Доводы рассудка

           Headvisedheragainstit,thoughtthejartoogreat;butno,hereasonedandtalkedinvain,shesmiledandsaid,“IamdeterminedIwill:”heputouthishands;shewastooprecipitatebyhalfasecond,shefellonthepavementontheLowerCobb,andwastakenuplifeless!Therewasnowound,noblood,novisiblebruise;buthereyeswereclosed,shebreathednot,herfacewaslikedeath.Thehorrorofthemomenttoallwhostoodaround!

           CaptainWentworth,whohadcaughtherup,kneltwithherinhisarms,lookingonherwithafaceaspallidasherown,inanagonyofsilence.“Sheisdead!sheisdead!”screamedMary,catchingholdofherhusband,andcontributingwithhisownhorrortomakehimimmoveable;andinanothermoment,Henrietta,sinkingundertheconviction,losthersensestoo,andwouldhavefallenonthesteps,butforCaptainBenwickandAnne,whocaughtandsupportedherbetweenthem.

           “Istherenoonetohelpme?”werethefirstwordswhichburstfromCaptainWentworth,inatoneofdespair,andasifallhisownstrengthweregone.

           “Gotohim,gotohim,”criedAnne,“forheaven’ssakegotohim.Icansupporthermyself.Leaveme,andgotohim.Rubherhands,rubhertemples;herearesalts;takethem,takethem.