Chapter 16

by Jane Austen

　　There was one point which Anne, on returning to her family,would have been more thankful to ascertain even than Mr Elliot'sbeing in love with Elizabeth, which was, her father's not beingin love with Mrs Clay; and she was very far from easy about it,when she had been at home a few hours. On going down to breakfastthe next morning, she found there had just been a decent pretenceon the lady's side of meaning to leave them. She could imagine Mrs Clayto have said, that "now Miss Anne was come, she could not suppose herselfat all wanted;" for Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper,"That must not be any reason, indeed. I assure you I feel it none.She is nothing to me, compared with you;" and she was in full timeto hear her father say, "My dear madam, this must not be. As yet,you have seen nothing of Bath. You have been here only to be useful.You must not run away from us now. You must stay to be acquaintedwith Mrs Wallis, the beautiful Mrs Wallis. To your fine mind,I well know the sight of beauty is a real gratification."

　　He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprisedto see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself.Her countenance, perhaps, might express some watchfulness;but the praise of the fine mind did not appear to excite a thoughtin her sister. The lady could not but yield to such joint entreaties,and promise to stay.

　　In the course of the same morning, Anne and her father chancing to bealone together, he began to compliment her on her improved looks;he thought her "less thin in her person, in her cheeks; her skin,her complexion, greatly improved; clearer, fresher. Had she beenusing any thing in particular?" "No, nothing." "Merely Gowland,"he supposed. "No, nothing at all." "Ha! he was surprised at that;"and added, "certainly you cannot do better than to continue as you are;you cannot be better than well; or I should recommend Gowland,the constant use of Gowland, during the spring months. Mrs Clay has beenusing it at my recommendation, and you see what it has done for her.You see how it has carried away her freckles."

　　If Elizabeth could but have heard this! Such personal praisemight have struck her, especially as it did not appear to Annethat the freckles were at all lessened. But everything musttake its chance. The evil of a marriage would be much diminished,if Elizabeth were also to marry. As for herself, she might alwayscommand a home with Lady Russell.

　　Lady Russell's composed mind and polite manners were put to some trialon this point, in her intercourse in Camden Place. The sight of Mrs Clayin such favour, and of Anne so overlooked, was a perpetual provocationto her there; and vexed her as much when she was away, as a person in Bathwho drinks the water, gets all the new publications, and hasa very large acquaintance, has time to be vexed.

　　As Mr Elliot became known to her, she grew more charitable,or more indifferent, towards the others. His manners werean immediate recommendation; and on conversing with him she foundthe solid so fully supporting the superficial, that she was at first,as she told Anne, almost ready to exclaim, "Can this be Mr Elliot?"and could not seriously picture to herself a more agreeableor estimable man. Everything united in him; good understanding,correct opinions, knowledge of the world, and a warm heart.He had strong feelings of family attachment and family honour,without pride or weakness; he lived with the liberality of a man of fortune,without display; he judged for himself in everything essential,without defying public opinion in any point of worldly decorum.He was steady, observant, moderate, candid; never run away with by spiritsor by selfishness, which fancied itself strong feeling; and yet,with a sensibility to what was amiable and lovely, and a valuefor all the felicities of domestic life, which characters offancied enthusiasm and violent agitation seldom really possess.She was sure that he had not been happy in marriage. Colonel Wallissaid it, and Lady Russell saw it; but it had been no unhappinessto sour his mind, nor (she began pretty soon to suspect) to prevent histhinking of a second choice. Her satisfaction in Mr Elliotoutweighed all the plague of Mrs Clay.

　　It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn that sheand her excellent friend could sometimes think differently;and it did not surprise her, therefore, that Lady Russellshould see nothing suspicious or inconsistent, nothing to requiremore motives than appeared, in Mr Elliot's great desire of a reconciliation.In Lady Russell's view, it was perfectly natural that Mr Elliot,at a mature time of life, should feel it a most desirable object,and what would very generally recommend him among all sensible people,to be on good terms with the head of his family; the simplest processin the world of time upon a head naturally clear, and only erringin the heyday of youth. Anne presumed, however, still to smile about it,and at last to mention "Elizabeth." Lady Russell listened, and looked,and made only this cautious reply:--"Elizabeth! very well;time will explain."

　　It was a reference to the future, which Anne, after a little observation,felt she must submit to. She could determine nothing at present.In that house Elizabeth must be first; and she was in the habitof such general observance as "Miss Elliot," that any particularityof attention seemed almost impossible. Mr Elliot, too,it must be remembered, had not been a widower seven months.A little delay on his side might be very excusable. In fact,Anne could never see the crape round his hat, without fearing thatshe was the inexcusable one, in attributing to him such imaginations;for though his marriage had not been very happy, still it had existedso many years that she could not comprehend a very rapid recoveryfrom the awful impression of its being dissolved.

　　However it might end, he was without any question theirpleasantest acquaintance in Bath: she saw nobody equal to him;and it was a great indulgence now and then to talk to him about Lyme,which he seemed to have as lively a wish to see again, and to see more of,as herself. They went through the particulars of their first meetinga great many times. He gave her to understand that he hadlooked at her with some earnestness. She knew it well;and she remembered another person's look also.

　　They did not always think alike. His value for rank and connexionshe perceived was greater than hers. It was not merely complaisance,it must be a liking to the cause, which made him enter warmlyinto her father and sister's solicitudes on a subject whichshe thought unworthy to excite them. The Bath paper one morningannounced the arrival of the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple,and her daughter, the Honourable Miss Carteret; and all the comfortof No.--, Camden Place, was swept away for many days; for the Dalrymples(in Anne's opinion, most unfortunately) were cousins of the Elliots;and the agony was how to introduce themselves properly.

　　Anne had never seen her father and sister before in contact with nobility,and she must acknowledge herself disappointed. She had hopedbetter things from their high ideas of their own situation in life,and was reduced to form a wish which she had never foreseen;a wish that they had more pride; for "our cousins Lady Dalrympleand Miss Carteret;" "our cousins, the Dalrymples," sounded in her earsall day long.

　　Sir Walter had once been in company with the late viscount,but had never seen any of the rest of the family; and the difficultiesof the case arose from there having been a suspension of all intercourseby letters of ceremony, ever since the death of that said late viscount,when, in consequence of a dangerous illness of Sir Walter'sat the same time, there had been an unlucky omission at Kellynch.No letter of condolence had been sent to Ireland. The neglecthad been visited on the head of the sinner; for when poor Lady Elliotdied herself, no letter of condolence was received at Kellynch,and, consequently, there was but too much reason to apprehendthat the Dalrymples considered the relationship as closed.How to have this anxious business set to rights, and be admittedas cousins again, was the question: and it was a question which,in a more rational manner, neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliotthought unimportant. "Family connexions were always worth preserving,good company always worth seeking; Lady Dalrymple had taken a house,for three months, in Laura Place, and would be living in style.She had been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had heard herspoken of as a charming woman. It was very desirable thatthe connexion should be renewed, if it could be done, without anycompromise of propriety on the side of the Elliots."

　　Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrotea very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty,to his right honourable cousin. Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliotcould admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted,in bringing three lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess."She was very much honoured, and should be happy in their acquaintance."The toils of the business were over, the sweets began. They visitedin Laura Place, they had the cards of Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple,and the Honourable Miss Carteret, to be arranged wherever they mightbe most visible: and "Our cousins in Laura Place,"--"Our cousin,Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret," were talked of to everybody.

　　Anne was ashamed. Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even beenvery agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitationthey created, but they were nothing. There was no superiority of manner,accomplishment, or understanding. Lady Dalrymple had acquiredthe name of "a charming woman," because she had a smile and a civil answerfor everybody. Miss Carteret, with still less to say, was so plainand so awkward, that she would never have been tolerated in Camden Placebut for her birth.

　　Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but yet"it was an acquaintance worth having;" and when Anne ventured to speakher opinion of them to Mr Elliot, he agreed to their being nothingin themselves, but still maintained that, as a family connexion,as good company, as those who would collect good company around them,they had their value. Anne smiled and said,

　　"My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever,well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation;that is what I call good company."

　　"You are mistaken," said he gently, "that is not good company;that is the best. Good company requires only birth, education,and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice.Birth and good manners are essential; but a little learning isby no means a dangerous thing in good company; on the contrary,it will do very well. My cousin Anne shakes her head.She is not satisfied. She is fastidious. My dear cousin"(sitting down by her), "you have a better right to be fastidiousthan almost any other woman I know; but will it answer?Will it make you happy? Will it not be wiser to accept the societyof those good ladies in Laura Place, and enjoy all the advantagesof the connexion as far as possible? You may depend upon it,that they will move in the first set in Bath this winter,and as rank is rank, your being known to be related to themwill have its use in fixing your family (our family let me say)in that degree of consideration which we must all wish for."

　　"Yes," sighed Anne, "we shall, indeed, be known to be related to them!"then recollecting herself, and not wishing to be answered, she added,"I certainly do think there has been by far too much trouble takento procure the acquaintance. I suppose" (smiling) "I have more pridethan any of you; but I confess it does vex me, that we should beso solicitous to have the relationship acknowledged, which we maybe very sure is a matter of perfect indifference to them."

　　"Pardon me, dear cousin, you are unjust in your own claims.In London, perhaps, in your present quiet style of living,it might be as you say: but in Bath; Sir Walter Elliot and his familywill always be worth knowing: always acceptable as acquaintance."

　　"Well," said Anne, "I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcomewhich depends so entirely upon place."

　　"I love your indignation," said he; "it is very natural.But here you are in Bath, and the object is to be established herewith all the credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot.You talk of being proud; I am called proud, I know, and I shall not wishto believe myself otherwise; for our pride, if investigated,would have the same object, I have no doubt, though the kind may seema little different. In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin,"(he continued, speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room)"in one point, I am sure, we must feel alike. We must feel thatevery addition to your father's society, among his equals or superiors,may be of use in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him."

　　He looked, as he spoke, to the seat which Mrs Clay had beenlately occupying: a sufficient explanation of what he particularly meant;and though Anne could not believe in their having the same sort of pride,she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay; and her conscienceadmitted that his wishing to promote her father's gettinggreat acquaintance was more than excusable in the view of defeating her.