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children。 A lady； without a family； was the very best preserver of
furniture in the world。 He had seen Mrs。 Croft； too； she was at
Taunton with the admiral； and had been present almost all the
time they were talking the matter over。
“And a very well…spoken； genteel； shrewd lady； she seemed to
be；” continued he； “asked more questions about the house； and
terms； and taxes； than the Admiral himself； and seemed more
conversant with business； and moreover； Sir Walter； I found she
was not quite unconnected in this country； any more than her
husband； that is to say； she is sister to a gentleman who did live
amongst us once； she told me so herself： sister to the gentleman
who lived a few years back at Monkford。 Bless me！ what was his
name？ At this moment I cannot recollect his name； though I have
heard it so lately。 Penelope； my dear； can you help me to the name
of the gentleman who lived at Monkford—Mrs。 Croft’s brother？”
But Mrs。 Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot； that she
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did not hear the appeal。
“I have no conception whom you can mean； Shepherd； I
remember no gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of
old Governor Trent。”
“Bless me！ how very odd！ I shall forget my own name soon； I
suppose。 A name that I am so very well acquainted with； knew the
gentleman so well by sight； seen him a hundred times； came to
consult me once； I remember； about a trespass of one of his
neighbours； farmer’s man breaking into his orchard—wall torn
down—apples stolen； caught in the fact； and afterwards； contrary
to my judgment； submitted to an amicable compromise。 Very odd
indeed！”
After waiting another moment—
“You mean Mr。 Wentworth； I suppose？” said Anne。
Mr。 Shepherd was all gratitude。
“Wentworth was the very name！ Mr。 Wentworth was the very
man。 He had the curacy of Monkford； you know； Sir Walter； some
time back； for two or three years。 Came there about the year —5； I
take it。 You remember him； I am sure。”
“Wentworth？ Oh！ ay；—Mr。 Wentworth； the curate of Monkford。
You misled me by the term gentleman。 I thought you were
speaking of some man of property： Mr。 Wentworth was nobody； I
remember； quite unconnected； nothing to do with the Strafford
family。 One wonders how the names of many of our nobility
become so common。”
As Mr。 Shepherd perceived that this connexion of the Crofts did
them no service with Sir Walter； he mentioned it no more；
returning； with all his zeal； to dwell on the circumstances more
indisputably in their favour； their age； and number； and fortune；
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the high idea they had formed of Kellynch Hall； and extreme
solicitude for the advantage of renting it； making it appear as if
they ranked nothing beyond the happiness of being the tenants of
Sir Walter Elliot： an extraordinary taste； certainly； could they have
been supposed in the secret of Sir Walter’s estimate of the dues of
a tenant。
It succeeded； however； and though Sir Walter must ever look
with an evil eye on anyone intending to inhabit that house； and
think them infinitely too well off in being permitted to rent it on
the highest terms； he was talked into allowing Mr。 Shepherd to
proceed in the treaty； and authorising him to wait on Admiral
Croft； who still remained at Taunton； and fix a day for the house
being seen。
Sir Walter was not very wise； but still he had experience
enough of the world to feel； that a more unobjectionable tenant； in
all essentials； than Admiral Croft bid fair to be； could hardly offer。
So far went his understanding； and his vanity supplied a little
additional soothing； in the Admiral’s situation in life； which was
just high enough； and not too high。 “I have let my house to
Admiral Croft；” would sound extremely well； very much better
than to any mere Mr。 —； a Mr。 （save； perhaps； some half dozen in
the nation；） always needs a note of explanation。 An admiral speaks
his own consequence； and； at the same time； can never make a
baronet look small。 In all their dealings and intercourse； Sir
Walter Elliot must ever have the precedence。
Nothing could be done without a reference to Elizabeth； but her
inclination was growing so strong for a removal； that she was
happy to have it fixed and expedited by a tenant at hand； and not a
word to suspend decision was uttered by her。
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Mr。 Shepherd was completely empowered to act； and no sooner
had such an end been reached； than Anne； who had been a most
attentive listener to the whole； left the room； to seek the comfort of
cool air for her flushed cheeks； and as she walked along a
favourite grove； said； with a gentle sigh； “A few months more； and
he； perhaps； may be walking here。
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CHAPTER IV
e was not Mr。 Wentworth； the former curate of
H Monkford； however suspicious appearances may be；
but a Captain Frederick Wentworth； his brother； who
being made commander in consequence of the action off St
Domingo； and not immediately employed； had come into
Somersetshire； in the summer of 1806； and having no parent
living； found a home for half a year at Monkford。 He was； at that
time； a remarkably fine young man； with a great deal of
intelligence； spirit； and brilliancy； and Anne an extremely pretty
girl； with gentleness； modesty； taste； and feeling。—Half the sum of
attraction； on either side； might have been enough； for he had
nothing to do； and she had hardly anybody to love； but the
encounter of such lavish recommendations could not fail。 They
were gradually acquainted； and when acquainted； rapidly and
deeply in love。 It would be difficult to say which had seen highest
perfection in the other； or which had been the happiest； she； in
receiving his declarations and proposals； or he in having them
accepted。
A short period of exquisite felicity followed； and but a short
one。—Troubles soon arose。 Sir Walter； on being applied to；
without actually withholding his consent； or saying it should never
be； gave it all the negative of great astonishment； great coldness；
great silence； and a professed resolution of doing nothing for his
daughter。 He thought it a very degrading alliance； and Lady
Russell； though with more tempered and pardonable pride；
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received it as a most unfortunate one。
Anne Elliot； with all her claims of birth； beauty； and mind； to
throw herself away at nineteen； involve herself at nineteen in an
engagement with a young man； who had nothing but himself to
recommend him； and no hopes of attaining affluence； but in the
chances of a most uncertain profession； and no connexions to