"Yes," sighed Anne, "we shall, indeed, be known to be related to them!"

then recollecting herself, and not wishing to be answered, she added,

"I certainly do think there has been by far too much trouble taken to

procure the acquaintance. I suppose" (smiling) "I have more pride than

any of you; but I confess it does vex me, that we should be so

solicitous to have the relationship acknowledged, which we may be very

sure is a matter of perfect indifference to them."

"Pardon me, dear cousin, you are unjust in your own claims. In London,

perhaps, in your present quiet style of living, it might be as you say:

but in Bath; Sir Walter Elliot and his family will always be worth

knowing: always acceptable as acquaintance."

"Well," said Anne, "I certainly am proud, too proud to enjoy a welcome

which depends so entirely upon place."

"I love your indignation," said he; "it is very natural. But here you

are in Bath, and the object is to be established here with all the

credit and dignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot. You

talk of being proud; I am called proud, I know, and I shall not wish to

believe myself otherwise; for our pride, if investigated, would have

the same object, I have no doubt, though the kind may seem a little

different. In one point, I am sure, my dear cousin," (he continued,

speaking lower, though there was no one else in the room) "in one

point, I am sure, we must feel alike. We must feel that every addition

to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use

in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him."

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,

she was pleased with him for not liking Mrs Clay; and her conscience

admitted that his wishing to promote her father's getting great

acquaintance was more than excusable in the view of defeating her.




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