Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrote a

very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty, to his

right honourable cousin. Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot could

admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted, in bringing three

lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess. "She was very much

honoured, and should be happy in their acquaintance." The toils of the

business were over, the sweets began. They visited in Laura Place,

they had the cards of Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and the Honourable

Miss Carteret, to be arranged wherever they might be most visible: and

"Our cousins in Laura Place,"--"Our cousin, Lady Dalrymple and Miss

Carteret," were talked of to everybody.

Anne was ashamed. Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very

agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitation they

created, but they were nothing. 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 a civil answer for

everybody. Miss Carteret, with still less to say, was so plain and so

awkward, that she would never have been tolerated in Camden Place but

for her birth.

Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but yet "it

was an acquaintance worth having;" and when Anne ventured to speak her

opinion of them to Mr Elliot, he agreed to their being nothing in

themselves, but still maintained that, as a family connexion, as good

company, as those who would collect good company around them, they had

their value. Anne smiled and said, "My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever,

well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is

what I call good company."

"You are mistaken," said he gently, "that is not good company; that is

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. She is not satisfied. She is fastidious. My dear

cousin" (sitting down by her), "you have a better right to be

fastidious than almost any other woman I know; but will it answer?

Will it make you happy? Will it not be wiser to accept the society of

those good ladies in Laura Place, and enjoy all the advantages of the

connexion as far as possible? You may depend upon it, that they will

move in the first set in Bath this winter, and as rank is rank, your

being known to be related to them will have its use in fixing your

family (our family let me say) in that degree of consideration which we

must all wish for."




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