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liberal as his heart； had he the Power。—He would be a noble
Coadjutor！—As it is； he does what he can—and is running up a
tasteful little Cottage Ornèe on a strip of Waste Ground Lady D。
has granted him； which I have no doubt we shall have many a
Candidate for； before the end even of this Season。’ Till within the
last twelvemonth； Mr。 P。 had considered Sir Edward as standing
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without a rival； as having the fairest chance of succeeding to the
greater part of all that she had to give—but there was now another
person’s claims to be taken into the account； those of the young
female relation； whom Lady D。 had been induced to receive into
her Family。 After having always protested against any such
Addition； and long and often enjoyed the repeated defeats she had
given to every attempt of her relations to introduce this young
Lady； or that young Lady as a Companion at Sanditon House； she
had brought back with her from London last Michaelmas a Miss
Brereton； who bid fair by her Merits to vie in favour with Sir
Edward； and to secure for herself and her family that share of the
accumulated Property which they had certainly the best right to
inherit。—Mr。 Parker spoke warmly of Clara Brereton； and the
interest of his story increased very much with the introduction of
such a Character。 Charlotte listened with more than amusement
now；—it was solicitude and Enjoyment； as she heard her
described to be lovely； amiable； gentle； unassuming； conducting
herself uniformly with great good sense； and evidently gaining by
her innate worth； on the affections of her Patroness。—Beauty；
Sweetness； Poverty and Dependance； do not want the imagination
of a Man to operate upon。 With due exceptions—Woman feels for
Woman very promptly and compassionately。 He gave the
particulars which had led to Clara’s admission at Sanditon； as no
bad exemplification of that mixture of Character； that union of
Littleness with Kindness with Good Sense with even Liberality
which he saw in Lady D。—After having avoided London for many
years； principally on account of these very Cousins； who were
continually writing； inviting and tormenting her； and whom she
was determined to keep at a distance； she had been obliged to go
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there last Michaelmas with the certainty of being detained at least
a fortnight。—She had gone to an Hotel—living by her own account
as prudently as possible； to defy the reputed expensiveness of such
a home； and at the end of three Days calling for her Bill； that she
might judge of her state。—Its amount was such as determined her
on staying not another hour in the House； and she was preparing
in all the anger and perturbation which a belief of very gross
imposition there； and an ignorance of where to go for better usage；
to leave the Hotel at all hazards； when the Cousins； the politic and
lucky Cousins； who seemed always to have a spy on her；
introduced themselves at this important moment； and learning her
situation； persuaded her to accept such a home for the rest of her
stay as their humbler house in a very inferior part of London；
could offer。—She went； was delighted with her welcome and the
hospitality and attention she received from every body—found her
good Cousins the B。s beyond her expectation worthy people—and
finally was impelled by a personal knowledge of their narrow
Income and pecuniary difficulties； to invite one of the girls of the
family to pass the Winter with her。 The invitation was to one； for
six months—with the probability of another being then to take her
place；—but in selecting the one； Lady D。 had shewn the good part
of her Character—for passing by the actual daughters of the
House； she had chosen Clara； a Niece； more helpless and more
pitiable of course than any—a dependant on Poverty—an
additional Burthen on an encumbered Circle—and one； who had
been so low in every worldly view； as with all her natural
endowments and powers； to have been preparing for a situation
little better than a Nursery Maid。—Clara had returned with her—
and by her good sense and merit had now； to all appearance
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secured a very strong hold in Lady D。’s regard。 The six months
had long been over—and not a syllable was breathed of any
change； or exchange。—She was a general favourite；—the influence
of her steady conduct and mild； gentle Temper was felt by
everybody。 The prejudices which had met her at first in some
quarters； were all dissipated。 She was felt to be worthy of Trust—
to be the very companion who would guide and soften Lady D。—
who would enlarge her mind and open her hand。—She was as
thoroughly amiable as she was lovely—and since having had the
advantage of their Sanditon Breezes； that Loveliness was
complete。
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CHAPTER IV
nd whose very snug…looking Place is this？’—said
Charlotte； as in a sheltered Dip within two miles of the
‘A
Sea； they passed close by a moderate…sized house； well
fenced and planted； and rich in the Garden； Orchard and
Meadows which are the best embellishments of such a Dwelling。
‘It seems to have as many comforts about it as Willingden。’—‘Ah’—
said Mr。 P。—‘This is my old House—the house of my
Forefathers—the house where I and all my Brothers and Sisters
were born and bred—and where my own three eldest Children
were born—where Mrs。 P。 and I lived till within the last two
years—till our new House was finished。—I am glad you are
pleased with it。—It is an honest old Place—and Hillier keeps it in
very good order。 I have given it up you know to the Man who
occupies the chief of my Land。 He gets a better House by it—and I；
a rather better situation！—one other Hill brings us to Sanditon—
modern Sanditon—a beautiful Spot。 Our Ancestors； you know
always built in a hole。—Here were we； pent down in this little
contracted Nook； without Air or View； only one mile and three
quarters from the noblest expanse of Ocean between the South
foreland and