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You're built to win it. Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find and connect with us on Snewscast.com and on social media at Snewscast. This episode is brought to you by Strong Attachments. Tonight we shall read the next part to Persuasion, The last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliott, a 27-year-old English woman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an admiral and his wife. The novel was well received at its debut, but its greater fame came decades later and continues to this day. In the first episode, we read chapter 1 in which we meet Sir Walter Elliott, a 54-year-old man of distinct ancestry and his three daughters. The father prides himself on his good looks and family lineage. His eldest daughter, who most resembles him in personality and looks, is named Elizabeth. At 29, she is unmarried but attractive. His youngest daughter, Mary, has married a respectable local man. And then there is the middle child, Han. She is also unmarried like Elizabeth, but at 27 years old, has grown less attractive with age. Sir Walter feels that Anne is inferior to her sisters and often overlooks her. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. CHAPTER 2 Mr. Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent judgment of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully expected to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see fully adopted. Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject and gave it much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this instance were great, from the opposition of two leading principles. She was of strict integrity herself with a delicate sense of honor, but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings as solicitous for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was due to them as anybody of sense and honesty could well be. She was a benevolent, charitable, good woman, and capable of strong attachments, most correct in her conduct, strict in her notions of decorum, and with manners that were held a standard of good breeding. She had a cultivated mind and was generally speaking rational and consistent, but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry. She had a value for rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those who possessed them. Her self, the widow of only a knight, she gave the dignity of a baronet all its due, and Sir Walter, independent of his claims as and hold acquaintance, an attentive neighbor, and obliging landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and her sisters was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to a great deal of compassion and consideration under his present difficulties. They must retrench. That did not admit of a doubt. But she was very anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy. She made exact calculations and she did what nobody else thought of doing. She consulted and who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her in marking out the scheme of retrenchment, which was at last submitted to Sir Walter. Every emendation of ants had been on the side of honesty against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of indifference for everything but justice and equity. If we can persuade your father to all this," said Lady Russell, looking over her paper, much may be done. If he will adopt these regulations in seven years, he will be clear. And I hope we may be able to convince him and Elizabeth that Kellynchall has a respectability in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions, and that the true dignity of Sir Walter Elliott will be very far from lessened in the eyes of sensible people by acting like a man of principle. What will he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have done or ought to do? There will be nothing singular in his case, and it is singularity which often makes the worst part of our suffering, as it always does of our conduct. I have great hope of prevailing. We must be serious and decided. For after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them, and though a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman and the head of the house, like your father, there is still more due to the character of an honest man. This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure and saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence highly and adds to the severe degree of self-denial which her own conscience prompted. She believed there might be little more difficulty in persuading them to a complete, than to a half of reformation. Her knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of both. And so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's two gentle reductions. How Anne's more rigid requisitions might have been taken is of little consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at all. Could not be put up with. We're not to be born. What? Every comfort of life knocked off? Journeys, London, servants, horses, table, contractions and restrictions everywhere to live no longer with the decency even of a private gentleman. No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once than remain in it on such disgraceful terms. Quit Kellynch Hall The hint was immediately taken up by Mr. Shepard, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walters' retrenching, and who was perfectly persuaded that nothing would be done without a change of a boat. Since the idea has been started in the very quarter which ought to dictate, he had no scruple. He said, in confessing his judgment to be entirely on that side, it did not appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of living in a house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient dignity to support.

In any other place, Sir Walter might judge for himself and would be looked up to as regulating the modes of life in whatever way he might choose to model his household. Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall, and after a very few days more of doubt and indecision, the great question of whether he should go was settled, and the first outline of this important change made out. There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or another house in the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter, a small house in their own neighborhood where they might still have lady Russell society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes seeing the lawns and groves of Kellynch was the object of her ambition. But the usual fate of Anne attended her in having something very opposite from her inclination fixed on. She disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed with her, and Bath was to be her home. Sir Walter had at first thought more of London, but Mr. Shepherd felt that he could not be trusted in London and had been skillful enough to dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred. It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament. He might there be important, at comparatively little expense. material advantages of Bath over London had of course been given all their

weight. It's more convenient distance from Kellynch, only 50 miles, and lady Russell spending some part of every winter there. Into the very great satisfaction of lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for Bath.

Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there. Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear and's known wishes. It would be too much to expect Sir Walter to descend into a small house in his own neighborhood. And herself would have found the modifications of it more than she for saw. And two Sir Walter's feelings they must have been dreadful. with regard to Anne's dislike of Beth, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school there after her mother's passing. And secondly, from her happening to be not in perfectly good spirits, the only winter which she had afterwards spent there with herself. Lady Russell was fond of Bath and short, and disposed to think it must suit them all, and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch's lodge, every danger would be avoided. And it was, in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good. And had been too little from home, too little seen. Their spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them.

She... two little from home, two little seen. Her spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to be more known. The undesirableness of any other house in the same neighborhood for Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very material part of the scheme, which had been happily and grafted on the beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the hands of others. A trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, however, was a profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own circle. Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of being known to design letting his house. Mr. Shepherd had once mentioned the word advertise, but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter spurned the idea of its being offered in any manner. For Bade the slightest hint being dropped of his having such an intention, and it was only on the supposition of his being spontaneously solicited by some most unacceptable applicant on his own terms, and as a great favor that he would let it at all. How quick come the reasons for approving what we like? Lady Russell had another excellent one at hand for being extremely glad that Sir Walter and his family were to remove from the country.

Elizabeth had been lately forming an intimacy

which she wished to see interrupted.

It was with the daughter of Mr. Shepherd

who had returned after an unprosporous marriage

to her father's house with the additional burden of two children. She was a clever young woman who understood the art of pleasing, the art of pleasing at least at Kellynch Hall, and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliott as to to have been already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution and reserve. Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and seemed to love her rather because she would love her than because Elizabeth deserved it. She had never received from her more than outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complacence. never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry against previous inclination. She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to London, Sensibly open to all the injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavored to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgment and experience. always in vain, Elizabeth would go her own way, and never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs. Clay, turning from the society of so deserving a sister to bestow her affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her but the object of distant civility. From situation Mrs. Clay was in Lady Russell's estimate of very unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion and a removal that would leave Mrs. Clay behind and bring a choice of more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot's reach was therefore an object of first-rate importance. CHAPTER 3 I must take leave to observe Sir Walter. Said Mr. Shepherd one morning at Kellynchall as he laid down the newspaper that the present juncture is much in our favor. This peace will be turning all our rich naval officers ashore. They will be all wanting a home. Could not be a better time sir Walter for having a choice of tenants, very responsible tenants. Many a noble fortune has been made during the war. If a rich admiral were to come in our way, Sir Walter, he would be a very lucky man, shepherd. Replyte, Sir Walter, that's all I have to remark. A prize indeed would Kellyn Chal be to him, rather the greatest prize of all. Let him have taken ever so many before. Hey, Mr. Shepard. Mr. Shepard laughed, as he knew he must at this wit, and then at it. I presume to observe Sir Walter that, in the way of business, gentlemen of the Navy are well to deal with. I have had a little knowledge of their methods of doing business, and I am free to confess that they are very liberal in their notions, and are as likely to make desirable tenets as any set of people one should meet with. Therefore Sir Walter, what I would take leave to suggest is that if in consequence of any rumors getting abroad of your intention, which must be contemplated as a possible thing, because we know how difficult it is to keep the actions and designs of one part of the world from the notice and curiosity of the other. Consequence has its tax. I, John Shepherd, might conceal any family matters that I chose for nobody would think it worth their while to observe me. But Sir Walter Elliott

has eyes upon him, which it may be very difficult to elude, and therefore thus much I venture upon. That it will not greatly surprise me if, with all our caution, some rumor of the truth should get abroad, in the supposition of which, as I was going to observe, since applications will unquestionably follow, I should think any from our wealthy naval commanders, particularly worth attending to, and beg leave to add, that two hours will bring me over at any time to save you the trouble of replying. Sir Walter only nodded, but soon afterwards, rising and pacing the room, he observed sarcastically. There are a few among the gentlemen of the Navy, I imagine, who would not be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description. They would look around them no doubt and bless their good fortune," said Mrs. Clay. For Mrs. Clay was present. Her father had driven her over, nothing being of so much use to Mrs. Clay's health as a drive to Kellynch. But I quite agree with my father in thinking a sailor might be a very desirable tenant. I have known a good deal of the profession, and besides their liberality, they are so neat and careful in all their ways. These valuable pictures of yours, Sir Walter, if you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe. Everything in and about the house would be taken such excellent care of. The gardens and shrubberies would be kept in almost as high order as they are now. You need not be afraid, Miss Elliott, of your own sweet flower gardens being neglected. As to all of that, rejoins her Walter Cooley, supposing I were induced to let my house, I have by no means made up my mind as to the privileges to be annexed to it. I am not particularly disposed to favor a tenant. The park would be open to him, of course, and few Navy officers, or men of any other description, can have had such a range. But what restrictions I might impose on the use of the pleasure grounds? And it is another thing. I'm not fond of the idea of my shrubberies being always approachable, and I should recommend Miss Elliott to be on her

guard with respect to her flower garden. I am very little disposed to grant a tenant of Kellynch Hall any extraordinary favor. I assure you, be he sailor or soldier. After a short pause, Mr. Shepherd presumed to say, in all these cases, there are established usages which make everything plain and easy between landlord and tenant. Your interest, Sir Walter, is in pretty safe hands. Depend upon me for taking care that no tenant has more than his just rights. I venture to hint that Sir Walter Elliott cannot be half so jealous for his own, as John Shepard will be for him. Here, and spoke.

The Navy I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give, sailors work hard enough for their comforts. We must all allow. Very true, very true. What Miss Anne says is very true. With Mr. Shepherds rejoinder. And, oh, certainly, his daughters. But Sir Walters remarked was soon afterwards. The profession has its utility, but I should be very sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it. Indeed was the reply, and with a look of surprise. Yes, it is in two points offensive to me. I have two strong grounds of objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honors which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of. And secondly, as it cuts up a man's youth and figure most horribly, a sailor grows old sooner than any other man. I have observed it all my life. A man is in greater danger in the Navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose father, his father, might have disdain to speak to, and of becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself than in any other line. One day, last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of what I am talking of. Lord St. Ives, whose father we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat.

I was to give place to Lord Zainai's and a certain admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable looking personage you can imagine. His face, the color of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree. All lines and wrinkles, nine gray hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top. In the name of heaven, who is that old fellow, said I, to a friend of mine who was standing near Sir Basil Morley Old fellow Crite Sir Basil It is Admiral Baldwin What do you take his age to be? 60 said I More perhaps 62 40 Replyte Sir Basil. Forty. And no more. Picture to yourselves my amazement. I shall not easily forget Admiral Baldwin. I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a seafaring life can do. But to a degree, I know it is the same with them all. They are all knocked about and exposed to every climate and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. It's a pity they are not knocked on the headed once, before they reach Admiral Baldwin's age. Nacer Walter, cried Mrs. Clay, this is being severe indeed. Have a little mercy on the poor men? We are not all born to be handsome. The sea is no beautifier, certainly. Sailors do grow old but times. I have observed it. They soon lose the look of youth. But then, is not it the same with many other professions, perhaps most others,

soldiers in active service are not at all better off, and even in the quieter professions, there is a toil and a labor of the mind, And if not of the body, which seldom leaves a man's looks to the natural effect of time. Yn yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n y