presentalmostallthetimetheyweretalkingthematterover.
“Andaverywell-spoken,genteel,shrewdlady,sheseemedtobe,”continuedhe“askedmorequestionsaboutthehouse,andterms,andtaxes,thantheAdmiralhimself,andseemedmoreconversantwithbusinessandmoreover,SirWalter,Ifoundshewasnotquiteunconnectedinthiscountry,anymorethanherhusbandthatistosay,sheissistertoagentlemanwhodidliveamongstusonceshetoldmesoherself:sistertothegentlemanwholivedafewyearsbackatMonkford.Blessme!whatwashisname?AtthismomentIcannotrecollecthisname,thoughIhavehearditsolately.Penelope,mydear,canyouhelpmetothenameofthegentlemanwholivedatMonkford:MrsCroft’sbrother?”
ButMrsClaywastalkingsoeagerlywithMissElliot,thatshedidnotheartheappeal.
“Ihavenoconceptionwhomyoucanmean,ShepherdIremembernogentlemanresidentatMonkfordsincethetimeofoldGovernorTrent.”
“Blessme!howveryodd!Ishallforgetmyownnamesoon,Isuppose.AnamethatIamsoverywellacquaintedwithknewthegentlemansowellbysightseenhimahundredtimescametoconsultmeonce,Iremember,aboutatrespassofoneofhisneighboursfarmer’smanbreakingintohisorchardwalltorndownapplesstolencaughtinthefactandafterwards,contrarytomyjudgement,submittedtoanamicablecompromise.Veryoddindeed!”
Afterwaitinganothermoment—
“YoumeanMrWentworth,Isuppose?”saidAnne.
MrShepherdwasallgratitude.
“Wentworthwastheveryname!MrWentworthwastheveryman.HehadthecuracyofMonkford,youknow,SirWalter,sometimeback,fortwoorthreeyears.Camethereabouttheyear—-5,Itakeit.Yourememberhim,Iamsure.”
“Wentworth?Oh!ay,—MrWentworth,thecurateofMonkford.Youmisledmebythetermgentleman.Ithoughtyouwerespeakingofsomemanofproperty:MrWentworthwasnobody,IrememberquiteunconnectednothingtodowiththeStraffordfamily.Onewondershowthenamesofmanyofournobilitybecomesocommon.”
AsMrShepherdperceivedthatthisconnexionoftheCroftsdidthemnoservicewithSirWalter,hementioneditnomoreretur