Lady Russell was now perfectly decided in her opinion of Mr Elliot.

She was as much convinced of his meaning to gain Anne in time as of his

deserving her, and was beginning to calculate the number of weeks which

would free him from all the remaining restraints of widowhood, and

leave him at liberty to exert his most open powers of pleasing. She

would not speak to Anne with half the certainty she felt on the

subject, she would venture on little more than hints of what might be

hereafter, of a possible attachment on his side, of the desirableness

of the alliance, supposing such attachment to be real and returned.

Anne heard her, and made no violent exclamations; she only smiled,

blushed, and gently shook her head.

"I am no match-maker, as you well know," said Lady Russell, "being much

too well aware of the uncertainty of all human events and calculations.

I only mean that if Mr Elliot should some time hence pay his addresses

to you, and if you should be disposed to accept him, I think there

would be every possibility of your being happy together. A most

suitable connection everybody must consider it, but I think it might be

a very happy one."

"Mr Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man, and in many respects I

think highly of him," said Anne; "but we should not suit."

Lady Russell let this pass, and only said in rejoinder, "I own that to

be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the future

Lady Elliot, to look forward and see you occupying your dear mother's

place, succeeding to all her rights, and all her popularity, as well as

to all her virtues, would be the highest possible gratification to me.

You are your mother's self in countenance and disposition; and if I

might be allowed to fancy you such as she was, in situation and name,

and home, presiding and blessing in the same spot, and only superior to

her in being more highly valued! My dearest Anne, it would give me

more delight than is often felt at my time of life!"

Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table,

and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings

this picture excited. For a few moments her imagination and her heart

were bewitched. The idea of becoming what her mother had been; of

having the precious name of "Lady Elliot" first revived in herself; of

being restored to Kellynch, calling it her home again, her home for

ever, was a charm which she could not immediately resist. Lady Russell

said not another word, willing to leave the matter to its own

operation; and believing that, could Mr Elliot at that moment with

propriety have spoken for himself!--she believed, in short, what Anne

did not believe. The same image of Mr Elliot speaking for himself

brought Anne to composure again. The charm of Kellynch and of "Lady

Elliot" all faded away. She never could accept him. And it was not

only that her feelings were still adverse to any man save one; her

judgement, on a serious consideration of the possibilities of such a

case was against Mr Elliot.




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