properlyandasamanofprinciple,thiswasallclearenough.Hecertainlyknewwhatwasright,norcouldshefixonanyonearticleofmoraldutyevidentlytransgressedbutyetshewouldhavebeenafraidtoanswerforhisconduct.Shedistrustedthepast,ifnotthepresent.Thenameswhichoccasionallydroptofformerassociates,theallusionstoformerpracticesandpursuits,suggestedsuspicionsnotfavourableofwhathehadbeen.ShesawthattherehadbeenbadhabitsthatSundaytravellinghadbeenacommonthingthattherehadbeenaperiodofhislife(andprobablynotashortone)whenhehadbeen,atleast,carelessinallseriousmattersand,thoughhemightnowthinkverydifferently,whocouldanswerforthetruesentimentsofaclever,cautiousman,grownoldenoughtoappreciateafaircharacter?Howcoulditeverbeascertainedthathismindwastrulycleansed?
MrElliotwasrational,discreet,polished,buthewasnotopen.Therewasneveranyburstoffeeling,anywarmthofindignationordelight,attheevilorgoodofothers.This,toAnne,wasadecidedimperfection.Herearlyimpressionswereincurable.Sheprizedthefrank,theopen-hearted,theeagercharacterbeyondallothers.Warmthandenthusiasmdidcaptivateherstill.Shefeltthatshecouldsomuchmoredependuponthesincerityofthosewhosometimeslookedorsaidacarelessorahastything,thanofthosewhosepresenceofmindnevervaried,whosetongueneverslipped.
MrElliotwastoogenerallyagreeable.Variousaswerethetempersinherfather’shouse,hepleasedthemall.Heenduredtoowell,stoodtoowellwitheverybody.HehadspokentoherwithsomedegreeofopennessofMrsClayhadappearedcompletelytoseewhatMrsClaywasabout,andtoholdherincontemptandyetMrsClayfoundhimasagreeableasanybody.
LadyRussellsaweitherlessormorethanheryoungfriend,forshesawnothingtoexcitedistrust.ShecouldnotimagineamanmoreexactlywhatheoughttobethanMrElliotnordidsheeverenjoyasweeterfeelingthanthehopeofseeinghimreceivethehandofherbelovedAnneinKellynchchurch,inthecourseofthefollowingautumn.