Доводы рассудка

           LadyRussellhadnotbeenarrivedfiveminutesthedaybefore,whenafullaccountofthewholehadburstonher;butstillitmustbetalkedof,shemustmakeenquiries,shemustregrettheimprudence,lamenttheresult,andCaptainWentworth’snamemustbementionedbyboth.AnnewasconsciousofnotdoingitsowellasLadyRussell.Shecouldnotspeakthename,andlookstraightforwardtoLadyRussell’seye,tillshehadadoptedtheexpedientoftellingherbrieflywhatshethoughtoftheattachmentbetweenhimandLouisa.Whenthiswastold,hisnamedistressedhernolonger.

           LadyRussellhadonlytolistencomposedly,andwishthemhappy,butinternallyherheartrevelledinangrypleasure,inpleasedcontempt,thatthemanwhoattwenty-threehadseemedtounderstandsomewhatofthevalueofanAnneElliot,should,eightyearsafterwards,becharmedbyaLouisaMusgrove.

           Thefirstthreeorfourdayspassedmostquietly,withnocircumstancetomarkthemexceptingthereceiptofanoteortwofromLyme,whichfoundtheirwaytoAnne,shecouldnottellhow,andbroughtaratherimprovingaccountofLouisa.Attheendofthatperiod,LadyRussell’spolitenesscouldreposenolonger,andthefainterself-threateningsofthepastbecameinadecidedtone,“ImustcallonMrsCroft;Ireallymustcalluponhersoon.Anne,haveyoucouragetogowithme,andpayavisitinthathouse?Itwillbesometrialtousboth.