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fully believe that； at present； you have not the smallest intention of
accepting him； there is no saying what may happen。 You might；
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some time or other； be differently affected towards him。 Hear the
truth； therefore； now； while you are unprejudiced。 Mr。 Elliot is a
man without heart or conscience； a designing； wary； cold…blooded
being； who thinks only of himself； whom for his own interest or
ease； would be guilty of any cruelty； or any treachery； that could
be perpetrated without risk of his general character。 He has no
feeling for others。 Those whom he has been the chief cause of
leading into ruin； he can neglect and desert without the smallest
compunction。 He is totally beyond the reach of any sentiment of
justice or compassion。 Oh！ he is black at heart； hollow and black！”
Anne’s astonished air； and exclamation of wonder； made her
pause； and in a calmer manner； she added；
“My expressions startle you。 You must allow for an injured；
angry woman。 But I will try to command myself。 I will not abuse
him。 I will only tell you what I have found him。 Facts shall speak。
He was the intimate friend of my dear husband； who trusted and
loved him； and thought him as good as himself。 The intimacy had
been formed before our marriage。 I found them most intimate
friends； and I； too； became excessively pleased with Mr。 Elliot； and
entertained the highest opinion of him。 At nineteen； you know；
one does not think very seriously； but Mr。 Elliot appeared to me
quite as good as others； and much more agreeable than most
others； and we were almost always together。 We were principally
in town； living in very good style。 He was then the inferior in
circumstances； he was then the poor one； he had chambers in the
Temple； and it was as much as he could do to support the
appearance of a gentleman。 He had always a home with us
whenever he chose it； he was always welcome； he was like a
brother。 My poor Charles； who had the finest； most generous spirit
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in the world； would have divided his last farthing with him； and I
know that his purse was open to him； I know that he often assisted
him。”
“This must have been about that very period of Mr。 Elliot’s
life；” said Anne； “which has always excited my particular curiosity。
It must have been about the same time that he became known to
my father and sister。 I never knew him myself； I only heard of him；
but there was a something in his conduct then； with regard to my
father and sister； and afterwards in the circumstances of his
marriage； which I never could quite reconcile with present times。
It seemed to announce a different sort of man。”
“I know it all； I know it all；” cried Mrs。 Smith。 “He had been
introduced to Sir Walter and your sister before I was acquainted
with him； but I heard him speak of them for ever。 I know he was
invited and encouraged； and I know he did not choose to go。 I can
satisfy you； perhaps； on points which you would little expect； and
as to his marriage； I knew all about it at the time。 I was privy to all
the fors and againsts； I was the friend to whom he confided his
hopes and plans； and though I did not know his wife previously
（her inferior situation in society； indeed； rendered that
impossible）； yet I knew her all her life afterwards； or； at least； till
within the last two years of her life； and can answer any question
you may wish to put。”
“Nay；” said Anne； “I have no particular enquiry to make about
her。 I have always understood they were not a happy couple。 But I
should like to know why； at that time of his life； he should slight
my father’s acquaintance as he did。 My father was certainly
disposed to take very kind and proper notice of him。 Why did Mr。
Elliot draw back？”
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“Mr。 Elliot；” replied Mrs。 Smith； “at that period of his life； had
one object in view—to make his fortune； and by a rather quicker
process than the law。 He was determined to make it by marriage。
He was determined； at least； not to mar it by an imprudent
marriage； and I know it was his belief （whether justly or not； of
course I cannot decide）； that your father and sister； in their
civilities and invitations； were designing a match between the heir
and the young lady； and it was impossible that such a match
should have answered his ideas of wealth and independence。 That
was his motive for drawing back； I can assure you。 He told me the
whole story。 He had no concealments with me。 It was curious； that
having just left you behind me in Bath； my first and principal
acquaintance on marrying should be your cousin； and that；
through him； I should be continually hearing of your father and
sister。 He described one Miss Elliot； and I thought very
affectionately of the other。”
“Perhaps；” cried Anne； struck by a sudden idea； “you
sometimes spoke of me to Mr。 Elliot？”
“To be sure I did； very often。 I used to boast of my own Anne
Elliot； and vouch for your being a very different creature from—”
She checked herself just in time。
“This accounts for something which Mr。 Elliot said last night；”
cried Anne。 “This explains it。 I found he had been used to hear of
me。 I could not comprehend how。 What wild imaginations one
forms where dear self is concerned！ How sure to be mistaken！ But
I beg your pardon； I have interrupted you。 Mr。 Elliot married then
completely for money？ The circumstances； probably； which first
opened your eyes to his character。”
Mrs。 Smith hesitated a little here。 “Oh！ those things are too