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nothing      suspicious      or   inconsistent;     nothing      to  require     more 

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   process   in   the   world   of   time   upon   a   head   naturally 

clear;   and   only   erring   in   the   heyday   of   youth。   Anne   presumed; 

however; still to smile about it; and at last to mention “Elizabeth。” 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                            ElecBook 


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                            Jane Austen: Persuasion                              167 



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   habit   of   such   general   observance   as   “Miss   Elliot;”   that   any 

particularity of 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 that she was the 

inexcusable       one;   in   attributing    to  him    such    imaginations;      for 

though his marriage had not been very happy; still it had existed 

so    many     years   that   she   could    not   comprehend        a   very   rapid 

recovery from the awful impression of its being dissolved。 

    However       it  might    end;   he   was    without    any    question     their 

pleasantest  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 meeting a great many times。 He gave her to understand 

that he had looked 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 

connexion she perceived was greater than hers。 It was not merely 

complaisance;   it   must  be   a   liking   to   the   cause;   which   made   him 

enter warmly into  her  father  and   sister’s   solicitudes   on a   subject 

which she thought unworthy to excite them。 The Bath paper one 

morning       announced        the   arrival   of   the   Dowager       Viscountess 

Dalrymple; and her daughter; the Honourable Miss Carteret; and 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                           ElecBook 


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                             Jane Austen: Persuasion                               168 



all the comfort of 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     hoped     better    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       Dalrymple        and     Miss     Carteret;”       “our     cousins;      the 

Dalrymples;” sounded in her ears all 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 difficulties 

of   the   case   arose    from    there   having     been    a  suspension       of  all 

intercourse   by   letters   of   ceremony;   ever   since   the   death   of   that 

said late Viscount; when; in consequence of a dangerous illness of 

Sir Walter’s at the same time; there had been an unlucky omission 

at Kellynch。 No letter of condolence had been sent to Ireland。 The 

neglect had been visited on the head of the sinner; for when poor 

Lady   Elliot   died   herself;   no   letter   of   condolence   was   received   at 

Kellynch;   and;   consequently;   there   was   but   too   much   reason   to 

apprehend        that   the   Dalrymples       considered      the   relationship     as 

closed。   How   to   have   this   anxious   business   set   to   rights;   and   be 

admitted as cousins again; was the question; and it was a question 

which;   in   a   more   rational   manner;   neither   Lady   Russell   nor   Mr。 

Elliot    thought     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; 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                             ElecBook 


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                            Jane Austen: Persuasion                            169 



and Lady Russell had heard her spoken of as a charming woman。 

It was very desirable that the connexion   should   be   renewed;  if  it 

could be done; without any compromise of propriety on the side of 

the Elliots。” 

    Sir Walter; however; would choose his own means; and at  last 

wrote a very fine letter of ample explanation; regret; and entreaty; 

to his right honourable cousin。 Neither Lady Russell nor Mr。 Elliot 

could 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 visited in 

Laura…place;        they    had    the    cards    of   Dowager       Viscountess 

Dalrymple;       and   the  Honourable       Miss   Carteret;    to  be  arranged 

wherever they might be 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   been   very  agreeable;   she   would   still   have   been   ashamed   of 

the   agitation   they   created;   but   they   were   nothing。   There   was   no 

superiority   of   manner;   accomplishment;   or   understanding。   Lady 

Dalrymple       had    acquired     the   name     of  “a   charming      woman;” 

because   she   had   a   smile   and   a   civil   answer   for   everybody。   Miss 

Carteret; with still less to say; was so plain and so awkward; that 

she would never have been tolerated in Camden…place but for her 

birth。 

    Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but 

yet   “it  was    an   acquaintance      worth    having;”     and   when     Anne 

ventured to speak her opinion of them to Mr。 Elliot; he agreed to 

their  being nothing  in   themselves; but  still   maintained   that;   as   a 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                         ElecBook 


… Page 170…

                             Jane Austen: Persuasion                               170 



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 is by 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   fastidious   than   almost   any   other   woman   I   know;   but 

will   it   answer?   Will   it   make   you   happy?   Will   it   not   be   wiser   to 

accept the  society  of  those  good   ladies   in   Laura…place;  and  enjoy 

all   the   advantages   of   the   connexion   

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