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went on however towards Trafalgar House and took possession of
the Drawing room very quietly—without seeming to hear a word
of Mrs。 P。’s orders to the Servant as they entered； to bring Tea
directly。 Charlotte was fully consoled for the loss of her walk； by
finding herself in company with those； whom the conversation of
the morning had given her a great curiosity to see。 She observed
them well。—Lady D。 was of middle height； stout； upright and alert
in her motions； with a shrewd eye； and self…satisfied air—but not
an unagreable Countenance—and tho’ her manner was rather
downright and abrupt as of a person who valued herself on being
free…spoken； there was a good humour and cordiality about her—a
civility and readiness to be acquainted with Charlotte herself； and
a heartiness of welcome towards her old friends； which was
inspiring the Good will； she seemed to feel。 And as for Miss
Brereton； her appearance so completely justified Mr。 P。’s praise
that Charlotte thought she had never beheld a more lovely； or
more Interesting young Woman。—Elegantly tall； regularly
handsome； with great delicacy of complexion and soft Blue eyes； a
sweetly modest and yet naturally graceful Address； Charlotte
could see in her only the most perfect representation of whatever
Heroine might be most beautiful and bewitching； in all the
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numerous volumes they had left behind them on Mrs。 Whitby’s
shelves。—Perhaps it might be partly oweing to her having just
issued from a Circulating Library—but she could not separate the
idea of a complete Heroine from Clara Brereton。 Her situation
with Lady Denham so very much in favour of it！—She seemed
placed with her on purpose to be ill…used。 Such Poverty and
Dependance joined to such Beauty and Merit； seemed to leave no
choice in the business。—These feelings were not the result of any
spirit of Romance in Charlotte herself。 No； she was a very sober…
minded young Lady； sufficiently well…read in Novels to supply her
Imagination with amusement； but not at all unreasonably
influenced by them； and while she pleased herself the first five
minutes with fancying the Persecutions which ought to be the Lot
of the interesting Clara； especially in the form of the most
barbarous conduct on Lady Denham’s side； she found no
reluctance to admit from subsequent observation； that they
appeared to be on very comfortable Terms。—She could see
nothing worse in Lady Denham； than the sort of oldfashioned
formality of always calling her Miss Clara—nor anything
objectionable in the degree of observance and attention which
Clara paid。—On one side it seemed protecting kindness； on the
other grateful and affectionate respect。—The Conversation turned
entirely upon Sanditon； its present number of Visitants and the
Chances of a good Season。 It was evident that Lady D。 had more
anxiety； more fears of loss； than her Coadjutor。 She wanted to
have the Place fill faster； and seemed to have many harassing
apprehensions of the Lodgings being in some instances
underlet。—Miss Diana Parker’s two large Families were not
forgotten。 ‘Very good； very good；’ said her Ladyship。—‘A West
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Indy Family and a school。 That sounds well。 That will bring
Money。’—‘No people spend more freely； I believe； than W。
Indians；’ observed Mr。 Parker。 ‘Aye—so I have heard—and
because they have full Purses； fancy themselves equal； may be； to
your old Country Families。 But then； they who scatter their Money
so freely； never think of whether they may not be doing mischief
by raising the price of Things—And I have heard that’s very much
the case with your West…injines—and if they come among us to
raise the price of our necessaries of Life； we shall not much thank
them Mr。 Parker。’—‘My dear Madam； They can only raise the
price of consumeable Articles； by such an extraordinary Demand
for them and such a diffusion of Money among us； as must do us
more Good than harm。—Our Butchers and Bakers and Traders in
general cannot get rich without bringing Prosperity to us。—If they
do not gain； our rents must be insecure—and in proportion to
their profit must be ours eventually in the increased value of our
Houses。’ ‘Oh！—well。—But I should not like to have Butcher’s meat
raised； though—and I shall keep it down as long as I can。—Aye—
that young Lady smiles I see；—I dare say she thinks me an odd
sort of a Creature；—but she will come to care about such matters
herself in time。 Yes； Yes； my Dear； depend upon it； you will be
thinking of the price of Butcher’s meat in time—though you may
not happen to have quite such a Servants Hall full to feed； as I
have。—And I do believe those are best off； that have fewest
Servants。—I am not a Woman of Parade； as all the World knows；
and if it was not for what I owe to poor Mr。 Hollis’s memory； I
should never keep up Sanditon House is I do；—it is not for my
own pleasure。—Well Mr。 Parker—and the other is a Boarding
school； a French Boarding School； is it？—No harm in that。—
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They’ll stay their six weeks。—And out of such a number； who
knows but some may be consumptive and want Asses milk—and I
have two Milch asses at this present time。—But perhaps the little
Misses may hurt the Furni