followbutthatofayoungestsister,madethebookanevilandmorethanonce,whenherfatherhadleftitopenonthetablenearher,hadsheclosedit,withavertedeyes,andpusheditaway.
Shehadhadadisappointment,moreover,whichthatbook,andespeciallythehistoryofherownfamily,musteverpresenttheremembranceof.Theheirpresumptive,theveryWilliamWalterElliot,Esq.,whoserightshadbeensogenerouslysupportedbyherfather,haddisappointedher.
Shehad,whileaveryyounggirl,assoonasshehadknownhimtobe,intheeventofherhavingnobrother,thefuturebaronet,meanttomarryhim,andherfatherhadalwaysmeantthatsheshould.HehadnotbeenknowntothemasaboybutsoonafterLadyElliot’sdeath,SirWalterhadsoughttheacquaintance,andthoughhisovertureshadnotbeenmetwithanywarmth,hehadperseveredinseekingit,makingallowanceforthemodestdrawing-backofyouthand,inoneoftheirspringexcursionstoLondon,whenElizabethwasinherfirstbloom,MrElliothadbeenforcedintotheintroduction.
Hewasatthattimeaveryyoungman,justengagedinthestudyofthelawandElizabethfoundhimextremelyagreeable,andeveryplaninhisfavourwasconfirmed.HewasinvitedtoKellynchHallhewastalkedofandexpectedalltherestoftheyearbuthenevercame.Thefollowingspringhewasseenagainintown,foundequallyagreeable,againencouraged,invited,andexpected,andagainhedidnotcomeandthenexttidingswerethathewasmarried.InsteadofpushinghisfortuneinthelinemarkedoutfortheheirofthehouseofElliot,hehadpurchasedindependencebyunitinghimselftoarichwomanofinferiorbirth.
SirWalterhadresentedit.Astheheadofthehouse,hefeltthatheoughttohavebeenconsulted,especiallyaftertakingtheyoungmansopubliclybythehand“Fortheymusthavebeenseentogether,”heobserved,“onceatTattersall’s,andtwiceinthelobbyoftheHouseofCommons.”Hisdisapprobationwasexpressed,butapparentlyverylittleregarded.MrElliothadattemptednoapology,andshewnhimselfasunsolicitousofbeinglongernoticedby