MrShepherd,acivil,cautiouslawyer,who,whatevermightbehisholdorhisviewsonSirWalter,wouldratherhavethedisagreeablepromptedbyanybodyelse,excusedhimselffromofferingtheslightesthint,andonlybeggedleavetorecommendanimplicitreferencetotheexcellentjudgementofLadyRussell,fromwhoseknowngoodsensehefullyexpectedtohavejustsuchresolutemeasuresadvisedashemeanttoseefinallyadopted.
LadyRussellwasmostanxiouslyzealousonthesubject,andgaveitmuchseriousconsideration.Shewasawomanratherofsoundthanofquickabilities,whosedifficultiesincomingtoanydecisioninthisinstanceweregreat,fromtheoppositionoftwoleadingprinciples.Shewasofstrictintegrityherself,withadelicatesenseofhonourbutshewasasdesirousofsavingSirWalter’sfeelings,assolicitousforthecreditofthefamily,asaristocraticinherideasofwhatwasduetothem,asanybodyofsenseandhonestycouldwellbe.Shewasabenevolent,charitable,goodwoman,andcapableofstrongattachments,mostcorrectinherconduct,strictinhernotionsofdecorum,andwithmannersthatwereheldastandardofgood-breeding.Shehadacultivatedmind,andwas,generallyspeaking,rationalandconsistent—butshehadprejudicesonthesideofancestryshehadavalueforrankandconsequence,whichblindedheralittletothefaultsofthosewhopossessedthem.Herselfthewidowofonlyaknight,shegavethedignityofabaronetallitsdueandSirWalter,independentofhisclaimsasanoldacquaintance,anattentiveneighbour,anobliginglandlord,thehusbandofherverydearfriend,thefatherofAnneandhersisters,was,asbeingSirWalter,inherapprehension,entitledtoagreatdealofcompassionandconsiderationunderhispresentdifficulties.
Theymustretrenchthatdidnotadmitofadoubt.ButshewasveryanxioustohaveitdonewiththeleastpossiblepaintohimandElizabeth.Shedrewupplansofeconomy,shemadeexactcalculations,andshedidwhatnobodyelsethoughtofdoing:sheconsultedAnne,whoneverseemedconsideredbytheothersashavinganyinterestinthequestion.Sheconsulted,andinadegreewasinfluencedbyherinmar