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up at all hours； and travelling in all weather； and even the
clergyman—” she stopt a moment to consider what might do for
the clergyman；—“and even the clergyman； you know； is obliged to
go into infected rooms； and expose his health and looks to all the
injury of a poisonous atmosphere。 In fact； as I have long been
convinced； though every profession is necessary and honourable
in its turn； it is only the lot of those who are not obliged to follow
any； who can live in a regular way； in the country； choosing their
own hours； following their own pursuits； and living on their own
property； without the torment of trying for more； it is only their lot；
I say； to hold the blessings of health and a good appearance to the
utmost： I know no other set of men but what lose something of
their personableness when they cease to be quite young。”
It seemed as if Mr。 Shepherd； in this anxiety to bespeak Sir
Walter’s goodwill towards a naval officer as tenant； had been
gifted with foresight； for the very first application for the house
was from an Admiral Croft； with whom he shortly afterwards fell
into company in attending the quarter sessions at Taunton； and
indeed； he had received a hint of the Admiral from a London
correspondent。 By the report which he hastened over to Kellynch
to make； Admiral Croft was a native of Somersetshire； who having
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acquired a very handsome fortune； was wishing to settle in his
own country； and had come down to Taunton in order to look at
some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood； which；
however； had not suited him； that accidentally hearing—（it was
just as he had foretold； Mr。 Shepherd observed； Sir Walter’s
concerns could not be kept a secret；）— accidentally hearing of the
possibility of Kellynch Hall being to let； and understanding his
（Mr。 Shepherd’s） connection with the owner； he had introduced
himself to him in order to make particular inquiries； and had； in
the course of a pretty long conference； expressed as strong an
inclination for the place as a man who knew it only by description；
could feel； and given Mr。 Shepherd； in his explicit account of
himself； every proof of his being a most responsible； eligible
tenant。
“And who is Admiral Croft？” was Sir Walter’s cold suspicious
inquiry。
Mr。 Shepherd answered for his being of a gentleman’s family；
and mentioned a place； and Anne； after the little pause which
followed； added—
“He is rear admiral of the white。 He was in the Trafalgar action；
and has been in the East Indies since； he was stationed there； I
believe； several years。”
“Then I take it for granted；” observed Sir Walter； “that his face
is about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery。”
Mr。 Shepherd hastened to assure him； that Admiral Croft was a
very hale； hearty； well…looking man； a little weather…beaten； to be
sure； but not much； and quite the gentleman in all his notions and
behaviour；—not likely to make the smallest difficulty about
terms；—only wanted a comfortable home； and to get into it as soon
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as possible；—knew he must pay for his convenience；—knew what
rent a ready…furnished house of that consequence might fetch；—
should not have been surprised if Sir Walter had asked more；—
had inquired about the manor；—would be glad of the deputation；
certainly； but made no great point of it；—said he sometimes took
out a gun； but never killed；—quite the gentleman。
Mr。 Shepherd was eloquent on the subject； pointing out all the
circumstances of the Admiral’s family； which made him peculiarly
desirable as a tenant。 He was a married man； and without
children； the very state to be wished for。 A house was never taken
good care of； Mr。 Shepherd observed； without a lady： he did not
know； whether furniture might not be in danger of suffering as
much where there was no lady； as where there were many
children。 A lady； without a family； was the very best preserver of
furniture in the world。 He had seen Mrs。 Croft； too； she was at
Taunton with the admiral； and had been present almost all the
time they were talking the matter over。
“And a very well…spoken； genteel； shrewd lady； she seemed to
be；” continued he； “asked more questions about the house； and
terms； and taxes； than the Admiral himself； and seemed more
conversant with business； and moreover； Sir Walter； I found she
was not quite unconnected in this country； any more than her
husband； that is to say； she is sister to a gentleman who did live
amongst us once； she told me so herself： sister to the gentleman
who lived a few years back at Monkford。 Bless me！ what was his
name？ At this moment I cannot recollect his name； though I have
heard it so lately。 Penelope； my dear； can you help me to the name
of the gentleman who lived at Monkford—Mrs。 Croft’s brother？”
But Mrs。 Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot； that she
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did not hear the appeal。
“I have no conception whom you can mean； Shepherd； I
remember no gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of
old Governor Trent。”
“Bless me！ how very odd！ I shall forget my own name soon； I
suppose。 A name that I am so very well acquainted with； knew the
gentleman so well by sight； seen him a hundred times； came to
consult me once； I remember； about a trespass of one of his
neighbours； farmer’s man breaking into his orchard—wall torn
down—apples stolen； caught in the fact； and afterw