CHAPTER II.

ll’shadnosuccessatall:couldnotbeputupwith,werenottobeborne.“What!everycomfortoflifeknockedoff!Journeys,London,servants,horses,table—contractionsandrestrictionseverywhere!Tolivenolongerwiththedecenciesevenofaprivategentleman!No,hewouldsoonerquitKellynchHallatonce,thanremaininitonsuchdisgracefulterms.” “QuitKellynchHall.”ThehintwasimmediatelytakenupbyMrShepherd,whoseinterestwasinvolvedintherealityofSirWalter’sretrenching,andwhowasperfectlypersuadedthatnothingwouldbedonewithoutachangeofabode.“Sincetheideahadbeenstartedintheveryquarterwhichoughttodictate,hehadnoscruple,”hesaid,“inconfessinghisjudgementtobeentirelyonthatside.ItdidnotappeartohimthatSirWaltercouldmateriallyalterhisstyleoflivinginahousewhichhadsuchacharacterofhospitalityandancientdignitytosupport.InanyotherplaceSirWaltermightjudgeforhimselfandwouldbelookedupto,asregulatingthemodesoflifeinwhateverwayhemightchoosetomodelhishousehold.” SirWalterwouldquitKellynchHallandafteraveryfewdaysmoreofdoubtandindecision,thegreatquestionofwhitherheshouldgowassettled,andthefirstoutlineofthisimportantchangemadeout. Therehadbeenthreealternatives,London,Bath,oranotherhouseinthecountry.AllAnne’swisheshadbeenforthelatter.Asmallhouseintheirownneighbourhood,wheretheymightstillhaveLadyRussell’ssociety,stillbenearMary,andstillhavethepleasureofsometimesseeingthelawnsandgrovesofKellynch,wastheobjectofherambition.ButtheusualfateofAnneattendedher,inhavingsomethingveryoppositefromherinclinationfixedon.ShedislikedBath,anddidnotthinkitagreedwithherandBathwastobeherhome. SirWalterhadatfirstthoughtmoreofLondonbutMrShepherdfeltthathecouldnotbetrustedinLondon,andhadbeenskilfulenoughtodissuadehimfromit,andmakeBathpreferred.Itwasamuchsaferplaceforagentlemaninhispredicament:hemighttherebeimportantatcomparativelylittleexpense.TwomaterialadvantagesofBathoverLondonhadofcoursebeengivenalltheirweight:itsmorec