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CHAPTER XXI.

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    ot’scompany,andfellinlovewithhimandnotadifficultyorascruplewasthereonhisside,withrespecttoherbirth.Allhiscautionwasspentinbeingsecuredoftherealamountofherfortune,beforehecommittedhimself.Dependuponit,whateveresteemMrElliotmayhaveforhisownsituationinlifenow,asayoungmanhehadnotthesmallestvalueforit.HischancefortheKellynchestatewassomething,butallthehonourofthefamilyheheldascheapasdirt.Ihaveoftenheardhimdeclare,thatifbaronetciesweresaleable,anybodyshouldhavehisforfiftypounds,armsandmotto,nameandliveryincludedbutIwillnotpretendtorepeathalfthatIusedtohearhimsayonthatsubject.Itwouldnotbefairandyetyououghttohaveproof,forwhatisallthisbutassertion,andyoushallhaveproof.” “Indeed,mydearMrsSmith,Iwantnone,”criedAnne.“YouhaveassertednothingcontradictorytowhatMrElliotappearedtobesomeyearsago.Thisisallinconfirmation,rather,ofwhatweusedtohearandbelieve.Iammorecurioustoknowwhyheshouldbesodifferentnow.” “Butformysatisfaction,ifyouwillhavethegoodnesstoringforMarystay:Iamsureyouwillhavethestillgreatergoodnessofgoingyourselfintomybedroom,andbringingmethesmallinlaidboxwhichyouwillfindontheuppershelfofthecloset.” Anne,seeingherfriendtobeearnestlybentonit,didasshewasdesired.Theboxwasbroughtandplacedbeforeher,andMrsSmith,sighingoveritassheunlockedit,said— “Thisisfullofpapersbelongingtohim,tomyhusbandasmallportiononlyofwhatIhadtolookoverwhenIlosthim.TheletterIamlookingforwasonewrittenbyMrElliottohimbeforeourmarriage,andhappenedtobesavedwhy,onecanhardlyimagine.Buthewascarelessandimmethodical,likeothermen,aboutthosethingsandwhenIcametoexaminehispapers,Ifounditwithothersstillmoretrivial,fromdifferentpeoplescatteredhereandthere,whilemanylettersandmemorandumsofrealimportancehadbeendestroyed.HereitisIwouldnotburnit,becausebeingeventhenverylittlesatisfiedwithMrElliot,Iwasdeterminedtopreserveeverydocumentofformerintimacy.IhavenowanothermotiveforbeinggladthatIcanproduceit.” Thiswastheletter,directedto“CharlesSmith,Esq.TunbridgeWells,”anddatedfromLondon,asfarbackasJuly,1803:— “DearSmith, “Ihavereceivedyours.Yourkindnessalmostoverpowersme.Iwishnaturehadmadesuchheartsasyoursmorecommon,butIhavelivedthree-and-twentyyearsintheworld,andhaveseennonelikeit.Atpresent,believeme,Ihavenoneedofyourservices,beingincashagain.Givemejoy:IhavegotridofSirWalterandMiss.TheyaregonebacktoKellynch,andalmostmademesweartovisitthemthissummerbutmyfirstvisittoKellynchwillbewithasurveyor,totellmehowtobringitwithbestadvantagetothehammer.Thebaronet,nevertheless,isnotunlikelytomarryagainheisquitefoolenough.Ifhedoes,however,theywillleavemeinpeace,whichmaybeadecentequivalentforthereversion.Heisworsethanlastyear. “IwishIhadanynamebutElliot.Iamsickofit.ThenameofWalterIcandrop,thankGod!andIdesireyouwillneverinsultmewithmysecondW.again,meaning,fortherestofmylife,tobeonlyyourstruly, “WM.ELLIOT.” SuchalettercouldnotbereadwithoutputtingAnneinaglowandMrsSmith,observingthehighcolourinherface,said— “Thelanguage,Iknow,ishighlydisrespectful.ThoughIhaveforgottheexactterms,Ihaveaperfectimpressionofthegeneralmeaning.Butitshowsyoutheman.Markhisprofessionstomypoorhusband.Cananythingbestronger?”
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