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it material。 This was agreed upon between the two friends as the
only thing to be done； and Colonel Wallis was to assist in every
way that he could。 He was to be introduced； and Mrs。 Wallis was to
be introduced； and everybody was to be introduced。 Mr。 Elliot
came back accordingly； and on application was forgiven； as you
know； and re…admitted into the family； and there it was his
constant object； and his only object （till your arrival added another
motive）； to watch Sir Walter and Mrs。 Clay。 He omitted no
opportunity of being with them； threw himself in their way； called
at all hours； but I need not be particular on this subject。 You can
imagine what an artful man would do； and with this guide；
perhaps； may recollect what you have seen him do。”
“Yes；” said Anne； “you tell me nothing which does not accord
with what I have known； or could imagine。 There is always
something offensive in the details of cunning。 The manoeuvres of
selfishness and duplicity must ever be revolting； but I have heard
nothing which really surprises me。 I know those who would be
shocked by such a representation of Mr。 Elliot； who would have
difficulty in believing it； but I have never been satisfied。 I have
always wanted some other motive for his conduct than
appeared。—I should like to know his present opinion； as to the
probability of the event he has been in dread of； whether he
considers the danger to be lessening or not。”
“Lessening； I understand；” replied Mrs。 Smith。 “He thinks Mrs。
Clay afraid of him； aware that he sees through her； and not daring
to proceed as she might do in his absence。 But since he must be
absent some time or other； I do not perceive how he can ever be
secure while she holds her present influence。 Mrs。 Wallis has an
amusing idea； as nurse tells me； that it is to be put into the
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 236
marriage articles when you and Mr。 Elliot marry； that your father
is not to marry Mrs。 Clay。 A scheme； worthy of Mrs。 Wallis’s
understanding； by all accounts； but my sensible nurse Rooke sees
the absurdity of it。—‘Why； to be sure； ma’am；’ said she； ‘it would
not prevent his marrying anybody else。’ And； indeed； to own the
truth； I do not think nurse； in her heart； is a very strenuous
opposer of Sir Walter’s making a second match。 She must be
allowed to be a favourer of matrimony； you know； and （since self
will intrude） who can say that she may not have some flying
visions of attending the next Lady Elliot； through Mrs。 Wallis’s
recommendation？”
“I am very glad to know all this；” said Anne； after a little
thoughtfulness。 “It will be more painful to me in some respects to
be in company with him； but I shall know better what to do。 My
line of conduct will be more direct。 Mr。 Elliot is evidently a
disingenuous； artificial； worldly man； who has never had any
better principle to guide him than selfishness。”
But Mr。 Elliot was not done with。 Mrs。 Smith had been carried
away from her first direction； and Anne had forgotten； in the
interest of her own family concerns； how much had been originally
implied against him； but her attention was now called to the
explanation of those first hints； and she listened to a recital which；
if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs。
Smith； proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct
towards her； very deficient both in justice and compassion。
She learned that （the intimacy between them continuing
unimpaired by Mr。 Elliot’s marriage） they had been as before
always together； and Mr。 Elliot had led his friend into expenses
much beyond his fortune。 Mrs。 Smith did not want to take blame
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 237
to herself； and was most tender of throwing any on her husband；
but Anne could collect that their income had never been equal to
their style of living； and that from the first there had been a great
deal of general and joint extravagance。 From his wife’s account of
him she could discern Mr。 Smith to have been a man of warm
feelings； easy temper； careless habits； and not strong
understanding； much more amiable than his friend； and very
unlike him； led by him； and probably despised by him。 Mr。 Elliot；
raised by his marriage to great affluence； and disposed to every
gratification of pleasure and vanity which could be commanded
without involving himself （for with all his self…indulgence he had
become a prudent man）； and beginning to be rich； just as his
friend ought to have found himself to be poor； seemed to have had
no concern at all for that friend’s probable finances； but； on the
contrary； had been prompting and encouraging expenses which
could end only in ruin。 And the Smiths accordingly had been
ruined。
The husband had died just in time to be spared the full
knowledge of it。 They had previously known embarrassments
enough to try the friendship of their friends； and to prove that Mr。
Elliot’s had better not be tried； but it was not till his death that the
wretched state of his affairs was fully known。 With a confidence in
Mr。 Elliot’s regard； more creditable to his feelings than his
judgment； Mr。 Smith had appointed him the executor of his will；
but Mr。 Elliot would not act； and the difficulties and distress which
this refusal had heaped on her； in addition to the inevitable
sufferings of her situation； had been such as could not be related
without anguish of spirit； or listened to without corresponding
indignation。
Classics in Literature： Ja