The highest compliment that Sir Walter seems to be able to pay anyone is that he is 'not ashamed/had no objection to be seen with him anywhere'--which he said first of Admiral Croft and now of Mr. Elliot's friend Colonel Wallis. What must it be like to always feel that people are interested in looking at you??

Sir Walter is only interested in meeting Mrs. Wallis because she is reputed to be a beauty. He doesn't ask how Mary is doing or feeling or how her children are, but instead "How is Mary looking?"