there was but too much reason to apprehend that the Dalrymples considered the relationship as closed.  How to have this anxious business set to rights, and be admitted as cousins again, was the question:  and it was a question which, in a more rational manner, neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot thought unimportant.  “Family connexions were always worth preserving, good company always worth seeking; Lady Dalrymple had taken a house, for three months, in Laura Place, and would be living in style.  She had been at Bath the year before, and Lady Russell had heard her spoken of as a charming woman.  It was very desirable that the connexion should be renewed, if it could be done, without any compromise of propriety on the side of the Elliots.”

Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrote a very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty, to his right honourable cousin.  Neither Lady Russell nor Mr Elliot could admire the letter; but it did all that was wanted, in bringing three lines of scrawl from the Dowager Viscountess.  “She was very much honoured, and should be happy in their acquaintance.”  The toils of the business were over, the sweets began.  They visited in Laura Place, they had the cards of Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, and the Honourable Miss Carteret, to be arranged wherever they might be most visible:  and “Our cousins in Laura Place,”—­“Our cousin, Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret,” were talked of to everybody.

Anne was ashamed.  Had Lady Dalrymple and her daughter even been very agreeable, she would still have been ashamed of the agitation they created, but they were nothing.  There was no superiority of manner, accomplishment, or understanding.  Lady Dalrymple had acquired the name of “a charming woman,” because she had a smile and a civil answer for everybody.  Miss Carteret, with still less to say, was so plain and so awkward, that she would never have been tolerated in Camden Place but for her birth.

Lady Russell confessed she had expected something better; but yet “it was an acquaintance worth having;” and when Anne ventured to speak her opinion of them to Mr Elliot, he agreed to their being nothing in themselves, but still maintained that, as a family connexion, as good company, as those who would collect good company around them, they had their value.  Anne smiled and said,

“My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.”

“You are mistaken,” said he gently, “that is not good company; that is the best.  Good company requires only birth, education, and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice.  Birth and good manners are essential; but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing in good company; on the contrary, it will do very well.  My cousin Anne shakes her head.  She is not satisfied.  She is fastidious.  My dear cousin” (sitting