possible?Youmaydependuponit,thattheywillmoveinthefirstsetinBaththiswinter,andasrankisrank,yourbeingknowntoberelatedtothemwillhaveitsuseinfixingyourfamily(ourfamilyletmesay)inthatdegreeofconsiderationwhichwemustallwishfor.”
“Yes,”sighedAnne,“weshall,indeed,beknowntoberelatedtothem!”thenrecollectingherself,andnotwishingtobeanswered,sheadded,“Icertainlydothinktherehasbeenbyfartoomuchtroubletakentoprocuretheacquaintance.Isuppose”(smiling)“IhavemorepridethananyofyoubutIconfessitdoesvexme,thatweshouldbesosolicitoustohavetherelationshipacknowledged,whichwemaybeverysureisamatterofperfectindifferencetothem.”
“Pardonme,dearcousin,youareunjustinyourownclaims.InLondon,perhaps,inyourpresentquietstyleofliving,itmightbeasyousay:butinBathSirWalterElliotandhisfamilywillalwaysbeworthknowing:alwaysacceptableasacquaintance.”
“Well,”saidAnne,“Icertainlyamproud,tooproudtoenjoyawelcomewhichdependssoentirelyuponplace.”
“Iloveyourindignation,”saidhe“itisverynatural.ButhereyouareinBath,andtheobjectistobeestablishedherewithallthecreditanddignitywhichoughttobelongtoSirWalterElliot.YoutalkofbeingproudIamcalledproud,Iknow,andIshallnotwishtobelievemyselfotherwiseforourpride,ifinvestigated,wouldhavethesameobject,Ihavenodoubt,thoughthekindmayseemalittledifferent.Inonepoint,Iamsure,mydearcousin,”(hecontinued,speakinglower,thoughtherewasnooneelseintheroom)“inonepoint,Iamsure,wemustfeelalike.Wemustfeelthateveryadditiontoyourfather’ssociety,amonghisequalsorsuperiors,maybeofuseindivertinghisthoughtsfromthosewhoarebeneathhim.”
Helooked,ashespoke,totheseatwhichMrsClayhadbeenlatelyoccupying:asufficientexplanationofwhatheparticularlymeantandthoughAnnecouldnotbelieveintheirhavingthesamesortofpride,shewaspleasedwithhimfornotlikingMrsClayandherconscienceadmittedthathiswishingtopromoteherfather’sgettinggreatacquaintancewasmorethanexcusableintheviewofdefeatingher.