Доводы рассудка

           Thecircumstancesofhismarriage,too,werefoundtoadmitofmuchextenuation.Thiswasanarticlenottobeenteredonbyhimself;butaveryintimatefriendofhis,aColonelWallis,ahighlyrespectableman,perfectlythegentleman,(andnotanill-lookingman,SirWalteradded),whowaslivinginverygoodstyleinMarlboroughBuildings,andhad,athisownparticularrequest,beenadmittedtotheiracquaintancethroughMrElliot,hadmentionedoneortwothingsrelativetothemarriage,whichmadeamaterialdifferenceinthediscreditofit.

           ColonelWallishadknownMrElliotlong,hadbeenwellacquaintedalsowithhiswife,hadperfectlyunderstoodthewholestory.Shewascertainlynotawomanoffamily,butwelleducated,accomplished,rich,andexcessivelyinlovewithhisfriend.Therehadbeenthecharm.Shehadsoughthim.Withoutthatattraction,notallhermoneywouldhavetemptedElliot,andSirWalterwas,moreover,assuredofherhavingbeenaveryfinewoman.Herewasagreatdealtosoftenthebusiness.Averyfinewomanwithalargefortune,inlovewithhim!SirWalterseemedtoadmititascompleteapology;andthoughElizabethcouldnotseethecircumstanceinquitesofavourablealight,shealloweditbeagreatextenuation.

           MrElliothadcalledrepeatedly,haddinedwiththemonce,evidentlydelightedbythedistinctionofbeingasked,fortheygavenodinnersingeneral;delighted,inshort,byeveryproofofcousinlynotice,andplacinghiswholehappinessinbeingonintimatetermsinCamdenPlace.