Доводы рассудка

           IndeedIthinkitquitemelancholytohavesuchexcellentpeopleasDrandMrsShirley,whohavebeendoinggoodalltheirlives,wearingouttheirlastdaysinaplacelikeUppercross,where,exceptingourfamily,theyseemshutoutfromalltheworld.Iwishhisfriendswouldproposeittohim.Ireallythinktheyought.And,astoprocuringadispensation,therecouldbenodifficultyathistimeoflife,andwithhischaracter.Myonlydoubtis,whetheranythingcouldpersuadehimtoleavehisparish.Heissoverystrictandscrupulousinhisnotions;over-scrupulousImustsay.Donotyouthink,Anne,itisbeingover-scrupulous?Donotyouthinkitisquiteamistakenpointofconscience,whenaclergymansacrificeshishealthforthesakeofduties,whichmaybejustaswellperformedbyanotherperson?AndatLymetoo,onlyseventeenmilesoff,hewouldbenearenoughtohear,ifpeoplethoughttherewasanythingtocomplainof.”

           Annesmiledmorethanoncetoherselfduringthisspeech,andenteredintothesubject,asreadytodogoodbyenteringintothefeelingsofayoungladyasofayoungman,thoughhereitwasgoodofalowerstandard,forwhatcouldbeofferedbutgeneralacquiescence?Shesaidallthatwasreasonableandproperonthebusiness;felttheclaimsofDrShirleytoreposeassheought;sawhowverydesirableitwasthatheshouldhavesomeactive,respectableyoungman,asaresidentcurate,andwasevencourteousenoughtohintattheadvantageofsuchresidentcurate’sbeingmarried.