Доводы рассудка

           Yoursisterisanamiablecreature;butyoursisthecharacterofdecisionandfirmness,Isee.Ifyouvalueherconductorhappiness,infuseasmuchofyourownspiritintoherasyoucan.Butthis,nodoubt,youhavebeenalwaysdoing.Itistheworsteviloftooyieldingandindecisiveacharacter,thatnoinfluenceoveritcanbedependedon.Youareneversureofagoodimpressionbeingdurable;everybodymayswayit.Letthosewhowouldbehappybefirm.Hereisanut,”saidhe,catchingonedownfromanupperbough.“toexemplify:abeautifulglossynut,which,blessedwithoriginalstrength,hasoutlivedallthestormsofautumn.Notapuncture,notaweakspotanywhere.Thisnut,”hecontinued,withplayfulsolemnity,“whilesomanyofhisbrethrenhavefallenandbeentroddenunderfoot,isstillinpossessionofallthehappinessthatahazelnutcanbesupposedcapableof.”Thenreturningtohisformerearnesttone—“MyfirstwishforallwhomIaminterestedin,isthattheyshouldbefirm.IfLouisaMusgrovewouldbebeautifulandhappyinherNovemberoflife,shewillcherishallherpresentpowersofmind.”

           Hehaddone,andwasunanswered.ItwouldhavesurprisedAnneifLouisacouldhavereadilyansweredsuchaspeech:wordsofsuchinterest,spokenwithsuchseriouswarmth!ShecouldimaginewhatLouisawasfeeling.Forherself,shefearedtomove,lestsheshouldbeseen.Whilesheremained,abushoflowramblinghollyprotectedher,andtheyweremovingon.Beforetheywerebeyondherhearing,however,Louisaspokeagain.