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the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion。
His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his
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attachment； since to them he must have owed a wife of very
superior character to any thing deserved by his own。 Lady Elliot
had been an excellent woman； sensible and amiable； whose
judgment and conduct； if they might be pardoned the youthful
infatuation which made her Lady Elliot； had never required
indulgence afterwards。—She had humoured； or softened； or
concealed his failings； and promoted his real respectability for
seventeen years； and though not the very happiest being in the
world herself； had found enough in her duties； her friends； and her
children； to attach her to life； and make it no matter of indifference
to her when she was called on to quit them。—Three girls； the two
eldest sixteen and fourteen； was an awful legacy for a mother to
bequeath； an awful charge rather； to confide to the authority and
guidance of a conceited； silly father。 She had； however； one very
intimate friend； a sensible； deserving woman； who had been
brought； by strong attachment to herself； to settle close by her； in
the village of Kellynch； and on her kindness and advice； Lady
Elliot mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of the good
principles and instruction which she had been anxiously giving
her daughters。
This friend； and Sir Walter； did not marry； whatever might have
been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance。—Thirteen
years had passed away since Lady Elliot’s death； and they were
still near neighbours and intimate friends； and one remained a
widower； the other a widow。
That Lady Russell； of steady age and character； and extremely
well provided for； should have no thought of a second marriage；
needs no apology to the public； which is rather apt to be
unreasonably discontented when a woman does marry again； than
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 8
when she does not； but Sir Walter’s continuing in singleness
requires explanation。—Be it known then； that Sir Walter； like a
good father； （having met with one or two private disappointments
in very unreasonable applications） prided himself on remaining
single for his dear daughters’ sake。 For one daughter； his eldest；
he would really have given up any thing； which he had not been
very much tempted to do。 Elizabeth had succeeded； at sixteen； to
all that was possible； of her mother’s rights and consequence； and
being very handsome； and very like himself； her influence had
always been great； and they had gone on together most happily。
His two other children were of very inferior value。 Mary had
acquired a little artificial importance； by becoming Mrs。 Charles
Musgrove； but Anne； with an elegance of mind and sweetness of
character； which must have placed her high with any people of
real understanding； was nobody with either father or sister； her
word had no weight； her convenience was always to give way—
she was only Anne。
To Lady Russell； indeed； she was a most dear and highly valued
god…daughter； favourite； and friend。 Lady Russell loved them all；
but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive
again。
A few years before； Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl； but
her bloom had vanished early； and as even in its height； her father
had found little to admire in her； （so totally different were her
delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own）； there could be
nothing in them； now that she was faded and thin； to excite his
esteem。 He had never indulged much hope； he had now none； of
ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work。 All
equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth； for Mary had merely
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 9
connected herself with an old country family of respectability and
large fortune； and had therefore given all the honour and received
none： Elizabeth would； one day or other； marry suitably。
It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty…
nine than she was ten years before； and； generally speaking； if
there has been neither ill health nor anxiety； it is a time of life at
which scarcely any charm is lost。 It was so with Elizabeth； still the
same handsome Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen
years ago； and Sir Walter might be excused； therefore； in
forgetting her age； or； at least； be deemed only half a fool； for
thinking himself and Elizabeth as blooming as ever； amidst the
wreck of the good looks of everybody else； for he could plainly see
how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance were growing。
Anne haggard； Mary coarse； every face in the neighbourhood
worsting； and the rapid increase of the crow’s foot about Lady
Russell’s temples had long been a distress to him。
Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal
contentment。 Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch
Hall； presiding and directing with a self…possession and decision
which could never have given the idea of her being younger than
she was。 For thirteen years had she been doing the honours； and
laying down the domestic law at home； and leading the way to the
chaise and four； and walking immediately after Lady Russell out
of all the drawing…rooms and dining…rooms in the country。
Thirteen winters’ revolving frosts had seen her opening every ball
of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded； and thirteen
springs s