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an equal claim with any other set of men； for all the comforts and
all the privileges which any home can give。 Sailors work hard
enough for their comforts； we must all allow。”
“Very true； very true。 What Miss Anne says； is very true；” was
Mr。 Shepherd’s rejoinder； and “Oh！ certainly；” was his daughter’s；
but Sir Walter’s remark was； soon afterwards—
“The profession has its utility； but I should be sorry to see any
friend of mine belonging to it。”
“Indeed！” was the reply； and with a look of surprise。
“Yes； it is in two points offensive to me； I have two strong
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grounds of objection to it。 First； as being the means of bringing
persons of obscure birth into undue distinction； and raising men
to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of；
and secondly； as it cuts up a man’s youth and vigour most
horribly； a sailor grows old sooner than any other man。 I have
observed it all my life。 A man is in greater danger in the navy of
being insulted by the rise of one whose father； his father might
have disdained to speak to； and of becoming prematurely an
object of disgust himself； than in any other line。 One day last
spring； in town； I was in company with two men； striking instances
of what I am talking of； Lord St Ives； whose father we all know to
have been a country curate； without bread to eat； I was to give
place to Lord St Ives； and a certain Admiral Baldwin； the most
deplorable…looking personage you can imagine； his face the colour
of mahogany； rough and rugged to the last degree； all lines and
wrinkles； nine grey hairs of a side； and nothing but a dab of
powder at top。—‘In the name of heaven； who is that old fellow？’
said I； to a friend of mine who was standing near； （Sir Basil
Morley）。 ‘Old fellow！’ cried Sir Basil； ‘it is Admiral Baldwin。 What
do you take his age to be？’ ‘Sixty；’ said I； ‘or perhaps sixty…two。’
‘Forty；’ replied Sir Basil； ‘forty； and no more。’ Picture to
yourselves my amazement； I shall not easily forget Admiral
Baldwin。 I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a sea…
faring life can do； but to a degree； I know it is the same with them
all： they are all knocked about； and exposed to every climate； and
every weather； till they are not fit to be seen。 It is a pity they are
not knocked on the head at once； before they reach Admiral
Baldwin’s age。”
“Nay； Sir Walter；” cried Mrs。 Clay； “this is being severe indeed。
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Have a little mercy on the poor men。 We are not all born to be
handsome。 The sea is no beautifier； certainly； sailors do grow old
betimes； I have observed it； they soon lose the look of youth。 But
then； is not it the same with many other professions； perhaps most
other？ Soldiers； in active service； are not at all better off： and even
in the quieter professions； there is a toil and a labour of the mind；
if not of the body； which seldom leaves a man’s looks to the natural
effect of time。 The lawyer plods； quite care…worn； the physician is
up at all hours； and travelling in all weather； and even the
clergyman—” she stopt a moment to consider what might do for
the clergyman；—“and even the clergyman； you know； is obliged to
go into infected rooms； and expose his health and looks to all the
injury of a poisonous atmosphere。 In fact； as I have long been
convinced； though every profession is necessary and honourable
in its turn； it is only the lot of those who are not obliged to follow
any； who can live in a regular way； in the country； choosing their
own hours； following their own pursuits； and living on their own
property； without the torment of trying for more； it is only their lot；
I say； to hold the blessings of health and a good appearance to the
utmost： I know no other set of men but what lose something of
their personableness when they cease to be quite young。”
It seemed as if Mr。 Shepherd； in this anxiety to bespeak Sir
Walter’s goodwill towards a naval officer as tenant； had been
gifted with foresight； for the very first application for the house
was from an Admiral Croft； with whom he shortly afterwards fell
into company in attending the quarter sessions at Taunton； and
indeed； he had received a hint of the Admiral from a London
correspondent。 By the report which he hastened over to Kellynch
to make； Admiral Croft was a native of Somersetshire； who having
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acquired a very handsome fortune； was wishing to settle in his
own country； and had come down to Taunton in order to look at
some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood； which；
however； had not suited him； that accidentally hearing—（it was
just as he had foretold； Mr。 Shepherd observed； Sir Walter’s
concerns could not be kept a secret；）— accidentally hearing of the
possibility of Kellynch Hall being to let； and understanding his
（Mr。 Shepherd’s） connection with the owner； he had introduced
himself to him in order to make particular inquiries； and had； in
the course of a pretty long conference； expressed as strong an
inclination for the place as a man who knew it only by description；
could feel； and given Mr。 Shepherd； in his explicit account of
himself； every proof of his being a most responsible； eligible
tenant。
“And who is Admiral Croft？” was Sir Walter’s cold suspicious
inquiry。
Mr。 Shepherd answered for his being of a gentleman’s family；
and mentioned a place； and Anne； after the little pause which
followed； added—
“He is rear admiral of the white。 He was in the Trafalgar action；
and has been in the East Indies since； he was stationed there； I
believe； several years。”
“Then I take it for granted；” observed Sir Walter； “that his face
is about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery。”
Mr。 Shepherd hastened to assure him； that Admiral Croft was a
very hale； hearty； well…looking man； a little weather…beaten； to be
sure； but not much； and quite the gentleman in all his notions and
behaviour；—not likely to make the smallest difficulty about
terms；—only wanted a comfortable home； and to get into it as soon
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Jane Austen： Persuasion 27
as possible；—knew he must pay for his convenience；—knew what
rent a ready…furnished house of that consequence might fetch；—
should not have been surprised if Sir Walter had asked more；—
had inquired about the manor；—would be glad of the deputation；
certainly； but made no great point of it；—said he sometimes took
out a gun； but never killed；—quite the gentleman。
Mr。 Shepherd was eloquent on the subject； pointing out all the
circumstances of the Admiral’s family； which made him peculiarly
desirable as a tenant。 He was a married man； and without
children； the very state to be wished for。 A house was never taken
good care of； Mr。 Shepherd observed； without a lady： he did not
know； whether furniture might not be in danger of suffering as
much where there was no lady； as where there were many
children。 A lady； without a family； was the very best preserver of
furniture in the w