Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments and sensations; such the cares

to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the

prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings

to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle,

to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility abroad, no

talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy.

But now, another occupation and solicitude of mind was beginning to be

added to these. Her father was growing distressed for money. She

knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the

heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr

Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts. The Kellynch property was

good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension of the state required

in its possessor. While Lady Elliot lived, there had been method,

moderation, and economy, which had just kept him within his income; but

with her had died all such right-mindedness, and from that period he

had been constantly exceeding it. It had not been possible for him to

spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter Elliot was

imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was not only

growing dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it

became vain to attempt concealing it longer, even partially, from his

daughter. He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town;

he had gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench? Does it occur to

you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?" and

Elizabeth, to do her justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm,

set seriously to think what could be done, and had finally proposed

these two branches of economy, to cut off some unnecessary charities,

and to refrain from new furnishing the drawing-room; to which

expedients she afterwards added the happy thought of their taking no

present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearly custom. But these

measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real

extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged

to confess to her soon afterwards. Elizabeth had nothing to propose of

deeper efficacy. She felt herself ill-used and unfortunate, as did her

father; and they were neither of them able to devise any means of

lessening their expenses without compromising their dignity, or

relinquishing their comforts in a way not to be borne.

There was only a small part of his estate that Sir Walter could dispose

of; but had every acre been alienable, it would have made no

difference. He had condescended to mortgage as far as he had the

power, but he would never condescend to sell. No; he would never

disgrace his name so far. The Kellynch estate should be transmitted

whole and entire, as he had received it.




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