CHAPTER III.

“Imusttakeleavetoobserve,SirWalter,”saidMrShepherdonemorningatKellynchHall,ashelaiddownthenewspaper,“thatthepresentjunctureismuchinourfavour.Thispeacewillbeturningallourrichnavalofficersashore.Theywillbeallwantingahome.Couldnotbeabettertime,SirWalter,forhavingachoiceoftenants,veryresponsibletenants.Manyanoblefortunehasbeenmadeduringthewar.Ifarichadmiralweretocomeinourway,SirWalter—” “Hewouldbeaveryluckyman,Shepherd,”repliedSirWalter“that’sallIhavetoremark.AprizeindeedwouldKellynchHallbetohimratherthegreatestprizeofall,lethimhavetakeneversomanybeforehey,Shepherd?” MrShepherdlaughed,asheknewhemust,atthiswit,andthenadded— “Ipresumetoobserve,SirWalter,that,inthewayofbusiness,gentlemenofthenavyarewelltodealwith.IhavehadalittleknowledgeoftheirmethodsofdoingbusinessandIamfreetoconfessthattheyhaveveryliberalnotions,andareaslikelytomakedesirabletenantsasanysetofpeopleoneshouldmeetwith.Therefore,SirWalter,whatIwouldtakeleavetosuggestis,thatifinconsequenceofanyrumoursgettingabroadofyourintentionwhichmustbecontemplatedasapossiblething,becauseweknowhowdifficultitistokeeptheactionsanddesignsofonepartoftheworldfromthenoticeandcuriosityoftheotherconsequencehasitstaxI,JohnShepherd,mightconcealanyfamily-mattersthatIchose,fornobodywouldthinkitworththeirwhiletoobservemebutSirWalterElliothaseyesuponhimwhichitmaybeverydifficulttoeludeandtherefore,thusmuchIventureupon,thatitwillnotgreatlysurprisemeif,withallourcaution,somerumourofthetruthshouldgetabroadinthesuppositionofwhich,asIwasgoingtoobserve,sinceapplicationswillunquestionablyfollow,Ishouldthinkanyfromourwealthynavalcommandersparticularlyworthattendingtoandbegleavetoadd,thattwohourswillbringmeoveratanytime,tosaveyouthetroubleofreplying.” SirWalteronlynodded.Butsoonafterwards,risingandpacingtheroom,heobservedsarcastically— “Therearefewamongthegentlemenofthenavy,Iimagine,whowouldnotbesurprisedtofindthemselvesinahouseofthisdescription.” “Theywouldlookaroundthem,nodoubt,andblesstheirgoodfortune,”saidMrsClay,forMrsClaywaspresent:herfatherhaddrivenherover,nothingbeingofsomuchusetoMrsClay’shealthasadrivetoKellynch:“butIquiteagreewithmyfatherinthinkingasailormightbeaverydesirabletenant.Ihaveknownagooddealoftheprofessionandbesidestheirliberality,theyaresoneatandcarefulinalltheirways!Thesevaluablepicturesofyours,SirWalter,ifyouchosetoleavethem,wouldbeperfectlysafe.Everythinginandaboutthehousewouldbetakensuchexcellentcareof!Thegardensandshrubberieswouldbekeptinalmostashighorderastheyarenow.Youneednotbeafraid,MissElliot,ofyourownsweetflowergardensbeingneglected.” “Astoallthat,”rejoinedSirWa