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Chapter 17
SirWalter,ElizabethandMrsClay,returnedonemorningfromLauraPlace,withasuddeninvitationfromLadyDalrympleforthesameevening,andAnnewasalreadyengaged,tospendthateveninginWestgateBuildings.Shewasnotsorryfortheexcuse.Theywereonlyasked,shewassure,becauseLadyDalrymplebeingkeptathomebyabadcold,wasgladtomakeuseoftherelationshipwhichhadbeensopressedonher;andshedeclinedonherownaccountwithgreatalacrity—”Shewasengagedtospendtheeveningwithanoldschoolfellow.”TheywerenotmuchinterestedinanythingrelativetoAnne;butstilltherewerequestionsenoughasked,tomakeitunderstoodwhatthisoldschoolfellowwas;andElizabethwasdisdainful,andSirWaltersevere.
“WestgateBuildings!”saidhe,“andwhoisMissAnneElliottobevisitinginWestgateBuildings?AMrsSmith.AwidowMrsSmith;andwhowasherhusband?OneoffivethousandMrSmithswhosenamesaretobemetwitheverywhere.Andwhatisherattraction?Thatsheisoldandsickly.Uponmyword,MissAnneElliot,youhavethemostextraordinarytaste!Everythingthatrevoltsotherpeople,lowcompany,paltryrooms,foulair,disgustingassociationsareinvitingtoyou.Butsurelyyoumayputoffthisoldladytillto-morrow:sheisnotsonearherend,Ipresume,butthatshemayhopetoseeanotherday.Whatisherage?Forty?”
“No,sir,sheisnotone-and-thirty;butIdonotthinkIcanputoffmyengagement,becauseitistheonlyeveningforsometimewhichwillatoncesuitherandmyself.
