And now, for your reading pleasure, is a recap of tweets for Chapters 16 and 17 of my favorite Jane Austen novel, PERSUASION:
Persuasion, Ch16: Sir Walter wonders why Anne's skin looks "clearer, fresher." Gowland's Lotion? Botox? Facelift? No, wait. This is 1815.
Superficiality Central: Sir W & Elizabeth agog over the arrival of their noble cousins, Lady Dalrymple & her daughter.
Anne finds Lady D and her spawn yawn-worthy at best—embarrassed by her fam's bowing & scraping.
Anne a bit suspicious of the ever-smooth Mr. Elliot. She is, as usual, alone in her feelings.
Persuasion, Ch17: Anne renews a friendship with Mrs. Smith, an old schoolfellow who had been kind to 14-yr-old Anne after her mother died.
Mrs. Smith is now a poor sickly widow, and Anne marvels at her cheerfulness in such a dismal situation.
"Here," thought Anne, "was that elasticity of mind, that disposition to be comforted…It was the choicest gift of Heaven."
Sir Walter disapproves of Anne's friend. "And what is her attraction?" says he. "That she is old and sickly." Helluva guy.
Mr. Elliot, however, praises Anne for her kindness towards her friend. Lady Russell believes that he is in love with Anne.
Anne flattered but just not that into Mr. Elliot. Besides, her heart belongs to another. Even if his belongs to Louisa.
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[Corin Redgrave as Sir Walter Elliot. The perfect fop.
"A widow Mrs. Smith lodging in Westgate Buildings! A poor widow barely
able to live, between thirty and forty; a mere Mrs. Smith, an every-day
Mrs. Smith, of all people and all names in the world, to be the chosen
friend of Miss Anne Elliot, and to be preferred by her to her own
family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland! Mrs.
Smith! Such a name!"]
