16 Persuasion By Stephanie Poppins

The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman of 27 years, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an admiral and his wife.
In this episode: Discussion is had about Mr Elliot's intentions.

Transcript

Hello.

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

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Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

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Persuasion by Jane Austen Book 2,

Chapter 4 There was one point which Anne,

On returning to her family,

Would have been more thankful to ascertain,

Would have been more thankful to ascertain,

Even than Mr Elliot's being in love with Elizabeth,

Which was her father's not being in love with Mrs Clay.

She was very far from easy about it when she had been home a few hours.

On going down to breakfast the next morning,

She found there had been a decent pretense on the lady's side of meaning to leave them.

She could imagine Mrs Clay to have said that,

Now Miss Anne was come,

She could not suppose herself at all wanted,

For Elizabeth was replying in a sort of whisper,

That must not be any reason indeed,

I assure you I feel it's none.

She's nothing to me compared with you.

And she was in full time to hear her father say,

My dear madam,

This must not be.

As yet you've seen nothing of Bath.

You've only been here to be useful.

You must not run away from us now.

You must stay to be acquainted with Mrs Wallis,

The beautiful Mrs Wallis.

To your fine mind,

I well know the sight of beauty is a real gratification.

He spoke and looked so much in earnest that Anne was not surprised to see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself.

Her countenance perhaps might express some watchfulness,

But the praise of the fine mind did not appear to excite a thought in her sister.

The lady could not but yield to such joint entreaties and she promised to stay.

In the course of the same morning,

Anne and her father,

Chancing to be alone together,

He began to compliment her on her improved looks.

She was less thin in her person,

In her cheeks,

Her skin.

Her complexion was greatly improved,

He said.

Had she been using anything in particular?

No,

Nothing.

Nothing at all?

Certainly you cannot do better than to continue as you are,

He added.

You cannot be better than well.

Oh,

I should recommend Goland,

The constant use of Goland during the spring months.

Mrs Clay has been using it at my recommendation and you see what it's done for her.

If Elizabeth could have heard this,

Such personal praise might have struck her,

Especially as it did not appear to Anne the freckles were at all lessened.

But everything must take its chance.

The evil of a marriage would be much diminished if Elizabeth were also to be married.

As for herself,

She might always command a home with Lady Russell.

Lady Russell's composed mind and polite manners were put to some trial on this point.

The sight of Mrs Clay in such favour,

And of Anne so overlooked,

Was a perpetual provocation to her there and vexed her as much as when she was away,

As a person in Bath who drinks the water,

Gets all the new publications and has a very large acquaintance,

Has time to be vexed.

It was now some years since Anne had begun to learn she and Mrs Russell could sometimes think differently.

It did not surprise her,

Therefore,

That the lady should see nothing suspicious or inconsistent,

Nothing to require more motives than appeared,

In Mr Elliot's great desire for reconciliation.

In Lady Russell's view,

It was perfectly natural that Mr Elliot,

At a mature time of life,

Should feel it a most desirable object,

And what would very generally recommend him among all sensible people,

To be on good terms with the head of his family.

Anne presumed,

However,

Still to smile about it,

And at last to mention Elizabeth.

Lady Russell listened and looked and made only this cautious reply.

Elizabeth,

Hmm,

Very well,

Time will explain.

This was a reference to the future which Anne,

After a little observation,

Felt she must submit to.

She could determine nothing at present.

In that house Elizabeth must be first,

And she was in the habit of such general observance as Miss Elliot,

That any other particularity of intention seemed almost impossible,

And Mr Elliot,

It must be remembered,

Had not been a widower seven months.

A little delay on his side might be very excusable.

In fact,

Anne could never see the crate round his hat without fearing that she was the inexcusable one in attributing to him such imaginations.

For though his marriage had not been very happy,

Still it had existed so many years,

That she could not comprehend a very rapid recovery from the awful impression of it being dissolved.

However it might end with Mr Elliot,

He was without any question their pleasantest acquaintance in Bath.

She saw nobody equal to him,

And it was a great indulgence now and then to talk to him about Lyme,

Which she seemed to have as lively a wish to do as herself.

They went through the particulars of their first meeting a great many times.

He gave her to understand he'd looked at her with some earnestness.

She knew it well,

And she remembered another person's look also.

They did not always think alike though.

His value for rank and connection she perceived was much greater than hers.

It was not merely complacence,

It must be a liking to the cause,

Which made him enter warmly into her father and sister's solicitudes on a subject which she thought unworthy to excite them.

The Bath newspaper had announced the arrival of the dowager Viscountess Dalrymple and her daughter.

This,

Mr Elliot supposed,

Was of great advantage to them.

Sir Walter had once been in the company with the late Viscount,

But had never seen any of the rest of the family.

The neglect had been visited on the head of the sinner,

For when poor Lady Elliot died,

No letter of condolence was received at Calinich at all.

Family connections were always worth preserving though,

Said Mr Elliot.

Good company always worth seeking.

Lady Dalrymple had taken a house for three months in Laura Place,

And would be living in style,

He said,

So they should visit.

They had the cards of dowager Viscountess Dalrymple and her daughter to be arranged wherever they might be most visible.

And they went to visit our cousins in Laura Place.

Anne was ashamed.

Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter ever been agreeable,

She would have been ashamed of the agitation they created,

But they were nothing to her.

There was no superiority of manner,

Accomplishment,

Or understanding.

Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name of a charming woman,

Because she had a smile and civil answer for everybody.

But Lady Russell confessed she'd expected something better.

And yet,

It was an acquaintance worth having.

When Anne ventured to speak her opinion of them to Mr Elliot,

He agreed to there being nothing in themselves,

But still maintained that as a family connection and good company,

They had their value.

My idea of good company,

Mr Elliot,

Is the company of clever,

Well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.

That's what I call good company.

You are mistaken,

Said he gently.

That is not good company.

That's the best.

Good company requires only birth,

Education,

And manners,

And with regard to education is not very nice.

Birth and good manners are essential,

But a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing in good company.

On the contrary,

It will do very well.

My cousin Anne shakes her head,

He said.

She's not satisfied.

She's fastidious.

My dear cousin.

He sat down beside her.

You have a better right to be fastidious than most other women I know.

But will it answer?

Will it make you happy?

Will it not be wiser to accept the society of the good ladies and enjoy all the advantages of the connections they bring?

And in Bath,

Your father Sir Walter and his family will always be worth knowing.

You will always be acceptable as acquaintance.

Well,

Said Anne,

I certainly am proud.

I'm too proud to enjoy a welcome which depends so entirely upon place.

I love your indignation,

Said he.

It's very natural.

But now you're in Bath and the objects to be established here with all the credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot.

You talk of being proud.

I'm called proud,

I know.

And I shall not wish to believe myself otherwise.

For our pride,

If investigated,

Would have the same object.

He looked as he spoke to the seat which Mrs Clay had been lately occupying.

A sufficient explanation of what he particularly meant.

And though Anne could not believe in their having the same sort of pride,

All being simmer,

She was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay.

And her conscience admitted that Mr Elliot's wishing to promote her father's getting great acquaintance in Bath was more than excusable in the view of defeating her.

Reviews

🤭 An equal ? In many ways Mr Elliot is not such a match for Anne. May this be crystal clear to her now. 😉🌻

Interesting and delicate machinations… thank you!!❤️🙏🏼