Mr. Shepherd has been overseeing the rental of Kellynch Hall for Sir Walter Elliot and is bringing prospective renters, Admiral and Mrs. Croft, to view it. This portion comes from Chapter 5 of Persuasion.
“Where is Anne?” Sir Walter called out to no one in particular.
“Do you not remember that she has taken her daily walk to visit with Lady Russell?” Elizabeth looked from Mrs. Clay back to her father.
Sir Walter grumbled. He stood up and began pacing the floor of the drawing room, stopping at different places that gave him a view of his fine person in a looking-glass. “Croft!” he suddenly said aloud, startling the two young ladies. “The Crofts are letting Kellynch.” He tossed his head about. “It does not sound horribly reprehensible.” He repeated again, this time with more inflection, watching the mouth of his reflection form the words. “Admiral Croft and his wife are letting Kellynch.”
“I do not like the sound of it,” Elizabeth whispered to her friend.
Mrs. Clay shook her head in agreement. “Only the esteemed Elliots ought to live in this beautiful place.”
“Mrs. Clay, have you met these Crofts?” Sir Walter inquired.
“Once, and only briefly.” She smiled, but in noticing Sir Walter’s scowl, it faded quickly. “My father seemed quite pleased with them, but they seemed…“ She searched for the right word. “They seemed quite old.”
“I imagine the admiral is old and brown. There would be no question about it.”
“I cannot quite recollect.” Mrs. Clay’s shoulders rose and fell in a sigh.
At the sound of horses approaching to the front, Sir Walter moved to the window and peered out.
“So the Crofts have arrived.” He narrowed his eyes as he furtively studied them stepping out of the carriage. “It appears they are both tall. I am grateful they are not short. That would not do at all!”
He returned to his chair, stopping once more in front of the looking-glass, where he gave his coat a tug. He remained standing as he waited for the couple to be announced.
When Sir Walter’s solicitor, Mr. Shepherd, and Admiral Croft and his wife were admitted to the drawing room, it was all politeness and civil discourse as introductions were made. Sir Walter invited them to sit down and visit before they would be shown the house.
As they settled onto the sofa, Sir Walter perused the couple. The admiral was not so intolerably brown. His hair was a greater mix of white than black and could have done with better styling. His face was more weather-beaten than he would have liked, but his overall appearance was that of a hearty, well-looking gentleman. As they conversed, he determined he would not be ashamed of being seen with the admiral anywhere.
“It is a lovely prospect to the front,” Mrs. Croft said. “Such a lovely park.” She clasped her hands and a broad smile lit her face. “We so wished to find a place in Somersetshire. We looked at several places prior to this that were not suitable at all, but we have been quite pleased with Kellynch at first glance.”
Sir Walter gave a slow nod of his head in appreciation. “Quite a prize, is it not?”
“On first glance, it most certainly is. We drove about the grounds, and they are quite extensive.” Admiral Croft nodded his head towards Mr. Shepherd and then addressed Sir Walter again. “Mr. Shepherd had been quite articulate and accurate as he described the place to us. He had spoken of it with so much feeling that I almost signed the lease on the spot without even seeing it.”
Mr. Shepherd looked proudly at Sir Walter. “A place such as this needs no exaggeration or embellishments. I merely spoke what I knew to be true.”
“Now that England is at peace, we are looking forward to planting our feet on solid ground for a while.” Admiral Croft smiled at his wife.
“Not that I would argue with him if he chose to remain on a ship,” Mrs. Croft added. “I so love to sail with him.”
Both Sir Walter and Elizabeth were taken aback. His eyes widened, and hers narrowed. After collecting himself, Sir Walter said, “Certainly you do not mean that you go out to sea with your husband!”
Mrs. Croft nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, yes! I prefer to be at his side than not.” She smiled and took her husband’s hand. “There is a joy and freedom found out in the great seas that one would hardly find elsewhere.”
“But the dangers…” began Elizabeth.
“The sun, storms, nay, all the elements at work against you!” added Sir Walter.
Mrs. Croft smiled. “I feel safer with my husband at sea than on the shores without him.”
“Indeed,” Sir Walter said, as he began looking at Mrs. Croft with a critical eye, looking for evidence of aging before her years.
“Shall we take a look around?” Mr. Shepherd quickly interjected. “We shall show you the rooms that will remain open to you.” He then turned to Sir Walter. “And I did already advise them that there are restrictions in the use of the pleasure-grounds and flower garden.”
Sir Walter nodded his head. “Good.”
Miss Elliot led the way, performing her duties as Mistress of Kellynch quite admirably, despite loathing the whole affair. She was proud of the great manor, yet both she and her father had struggled with the whole notion of leaving their home in the hands of someone quite unbeknownst to them. She consoled herself with the reminder that living in Bath would have its advantages.
Admiral and Mrs. Croft were very kind in their compliments to the home and the care the Elliots had obviously taken in it. They were both very polite and well-bred, which pleased Sir Walter immensely.
As they moved through a rather long and wide hallway, Sir Walter stopped at one of the
many looking-glasses hung throughout the place. He turned to the Crofts, who had walked past one of the larger ones, looking in at it and then at each other with a smile.
In an almost apologetic manner Sir Walter stated, “I hope you do not mind, but we shall be taking some of these mirrors. Our place in Bath has but two, and they are both rather small and discolored. I hope it will be of no inconvenience to you.”
“Oh, not at all!” Admiral Croft laughed. “The less I have to see of myself, the happier I am!” He turned to his wife. “Now, Sophie is much more pleasant to look at and would likely not turn aside from a looking-glass in passing, but no, we shall not miss them.”
Mrs. Croft smiled at Sir Walter. “You may take all that you desire.”
“Good, good!” Sir Walter said, obviously pleased.
After showing them the rooms available to them, they returned to the drawing room to discuss all the terms of the lease. The Crofts expressed how well-pleased they were with all they saw, which gratified Sir Walter beyond measure. He was of the opinion that their appearance – despite eventually being able to make out a little brown in Mrs. Croft’s face – would complement Kellynch suitably.
“We should like to have possession at Michaelmas, if that is agreeable to you,” the admiral said.
Sir Walter slowly nodded his head as he rubbed his jaw. “We shall be leaving for Bath the month before, so that will do splendidly.”
Mr. Shepherd assured them all that his clerks would draw up the papers directly for them to sign.
When the Crofts departed, Sir Walter was pleased that everything had passed off well. He could now set his sights on removing to Bath with Elizabeth and Mrs. Clay. Mr. Shepherd remained to speak with him as the Crofts walked to the carriage.
They were just about to step in, when Admiral Croft stopped and looked back at the house. “Well, Sophie, dearest, do you think we can find anything finer than Kellynch?”
She slipped her arm through her husband’s and a broad smile lit her face. “I think not. It is lovely.”
“But pray, do tell me the truth, dear. Do you truly think we can manage with only half of the mirrors left on the walls?”
Mrs. Croft smiled and patted her husband’s arm. “It shall be a small sacrifice to pay, but I believe I shall manage quite well.”
The admiral and his wife both laughed as they stepped into the carriage and waited for Mr. Shepherd.
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Delightful, Kara Louise! A lovely read.
Your depiction of Sir W is priceless; what gems he came out with:
“It appears they are both tall. I am grateful they are not short. That would not do at all!” and
“He was of the opinion that their appearance – despite eventually being able to make out a little brown in Mrs. Croft’s face – would complement Kellynch suitably.” LOL
Thanks, Cassandra! It was most fun to write. Some characters are real characters, aren’t they?
Absolutely! Seriously, this was a brilliant piece! 😀
I loved the humor in this chapter. Sir Walter is a mindless buffoon, and no matter what age he lives to be, will never see the people that he meets in terms of reality. Everyone is judged solely on appearance and what they can do for him. His vanity is absurd and overwhelming, because he measures the rest of the world by his own exacting standards. Standards which even he could not live up to, if he were honest with himself. As if that would ever happen! I imagine in a few more years, when the wrinkles and bags under his eyes have taken their toll, he will decide that he looks distinguished and more perfect than ever. The bit with the mirrors is priceless and totally in keeping with the Sir Walter we have all come to know and disdain. He is always good for a laugh because he is so vain and foolish, but at the same time, he is a walking tragedy. He does not value the real jewel in the family crown, Anne. He ignores his daughter Mary who is a hypochondriac of epic proportions, and selfish beyond comprehension, and dismisses her almost as much as he dismisses Anne. That he isn’t more cruel to her, is only because she is no longer at home. Poor Anne is always there to catch his mocking and disdain. He and Elizabeth are both foolish children in adult’s bodies. They are selfish and clueless, which is why they don’t care about Mary. Her constant litany of imaginary illnesses makes it difficult for them to focus on what is important to them: their overwhelming sense of self importance. By the same token, their selfish obsession with themselves prevents them from recognizing Mary as one of them, and vice versa. All three are emotional grifters who prey upon everyone else to rescue them from themselves.
Anne Elliot and Elizabeth Bennet are always seen to best advantage because of the contrast with their foolish families, but they are people with kindness and common sense, and would be laudable even without their families for comparison. They are people who will always be valued for their good qualities, because they have a capacity to love and be loved. Their family members for the most part, love only themselves. Again this begs the question: how did they turn out to be exceptional considering their background was the same as their siblings? How did two women survive the foolishness and selfishness that surrounded them from day one? In Anne’s case, her mother, and later Lady Russell deflected some of it and gave her good solid principles and the love she did not get from her father and sisters. In Elizabeth’s case, her father saved her and helped to form her character. Neither he nor Lady Russell were perfect, and each had faults of their own, but they were able to prize and help raise exceptional women. Again, thank you for the relief that this chapter brought. It is always nice to get away from the serious aspects of the story, and just have fun with it.
Very true in all your thoughts – it would be interesting to see a story where Sir Walter has aged, and maybe he is abhorred by how he looks! And yes, Elizabeth and he are foolish and selfish. Not a good combination for any sort of respectable person. I often wonder if Jane based her characters on real people she knew.
Thank you for your delightful chapter, Kara Louise! I have never been able to imagine how this visit of the Crofts to Kellynch would proceed, and this makes it all easy and so fun! I love the way you told about the mirrors, and that Sir Elliot would be taking many of them with him, and then the cute humor and warmth between the Crofts was so wonderfully illustrated! “The less I have to see of myself, the happier I am!” He turned to his wife. “Now, Sophie is much more pleasant to look at…” I loved that!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Carol! Writing a chapter with Sir Walter must have mirrors! Thanks!
I enjoyed reading this. There was such a comic aspect to this. But yet so true to the characters. Sir Walter’s vanity is laughable. Always looking at himself and taking half the mirrors. The Crofts have him figured out, ‘ ” Do you truly think we can manage with only half of the mirrors left on the walls?”
Mrs. Croft smiled and patted her husband’s arm. “It shall be a small sacrifice to pay, but I believe I shall manage quite well.” ‘
Anne is nowhere around, avoiding the Crofts. Is it possible she believes Wentworth’s sister would notice something or have heard of her through her brother?
Sir Walter is such a shallow self-centered buffoon. Always and only worried about outward appearance, nothing else. I second Cassandra’s quote, “He was of the opinion that their appearance – despite eventually being able to make out a little brown in Mrs. Croft’s face – would complement Kellynch suitably.” And I agree with Mari that Sir Walter “does not value the real jewel in the family crown”.
Thank you for such a fun read! Looking forward to more. 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts, Deborah. I’m glad you enjoyed it! This one was fun to write, despite being a true picture of the foolishness of Sir Walter.
What fun that must have been to write! I was chuckling throughout! Heaven forbid that Sir Walter should age! Hmmm…I wonder if he would start wearing make-up!
Thanks, Carole! I think a fun story would be him in his old age being shunned because he has aged quite intolerably!
What a delightful chapter, Kara!!
There were a few lines that made me laugh aloud, especially at the end when the Crofts were considering how well they’d manage living at Kellynch with only half the mirrors… 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Marilyn! It was certainly fun to write. 🙂
An enjoyable chapter, always fun to laugh at Sir Walter and love the fleshing out of the Admiral and Sophie characters…two of my favourites..
Thanks, Stephanie! Sir Walter certainly is fun to laugh at!
I really liked how the Crofts are above being offended by the ridiculous Elliots and can even joke about it. Sir Walter doesn’t deserve to be bailed out by having his home leased by a upstanding couple! But he will reap those benefits anyway – and the Crofts will really enjoy living in that home that they seem to like very much. Thank you!
Thanks, Kathy! I really like the Crofts – they can see right through Sir Walter! 🙂
I loved the references to the mirrors! Very well done. You’ve also shown a great deal about the personalities of the Admiral and Mrs. Croft. They share a dry sense of humor and look on the foibles of others with amusement. I like them and would certainly like to make their acquaintance. Since I love sailing, I’d be thrilled to hear their stories of their days at sea.
Thanks, Susan! It is fun to write a story with both foolish and astute characters – it’s fun seeing their actions and reactions! 🙂
Ditto on comments about the mirrors and the sarcastic humor from the Crofts at the end was so perfect as I picture their characters. Sir Walter doesn’t get it…at all – we can do without half the mirrors! Really?
Thank you for a perfect description of this visit/tour of the house.
A great chapter, Kara. The Crofts certainly figure out Sir Walter’s character in a jiffy. He’s shallow and vain and they even managed to joke about it.
Has Sir Walter formally invited Mrs Clay to Bath with him and Elizabeth? And Anne was not informed about it yet? I look forward to reading Anne and Lady Russell’s reactions.
Thank you, Luthien! The Crofts are pretty quick! And stay tuned for those story elements! 🙂
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