CHAPTER XVI.

soninBathwhodrinksthewater,getsallthenewpublications,andhasaverylargeacquaintance,hastimetobevexed. AsMrElliotbecameknowntoher,shegrewmorecharitable,ormoreindifferent,towardstheothers.Hismannerswereanimmediaterecommendationandonconversingwithhimshefoundthesolidsofullysupportingthesuperficial,thatshewasatfirst,asshetoldAnne,almostreadytoexclaim,“CanthisbeMrElliot?”andcouldnotseriouslypicturetoherselfamoreagreeableorestimableman.Everythingunitedinhimgoodunderstanding,correctopinions,knowledgeoftheworld,andawarmheart.Hehadstrongfeelingsoffamilyattachmentandfamilyhonour,withoutprideorweaknesshelivedwiththeliberalityofamanoffortune,withoutdisplayhejudgedforhimselfineverythingessential,withoutdefyingpublicopinioninanypointofworldlydecorum.Hewassteady,observant,moderate,candidneverrunawaywithbyspiritsorbyselfishness,whichfancieditselfstrongfeelingandyet,withasensibilitytowhatwasamiableandlovely,andavalueforallthefelicitiesofdomesticlife,whichcharactersoffanciedenthusiasmandviolentagitationseldomreallypossess.Shewassurethathehadnotbeenhappyinmarriage.ColonelWallissaidit,andLadyRussellsawitbutithadbeennounhappinesstosourhismind,nor(shebeganprettysoontosuspect)topreventhisthinkingofasecondchoice.HersatisfactioninMrElliotoutweighedalltheplagueofMrsClay. ItwasnowsomeyearssinceAnnehadbeguntolearnthatsheandherexcellentfriendcouldsometimesthinkdifferentlyanditdidnotsurpriseher,therefore,thatLadyRussellshouldseenothingsuspiciousorinconsistent,nothingtorequiremoremotivesthanappeared,inMrElliot’sgreatdesireofareconciliation.InLadyRussell’sview,itwasperfectlynaturalthatMrElliot,atamaturetimeoflife,shouldfeelitamostdesirableobject,andwhatwouldverygenerallyrecommendhimamongallsensiblepeople,tobeongoodtermswiththeheadofhisfamilythesimplestprocessintheworldoftimeuponaheadnaturallyclear,andonlyerringintheheydayofyouth.Annepresumed,however,stilltosmileaboutit,andatlasttomention“Elizabeth.”LadyRusselllistened,andlooked,andmadeonlythiscautiousreply:—“Elizabeth!verywelltimewillexplain.” Itwasareferencetothefuture,whichAnne,afteralittleobservation,feltshemustsubmitto.Shecoulddeterminenothingatpresent.InthathouseElizabethmustbefirstandshewasinthehabitofsuchgeneralobservanceas“MissElliot,”thatanyparticularityofattentionseemed