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Jane Austen： Sanditon 46
intelligible。—He seemed very sentimental； very full of some
Feelings or other； and very much addicted to all the newest…
fashioned hard words—had not a very clear Brain she presumed；
and talked a good deal by rote。—The Future might explain him
further—but when there was a proposition for going into the
Library she felt that she had had quite enough of Sir Edward for
one morning； and very gladly accepted Lady D。’s invitation of
remaining on the Terrace with her。—The others all left them； Sir
Edward with looks of very gallant despair in tearing himself away；
and they united their agreableness—that is； Lady Denham like a
true great Lady； talked and talked only of her own concerns； and
Charlotte listened—amused in considering the contrast between
her two companions。—Certainly； there was no strain of doubtful
Sentiment； nor any phrase of difficult interpretation in Lady D’s
discourse。 Taking hold of Charlotte’s arm with the ease of one who
felt that any notice from her was an Honour； and communicative；
from the influence of the same conscious Importance or a natural
love of talking； she immediately said in a tone of great
satisfaction—and with a look of arch sagacity—‘Miss Esther wants
me to invite her and her Brother to spend a week with me at
Sanditon House； as I did last Summer—but I shan’t。—She has
been trying to get round me every way； with her praise of this； and
her praise of that； but I saw what she was about。—I saw through it
all。—I am not very easily taken in my Dear。’ Charlotte could think
of nothing more harmless to be said； than the simple enquiry of—
‘Sir Edward and Miss Denham？’—‘Yes； my Dear。 My young Folks；
as I call them sometimes； for I take them very much by the hand。 I
had them with me last Summer about this time； for a week； from
Monday to Monday； and very delighted and thankful they were。—
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 47
For they are very good young People my Dear。 I would not have
you think that I only notice them； for poor dear Sir Harry’s sake。
No； no； they are very deserving themselves； or trust me； they
would not be so much in my Company。—I am not the Woman to
help any body blindfold。—I always take care to know what I am
about and who I have to deal with； before I stir a finger。—I do not
think I was ever over…reached in my Life； and That is a good deal
for a Woman to say that has been married twice。—Poor dear Sir
Harry （between ourselves） thought at first to have got more。—But
（with a bit of a sigh） he is gone； and we must not find fault with the
Dead。 Nobody could live happier together than us—and he was a
very honourable Man； quite the Gentleman of ancient Family。—
And when he died； I gave Sir Edward his Gold Watch。’ She said
this with a look at her Companion which implied its right to
produce a great Impression—and seeing no rapturous
astonishment in Charlotte’s countenance； added quickly—‘He did
not bequeath it to his Nephew； my dear—It was no bequest。 It was
not in the Will。 He only told me； and that but once； that he should
wish his Nephew to have his Watch； but it need not have been
binding； if I had not chose it。’ ‘Very kind indeed！ very
Handsome；’—said Charlotte； absolutely forced to affect
admiration。—‘Yes； my dear—and it is not the only kind thing I
have done by him。—I have been a very liberal friend to Sir
Edward。 And poor young Man； he needs it bad enough；—For
though I am only the Dowager my Dear； and he is the Heir； things
do not stand between us in the way they commonly do between
those two parties。—Not a shilling do I receive from the Denham
Estate。 Sir Edward has no Payments to make me。 He don’t stand
uppermost； believe me。—It is I that help him。’ ‘Indeed！—He is a
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 48
very fine young Man；—particularly Elegant in his Address。’—This
was said chiefly for the sake of saying something—but Charlotte
directly saw that it was laying her open to suspicion by Lady D。’s
giving a shrewd glance at her and replying—‘Yes； yes； he is very
well to look at—and it is to be hoped that some Lady of large
fortune will think so—for Sir Edward must marry for Money。—He
and I often talk that matter over。—A handsome young fellow like
him； will go smirking and smiling about and paying girls
compliments but he knows he must marry for Money。—And Sir
Edward is a very steady young Man in the main； and has got very
good notions。’ ‘Sir Edward Denham；’ said Charlotte； ‘with such
personal Advantages may be almost sure of getting a Woman of
fortune； if he chuses it。’—This glorious sentiment seemed quite to
remove suspicion。 ‘Aye my Dear—That’s very sensibly said’ cried
Lady D—‘And if we could but get a young Heiress to S。！ But
Heiresses are monstrous scarce！ I do not think we have had an
Heiress here； or even a Co— since Sanditon has been a public
place。 Families come after Families； but as far as I can learn； it is
not one in an hundred of them that have any real Property；
Landed or Funded。—An Income perhaps； but no Property。
Clergymen may be； or Lawyers from Town； or Half pay officers； or
Widows with only a jointure。 And what good can such people do
anybody？—except just as they take our empty Houses—and
（between ourselves） I think they are great fools for not staying at
home。 Now； if we could get a young Heiress to be sent here for her
health—（and if she was ordered to drink asses milk I could supply
her）—and as soon as she got well； have her fall in love with Sir
Edward！’—‘That would be very fortunate indeed。’ ‘And Miss
Est