Reading this line, at the beginning of Chapt III, it suddenly occurred to me, oh, this is where Mrs Clay gets that knack for ingratiating herself with Sir Walter and Elizabeth. She's seen her father do it, all her life.
Of course, he was a professional man, and could command respect for his talents etc. (one assumes that he was the one really running the properties; Sir W doesn't strike one as a "hands on" landowner like Mr Knightley). She can only simper and flatter and try to please...