CHAPTER XVII.

gyourdearmother’splace,succeedingtoallherrights,andallherpopularity,aswellastoallhervirtues,wouldbethehighestpossiblegratificationtome.Youareyourmother’sselfincountenanceanddispositionandifImightbeallowedtofancyyousuchasshewas,insituationandname,andhome,presidingandblessinginthesamespot,andonlysuperiortoherinbeingmorehighlyvalued!MydearestAnne,itwouldgivememoredelightthanisoftenfeltatmytimeoflife!” Annewasobligedtoturnaway,torise,towalktoadistanttable,and,leaningthereinpretendedemployment,trytosubduethefeelingsthispictureexcited.Forafewmomentsherimaginationandherheartwerebewitched.Theideaofbecomingwhathermotherhadbeenofhavingthepreciousnameof“LadyElliot”firstrevivedinherselfofbeingrestoredtoKellynch,callingitherhomeagain,herhomeforever,wasacharmwhichshecouldnotimmediatelyresist.LadyRussellsaidnotanotherword,willingtoleavethemattertoitsownoperationandbelievingthat,couldMrElliotatthatmomentwithproprietyhavespokenforhimself!—shebelieved,inshort,whatAnnedidnotbelieve.ThesameimageofMrElliotspeakingforhimselfbroughtAnnetocomposureagain.ThecharmofKellynchandof“LadyElliot”allfadedaway.Shenevercouldaccepthim.Anditwasnotonlythatherfeelingswerestilladversetoanymansaveoneherjudgement,onaseriousconsiderationofthepossibilitiesofsuchacase,wasagainstMrElliot. Thoughtheyhadnowbeenacquaintedamonth,shecouldnotbesatisfiedthatshereallyknewhischaracter.Thathewasasensibleman,anagreeableman,thathetalkedwell,professedgoodopinions,seemedtojudgeproperlyandasamanofprinciple,thiswasallclearenough.Hecertainlyknewwhatwasright,norcouldshefixonanyonearticleofmoraldutyevidentlytransgressedbutyetshewouldhavebeenafraidtoanswerforhisconduct.Shedistrustedthepast,ifnotthepresent.Thenameswhichoccasionallydroptofformerassociates,theallusionstoformerpracticesandpursuits,suggestedsuspicionsnotfavourableofwhathehadbeen.ShesawthattherehadbeenbadhabitsthatSundaytravellinghadbeenacommonthingthattherehadbeenaperiodofhislife(andprobablynotashortone)whenhehadbeen,atleast,carelessinallseriousmattersand,thoughhemightnowthinkverydifferently,whocouldanswerforthetruesentimentsofaclever,cautiousman,grownoldenoughtoappreciateafaircharacter?Howcoulditeverbeascertainedthathismindwastrulycleansed? MrElliotwasrational,discreet,polished,buthewasnotopen.Therewasneveranyburstoffeeling,anywarmthofindignationordelight,attheevilorgoodofothers.This,toAnne,wasadecidedimperfection.Herearlyimpressionswereincurable.Sheprizedthefrank,theopen-hearted,theeagercharacterbeyondallothers.Warmthandenthusiasmdidcaptivateherstill.Shefeltthatshecouldsomuchmoredependuponthesincerityofthosewhosometimeslookedorsaidacarelessorahastything,thanofthosewhosepresenceofmindnevervaried,whosetongueneverslipped. MrElliotwastoogenerallyagreeable.Variousaswerethetempersinherfather’shouse,hepleasedthemall.Heenduredtoowell,stoodtoowellwitheverybody.HehadspokentoherwithsomedegreeofopennessofMrsClayhadappearedcompletelytoseewhatMrsClaywasabout,andtoholdherincontemptandyetMrsClayfoundhimasagreeableasanybody. LadyRussellsaweitherlessormorethanheryoungfriend,forshesawnothingtoexcitedistrust.ShecouldnotimagineamanmoreexactlywhatheoughttobethanMrElliotnordidsheeverenjoyasweeterfeelingthanthehopeofseeinghimreceivethehandofherbelovedAnneinKellynchchurch,inthecourseofthefollowingautumn.