Доводи розуму
Chapter 1
Thenfollowedthehistoryandriseoftheancientandrespectablefamily,intheusualterms;howithadbeenfirstsettledinCheshire;howmentionedinDugdale,servingtheofficeofhighsheriff,representingaboroughinthreesuccessiveparliaments,exertionsofloyalty,anddignityofbaronet,inthefirstyearofCharlesII,withalltheMarysandElizabethstheyhadmarried;formingaltogethertwohandsomeduodecimopages,andconcludingwiththearmsandmotto:—”Principalseat,KellynchHall,inthecountyofSomerset,”andSirWalter’shandwritingagaininthisfinale:—
“Heirpresumptive,WilliamWalterElliot,Esq.,greatgrandsonofthesecondSirWalter.”
VanitywasthebeginningandtheendofSirWalterElliot’scharacter;vanityofpersonandofsituation.Hehadbeenremarkablyhandsomeinhisyouth;and,atfifty-four,wasstillaveryfineman.Fewwomencouldthinkmoreoftheirpersonalappearancethanhedid,norcouldthevaletofanynewmadelordbemoredelightedwiththeplaceheheldinsociety.Heconsideredtheblessingofbeautyasinferioronlytotheblessingofabaronetcy;andtheSirWalterElliot,whounitedthesegifts,wastheconstantobjectofhiswarmestrespectanddevotion.
Hisgoodlooksandhisrankhadonefairclaimonhisattachment;sincetothemhemusthaveowedawifeofverysuperiorcharactertoanythingdeservedbyhisown.
