then,withregardtomyfatherandsister,andafterwardsinthecircumstancesofhismarriage,whichInevercouldquitereconcilewithpresenttimes.Itseemedtoannounceadifferentsortofman.”
“Iknowitall,Iknowitall,”criedMrsSmith.“HehadbeenintroducedtoSirWalterandyoursisterbeforeIwasacquaintedwithhim,butIheardhimspeakofthemforever.Iknowhewasinvitedandencouraged,andIknowhedidnotchoosetogo.Icansatisfyyou,perhaps,onpointswhichyouwouldlittleexpectandastohismarriage,Iknewallaboutitatthetime.IwasprivytoalltheforsandagainstsIwasthefriendtowhomheconfidedhishopesandplansandthoughIdidnotknowhiswifepreviously,herinferiorsituationinsociety,indeed,renderedthatimpossible,yetIknewherallherlifeafterwards,oratleasttillwithinthelasttwoyearsofherlife,andcanansweranyquestionyoumaywishtoput.”
“Nay,”saidAnne,“Ihavenoparticularenquirytomakeabouther.Ihavealwaysunderstoodtheywerenotahappycouple.ButIshouldliketoknowwhy,atthattimeofhislife,heshouldslightmyfather’sacquaintanceashedid.Myfatherwascertainlydisposedtotakeverykindandpropernoticeofhim.WhydidMrElliotdrawback?”
“MrElliot,”repliedMrsSmith,“atthatperiodofhislife,hadoneobjectinview:tomakehisfortune,andbyaratherquickerprocessthanthelaw.Hewasdeterminedtomakeitbymarriage.Hewasdetermined,atleast,nottomaritbyanimprudentmarriageandIknowitwashisbelief(whetherjustlyornot,ofcourseIcannotdecide),thatyourfatherandsister,intheircivilitiesandinvitations,weredesigningamatchbetweentheheirandtheyounglady,anditwasimpossiblethatsuchamatchshouldhaveansweredhisideasofwealthandindependence.Thatwashismotivefordrawingback,Icanassureyou.Hetoldmethewholestory.Hehadnoconcealmentswithme.Itwascurious,thathavingjustleftyoubehindmeinBath,myfirstandprincipalacquaintanceonmarryingshouldbeyourcousinandthat,throughhim,Ishouldbecontinuallyhearingofyourfatherandsister.HedescribedoneMissElliot,andIthoughtveryaffectionatelyoftheother.”
“Perhaps,”criedAnne,struckbyasuddenidea,“yousometimesspokeofmetoMrElliot?”
“TobesureIdidveryoften.IusedtoboastofmyownAnneElliot,andvouchforyourbeingaverydifferentcreaturefrom—”
Shecheckedherselfjustintime.
“ThisaccountsforsomethingwhichMrElliotsaidlastnight,”criedAnne.“Thisexplainsit.Ifoundhehadbeenusedtohearofme.Icouldnotcomprehendhow.Whatwildimaginationsoneformswheredearselfisconcerned!Howsuretobemistaken!ButIbegyourpardonIhaveinterruptedyou.MrElliotmarriedthencompletelyformoney?Thecircumstances,probably,whichfirstopenedyoureyestohischaracter.”
MrsSmithhesitatedalittlehere.“Oh!thosethingsaretoocommon.Whenonelivesintheworld,amanorwoman’smarryingformoneyistoocommontostrikeoneasitought.Iwasveryyoung,andassociatedonlywiththeyoung,andwewereathoughtless,gayset,withoutanystrictrulesofconduct.Welivedforenjoyment.IthinkdifferentlynowtimeandsicknessandsorrowhavegivenmeothernotionsbutatthatperiodImustownIsawnothingreprehensibleinwhatMrElliotwasdoing.‘Todothebestforhimself,’passedasaduty.”
“Butwasnotsheaverylowwoman?”
“YeswhichIobjectedto,buthewouldnotregard.Money,money,wasallthathewanted.Herfatherwasagrazier,hergrandfatherhadbeenabutcher,butthatwasallnothing.Shewasafinewoman,hadhadadecenteducation,wasbroughtforwardbysomecousins,thrownbychanceintoMrElli