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It sometimes happens that a woman is handsoenerally speaking, if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost It was so with Elizabeth, still the saun to be thirteen years ago, and Sir Walter e, or, at least, be dee hi as ever, aood looks of everybody else; for he could plainly see how old all the rest of his faard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about Lady Russell's te been a distress to him

Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal contentment

Thirteen years had seen herwith a self-possession and decision which could never have given the idea of her being younger than she was For thirteen years had she been doing the honours, and laying down the do the way to the chaise and four, and walking i-roo-rooms in the country

Thirteen winters' revolving frosts had seen her opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded, and thirteen springs shewn their blossoms, as she travelled up to London with her father, for a feeeks' annual enjoyreat world She had the re nine-and-twenty to give her sorets and so still quite as handsoer, and would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly solicited by baronet-blood within the next twelveain take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in her early youth, but now she liked it not Always to be presented with the date of her own birth and see no est sister, made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left it open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted eyes, and pushed it away

She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book, and especially the history of her own family, must ever present the remembrance of The heir presuhts had been so generously supported by her father, had disappointed her

She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had known hi no brother, the future baronet, meant to marry him, and her father had always meant that she should

He had not been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not beenallowance for theexcursions to London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr Elliot had been forced into the introduction

He was at that tied in the study of the law; and Elizabeth found hireeable, and every plan in his favour was confirmed He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he was talked of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came

The following spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, again encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not cos were that he washis fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth

Sir Walter has resented it As the head of the house, he felt that he ought to have been consulted, especially after taking the young ether," he observed, "once at Tattersall's, and twice in the lobby of the House of Commons" His disapprobation was expressed, but apparently very little regarded Mr Elliot had atte longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had ceased

This very aard history of Mr Elliot was still, after an interval of several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked theher father's heir, and whose strong family pride could see only in hihter There was not a baronet froed as an equal

Yet so h she was at this present ti black ribbons for his wife, she could not adain

The disgrace of his first ht, perhaps, as there was no reason to suppose it perpetuated by offspring, have been got over, had he not done worse; but he had, as by the accustomary intervention of kind friends, they had been inforly and conteed to, and the honours which were hereafter to be his own

This could not be pardoned

Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiitations to vary, the saness 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 rowing 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 unwelcohts 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 hiht-mindedness, and fro it It had not been possible for hi but what Sir Walter Elliot was imperiously called on to do; but bla dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it becaer, even partially, froiven her soone 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 so the drawing-rooht of their taking no present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearly custoood in themselves, were insufficient for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found hied 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 the their expenses without co 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 e 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

Their two confidential friends, Mr Shepherd, who lived in the neighbouring market town, and Lady Russell, were called to advise thehter see should be struck out by one or the other to remove their e the loss of any indulgence of taste or pride