tableman,perfectlythegentleman,(andnotanill-lookingman,SirWalteradded),whowaslivinginverygoodstyleinMarlboroughBuildings,andhad,athisownparticularrequest,beenadmittedtotheiracquaintancethroughMrElliot,hadmentionedoneortwothingsrelativetothemarriage,whichmadeamaterialdifferenceinthediscreditofit.
ColonelWallishadknownMrElliotlong,hadbeenwellacquaintedalsowithhiswife,hadperfectlyunderstoodthewholestory.Shewascertainlynotawomanoffamily,butwelleducated,accomplished,rich,andexcessivelyinlovewithhisfriend.Therehadbeenthecharm.Shehadsoughthim.Withoutthatattraction,notallhermoneywouldhavetemptedElliot,andSirWalterwas,moreover,assuredofherhavingbeenaveryfinewoman.Herewasagreatdealtosoftenthebusiness.Averyfinewomanwithalargefortune,inlovewithhim!SirWalterseemedtoadmititascompleteapologyandthoughElizabethcouldnotseethecircumstanceinquitesofavourablealight,shealloweditbeagreatextenuation.
MrElliothadcalledrepeatedly,haddinedwiththemonce,evidentlydelightedbythedistinctionofbeingasked,fortheygavenodinnersingeneraldelighted,inshort,byeveryproofofcousinlynotice,andplacinghiswholehappinessinbeingonintimatetermsinCamdenPlace.
Annelistened,butwithoutquiteunderstandingit.Allowances,largeallowances,sheknew,mustbemadefortheideasofthosewhospoke.Shehearditallunderembellishment.Allthatsoundedextravagantorirrationalintheprogressofthereconciliationmighthavenooriginbutinthelanguageoftherelators.Still,however,shehadthesensationoftherebeingsomethingmorethanimmediatelyappeared,inMrElliot’swishing,afteranintervalofsomanyyears,tobewellreceivedbythem.Inaworldlyview,hehadnothingtogainbybeingontermswithSirWalternothingtoriskbyastateofvariance.Inallprobabilityhewasalreadythericherofthetwo,andtheKellynchestatewouldassurelybehishereafterasthetitle.Asensibleman,andhehadlookedlikeaverysensibleman,whyshoulditbeanobjecttohim?Shecouldonlyofferonesolutio