Доводы рассудка
Chapter 21
Shewasstillintheastonishmentandconfusionexcitedbyherfriend’spenetration,unabletoimaginehowanyreportofCaptainWentworthcouldhavereachedher.Afteranothershortsilence—
“Pray,”saidMrsSmith,“isMrElliotawareofyouracquaintancewithme?DoesheknowthatIaminBath?”
“MrElliot!”repeatedAnne,lookingupsurprised.Amoment’sreflectionshewedherthemistakeshehadbeenunder.Shecaughtitinstantaneously;andrecoveringhercouragewiththefeelingofsafety,soonadded,morecomposedly,“AreyouacquaintedwithMrElliot?”
“Ihavebeenagooddealacquaintedwithhim,”repliedMrsSmith,gravely,“butitseemswornoutnow.Itisagreatwhilesincewemet.”
“Iwasnotatallawareofthis.Younevermentioneditbefore.HadIknownit,Iwouldhavehadthepleasureoftalkingtohimaboutyou.”
“Toconfessthetruth,”saidMrsSmith,assumingherusualairofcheerfulness,“thatisexactlythepleasureIwantyoutohave.IwantyoutotalkaboutmetoMrElliot.Iwantyourinterestwithhim.Hecanbeofessentialservicetome;andifyouwouldhavethegoodness,mydearMissElliot,tomakeitanobjecttoyourself,ofcourseitisdone.”
“Ishouldbeextremelyhappy;Ihopeyoucannotdoubtmywillingnesstobeofeventheslightestusetoyou,”repliedAnne;“butIsuspectthatyouareconsideringmeashavingahigherclaimonMrElliot,agreaterrighttoinfluencehim,thanisreallythecase.Iamsureyouhave,somehoworother,imbibedsuchanotion.
