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attachment on his side； of the desirableness of the alliance；
supposing such attachment to be real and returned。 Anne heard
her； and made no violent exclamations。 She only smiled； blushed；
and gently shook her head。
“I am no match…maker； as you well know；” said Lady Russell；
“being much too well aware of the uncertainty of all human events
and calculations。 I only mean that if Mr。 Elliot should some time
hence pay his addresses to you； and if you should be disposed to
accept him； I think there would be every possibility of your being
happy together。 A most suitable connection everybody must
consider it—but I think it might be a very happy one。”
“Mr。 Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man； and in many
respects I think highly of him；” said Anne； “but we should not
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suit。”
Lady Russell let this pass； and only said in rejoinder； “I own
that to be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch； the
future Lady Elliot—to look forward and see you occupying your
dear mother’s place； succeeding to all her rights； and all her
popularity； as well as to all her virtues； would be the highest
possible gratification to me。—You are your mother’s self in
countenance and disposition； and if I might be allowed to fancy
you such as she was； in situation and name； and home； presiding
and blessing in the same spot； and only superior to her in being
more highly valued！ My dearest Anne； it would give me more
delight than is often felt at my time of life！”
Anne was obliged to turn away； to rise； to walk to a distant
table； and； leaning there in pretended employment； try to subdue
the feelings this picture excited。 For a few moments her
imagination and her heart were bewitched。 The idea of becoming
what her mother had been； of having the precious name of “Lady
Elliot” first revived in herself； of being restored to Kellynch；
calling it her home again； her home for ever； was a charm which
she could not immediately resist。 Lady Russell said not another
word； willing to leave the matter to its own operation； and
believing that； could Mr。 Elliot at that moment with propriety have
spoken for himself！—She believed； in short； what Anne did not
believe。 The same image of Mr。 Elliot speaking for himself brought
Anne to composure again。 The charm of Kellynch and of “Lady
Elliot” all faded away。 She never could accept him。 And it was not
only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one； her
judgment； on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a
case； was against Mr。 Elliot。
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Though they had now been acquainted a month； she could not
be satisfied that she really knew his character。 That he was a
sensible man； an agreeable man；—that he talked well； professed
good opinions； seemed to judge properly and as a man of
principle；—this was all clear enough。 He certainly knew what was
right； nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently
transgressed； but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his
conduct。 She distrusted the past； if not the present。 The names
which occasionally dropt of former associates； the allusions to
former practices and pursuits； suggested suspicions not favourable
of what he had been。 She saw that there had been bad habits； that
Sunday…travelling had been a common thing； that there had been
a period of his life （and probably not a short one） when he had
been； at least； careless in all serious matters； and； though he might
now think very differently； who could answer for the true
sentiments of a clever； cautious man； grown old enough to
appreciate a fair character？ How could it ever be ascertained that
his mind was truly cleansed？
Mr。 Elliot was rational； discreet； polished；—but he was not
open。 There was never any burst of feeling； any warmth of
indignation or delight； at the evil or good of others。 This； to Anne；
was a decided imperfection。 Her early impressions were incurable。
She prized the frank； the open…hearted； the eager character
beyond all others。 Warmth and enthusiasm did captivate her still。
She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of
those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing；
than of those whose presence of mind never varied； whose tongue
never slipped。
Mr。 Elliot was too generally agreeable。 Various as were the
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tempers in her father’s house； he pleased them all。 He endured too
well；—stood too well with every body。 He had spoken to her with
some degree of openness of Mrs。 Clay； had appeared completely to
see what Mrs。 Clay was about； and to hold her in contempt； and
yet Mrs。 Clay found him as agreeable as any body。
Lady Russell saw either less or more than her young friend； for
she saw nothing to excite distrust。 She could not imagine a man
more exactly what he ought to be than Mr。 Elliot； nor did she ever
enjoy a sweeter feeling than the hope of seeing him receive the
hand of her beloved Anne in Kellynch church； in the course of the
following autumn。
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CHAPTER VI
t was the beginning of February； and Anne； having been a
month in Bath； was growing very eager for news from
I
Uppercross and Lyme。 She wanted to hear much more than
Mary had communicat