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?”