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opened your eyes to his character。”
Mrs。 Smith hesitated a little here。 “Oh！ those things are too
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common。 When one lives in the world； a man or woman’s
marrying for money is too common to strike one as it ought。 I was
very young； and associated only with the young； and we were a
thoughtless； gay set； without any strict rules of conduct。 We lived
for enjoyment。 I think differently now； time and sickness and
sorrow have given me other notions； but at that period I must own
I saw nothing reprehensible in what Mr。 Elliot was doing。 ‘To do
the best for himself；’ passed as a duty。”
“But was not she a very low woman？”
“Yes； which I objected to； but he would not regard。 Money；
money； was all that he wanted。 Her father was a grazier； her
grandfather had been a butcher； but that was all nothing。 She was
a fine woman； had had a decent education； was brought forward
by some cousins； thrown by chance into Mr。 Elliot’s company； and
fell in love with him； and not a difficulty or a scruple was there on
his side； with respect to her birth。 All his caution was spent in
being secured of the real amount of her fortune； before he
committed himself。 Depend upon it； whatever esteem Mr。 Elliot
may have for his own situation in life now； as a young man he had
not the smallest value for it。 His chance for the Kellynch estate
was something； but all the honour of the family he held as cheap
as dirt。 I have often heard him declare； that if baronetcies were
saleable； anybody should have his for fifty pounds； arms and
motto； name and livery included； but I will not pretend to repeat
half that I used to hear him say on that subject。 It would not be
fair； and yet you ought to have proof； for what is all this but
assertion； and you shall have proof。”
“Indeed； my dear Mrs。 Smith； I want none；” cried Anne。 “You
have asserted nothing contradictory to what Mr。 Elliot appeared to
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be some years ago。 This is all in confirmation； rather； of what we
used to hear and believe。 I am more curious to know why he
should be so different now。”
“But for my satisfaction； if you will have the goodness to ring
for Mary—stay； I am sure you will have the still greater goodness
of going yourself into my bedroom； and bringing me the small
inlaid box which you will find on the upper shelf of the closet。”
Anne； seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it； did as she
was desired。 The box was brought and placed before her； and Mrs。
Smith； sighing over it as she unlocked it； said；
“This is full of papers belonging to him； to my husband； a small
portion only of what I had to look over when I lost him。 The letter I
am looking for was one written by Mr。 Elliot to him before our
marriage； and happened to be saved； why； one can hardly imagine。
But he was careless and immethodical； like other men； about those
things； and when I came to examine his papers； I found it with
others still more trivial； from different people scattered here and
there； while many letters and memorandums of real importance
had been destroyed。 Here it is。 I would not burn it； because being
even then very little satisfied with Mr。 Elliot； I was determined to
preserve every document of former intimacy。 I have now another
motive for being glad that I can produce it。”
This was the letter； directed to “Charles Smith； Esq。 Tunbridge
Wells；” and dated from London； as far back as July； 1803：
“Dear Smith；
“I have received yours。 Your kindness almost overpowers me。 I
wish nature had made such hearts as yours more common； but I
have lived three and twenty years in the world； and have seen
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none like it。 At present； believe me； I have no need of your
services； being in cash again。 Give me joy： I have got rid of Sir
Walter and Miss。 They are gone back to Kellynch； and almost
made me swear to visit them this summer； but my first visit to
Kellynch will be with a surveyor； to tell me how to bring it with
best advantage to the hammer。 The baronet； nevertheless； is not
unlikely to marry again； he is quite fool enough。 If he does；
however； they will leave me in peace； which may be a decent
equivalent for the reversion。 He is worse than last year。
“I wish I had any name but Elliot。 I am sick of it。 The name of
Walter I can drop； thank God！ and I desire you will never insult
me with my second W。 again； meaning； for the rest of my life； to be
only yours truly；
Wm。 Elliot。”
Such a letter could not be read without putting Anne in a glow；
and Mrs。 Smith； observing the high colour in her face； said；
“The language； I know； is highly disrespectful。 Though I have
forgot the exact terms； I have a perfect impression of the general
meaning。 But it shows you the man。 Mark his professions to my
poor husband。 Can any thing be stronger？”
Anne could not immediately get over the shock and
mortification of finding such words applied to her father。 She was
obliged to recollect that her seeing the letter was a violation of the
laws of honour； that no one ought to be judged or to be known by
such testimonies； that no private correspondence could bear the
eye of others； before she could recover calmness enough to return
the letter which she had been meditating over； and say；
“Thank you。 This is full proof undoubtedly； proof of every thing
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