nitywasthebeginningandtheendofSirWalterElliot’scharactervanityofpersonandofsituation.Hehadbeenremarkablyhandsomeinhisyouthand,atfifty-four,wasstillaveryfineman.Fewwomencouldthinkmoreoftheirpersonalappearancethanhedid,norcouldthevaletofanynewmadelordbemoredelightedwiththeplaceheheldinsociety.HeconsideredtheblessingofbeautyasinferioronlytotheblessingofabaronetcyandtheSirWalterElliot,whounitedthesegifts,wastheconstantobjectofhiswarmestrespectanddevotion.
Hisgoodlooksandhisrankhadonefairclaimonhisattachmentsincetothemhemusthaveowedawifeofverysuperiorcharactertoanythingdeservedbyhisown.LadyElliothadbeenanexcellentwoman,sensibleandamiablewhosejudgementandconduct,iftheymightbepardonedtheyouthfulinfatuationwhichmadeherLadyElliot,hadneverrequiredindulgenceafterwards.—Shehadhumoured,orsoftened,orconcealedhisfailings,andpromotedhisrealrespectabilityforseventeenyearsandthoughnottheveryhappiestbeingintheworldherself,hadfoundenoughinherduties,herfriends,andherchildren,toattachhertolife,andmakeitnomatterofindifferencetoherwhenshewascalledontoquitthem.—Threegirls,thetwoeldestsixteenandfourteen,wasanawfullegacyforamothertobequeath,anawfulchargerather,toconfidetotheauthorityandguidanceofaconceited,sillyfather.Shehad,however,oneveryintimatefriend,asensible,deservingwoman,whohadbeenbrought,bystrongattachmenttoherself,tosettleclosebyher,inthevillageofKellynchandonherkindnessandadvice,LadyElliotmainlyreliedforthebesthelpandmaintenanceofthegoodprinciplesandinstructionwhichshehadbeenanxiouslygivingherdaughters.
Thisfriend,andSirWalter,didnotmarry,whatevermighthavebeenanticipatedonthatheadbytheiracquaintance.ThirteenyearshadpassedawaysinceLadyElliot’sdeath,andtheywerestillnearneighboursandintimatefriends,andoneremainedawidower,theotherawidow.
ThatLadyRussell,ofsteadyageandch