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<v Speaker 1>Chapter seventeen of Persuasion. This is a LibriVox recording. All

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information

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<v Speaker 1>or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by

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<v Speaker 1>Elizabeth Klett Persuasion by Jane Austen, chapter seventeen. While Sir

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<v Speaker 1>Walter and Elizabeth were assiduously pushing their good fortune in

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<v Speaker 1>law place, Anne was renewing an acquaintance of a very

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<v Speaker 1>different description. She had called on her former governess and

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<v Speaker 1>had heard from her of there being an old schoolfellow

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<v Speaker 1>in Bath who had the two strong claims on her

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<v Speaker 1>attention of past kindness and present suffering. Miss Hamilton, now

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<v Speaker 1>missus Smith, had shown her kindness in one of those

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<v Speaker 1>periods of her life when it had been most valuable.

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<v Speaker 1>Anne had gone unhappy to school, grieving for the loss

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<v Speaker 1>of a mother whom she had dearly loved, feeling her

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<v Speaker 1>separation from home, and suffering as a girl of fourteen

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<v Speaker 1>of strong sensibility and not high spirits must suffer at

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<v Speaker 1>such a time. And Miss Hamilton, three years older than herself,

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<v Speaker 1>but still from the want of near relations in a

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<v Speaker 1>settled home, remaining another year at school, had been useful

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<v Speaker 1>and good to her in a way which had considerably

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<v Speaker 1>lessened her misery, and could never be remembered with indifference.

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Hamilton had left school, had married not long afterwards,

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<v Speaker 1>was said to have married a man of fortune. And

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<v Speaker 1>this was all that Anne had known of her till

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<v Speaker 1>now that their governess's account brought her situation forward in

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<v Speaker 1>a more decided, but very different form. She was a

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<v Speaker 1>widow and poor. Her husband had been extravagant, and at

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<v Speaker 1>his death about two years before, had left his affairs

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<v Speaker 1>dreadfully involved. She had had difficulties of every sort to

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<v Speaker 1>contend with, and in addition to these distresses, had been

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<v Speaker 1>afflicted with a severe rheumatic fever, which, finally settling in

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<v Speaker 1>her legs, had made her for the present a cripple.

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<v Speaker 1>She had come to Bath on that account, and was

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<v Speaker 1>now in lodgings near the hot baths, living in a

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<v Speaker 1>very humble way, unable even to afford herself the comfort

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<v Speaker 1>of a servant, and of course almost excluded from society.

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<v Speaker 1>Their mutual friend answered for the satisfaction which a visit

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<v Speaker 1>from miss Elliot would give missus Smith, and Anne therefore

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<v Speaker 1>lost no time in going. She mentioned nothing of what

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<v Speaker 1>she had heard or what she intended at home, It

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<v Speaker 1>would excite no proper interest. There she only consulted Lady Russell,

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<v Speaker 1>who entered thoroughly into her sentiments, and was most happy

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<v Speaker 1>to convey her as near to missus Smith's lodgings in

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<v Speaker 1>Westgate Buildings as Anne chose to be taken. The visit

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<v Speaker 1>was paid. Their acquaintance re established their interest in each

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<v Speaker 1>other more than rekindled. The first ten minutes had its

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<v Speaker 1>awkwardness in its emotion. Twelve years were gone since they

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<v Speaker 1>had parted, and each presented a somewhat different person from

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<v Speaker 1>what the other had imagined. Twelve years had changed Anne

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<v Speaker 1>from the blooming, silent, unformed girl fifteen to the elegant

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<v Speaker 1>little woman of seven and twenty, with every beauty except bloom,

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<v Speaker 1>and with manners as consciously right as they were invariably gentle.

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<v Speaker 1>And twelve years had transformed the fine looking, well grown

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Hamilton, in all the glow of health and confidence

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<v Speaker 1>of superiority, into a poor, infirm, helpless widow receiving the

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<v Speaker 1>visit of her former protegee as a favor. But all

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<v Speaker 1>that was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away.

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<v Speaker 1>And left only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities

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<v Speaker 1>and talking over old times. Anne found in Missus Smith

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<v Speaker 1>the good sense and agreeable manners which she had almost

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<v Speaker 1>ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and

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<v Speaker 1>be cheerful beyond her expectation. Neither the dissipations of the past,

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<v Speaker 1>and she had lived very much in the world, nor

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<v Speaker 1>the restrictions of the present. Neither sickness nor sorrow seemed

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<v Speaker 1>to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits. In

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<v Speaker 1>the course of a second visit, she talked with great openness,

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<v Speaker 1>and Anne's astonishment increased. She could scarcely imagine a more

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<v Speaker 1>cheerless situation in itself than Missus Smith's. She had been

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<v Speaker 1>very fond of her husband, she had buried him. She

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<v Speaker 1>had been used to affluence. It was gone. She had

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<v Speaker 1>no child to connect her with life and happiness again,

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<v Speaker 1>no relations to assist in the arrangement of perplexed affairs,

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<v Speaker 1>no health to make all the rest supportable. Her accommodations

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<v Speaker 1>were limited to a noisy parlor and a dark bedroom behind,

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<v Speaker 1>with no possibility of moving from one to the other

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<v Speaker 1>without assistance, which there was only one servant in the

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<v Speaker 1>house to afford, and she never quitted the house, but

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<v Speaker 1>to be conveyed into the warm bath. Yet in spite

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<v Speaker 1>of all this, Anne had reason to believe that she

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<v Speaker 1>had moments only of languor and oppression, two hours of

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<v Speaker 1>occupation and enjoyment. How could it be? She watched, observed, reflected,

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<v Speaker 1>and finally determined that this was not a case of

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<v Speaker 1>fortitude or resignation. Only a submissive spirit might be patient,

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<v Speaker 1>a strong understanding would supply resolution. But here was some

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<v Speaker 1>thing more. Here was that elasticity of mind, that disposition

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<v Speaker 1>to be comforted, that power of turning readily from evil

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<v Speaker 1>to good, and of finding employment which carried her out

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<v Speaker 1>of herself, which was from nature alone. It was the

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<v Speaker 1>choicest gift of heaven. And Anne viewed her friend as

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<v Speaker 1>one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment,

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<v Speaker 1>it seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want. There

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<v Speaker 1>had been a time missus Smith told her, when her

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<v Speaker 1>spirits had nearly failed, she could not call herself an

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<v Speaker 1>invalid now compared with her state on first reaching Bath,

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<v Speaker 1>then she had indeed been a pitiable object, for she

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<v Speaker 1>had caught cold on the journey and had hardly taken

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<v Speaker 1>possession of her lodgings before she was again confined to

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<v Speaker 1>her bed and suffering under severe and constant pain, and

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<v Speaker 1>all this among strangers with the absolute necessity of having

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<v Speaker 1>a regular nurse, and finances at that moment particularly unfit

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<v Speaker 1>to meet any extraordinary expense. She had weathered it, however,

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<v Speaker 1>and could truly say that it had done her good.

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<v Speaker 1>It had increased her comforts by making her feel herself

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<v Speaker 1>to be in good hands. She had seen too much

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<v Speaker 1>of the world to expect sudden or disinterested attachment anywhere.

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<v Speaker 1>But her illness had proved to her that her landlady

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<v Speaker 1>had a character to preserve and would not use her

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<v Speaker 1>ill And she had been particularly fortunate in her nurse

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<v Speaker 1>as a sister of her landlady, a nurse by profession,

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<v Speaker 1>and who had always a home in that house. When unemployed,

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<v Speaker 1>chanced to be at Liberty just in time to attend her,

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<v Speaker 1>And she said, missus Smith, besides nursing me most admirably,

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<v Speaker 1>has really proved an invaluable acquaintance. As soon as I

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<v Speaker 1>could use my hands, she taught me to knit, which

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<v Speaker 1>has been a great amusement. And she put me in

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<v Speaker 1>the way of making these little thread cases, pincushions and

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<v Speaker 1>card racks, which you will always find me so busy about,

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<v Speaker 1>and which supply me with the means of doing a

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<v Speaker 1>little good to one or two very poor families in

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<v Speaker 1>this neighborhood. She had a large acquaintance, of course, professionally,

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<v Speaker 1>among those who can afford to buy, and she disposes

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<v Speaker 1>of my merchandise. She always takes the right time for applying.

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<v Speaker 1>Everybody's heart is open, you know, when they have recently

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<v Speaker 1>escaped from severe pain or are recovering the blessing of health,

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<v Speaker 1>and Nurse Rook thoroughly understands when to speak. She is

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<v Speaker 1>a shrewd, intelligent, sensible woman. Hers is a line for

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<v Speaker 1>seeing human nature, and she has a fund of good

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<v Speaker 1>sense and observation, which, as a companion, make her infinitely

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<v Speaker 1>superior to thousands of those who, having only received the

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<v Speaker 1>best education in the world, know nothing worth attending. To

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<v Speaker 1>call it gossip, if you will, But when Nurse Rook

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<v Speaker 1>has half an hour's leisure to bestow on me, she

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<v Speaker 1>is sure to have something to relate that is entertaining

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<v Speaker 1>and profitable, something that makes one know one's species better.

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<v Speaker 1>One likes to hear what is going on to be

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<v Speaker 1>au fait as to the newest modes of being trifling

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<v Speaker 1>and silly to me, who lives so much alone. Her conversation,

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<v Speaker 1>I assure you, is a treat. Anne, far from wishing

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<v Speaker 1>to cavil at the pleasure, replied, I can easily believe it.

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<v Speaker 1>Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they

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<v Speaker 1>are intelligent, may be well worth listening to such varieties

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<v Speaker 1>of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing.

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<v Speaker 1>And it is not merely in its follies that they

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<v Speaker 1>are well read, for they see it occasionally under every

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<v Speaker 1>circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting, what instances

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<v Speaker 1>must pass before them of ardent, disinterested, self denying, attachment

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<v Speaker 1>of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation of all the conflicts, and

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<v Speaker 1>all the sacrifices that a noblest most a sick chamber

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<v Speaker 1>may often furnish the worth of volumes. Yes, said Missus Smith,

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<v Speaker 1>more doubtingly. Sometimes it may, though I fear its lessons

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<v Speaker 1>are not often in the elevated style you describe here

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<v Speaker 1>and there. Human nature may be great in times of trial,

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<v Speaker 1>but generally speaking, it is its weakness and not its

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<v Speaker 1>strength that appears in a sick chamber. It is selfishness

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<v Speaker 1>and impatience rather than generosity and fortitude that one hears of.

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<v Speaker 1>There is so little real friendship in the world, and unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 1>speaking low and tremulously, there are so many who forget

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<v Speaker 1>to think seriously till it is almost too late. Anne

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<v Speaker 1>saw the misery of such feelings. The husband had not

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<v Speaker 1>been what he ought, and the wife had been led

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<v Speaker 1>among that part of mankind, which made her think worse

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<v Speaker 1>of the world than she hoped it deserved. It was

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<v Speaker 1>but a passing emotion. However, with Missus Smith she shook

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<v Speaker 1>it off and soon added, in a different tone. I

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<v Speaker 1>do not suppose the situation my friend Missus Rook is

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<v Speaker 1>in at present will furnish much either to interest or

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<v Speaker 1>edify me. She is only nursing Missus Wallace of Marlborough Buildings,

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<v Speaker 1>a mere, pretty, silly, expensive, fashionable woman, I believe, and

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<v Speaker 1>of course will have nothing to report but of lace

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<v Speaker 1>and finery. I mean to make my profit of Missus Wallace. However,

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<v Speaker 1>she has play plenty of money, and I intend she

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<v Speaker 1>shall buy all the high priced things I have in hand. Now.

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<v Speaker 1>Anne had called several times on her friend, before the

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<v Speaker 1>existence of such a person was known in Camden Place.

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<v Speaker 1>At last it became necessary to speak of her. Sir Walter,

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<v Speaker 1>Elizabeth and Missus Clay returned one morning from Laura Place

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<v Speaker 1>with a sudden invitation from Lady Tullrymple for the same evening,

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<v Speaker 1>and Anne was already engaged to spend that evening in

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<v Speaker 1>Westgate Buildings. She was not sorry for the excuse. They

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<v Speaker 1>were only asked. She was sure because Lady Dalrymple, being

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<v Speaker 1>kept at home by a bad cold, was glad to

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<v Speaker 1>make use of the relationship which had been so pressed

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<v Speaker 1>on her. And she declined in her own account with

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<v Speaker 1>great alacrity, as she was engaged to spend the evening

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<v Speaker 1>with an old schoolfellow. They were not much interested in

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<v Speaker 1>anything relative to Anne, but still there were questions enough

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<v Speaker 1>asked to make it understood what this old schoolfellow was.

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<v Speaker 1>And Elizabeth was disdainful, and Sir Walter severe Westgate Buildings,

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<v Speaker 1>said he, and who is miss Anne Elliot to be

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<v Speaker 1>visiting in Westgate Buildings? A Missus Smith, a widow Missus Smith,

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<v Speaker 1>and who was her husband? One of five thousand mister

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<v Speaker 1>Smiths whose names are to be met with everywhere? And

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<v Speaker 1>what is her attraction? That she is old and sickly?

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<v Speaker 1>Upon my word, miss Anne Elliot, you have the most

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<v Speaker 1>extraordinary taste. Everything that revolts other people, low company, poultry, rooms,

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<v Speaker 1>foul air, disgusting associations are inviting to you. But surely

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<v Speaker 1>you may put off this old lady till to morrow.

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<v Speaker 1>She is not so near her end, I presume, but

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<v Speaker 1>that she may hope to see another day. What is

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<v Speaker 1>her age? Forty? No, sir, she is not one and thirty.

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<v Speaker 1>But I do not think I can put off my engagement,

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<v Speaker 1>because it is the only evening for some time which

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<v Speaker 1>will at once suit her and myself. She goes into

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<v Speaker 1>the warm bath to morrow and for the rest of

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<v Speaker 1>the week. You know we are engaged. But what does

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<v Speaker 1>lady Russell think of this acquaintance, asked Elizabeth. She sees

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<v Speaker 1>nothing to blame in it, replied Anne. On the contrary,

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<v Speaker 1>she approves it, and has generally taken me when I

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<v Speaker 1>have called on missus Smith. Westgate Buildings must have been

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<v Speaker 1>rather surprised by the appearance of a carriage drawn up

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<v Speaker 1>near its pavement, observed Sir Walter. Sir Henry Russell's widow

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<v Speaker 1>indeed has no honors to distinguish her arms. But still

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<v Speaker 1>it is a handsome equipage, and no doubt is well

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<v Speaker 1>known to convey a Miss Eliot, a widow, Missus Smith,

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<v Speaker 1>lodging in Westgate buildings, a poor widow, barely able to

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<v Speaker 1>live between thirty and forty, a mere Missus Smith, an

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<v Speaker 1>every day Missus Smith, of all people and all names

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<v Speaker 1>in the world, to be the chosen friend of miss

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<v Speaker 1>Anne Elliot, and to be preferred by her to her

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<v Speaker 1>own family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland.

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<v Speaker 1>Missus Smith, such a name. Missus Clay, who had been

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<v Speaker 1>present while all this passed, now thought it advisable to

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<v Speaker 1>leave the room. And Anne could have said much, and

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<v Speaker 1>did long to say a little in defense of her

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<v Speaker 1>friend's not very dissimilar claims to theirs, but her sense

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<v Speaker 1>of personal respect to her father prevented her. She made

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<v Speaker 1>no reply. She left it to himself to recollect that

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<v Speaker 1>Missus Smith was not the only widow in Bath between

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<v Speaker 1>thirty and forty, with little to live on and no

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<v Speaker 1>surname of dignity. Anne kept her appointment, the others kept theirs,

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<v Speaker 1>and of course she heard the next morning that they

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<v Speaker 1>had had a delightful evening. She had been the only

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<v Speaker 1>one of the set absent, for Sir Walter and Elizabeth

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<v Speaker 1>had not only been quite at her Ladyship's service themselves,

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<v Speaker 1>but had actually been happy to be employed by her

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<v Speaker 1>in collecting others, and had been at the trouble of

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<v Speaker 1>inviting both Lady Russell and mister Elliot. And mister Elliot

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<v Speaker 1>had made a point of leaving Colonel Wallace early, and

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<v Speaker 1>Lady Russell had fresh arranged all her evening engagements in

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<v Speaker 1>order to wait on her. Anne had the whole history

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<v Speaker 1>of all that such an evening could supply from Lady

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<v Speaker 1>Russell to her. Its greatest interest must be in having

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<v Speaker 1>been very much talked of between her friend and mister Eliot,

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<v Speaker 1>in having been wished for, regretted, and at the same

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<v Speaker 1>time honored for staying away in such a cause. Her

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<v Speaker 1>kind compassionate visits to this old schoolfellow, sick and reduced,

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<v Speaker 1>seemed to have quite delighted mister Eliot. He thought her

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<v Speaker 1>a most extraordinary young woman in her temper, manners mind

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<v Speaker 1>a model of female excellence he could meet. Even Lady

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<v Speaker 1>Russell in a discussion of her merits, and Anne could

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<v Speaker 1>not be given to understand so much by her friend,

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<v Speaker 1>could not know herself to be so highly rated by

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<v Speaker 1>a sensible man. Without many of those agreeable sensations which

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<v Speaker 1>her friend meant to create. Lady Russell was now perfectly

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<v Speaker 1>decided in her opinion of mister Eliot. She was as

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<v Speaker 1>much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in time

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<v Speaker 1>as of his deserving her, and was beginning to calculate

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<v Speaker 1>the number of weeks which would free him from all

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<v Speaker 1>the remaining restraints of widowhood and leave him at liberty

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<v Speaker 1>to exert her most open powers of pleasing. She would

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<v Speaker 1>not speak to Anne with half the certainty she felt

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<v Speaker 1>on the subject. She would venture on little more than

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<v Speaker 1>hints of what might be hereafter, of a possible attachment

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<v Speaker 1>on his side, of the desirableness of the alliance, supposing

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<v Speaker 1>such attachment to be real, and returned. Anne heard her

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<v Speaker 1>and made no violent exclamations. She only smiled, blushed, and

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<v Speaker 1>gently shook her head. I am no match maker, as

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<v Speaker 1>you well know, said Lady Russell, being much too well

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<v Speaker 1>aware of the uncertainty of all human events and calculations.

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<v Speaker 1>I only mean that if mister Eliot should some time

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<v Speaker 1>hence pay his addresses to you, and if you should

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<v Speaker 1>be disposed to accept him, I think there would be

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<v Speaker 1>every possibility of your being happy together, a most suitable connection.

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<v Speaker 1>Everybody must consider it, but I think it might be

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<v Speaker 1>a very happy one. Mister Eliot is an exceedingly agreeable man,

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<v Speaker 1>and in many respects I think highly of him, said Anne.

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<v Speaker 1>But we should not suit. Lady Russell let this, and

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<v Speaker 1>said only in rejoinder, I own that to be able

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<v Speaker 1>to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the

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<v Speaker 1>future Lady Eliot. To look forward and see you occupying

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<v Speaker 1>your dear mother's place, succeeding to all her rights and

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<v Speaker 1>all her popularity, as well as to all her virtues,

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<v Speaker 1>would be the highest possible gratification to me. You are

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<v Speaker 1>your mother's self in countenance and disposition, and if I

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<v Speaker 1>might be allowed to fancy you such as she was

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<v Speaker 1>in situation and name and home, presiding and blessing in

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<v Speaker 1>the same spot, and only superior to her in being

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<v Speaker 1>more highly valued, my dearest Anne, it would give me

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<v Speaker 1>more delight than is often felt at my time of life.

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<v Speaker 1>Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise to walk

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<v Speaker 1>to a distant table, and leaning there in pretended employment,

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<v Speaker 1>tried to subdue the feelings this picture excited. For a

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<v Speaker 1>few moments, her imagination and her heart were bewitched. The

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<v Speaker 1>idea of becoming what her mother had been, of having

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<v Speaker 1>the precious name of Lady Elliot first revived in her,

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<v Speaker 1>of being restored to Kellynch calling at her home again,

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<v Speaker 1>her home forever, was a charm which she could not

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<v Speaker 1>immediately resist. Lady Russell said not another word, willing to

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<v Speaker 1>leave the matter to its own operation, and believing that

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<v Speaker 1>could mister Elliot at that moment, with propriety have spoken

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<v Speaker 1>for himself? She believed, in short, what Anne did not believe.

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<v Speaker 1>The same image of mister Elliot speaking for himself brought

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<v Speaker 1>Anne to composure again. The charm of Kellynch and of

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<v Speaker 1>Lady Elliot all faded away. She never could accept him,

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<v Speaker 1>and it was not only that her feelings were still

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<v Speaker 1>adverse to any man save one. Her judgment, on a

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<v Speaker 1>serious consideration of the possibilities of such a case was

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<v Speaker 1>against mister Elliot. Though they had now been acquainted a month,

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<v Speaker 1>she could not be satisfied that she really knew his character,

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<v Speaker 1>that he was a sensible man, an agreeable man, that

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<v Speaker 1>he talked well, professed good opinions, seemed to judge properly,

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<v Speaker 1>and as a man of principle, this was all clear enough.

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<v Speaker 1>He certainly knew what was right. Nor could she fix

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<v Speaker 1>on any one article of moral duty evidently transgressed. But

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<v Speaker 1>yet she would have been afraid to answer for his conduct.

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<v Speaker 1>She distrusted the past, if not the present. The names

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<v Speaker 1>which occasionally dropped to former associates, the allusions to former

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<v Speaker 1>practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not favorable of what he

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<v Speaker 1>had been. She saw that there had been bad habits,

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<v Speaker 1>that Sunday traveling had been a common thing, That there

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<v Speaker 1>had been a period of his life, and probably not

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<v Speaker 1>a short one, when he had been at least careless

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<v Speaker 1>in all serious matters. And though he might now think

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<v Speaker 1>very differently, who could answer for the true sentiments of

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<v Speaker 1>a clever, cautious man, grown old enough to appreciate a

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<v Speaker 1>fair character. How could it ever be ascertained that his

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<v Speaker 1>mind was truly cleansed. Mister Eliot was rational, discreet, polished,

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<v Speaker 1>but he was not open. There was never any burst

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<v Speaker 1>of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight at the

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<v Speaker 1>evil or good others. This, to Anne was a decided imperfection.

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<v Speaker 1>Her early impressions were incurable. She prized the frank, the

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<v Speaker 1>open hearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth and

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<v Speaker 1>enthusiasm did captivate her. Still, she felt that she could

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<v Speaker 1>so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who

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<v Speaker 1>sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing,

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<v Speaker 1>than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose

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<v Speaker 1>tongue never slipped. Mister Elliot was too generally agreeable various,

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<v Speaker 1>as were the tempers in her father's house. He pleased

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<v Speaker 1>them all. He endured too well, stood too well with everybody.

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<v Speaker 1>He had spoken to her with some degree of openness

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<v Speaker 1>of missus Clay, had appeared completely to see what missus

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<v Speaker 1>Clay was about, and to hold her in contempt. And

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<v Speaker 1>yet missus Clay found him as agreeable as anybody. Lady

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<v Speaker 1>Russell saw either less or more than her young friend,

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<v Speaker 1>for she saw nothing to excite distrust. She could not

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<v Speaker 1>imagine a man more exactly what he ought to be

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<v Speaker 1>than mister Eliot, nor did she ever enjoy a sweeter

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<v Speaker 1>feeling than the hope of seeing him receive the hand

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<v Speaker 1>of her beloved Anne in Kellynch Church in the course

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<v Speaker 1>of the following autumn end of chapter seventeen