CHAPTER XXI.

then,withregardtomyfatherandsister,andafterwardsinthecircumstancesofhismarriage,whichInevercouldquitereconcilewithpresenttimes.Itseemedtoannounceadifferentsortofman.” “Iknowitall,Iknowitall,”criedMrsSmith.“HehadbeenintroducedtoSirWalterandyoursisterbeforeIwasacquaintedwithhim,butIheardhimspeakofthemforever.Iknowhewasinvitedandencouraged,andIknowhedidnotchoosetogo.Icansatisfyyou,perhaps,onpointswhichyouwouldlittleexpectandastohismarriage,Iknewallaboutitatthetime.IwasprivytoalltheforsandagainstsIwasthefriendtowhomheconfidedhishopesandplansandthoughIdidnotknowhiswifepreviously,herinferiorsituationinsociety,indeed,renderedthatimpossible,yetIknewherallherlifeafterwards,oratleasttillwithinthelasttwoyearsofherlife,andcanansweranyquestionyoumaywishtoput.” “Nay,”saidAnne,“Ihavenoparticularenquirytomakeabouther.Ihavealwaysunderstoodtheywerenotahappycouple.ButIshouldliketoknowwhy,atthattimeofhislife,heshouldslightmyfather’sacquaintanceashedid.Myfatherwascertainlydisposedtotakeverykindandpropernoticeofhim.WhydidMrElliotdrawback?” “MrElliot,”repliedMrsSmith,“atthatperiodofhislife,hadoneobjectinview:tomakehisfortune,andbyaratherquickerprocessthanthelaw.Hewasdeterminedtomakeitbymarriage.Hewasdetermined,atleast,nottomaritbyanimprudentmarriageandIknowitwashisbelief(whetherjustlyornot,ofcourseIcannotdecide),thatyourfatherandsister,intheircivilitiesandinvitations,weredesigningamatchbetweentheheirandtheyounglady,anditwasimpossiblethatsuchamatchshouldhaveansweredhisideasofwealthandindependence.Thatwashismotivefordrawingback,Icanassureyou.Hetoldmethewholestory.Hehadnoconcealmentswithme.Itwascurious,thathavingjustleftyoubehindmeinBath,myfirstandprincipalacquaintanceonmarryingshouldbeyourcousinandthat,throughhim,Ishouldbecontinuallyhearingofyourfatherandsister.HedescribedoneMissElliot,andIthoughtveryaffectionatelyoftheother.” “Perhaps,”criedAnne,struckbyasuddenidea,“yousometimesspokeofmetoMrElliot?” “TobesureIdidveryoften.IusedtoboastofmyownAnneElliot,andvouchforyourbeingaverydifferentcreaturefrom—” Shecheckedherselfjustintime. “ThisaccountsforsomethingwhichMrElliotsaidlastnight,”criedAnne.“Thisexplainsit.Ifoundhehadbeenusedtohearofme.Icouldnotcomprehendhow.Whatwildimaginationsoneformswheredearselfisconcerned!Howsuretobemistaken!ButIbegyourpardonIhaveinterruptedyou.MrElliotmarriedthencompletelyformoney?Thecircumstances,probably,whichfirstopenedyoureyestohischaracter.” MrsSmithhesitatedalittlehere.“Oh!thosethingsaretoocommon.Whenonelivesintheworld,amanorwoman’smarryingformoneyistoocommontostrikeoneasitought.Iwasveryyoung,andassociatedonlywiththeyoung,andwewereathoughtless,gayset,withoutanystrictrulesofconduct.Welivedforenjoyment.IthinkdifferentlynowtimeandsicknessandsorrowhavegivenmeothernotionsbutatthatperiodImustownIsawnothingreprehensibleinwhatMrElliotwasdoing.‘Todothebestforhimself,’passedasaduty.” “Butwasnotsheaverylowwoman?” “YeswhichIobjectedto,buthewouldnotregard.Money,money,wasallthathewanted.Herfatherwasagrazier,hergrandfatherhadbeenabutcher,butthatwasallnothing.Shewasafinewoman,hadhadadecenteducation,wasbroughtforwardbysomecousins,thrownbychanceintoMrElliot’scompany,andfellinlovewithhimandnotadifficultyorascruplewasthereonhisside,withrespecttoherbirth.Allhiscautionwasspentinbeingsecuredoftherealamountofherfortune,beforehecommittedhimself.Dependuponit,whateveresteemMrElliotmayhaveforhisownsituationinlifenow,asayoungmanhehadnotthesmallestvalueforit.HischancefortheKellynchestatewassomething,butallthehonourofthefamilyheheldascheapasdirt.Ihaveoftenheardhimdeclare,thatifbaronetciesweresaleable,anybodyshouldhavehisforfiftypounds,armsandmotto,nameandliveryincludedbutIwillnotpretendtorepeathalfthatIusedtohearhimsayonthatsubject.Itwouldnotbefairandyetyououghttohaveproof,forwhatisallthisbutassertion,andyoushallhaveproof.” “Indeed,mydearMrsSmith,Iwantnone,”criedAnne.“YouhaveassertednothingcontradictorytowhatMrElliotappearedtobesomeyearsago.Thisisallinconfirmation,rather,ofwhatweusedtohearandbelieve.Iammorecurioustoknowwhyheshouldbesodifferentnow.” “Butformysatisfaction,ifyouwillhavethegoodnesstoringforMarystay:Iamsureyouwillhavethestillgreatergoodnessofgoingyourselfintomybedroom,andbringingmethesmallinlaidboxwhichyouwillfindontheuppershelfofthecloset.” Anne,seeingherfriendtobeearnestlybentonit,didasshewasdesired.Theboxwasbroughtandplacedbeforeher,andMrsSmith,sighingoveritassheunlockedit,said— “Thisisfullofpapersbelongingtohim,tomyhusbandasmallportiononlyofwhatIhadtolookoverwhenIlosthim.TheletterIamlookingforwasonewrittenbyMrElliottohimbeforeourmarriage,andhappenedtobesavedwhy,onecanhardlyimagine.Buthewascarelessandimmethodical,likeothermen,aboutthosethingsandwhenIcametoexaminehispapers,Ifounditwithothersstillmoretrivial,fromdifferentpeoplescatteredhereandthere,whilemanylettersandmemorandumsofrealimportancehadbeendestroyed.HereitisIwouldnotburnit,becausebeingeventhenverylittlesatisfiedwithMrElliot,Iwasdeterminedtopreserveeverydocumentofformerintimacy.IhavenowanothermotiveforbeinggladthatIcanproduceit.” Thiswastheletter,directedto“CharlesSmith,Esq.TunbridgeWells,”anddatedfromLondon,asfarbackasJuly,1803:— “DearSmith, “Ihavereceivedyours.Yourkindnessalmostoverpowersme.Iwishnaturehadmadesuchheartsasyoursmorecommon,butIhavelivedthree-and-twentyyearsintheworld,andhaveseennonelikeit.Atpresent,believeme,Ihavenoneedofyourservices,beingincashagain.Givemejoy:IhavegotridofSirWalterandMiss.TheyaregonebacktoKellynch,andalmostmademesweartovisitthemthissummerbutmyfirstvisittoKellynchwillbewithasurveyor,totellmehowtobringitwithbestadvantagetothehammer.Thebaronet,nevertheless,isnotunlikelytomarryagainheisquitefoolenough.Ifhedoes,however,theywillleavemeinpeace,whichmaybeadecentequivalentforthereversion.Heisworsethanlastyear. “IwishIhadanynamebutElliot.Iamsickofit.ThenameofWalterIcandrop,thankGod!andIdesireyouwillneverinsultmewithmysecondW.again,meaning,fortherestofmylife,tobeonlyyourstruly, “WM.ELLIOT.” SuchalettercouldnotbereadwithoutputtingAnneinaglowandMrsSmith,observingthehighcolourinherface,said— “Thelanguage,Iknow,ishighlydisrespectful.ThoughIhaveforgottheexactterms,Ihaveaperfectimpressionofthegeneralmeaning.Butitshowsyoutheman.Markhisprofessionstomypoorhusband.Cananythingbestronger?”