WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.839 Chapter sixteen of Persuasion. This is a LibriVox recording. All 2 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:09.880 LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information 3 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:15.640 or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by 4 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:24.600 Elizabeth Klett. Persuasion by Jane Austen, Chapter sixteen. There was 5 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.879 one point which Anne, on returning to her family, would 6 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:30.879 have been more thankful to ascertain, even than mister Elliot's 7 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.280 being in love with Elizabeth, which was her father's not 8 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.240 being in love with missus Clay. And she was very 9 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:40.439 far from easy about it when she had been at 10 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:43.520 home a few hours. On going down to breakfast the 11 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:46.880 next morning, she found there had just been a decent 12 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:49.759 pretense on the lady's side of meaning to leave them. 13 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:53.399 She could imagine missus Clay to have said that now 14 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:56.280 miss Anne was come, she could not suppose herself at 15 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:59.600 all wanted, for Elizabeth was replying in a sort of 16 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:04.000 whisper that must not be any reason. Indeed, I assure 17 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.439 you I feel that none. She is nothing to me 18 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:10.000 compared with you, And she was in full time to 19 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.359 hear her father say, my dear madame, this must not 20 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.480 be as yet you have seen nothing of Bath. You 21 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:19.079 have been here only to be useful. You must not 22 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:21.439 run away from us. Now you must stay to be 23 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:25.359 acquainted with Missus Wallace, the beautiful Missus Wallace. To your 24 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.640 fine mind, I well know, the sight of beauty is 25 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:33.680 a real gratification. He spoke and looked so much in 26 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:36.760 earnest that Anne was not surprised to see Missus Clay 27 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:40.640 stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself. Her countenance perhaps 28 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:43.760 might express some watchfulness, but the praise of the fine 29 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:46.400 mind did not appear to excite a thought in her sister. 30 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:49.519 The lady could not but yield to such joint entreaties, 31 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:53.159 and promised to stay. In the course of the same morning, 32 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.400 Anne and her father, chancing to be alone together, he 33 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.560 began to compliment her in her improved looks. He thought 34 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.920 her less thin in her person, in her cheeks, her skin, 35 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:09.039 her complexion greatly improved, clearer fresher. Had she been using 36 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:17.240 anything in particular? No, nothing, merely, Goland, He supposed, no, 37 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:24.319 nothing at all. Huh. He was surprised at that, and added, certainly, 38 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:26.639 you cannot do better than to continue as you are. 39 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.199 You cannot be better than well, or I should recommend 40 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:33.280 Goland the constant use of Goland during the spring months. 41 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:37.120 Missus Clay has been using it at my recommendation, and 42 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:40.000 you see what it has done for her. You see 43 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:44.199 how it has carried away her freckles. If Elizabeth could 44 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:47.719 but have heard this, such personal praise might have struck her, 45 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.159 especially as it did not appear to Anne that the 46 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:53.759 freckles were at all lessened. But everything must take its chance. 47 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:56.919 The evil of a marriage would be much diminished if 48 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:59.960 Elizabeth were also to marry. As for herself, she might 49 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.719 always command a home with Lady Russell. Lady Russell's composed 50 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:07.120 mind and polite manners were put to some trial on 51 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.719 this point in her intercourse in Camden Place. The sight 52 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:14.360 of missus Clay in such favor, and of Anne so overlooked, 53 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:17.759 was a perpetual provocation to her there, and vexed her 54 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:19.960 as much as when she was away. As a person 55 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.199 in bath who drinks the water, gets all the new publications, 56 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:26.439 and has a very large acquaintance, has time to be vexed. 57 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:29.960 As mister Eliot became known to her, she grew more 58 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:34.159 charitable or more indifferent towards the others. His manners were 59 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:38.039 an immediate recommendation, and on conversing with him, she found 60 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:41.280 the solid so fully supporting the superficial that she was, 61 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:44.240 at first, as she told Anne, almost ready to exclaim, 62 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.159 can this be, mister Eliot, and could not seriously picture 63 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:53.639 to herself a more agreeable or estimable man? Everything united 64 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:57.960 in him, good understanding, correct opinions, knowledge of the world, 65 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.599 and a warm heart. He had strong feelings of family 66 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:06.120 attachment and family honor, without pride or weakness. He lived 67 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:09.199 with the liberality of a man of fortune, without display. 68 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.599 He judged for himself in everything essential, without defying public 69 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:19.360 opinion on any point of worldly decorum. He was steady, observant, moderate, candid, 70 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.199 never run away with by spirits or by selfishness which 71 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:27.560 fancied itself, strong feeling, and yet with a sensibility to 72 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.319 what was amiable and lovely, and a value for all 73 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:34.319 the felicities of domestic life, which characters of fancied enthusiasm 74 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:38.680 and violent agitation seldom really possess. She was sure that 75 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:41.879 he had not been happy in marriage. Colonel Wallace said it, 76 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.319 and Lady Russell sought, but it had been no unhappiness 77 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:48.560 to sour his mind, nor she began pretty soon to 78 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:52.399 suspect to prevent his thinking of a second choice. Her 79 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:56.079 satisfaction mister Elliot outweighed all the plague of missus Clay. 80 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.439 It was now some years since Anne had begun to 81 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.399 learn that she and her excellent friend could sometimes think differently, 82 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:05.600 and it did not surprise her therefore that Lady Russell 83 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:09.680 should see nothing suspicious or inconsistent, nothing to require more 84 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:13.319 motives than appeared in mister Eliot's great desire of a reconciliation. 85 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.399 In Lady Russell's view, it was perfectly natural that mister Eliot, 86 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.959 at a mature time of life, should feel it a 87 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:23.600 most desirable object, and what would very generally recommend him 88 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.360 among all sensible people to be on good terms with 89 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:29.560 the head of the family, the simplest process in the 90 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.839 world of time upon a head, naturally clear and only 91 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.600 erring in the heyday of youth. Anne presumed, however, still 92 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.879 to smile about it, and at last to mention Elizabeth. 93 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:46.000 Lady Russell listened and looked, and made only this cautious reply, Elizabeth. 94 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:51.879 Very well time will explain. It was a reference to 95 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.360 the future, which Anne, after a little observation, felt she 96 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:59.439 must submit to. She could determine nothing at present in 97 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.759 that house, Elizabeth must be first, And she was in 98 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.040 the habit of such general observance as miss Elliot, that 99 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.879 any particularity of attention seemed almost impossible. Mister Elliot, too, 100 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:14.000 it must be remembered, had not been a widower seven months. 101 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.079 A little delay on his side might be very excusable. 102 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.279 In fact, Anne could never see the crape round his 103 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.519 hat without fearing that she was the inexcusable one in 104 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:27.199 attributing to him such imaginations. For though his marriage had 105 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.160 not been very happy, still it had existed so many 106 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:33.079 years that she could not comprehend the very rapid recovery 107 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:36.720 from the awful impression of its being dissolved, however it 108 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:40.439 might end. He was, without any question their pleasantest acquaintance 109 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.639 in Bath. She saw nobody equal to him, and it 110 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.639 was a great indulgence now and then to talk to 111 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:48.240 him about lyme which he seemed to have as lively 112 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.240 wished to see again and see more of as herself. 113 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:54.000 They went through the particulars of their first meeting a 114 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:56.879 great many times. He gave her to understand that he 115 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:59.920 had looked at her with some earnestness. She knew it well, 116 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:04.360 and she remembered another person's look. Also, they did not 117 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:08.639 always think alike. His value for rank and connection, she perceived, 118 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:12.319 was greater than hers. It was not merely complaisance. It 119 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.759 must be a liking to the cause which made him 120 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:18.519 enter warmly into her father and sister's solicitudes on the subject, 121 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.040 which she thought unworthy to excite them. The bath paper 122 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:25.079 one morning announced the arrival of the dowager Viscountess dal 123 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.959 Rymple and her daughter, the honorable Miss Carteret, and all 124 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:32.160 the comfort of Number Camden Place was swept away for 125 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:36.399 many days for the Drymples, in Anne's opinion, most unfortunately, 126 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:39.920 were cousins of the Elliots, and the agony was how 127 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:44.199 to introduce themselves properly. Anne had never seen her father 128 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:47.279 and sister before in contact with nobility, and she must 129 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:50.879 acknowledge herself disappointed. She had hoped better things from their 130 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.839 high ideas of their own situation in life, and was 131 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:56.040 reduced to form a wish which she had never foreseen, 132 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:00.920 a wish that they had more pride for our cousins, 133 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:05.720 Lady Lalrymple and Miss Carteret, our cousins, the du Rymples 134 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:10.759 sounded in her ears all day long. Sir Walter had 135 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:13.319 once been in company with the late vi Count, but 136 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.279 had never seen any of the rest of the family, 137 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.160 and the difficulties of the case arose from there having 138 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:20.920 been a suspension of all intercourse by letters of ceremony 139 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:23.800 ever since the death of that said late vi Count, 140 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:27.360 When in consequence of a dangerous illness of Sir Walter's 141 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:30.079 at the same time there had been an unlucky omission 142 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.720 at Kellynch, no letter of condolence had been sent to Ireland. 143 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.200 The neglect had been visited on the head of the sinner, 144 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:39.879 for when poor Lady Eliot died herself, no letter of 145 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.399 condolence was received at Kellynch. And consequently there was but 146 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.600 too much reason to apprehend that the Dalrymples considered the 147 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.039 relationship as closed. How to have this anxious business set 148 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:54.320 to rights and be admitted as cousins again was the question, 149 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:56.799 And it was a quest in which, in a more 150 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:01.000 rational manner, neither Lady Russell nor mister Elliot fought unimportant. 151 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:07.440 Family connections were always worth preserving, good company, always worth seeking. 152 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.039 Lady Delrymple had taken a house for three months in 153 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.320 law A Place, and of reliving in style. She had 154 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:17.080 been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had 155 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.480 heard her spoken of as a charming woman. It was 156 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.320 very desirable that the connection should be renewed, if it 157 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:25.279 could be done without any compromise of propriety on the 158 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:29.480 side of the Eliots. Sir Walter, however, would choose his 159 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:32.519 own means, and at last wrote a very fine letter 160 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:36.879 of ample explanation, regret and entreaty to his right honorable cousin. 161 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.399 Neither Lady Russell nor mister Elliot could admire the letter, 162 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.440 but it did all that was wanted in bringing three 163 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:47.799 lines of scrawl from the dowager Viscountess. She was very 164 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:52.559 much honored and should be happy in their acquaintance. The 165 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:56.080 toils of the business were over, the suites began. They 166 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.320 visited in Lawa Place. They had the cards of dowager 167 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:02.840 Viscountess still Rymple and the honorable Miss Carteret to be 168 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:07.159 arranged wherever they might be most visible, and our cousins 169 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:11.000 in Lawer Place, Our a cousin, Lady Dalrymple, and Miss 170 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:16.799 Carteret were talked of to everybody. Anne was ashamed. Had 171 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.120 Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very agreeable, she 172 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:22.879 would still have been ashamed of the agitation they created. 173 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.679 But they were nothing. There was no superiority of manner, 174 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:31.000 accomplishment or understanding. Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name of 175 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.159 a charming woman because she had a smile and a 176 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:38.679 civil answer for everybody. Miss Carteret, with still less to say, 177 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.600 was so plain and so awkward that she would never 178 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.159 have been tolerated in Camden Place but for her birth. 179 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.840 Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better, but yet 180 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.720 it was an acquaintance worth having. And when Anne ventured 181 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.240 to speak her opinion of them to mister Eliot, he 182 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.480 agreed to there being nothing in themselves, but still maintained 183 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.879 that as a family connection as good company. As those 184 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:06.000 who would collect good company around them, they had their value. 185 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:10.720 Anne smiled and said, my idea of good company, mister Elliot, 186 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:14.240 is the company of clever, well informed people who have 187 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:17.480 a great deal of conversation. That is what I call 188 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:22.759 good company. You are mistaken, said he gently. That is 189 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:27.080 not good company. That is the best. Good company requires 190 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:30.840 only birth, education and manners. And with regard to education 191 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:34.759 is not very nice. Birth and good manners are essential, 192 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:38.120 but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing. 193 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.879 In good company. On the contrary, it will do very well. 194 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:46.039 My cousin Anne shakes her head. She is not satisfied. 195 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:51.600 She is fastidious, My dear cousin, sitting down by her, 196 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.679 you have a better right to be fastidious than almost 197 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.879 any other woman I know. But will it answer? Will 198 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:01.080 it make you happy? Will it not be wiser to 199 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.519 accept the society of these good ladies in law a 200 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.639 place and enjoy all the advantages of the connection. As 201 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.720 far as possible. You may depend upon it that they 202 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.840 will move in the first set in Bath this winter, 203 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.200 And as rank is rank, your being known to be 204 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:17.840 related to them will have its use in fixing your family, 205 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:22.600 our family. Let me say, in that degree of consideration 206 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:28.440 which we must all wish for, Yes, sighed Anne, we 207 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.440 shall indeed be known to be related to them. Then, 208 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:35.720 recollecting herself and not wishing to be answered, she added, 209 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:39.240 I certainly do think there has been by far too 210 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:44.440 much trouble taken to procure the acquaintance. I suppose, smiling, 211 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.480 I have more pride than any of you, But I 212 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.519 confess it does vex me that we should be so 213 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:53.440 solicitous to have the relationship acknowledged, which we may be 214 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:57.600 very sure as a matter of perfect indifference to them. 215 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:01.120 Pardon me, dear cousin, you are unjust to your own claims. 216 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:05.080 In London, perhaps in your present quiet style of living 217 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.399 it might be as you say. But in Bath, Sir 218 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:11.480 Walter Elliot and his family will always be worth knowing, 219 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:18.879 always acceptable as acquaintance. Well, said Anne, I certainly am proud, 220 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:22.360 too proud to enjoy a welcome which depends so entirely 221 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:27.399 upon place. I love your indignation, said he. It is 222 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:30.879 very natural. But here you are in Bath, and the 223 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:33.320 object is to be established here with all the credit 224 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:35.639 and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot. 225 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:40.200 You talk of being proud. I am called proud, I know, 226 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.720 and I shall not wish to believe myself otherwise, for 227 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:47.399 our pride, if investigated, would have the same object. I 228 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.480 have no doubt, though the kind may seem a little different. 229 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:54.879 In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin, he continued, 230 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:57.519 speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room. 231 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.080 In one point, I am sure we must feel alike, 232 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.399 we must feel that every addition to your father's society 233 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:08.039 among his equals or superiors, may be of use in 234 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:13.320 diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him. He 235 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.120 looked as he spoke to the seat which Missus Clay 236 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:19.360 had been lately occupying a sufficient explanation of what he 237 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:22.759 particularly meant, And though Anne could not believe in their 238 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:25.559 having the same sort of pride, she was pleased with 239 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:29.080 him for not liking Missus Clay, and her conscience admitted 240 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:31.720 that his wishing to promote her father's getting great acquaintance 241 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:38.200 was more than excusable in the view, defeating her end 242 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.279 of chapter sixteen.