Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of
being known to design letting his house. Mr
Shepherd had once mentioned the word “advertise,”
but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter
spurned the idea of its being offered in any manner;
forbad the slightest hint being dropped of his having
such an intention; and it was only on the supposition
of his being spontaneously solicited by some most
unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as
a great favour, that he would let it at all.
How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!
Lady Russell had another excellent one at hand, for
being extremely glad that Sir Walter and his family
were to remove from the country. Elizabeth had
been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished
to see interrupted. It was with the daughter
of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an unprosperous
marriage, to her father’s house, with the additional
burden of two children. She was a clever young
woman, who understood the art of pleasing—the
art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; and who
had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as
to have been already staying there more than once,
in spite of all that Lady Russell, who thought it
a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution
and reserve.
Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with
Elizabeth, and seemed to love her, rather because
she would love her, than because Elizabeth deserved
it. She had never received from her more than
outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of
complaisance; had never succeeded in any point which
she wanted to carry, against previous inclination.
She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to
get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly
open to all the injustice and all the discredit of
the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on
many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth
the advantage of her own better judgement and experience;
but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own
way; and never had she pursued it in more decided
opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection
of Mrs Clay; turning from the society of so deserving
a sister, to bestow her affection and confidence on
one who ought to have been nothing to her but the
object of distant civility.
From situation, Mrs Clay was, in Lady Russell’s
estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she
believed a very dangerous companion; and a removal
that would leave Mrs Clay behind, and bring a choice
of more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot’s
reach, was therefore an object of first-rate importance.
Chapter 3
“I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter,”
said Mr Shepherd one morning at Kellynch Hall, as
he laid down the newspaper, “that the present
juncture is much in our favour. This peace will
be turning all our rich naval officers ashore.
They will be all wanting a home. Could not
be a better time, Sir Walter, for having a choice
of tenants, very responsible tenants. Many a
noble fortune has been made during the war. If
a rich admiral were to come in our way, Sir Walter—”
