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Chapter 21
Buthewascarelessandimmethodical,likeothermen,aboutthosethings;andwhenIcametoexaminehispapers,Ifounditwithothersstillmoretrivial,fromdifferentpeoplescatteredhereandthere,whilemanylettersandmemorandumsofrealimportancehadbeendestroyed.Hereitis;Iwouldnotburnit,becausebeingeventhenverylittlesatisfiedwithMrElliot,Iwasdeterminedtopreserveeverydocumentofformerintimacy.IhavenowanothermotiveforbeinggladthatIcanproduceit.”
Thiswastheletter,directedto“CharlesSmith,Esq.TunbridgeWells,”anddatedfromLondon,asfarbackasJuly,1803:—
“DearSmith—Ihavereceivedyours.Yourkindnessalmostoverpowersme.Iwishnaturehadmadesuchheartsasyoursmorecommon,butIhavelivedthree-and-twentyyearsintheworld,andhaveseennonelikeit.Atpresent,believeme,Ihavenoneedofyourservices,beingincashagain.Givemejoy:IhavegotridofSirWalterandMiss.TheyaregonebacktoKellynch,andalmostmademesweartovisitthemthissummer;butmyfirstvisittoKellynchwillbewithasurveyor,totellmehowtobringitwithbestadvantagetothehammer.Thebaronet,nevertheless,isnotunlikelytomarryagain;heisquitefoolenough.Ifhedoes,however,theywillleavemeinpeace,whichmaybeadecentequivalentforthereversion.Heisworsethanlastyear.
“IwishIhadanynamebutElliot.Iamsickofit.ThenameofWalterIcandrop,thankGod!andIdesireyouwillneverinsultmewithmysecondW.