thingmusttakeitschance.Theevilofamarriagewouldbemuchdiminished,ifElizabethwerealsotomarry.Asforherself,shemightalwayscommandahomewithLadyRussell.
LadyRussell’scomposedmindandpolitemannerswereputtosometrialonthispoint,inherintercourseinCamdenPlace.ThesightofMrsClayinsuchfavour,andofAnnesooverlooked,wasaperpetualprovocationtoherthereandvexedherasmuchwhenshewasaway,asapersoninBathwhodrinksthewater,getsallthenewpublications,andhasaverylargeacquaintance,hastimetobevexed.
AsMrElliotbecameknowntoher,shegrewmorecharitable,ormoreindifferent,towardstheothers.Hismannerswereanimmediaterecommendationandonconversingwithhimshefoundthesolidsofullysupportingthesuperficial,thatshewasatfirst,asshetoldAnne,almostreadytoexclaim,“CanthisbeMrElliot?”andcouldnotseriouslypicturetoherselfamoreagreeableorestimableman.Everythingunitedinhimgoodunderstanding,correctopinions,knowledgeoftheworld,andawarmheart.Hehadstrongfeelingsoffamilyattachmentandfamilyhonour,withoutprideorweaknesshelivedwiththeliberalityofamanoffortune,withoutdisplayhejudgedforhimselfineverythingessential,withoutdefyingpublicopinioninanypointofworldlydecorum.Hewassteady,observant,moderate,candidneverrunawaywithbyspiritsorbyselfishness,whichfancieditselfstrongfeelingandyet,withasensibilitytowhatwasamiableandlovely,andavalueforallthefelicitiesofdomesticlife,whichcharactersoffanciedenthusiasmandviolentagitationseldomreallypossess.Shewassurethathehadnotbeenhappyinmarriage.ColonelWallissaidit,andLadyRussellsawitbutithadbeennounhappinesstosourhismind,nor(shebeganprettysoontosuspect)topreventhisthinkingofasecondchoice.HersatisfactioninMrElliotoutweighedalltheplagueofMrsClay.
ItwasnowsomeyearssinceAnnehadbeguntolearnthatsheandherexcellentfriendcouldsometimesthinkdifferentlyanditdidnotsurpriseher,therefore,thatLadyRussellshouldseenothingsuspiciousorinconsistent,nothingtorequiremoremotivesthanappeare