Доводы рассудка
Chapter 20
HehadmanyyearsagoreceivedsuchadescriptionofMissAnneElliotashadinspiredhimwiththehighestideaofhermerit,andexcitedthewarmestcuriositytoknowher.”
AnnecouldthinkofnoonesolikelytohavespokenwithpartialityofhermanyyearsagoastheMrWentworthofMonkford,CaptainWentworth’sbrother.HemighthavebeeninMrElliot’scompany,butshehadnotcouragetoaskthequestion.
“ThenameofAnneElliot,”saidhe,“haslonghadaninterestingsoundtome.Verylonghasitpossessedacharmovermyfancy;and,ifIdared,Iwouldbreathemywishesthatthenamemightneverchange.”
Such,shebelieved,werehiswords;butscarcelyhadshereceivedtheirsound,thanherattentionwascaughtbyothersoundsimmediatelybehindher,whichrenderedeverythingelsetrivial.HerfatherandLadyDalrymplewerespeaking.
“Awell-lookingman,”saidSirWalter,“averywell-lookingman.”
“Averyfineyoungmanindeed!”saidLadyDalrymple.“MoreairthanoneoftenseesinBath.Irish,Idaresay.”
“No,Ijustknowhisname.Abowingacquaintance.Wentworth;CaptainWentworthofthenavy.HissistermarriedmytenantinSomersetshire,theCroft,whorentsKellynch.”
BeforeSirWalterhadreachedthispoint,Anne’seyeshadcaughttherightdirection,anddistinguishedCaptainWentworthstandingamongaclusterofmenatalittledistance.Ashereyesfellonhim,hisseemedtobewithdrawnfromher.Ithadthatappearance.
