofyou; andyoumaydependuponitthatallyouracquaintancehavedisposedofyouinthesameway. But I neverhearditspokenoftilltwodaysago."
"No. WasnotitMrsSpeed, asusual, orthemaid? I observednooneinparticular."
39
"ItwasmyfriendMrsRooke; NurseRooke; who, by-the-bye, had a greatcuriositytoseeyou, andwasdelightedtobeinthewaytoletyouin. ShecameawayfromMarlboroughBuildingsonlyonSunday; andsheitwaswhotoldmeyouweretomarryMrElliot. ShehadhaditfromMrsWallisherself, whichdidnotseembadauthority. ShesatanhourwithmeonMondayevening, andgavemethewholehistory." "Thewholehistory," repeatedAnne, laughing. "Shecouldnotmake a verylonghistory, I think, ofonesuchlittlearticleofunfoundednews."
40
MrsSmithsaidnothing.
41
"But," continuedAnne, presently, "thoughthereisnotruthinmyhavingthisclaimonMrElliot, I shouldbeextremelyhappytobeofusetoyouinanywaythat I could. Shall I mentiontohimyourbeinginBath? Shall I takeanymessage?"
42
"No, I thankyou: no, certainlynot. Inthewarmthofthemoment, andunder a mistakenimpression, I might, perhaps, haveendeavouredtointerestyouinsomecircumstances; butnotnow. No, I thankyou, I havenothingtotroubleyouwith."
43
"I thinkyouspokeofhavingknownMrElliotmanyyears?"
44
"I did."
45
"Notbeforehewasmarried, I suppose?"
46
"Yes; hewasnotmarriedwhen I knewhimfirst."
47
"And--wereyoumuchacquainted?"
48
"Intimately."
49
"Indeed! Thendotellmewhathewasatthattimeoflife. I have a greatcuriositytoknowwhatMrElliotwasas a veryyoungman. Washeatallsuchasheappearsnow?"
50
"I havenotseenMrElliotthesethreeyears," wasMrsSmith's answer, givensogravelythatitwasimpossibletopursuethesubjectfarther; andAnnefeltthatshehadgainednothingbutanincreaseofcuriosity. Theywerebothsilent: MrsSmithverythoughtful. Atlast--
51
"I begyourpardon, mydearMissElliot," shecried, inhernaturaltoneofcordiality, "I begyourpardonfortheshortanswers I havebeengivingyou, but I havebeenuncertainwhat I oughttodo. I havebeendoubtingandconsideringastowhat I oughttotellyou. Thereweremanythingstobetakenintotheaccount. Onehatestobeofficious, tobegivingbadimpressions, makingmischief. Eventhesmoothsurfaceoffamily-unionseemsworthpreserving, thoughtheremaybenothingdurablebeneath. However, I havedetermined; I think I amright; I thinkyououghttobemadeacquaintedwithMrElliot's realcharacter. Though I fullybelievethat, atpresent, youhavenotthesmallestintentionofacceptinghim, thereisnosayingwhatmayhappen. Youmight, sometimeorother, bedifferentlyaffectedtowardshim. Hearthetruth, therefore, now, whileyouareunprejudiced. MrElliotis a manwithoutheartorconscience; a designing, wary, cold-bloodedbeing, whothinksonlyofhimself; whomforhisowninterestorease, wouldbeguiltyofanycruelty, oranytreachery, thatcouldbeperpetratedwithoutriskofhisgeneralcharacter. Hehasnofeelingforothers. Thosewhomhehasbeenthechiefcauseofleadingintoruin, hecanneglectanddesertwithoutthesmallestcompunction. Heistotallybeyondthereachofanysentimentofjusticeorcompassion. Oh! heisblackatheart, hollowandblack!"
52
Anne's astonishedair, andexclamationofwonder, madeherpause, andin a calmermanner, sheadded,
53
"Myexpressionsstartleyou. Youmustallowforaninjured, angrywoman. But I willtrytocommandmyself. I willnotabusehim. I willonlytellyouwhat I havefoundhim. Factsshallspeak. Hewastheintimatefriendofmydearhusband, whotrustedandlovedhim, andthoughthimasgoodashimself. Theintimacyhadbeenformedbeforeourmarriage. I foundthemmostintimatefriends; and I, too, becameexcessivelypleasedwithMrElliot, andentertainedthehighestopinionofhim. Atnineteen, youknow, onedoesnotthinkveryseriously; butMrElliotappearedtomequiteasgoodasothers, andmuchmoreagreeablethanmostothers, andwewerealmostalwaystogether. Wewereprincipallyintown, livinginverygoodstyle. Hewasthentheinferiorincircumstances; hewasthenthepoorone; hehadchambersintheTemple, anditwasasmuchashecoulddotosupporttheappearanceof a gentleman. Hehadalways a homewithuswheneverhechoseit; hewasalwayswelcome; hewaslike a brother. MypoorCharles, whohadthefinest, mostgenerousspiritintheworld, wouldhavedividedhislastfarthingwithhim; and I knowthathispursewasopentohim; I knowthatheoftenassistedhim."
54
"ThismusthavebeenaboutthatveryperiodofMrElliot's life," saidAnne, "whichhasalwaysexcitedmyparticularcuriosity. Itmusthavebeenaboutthesametimethathebecameknowntomyfatherandsister. I neverknewhimmyself; I onlyheardofhim; buttherewas a somethinginhisconductthen, withregardtomyfatherandsister, andafterwardsinthecircumstancesofhismarriage, which I nevercouldquitereconcilewithpresenttimes. Itseemedtoannounce a differentsortofman."
55
"I knowitall, I knowitall," criedMrsSmith. "HehadbeenintroducedtoSirWalterandyoursisterbefore I wasacquaintedwithhim, but I heardhimspeakofthemforever. I knowhewasinvitedandencouraged, and I knowhedidnotchoosetogo. I cansatisfyyou, perhaps, onpointswhichyouwouldlittleexpect; andastohismarriage, I knewallaboutitatthetime. I wasprivytoalltheforsandagainsts; I wasthefriendtowhomheconfidedhishopesandplans; andthough I didnotknowhiswifepreviously, herinferiorsituationinsociety, indeed, renderedthatimpossible, yet I knewherallherlifeafterwards, oratleasttillwithinthelasttwoyearsofherlife, andcanansweranyquestionyoumaywishtoput."
56
"Nay," saidAnne, "I havenoparticularenquirytomakeabouther. I havealwaysunderstoodtheywerenot a happycouple. But I shouldliketoknowwhy, atthattimeofhislife, heshouldslightmyfather's acquaintanceashedid. Myfatherwascertainlydisposedtotakeverykindandpropernoticeofhim. WhydidMrElliotdrawback?"
57
"MrElliot," repliedMrsSmith, "atthatperiodofhislife, hadoneobjectinview: tomakehisfortune, andby a ratherquickerprocessthanthelaw. Hewasdeterminedtomakeitbymarriage. Hewasdetermined, atleast, nottomaritbyanimprudentmarriage; and I knowitwashisbelief (whetherjustlyornot, ofcourse I cannotdecide), thatyourfatherandsister, intheircivilitiesandinvitations, weredesigning a matchbetweentheheirandtheyounglady, anditwasimpossiblethatsuch a matchshouldhaveansweredhisideasofwealthandindependence. Thatwashismotivefordrawingback, I canassureyou. Hetoldmethewholestory. Hehadnoconcealmentswithme. Itwascurious, thathavingjustleftyoubehindmeinBath, myfirstandprincipalacquaintanceonmarryingshouldbeyourcousin; andthat, throughhim, I shouldbecontinuallyhearingofyourfatherandsister. HedescribedoneMissElliot, and I thoughtveryaffectionatelyoftheother."
58
"Perhaps," criedAnne, struckby a suddenidea, "yousometimesspokeofmetoMrElliot?"
59
"Tobesure I did; veryoften. I usedtoboastofmyownAnneElliot, andvouchforyourbeing a verydifferentcreaturefrom--"
60
Shecheckedherselfjustintime.
61
"ThisaccountsforsomethingwhichMrElliotsaidlastnight," criedAnne. "Thisexplainsit. I foundhehadbeenusedtohearofme. I couldnotcomprehendhow. Whatwildimaginationsoneformswheredearselfisconcerned! Howsuretobemistaken! But I begyourpardon; I haveinterruptedyou. MrElliotmarriedthencompletelyformoney? Thecircumstances, probably, whichfirstopenedyoureyestohischaracter."
62
MrsSmithhesitated a littlehere. "Oh! thosethingsaretoocommon. Whenonelivesintheworld, a manorwoman's marryingformoneyistoocommontostrikeoneasitought. I wasveryyoung, andassociatedonlywiththeyoung, andwewere a thoughtless, gayset, withoutanystrictrulesofconduct. Welivedforenjoyment. I thinkdifferentlynow; timeandsicknessandsorrowhavegivenmeothernotions; butatthatperiod I mustown I sawnothingreprehensibleinwhatMrElliotwasdoing. 'Todothebestforhimself,' passedas a duty."
63
"Butwasnotshe a verylowwoman?"
64
"Yes; which I objectedto, buthewouldnotregard. Money, money, wasallthathewanted. Herfatherwas a grazier, hergrandfatherhadbeen a butcher, butthatwasallnothing. Shewas a finewoman, hadhad a decenteducation, wasbroughtforwardbysomecousins, thrownbychanceintoMrElliot's company, andfellinlovewithhim; andnot a difficultyor a scruplewasthereonhisside, withrespecttoherbirth. Allhiscautionwasspentinbeingsecuredoftherealamountofherfortune, beforehecommittedhimself. Dependuponit, whateveresteemMrElliotmayhaveforhisownsituationinlifenow, as a youngmanhehadnotthesmallestvalueforit. HischancefortheKellynchestatewassomething, butallthehonourofthefamilyheheldascheapasdirt. I haveoftenheardhimdeclare, thatifbaronetciesweresaleable, anybodyshouldhavehisforfiftypounds, armsandmotto, nameandliveryincluded; but I willnotpretendtorepeathalfthat I usedtohearhimsayonthatsubject. Itwouldnotbefair; andyetyououghttohaveproof, forwhatisallthisbutassertion, andyoushallhaveproof."
65
"Indeed, mydearMrsSmith, I wantnone," criedAnne. "YouhaveassertednothingcontradictorytowhatMrElliotappearedtobesomeyearsago. Thisisallinconfirmation, rather, ofwhatweusedtohearandbelieve. I ammorecurioustoknowwhyheshouldbesodifferentnow."
66
"Butformysatisfaction, ifyouwillhavethegoodnesstoringforMary; stay: I amsureyouwillhavethestillgreatergoodnessofgoingyourselfintomybedroom, andbringingmethesmallinlaidboxwhichyouwillfindontheuppershelfofthecloset."
"Thisisfullofpapersbelongingtohim, tomyhusband; a smallportiononlyofwhat I hadtolookoverwhen I losthim. Theletter I amlookingforwasonewrittenbyMrElliottohimbeforeourmarriage, andhappenedtobesaved; why, onecanhardlyimagine. Buthewascarelessandimmethodical, likeothermen, aboutthosethings; andwhen I cametoexaminehispapers, I founditwithothersstillmoretrivial, fromdifferentpeoplescatteredhereandthere, whilemanylettersandmemorandumsofrealimportancehadbeendestroyed. Hereitis; I wouldnotburnit, becausebeingeventhenverylittlesatisfiedwithMrElliot, I wasdeterminedtopreserveeverydocumentofformerintimacy. I havenowanothermotiveforbeinggladthat I canproduceit."
"DearSmith,--I havereceivedyours. Yourkindnessalmostoverpowersme. I wishnaturehadmadesuchheartsasyoursmorecommon, but I havelivedthree-and-twentyyearsintheworld, andhaveseennonelikeit. Atpresent, believeme, I havenoneedofyourservices, beingincashagain. Givemejoy: I havegotridofSirWalterandMiss. TheyaregonebacktoKellynch, andalmostmademesweartovisitthemthissummer; butmyfirstvisittoKellynchwillbewith a surveyor, totellmehowtobringitwithbestadvantagetothehammer. Thebaronet, nevertheless, isnotunlikelytomarryagain; heisquitefoolenough. Ifhedoes, however, theywillleavemeinpeace, whichmaybe a decentequivalentforthereversion. Heisworsethanlastyear.
71
"I wish I hadanynamebutElliot. I amsickofit. ThenameofWalter I candrop, thankGod! and I desireyouwillneverinsultmewithmysecond W. again, meaning, fortherestofmylife, tobeonlyyourstruly,--Wm. Elliot."
72
Such a lettercouldnotbereadwithoutputtingAnnein a glow; andMrsSmith, observingthehighcolourinherface, said--
73
"Thelanguage, I know, ishighlydisrespectful. Though I haveforgottheexactterms, I have a perfectimpressionofthegeneralmeaning. Butitshowsyoutheman. Markhisprofessionstomypoorhusband. Cananythingbestronger?"
74
Annecouldnotimmediatelygetovertheshockandmortificationoffindingsuchwordsappliedtoherfather. Shewasobligedtorecollectthatherseeingtheletterwas a violationofthelawsofhonour, thatnooneoughttobejudgedortobeknownbysuchtestimonies, thatnoprivatecorrespondencecouldbeartheeyeofothers, beforeshecouldrecovercalmnessenoughtoreturntheletterwhichshehadbeenmeditatingover, andsay--
"Yes. I haveshewnyouMrElliotashewas a dozenyearsago, and I willshewhimasheisnow. I cannotproducewrittenproofagain, but I cangiveasauthenticoraltestimonyasyoucandesire, ofwhatheisnowwanting, andwhatheisnowdoing. Heisnohypocritenow. Hetrulywantstomarryyou. Hispresentattentionstoyourfamilyareverysincere: quitefromtheheart. I willgiveyoumyauthority: hisfriendColonelWallis."
79
"ColonelWallis! youareacquaintedwithhim?"
80
"No. Itdoesnotcometomeinquitesodirect a lineasthat; ittakes a bendortwo, butnothingofconsequence. Thestreamisasgoodasatfirst; thelittlerubbishitcollectsintheturningsiseasilymovedaway. MrElliottalksunreservedlytoColonelWallisofhisviewsonyou, whichsaidColonelWallis, I imaginetobe, inhimself, a sensible, careful, discerningsortofcharacter; butColonelWallishas a veryprettysillywife, towhomhetellsthingswhichhehadbetternot, andherepeatsitalltoher. Sheintheoverflowingspiritsofherrecovery, repeatsitalltohernurse; andthenurseknowingmyacquaintancewithyou, verynaturallybringsitalltome. OnMondayevening, mygoodfriendMrsRookeletmethusmuchintothesecretsofMarlboroughBuildings. When I talkedof a wholehistory, therefore, yousee I wasnotromancingsomuchasyousupposed."
81
"MydearMrsSmith, yourauthorityisdeficient. Thiswillnotdo. MrElliot's havinganyviewsonmewillnotintheleastaccountfortheeffortshemadetowards a reconciliationwithmyfather. ThatwasallpriortomycomingtoBath. I foundthemonthemostfriendlytermswhen I arrived."
82
"I knowyoudid; I knowitallperfectly, but--"
83
"Indeed, MrsSmith, wemustnotexpecttogetrealinformationinsuch a line. Factsoropinionswhicharetopassthroughthehandsofsomany, tobemisconceivedbyfollyinone, andignoranceinanother, canhardlyhavemuchtruthleft."
"Hecertainlydid. Sofaritisverytrue. AtLyme. I happenedtobeatLyme."
86
"Well," continuedMrsSmith, triumphantly, "grantmyfriendthecreditduetotheestablishmentofthefirstpointasserted. HesawyouthenatLyme, andlikedyousowellastobeexceedinglypleasedtomeetwithyouagaininCamdenPlace, asMissAnneElliot, andfromthatmoment, I havenodoubt, had a doublemotiveinhisvisitsthere. Buttherewasanother, andanearlier, which I willnowexplain. Ifthereisanythinginmystorywhichyouknowtobeeitherfalseorimprobable, stopme. Myaccountstates, thatyoursister's friend, theladynowstayingwithyou, whom I haveheardyoumention, cametoBathwithMissElliotandSirWalteraslongagoasSeptember (inshortwhentheyfirstcamethemselves), andhasbeenstayingthereeversince; thatsheis a clever, insinuating, handsomewoman, poorandplausible, andaltogethersuchinsituationandmanner, astogive a generalidea, amongSirWalter's acquaintance, ofhermeaningtobeLadyElliot, andasgeneral a surprisethatMissElliotshouldbeapparently, blindtothedanger."
87
HereMrsSmithpaused a moment; butAnnehadnot a wordtosay, andshecontinued--
88
"Thiswasthelightinwhichitappearedtothosewhoknewthefamily, longbeforeyoureturnedtoit; andColonelWallishadhiseyeuponyourfatherenoughtobesensibleofit, thoughhedidnotthenvisitinCamdenPlace; buthisregardforMrElliotgavehimaninterestinwatchingallthatwasgoingonthere, andwhenMrElliotcametoBathfor a dayortwo, ashehappenedtodo a littlebeforeChristmas, ColonelWallismadehimacquaintedwiththeappearanceofthings, andthereportsbeginningtoprevail. Nowyouaretounderstand, thattimehadworked a verymaterialchangeinMrElliot's opinionsastothevalueof a baronetcy. Uponallpointsofbloodandconnexionheis a completelyalteredman. Havinglonghadasmuchmoneyashecouldspend, nothingtowishforonthesideofavariceorindulgence, hehasbeengraduallylearningtopinhishappinessupontheconsequenceheisheirto. I thoughtitcomingonbeforeouracquaintanceceased, butitisnow a confirmedfeeling. HecannotbeartheideaofnotbeingSirWilliam. Youmayguess, therefore, thatthenewsheheardfromhisfriendcouldnotbeveryagreeable, andyoumayguesswhatitproduced; theresolutionofcomingbacktoBathassoonaspossible, andoffixinghimselfherefor a time, withtheviewofrenewinghisformeracquaintance, andrecoveringsuch a footinginthefamilyasmightgivehimthemeansofascertainingthedegreeofhisdanger, andofcircumventingtheladyifhefounditmaterial. Thiswasagreeduponbetweenthetwofriendsastheonlythingtobedone; andColonelWalliswastoassistineverywaythathecould. Hewastobeintroduced, andMrsWalliswastobeintroduced, andeverybodywastobeintroduced. MrElliotcamebackaccordingly; andonapplicationwasforgiven, asyouknow, andre-admittedintothefamily; andthereitwashisconstantobject, andhisonlyobject (tillyourarrivaladdedanothermotive), towatchSirWalterandMrsClay. Heomittednoopportunityofbeingwiththem, threwhimselfintheirway, calledatallhours; but I neednotbeparticularonthissubject. Youcanimaginewhatanartfulmanwoulddo; andwiththisguide, perhaps, mayrecollectwhatyouhaveseenhimdo."
89
"Yes," saidAnne, "youtellmenothingwhichdoesnotaccordwithwhat I haveknown, orcouldimagine. Thereisalwayssomethingoffensiveinthedetailsofcunning. Themanoeuvresofselfishnessandduplicitymusteverberevolting, but I haveheardnothingwhichreallysurprisesme. I knowthosewhowouldbeshockedbysuch a representationofMrElliot, whowouldhavedifficultyinbelievingit; but I haveneverbeensatisfied. I havealwayswantedsomeothermotiveforhisconductthanappeared. I shouldliketoknowhispresentopinion, astotheprobabilityoftheeventhehasbeenindreadof; whetherheconsidersthedangertobelesseningornot."
90
"Lessening, I understand," repliedMrsSmith. "HethinksMrsClayafraidofhim, awarethatheseesthroughher, andnotdaringtoproceedasshemightdoinhisabsence. Butsincehemustbeabsentsometimeorother, I donotperceivehowhecaneverbesecurewhilesheholdsherpresentinfluence. MrsWallishasanamusingidea, asnursetellsme, thatitistobeputintothemarriagearticleswhenyouandMrElliotmarry, thatyourfatherisnottomarryMrsClay. A scheme, worthyofMrsWallis's understanding, byallaccounts; butmysensiblenurseRookeseestheabsurdityofit. 'Why, tobesure, ma'am,' saidshe, 'itwouldnotpreventhismarryinganybodyelse.' And, indeed, toownthetruth, I donotthinknurse, inherheart, is a verystrenuousopposerofSirWalter's making a secondmatch. Shemustbeallowedtobe a favourerofmatrimony, youknow; and (sinceselfwillintrude) whocansaythatshemaynothavesomeflyingvisionsofattendingthenextLadyElliot, throughMrsWallis's recommendation?"
91
"I amverygladtoknowallthis," saidAnne, after a littlethoughtfulness. "Itwillbemorepainfultomeinsomerespectstobeincompanywithhim, but I shallknowbetterwhattodo. Mylineofconductwillbemoredirect. MrElliotisevidently a disingenuous, artificial, worldlyman, whohasneverhadanybetterprincipletoguidehimthanselfishness."
Thehusbandhaddiedjustintimetobesparedthefullknowledgeofit. Theyhadpreviouslyknownembarrassmentsenoughtotrythefriendshipoftheirfriends, andtoprovethatMrElliot's hadbetternotbetried; butitwasnottillhisdeaththatthewretchedstateofhisaffairswasfullyknown. With a confidenceinMrElliot's regard, morecreditabletohisfeelingsthanhisjudgement, MrSmithhadappointedhimtheexecutorofhiswill; butMrElliotwouldnotact, andthedifficultiesanddistresswhichthisrefusalhadheapedonher, inadditiontotheinevitablesufferingsofhersituation, hadbeensuchascouldnotberelatedwithoutanguishofspirit, orlistenedtowithoutcorrespondingindignation.
95
Annewasshewnsomelettersofhisontheoccasion, answerstourgentapplicationsfromMrsSmith, whichallbreathedthesamesternresolutionofnotengagingin a fruitlesstrouble, and, under a coldcivility, thesamehard-heartedindifferencetoanyoftheevilsitmightbringonher. Itwas a dreadfulpictureofingratitudeandinhumanity; andAnnefelt, atsomemoments, thatnoflagrantopencrimecouldhavebeenworse. Shehad a greatdealtolistento; alltheparticularsofpastsadscenes, alltheminutiaeofdistressupondistress, whichinformerconversationshadbeenmerelyhintedat, weredweltonnowwith a naturalindulgence. Annecouldperfectlycomprehendtheexquisiterelief, andwasonlythemoreinclinedtowonderatthecomposureofherfriend's usualstateofmind.
96
Therewasonecircumstanceinthehistoryofhergrievancesofparticularirritation. ShehadgoodreasontobelievethatsomepropertyofherhusbandintheWestIndies, whichhadbeenformanyyearsunder a sortofsequestrationforthepaymentofitsownincumbrances, mightberecoverablebypropermeasures; andthisproperty, thoughnotlarge, wouldbeenoughtomakehercomparativelyrich. Buttherewasnobodytostirinit. MrElliotwoulddonothing, andshecoulddonothingherself, equallydisabledfrompersonalexertionbyherstateofbodilyweakness, andfromemployingothersbyherwantofmoney. Shehadnonaturalconnexionstoassistherevenwiththeircounsel, andshecouldnotaffordtopurchasetheassistanceofthelaw. Thiswas a cruelaggravationofactuallystraitenedmeans. Tofeelthatsheoughttobeinbettercircumstances, that a littletroubleintherightplacemightdoit, andtofearthatdelaymightbeevenweakeningherclaims, washardtobear.
"Mydear," wasMrsSmith's reply, "therewasnothingelsetobedone. I consideredyourmarryinghimascertain, thoughhemightnotyethavemadetheoffer, and I couldnomorespeakthetruthofhim, thanifhehadbeenyourhusband. Myheartbledforyou, as I talkedofhappiness; andyetheissensible, heisagreeable, andwithsuch a womanasyou, itwasnotabsolutelyhopeless. Hewasveryunkindtohisfirstwife. Theywerewretchedtogether. Butshewastooignorantandgiddyforrespect, andhehadneverlovedher. I waswillingtohopethatyoumustfarebetter."
100
Annecouldjustacknowledgewithinherselfsuch a possibilityofhavingbeeninducedtomarryhim, asmadehershudderattheideaofthemiserywhichmusthavefollowed. ItwasjustpossiblethatshemighthavebeenpersuadedbyLadyRussell! Andundersuch a supposition, whichwouldhavebeenmostmiserable, whentimehaddisclosedall, toolate?