Доводы рассудка
Chapter 17
Shehadbeentheonlyoneofthesetabsent,forSirWalterandElizabethhadnotonlybeenquiteatherladyship’sservicethemselves,buthadactuallybeenhappytobeemployedbyherincollectingothers,andhadbeenatthetroubleofinvitingbothLadyRussellandMrElliot;andMrElliothadmadeapointofleavingColonelWallisearly,andLadyRussellhadfresharrangedallhereveningengagementsinordertowaitonher.AnnehadthewholehistoryofallthatsuchaneveningcouldsupplyfromLadyRussell.Toher,itsgreatestinterestmustbe,inhavingbeenverymuchtalkedofbetweenherfriendandMrElliot;inhavingbeenwishedfor,regretted,andatthesametimehonouredforstayingawayinsuchacause.Herkind,compassionatevisitstothisoldschoolfellow,sickandreduced,seemedtohavequitedelightedMrElliot.Hethoughtheramostextraordinaryyoungwoman;inhertemper,manners,mind,amodeloffemaleexcellence.HecouldmeetevenLadyRussellinadiscussionofhermerits;andAnnecouldnotbegiventounderstandsomuchbyherfriend,couldnotknowherselftobesohighlyratedbyasensibleman,withoutmanyofthoseagreeablesensationswhichherfriendmeanttocreate.
LadyRussellwasnowperfectlydecidedinheropinionofMrElliot.ShewasasmuchconvincedofhismeaningtogainAnneintimeasofhisdeservingher,andwasbeginningtocalculatethenumberofweekswhichwouldfreehimfromalltheremainingrestraintsofwidowhood,andleavehimatlibertytoexerthismostopenpowersofpleasing.
