Chapter 1 , of , in , was ; there found occupation for an idle hour , and consolation in a distressed one ; there faculties were roused into admiration and respect , by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents ; there any unwelcome sensations , arising from domestic affairs changed naturally into pity and contempt as turned over the almost endless creations of the last century ; and there , if every other leaf were powerless , could read own history with an interest which never failed .
This was the page at which the favourite volume always opened : " OF .
" , born March 1 , 1760 , married , July 15 , 1784 , , , in , by ( who died 1800 ) has issue , born June 1 , 1785 ; , born August 9 , 1787 ; , November 5 , 1789 ; , born November 20 , 1791 . "
Precisely such had the paragraph originally stood from 's hands ; but had improved it by adding , for the information of and , these words , after the date of 's birth -- " Married , December 16 , 1810 , , , in , " and by inserting most accurately the day of the month on which had lost .
Then followed the history and rise of , in the usual terms ; how had been first settled in ; how mentioned in Dugdale , serving the office of high sheriff , representing in three successive parliaments , exertions of loyalty , and dignity of baronet , in the first year of , with ; forming altogether two handsome duodecimo pages , and concluding with the arms and motto : -- " Principal seat , , in , " and 's handwriting again in this finale : -- " , , . "
Vanity was the beginning and the end of 's character ; vanity of person and of situation .
had been remarkably handsome in youth ; and , at fifty-four , was still .
could think more of personal appearance than did , nor could be more delighted with the place held in society .
considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy ; and , was the constant object of warmest respect and devotion .
good looks and rank had one fair claim on attachment ; since to them must have owed to any thing deserved by own .
had been , sensible and amiable ; whose judgement and conduct , if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made , had never required indulgence afterwards .
-- had humoured , or softened , or concealed failings , and promoted real respectability for seventeen years ; and though not the very happiest being in , had found enough in duties , , and , to attach to life , and make it no matter of indifference to when was called on to quit .
-- , sixteen and fourteen , was an awful legacy for to bequeath , an awful charge rather , to confide to the authority and guidance of .
had , however , , ; and on kindness and advice , mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which had been anxiously giving .
, and , did not marry , whatever might have been anticipated on that head by acquaintance .
Thirteen years had passed away since 's death , and were still and , and remained , .
That , should have no thought of a second marriage , needs no apology to , which is rather apt to be unreasonably discontented when does marry again , than when does not ; but 's continuing in singleness requires explanation .
Be it known then , that , like , ( having met with one or two private disappointments in very unreasonable applications ) , prided on remaining single for ' sake .
For , , would really have given up any thing , which had not been very much tempted to do .
had succeeded , at sixteen , to all that was possible , of 's rights and consequence ; and being very handsome , and very like , influence had always been great , and had gone on together most happily .
were of very inferior value .
had acquired a little artificial importance , by becoming ; but , with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character , which must have placed high with , was with either or ; word had no weight , convenience was always to give way -- was only .
To , indeed , was .
loved all ; but it was only in that could fancy to revive again .
A few years before , had been , but bloom had vanished early ; and as even in its height , had found little to admire in , ( so totally different were delicate features and mild dark eyes from own ) , there could be nothing in them , now that was faded and thin , to excite esteem .
had never indulged much hope , had now none , of ever reading name in any other page of favourite work .
All equality of alliance must rest with , for had merely connected with , and had therefore given all the honour and received none : would , one day or other , marry suitably .
It sometimes happens that is handsomer at twenty-nine than was ten years before ; and , generally speaking , if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety , it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost .
It was so with , still that had begun to be thirteen years ago , and might be excused , therefore , in forgetting age , or , at least , be deemed , for thinking and as blooming as ever , amidst the wreck of the good looks of ; for could plainly see how old all were growing .
haggard , coarse , worsting , and the rapid increase of the crow 's foot about 's temples had long been a distress to .
did not quite equal in personal contentment .
Thirteen years had seen , presiding and directing with a self-possession and decision which could never have given the idea of being younger than was .
For thirteen years had been doing the honours , and laying down the domestic law at , and leading the way to , and walking immediately after out of .
Thirteen winters ' revolving frosts had seen opening every ball of credit which afforded , and thirteen springs shewn their blossoms , as travelled up to with , for a few weeks ' annual enjoyment of .
had the remembrance of all this , had the consciousness of being nine-and-twenty to give some regrets and some apprehensions ; was fully satisfied of being still quite as handsome as ever , but felt approach to the years of danger , and would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly solicited by within the next twelvemonth or two .
Then might again take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in early youth , but now liked it not .
Always to be presented with the date of own birth and see no marriage follow but that of , made the book an evil ; and more than once , when had left it open on the table near , had closed it , with averted eyes , and pushed it away .
had had a disappointment , moreover , which that book , and especially the history of , must ever present the remembrance of .
, , whose rights had been so generously supported by , had disappointed .
had , while , as soon as had known to be , in the event of having , , meant to marry , and had always meant that should .
had not been known to as ; but soon after 's death , had sought the acquaintance , and though overtures had not been met with any warmth , had persevered in seeking it , making allowance for the modest drawing-back of youth ; and , in one of spring excursions to , when was in first bloom , had been forced into the introduction .
was at that time , just engaged in the study of the law ; and found extremely agreeable , and every plan in favour was confirmed .
was invited to ; was talked of and expected all the rest of the year ; but never came .
The following spring was seen again in , found equally agreeable , again encouraged , invited , and expected , and again did not come ; and the next tidings were that was married .
Instead of pushing fortune in the line marked out for , had purchased independence by uniting to .