Доводы рассудка
Chapter 21
Willnotthismannerofspeakingofhim,MrsSmith,convinceyouthatheisnothingtome?Surelythismustbecalmenough.And,uponmyword,heisnothingtome.Shouldheeverproposetome(whichIhaveverylittlereasontoimaginehehasanythoughtofdoing),Ishallnotaccepthim.IassureyouIshallnot.Iassureyou,MrElliothadnotthesharewhichyouhavebeensupposing,inwhateverpleasuretheconcertoflastnightmightafford:notMrElliot;itisnotMrElliotthat—”
Shestopped,regrettingwithadeepblushthatshehadimpliedsomuch;butlesswouldhardlyhavebeensufficient.MrsSmithwouldhardlyhavebelievedsosooninMrElliot’sfailure,butfromtheperceptionoftherebeingasomebodyelse.Asitwas,sheinstantlysubmitted,andwithallthesemblanceofseeingnothingbeyond;andAnne,eagertoescapefarthernotice,wasimpatienttoknowwhyMrsSmithshouldhavefanciedshewastomarryMrElliot;whereshecouldhavereceivedtheidea,orfromwhomshecouldhaveheardit.
“Dotellmehowitfirstcameintoyourhead.”
“Itfirstcameintomyhead,”repliedMrsSmith,“uponfindinghowmuchyouweretogether,andfeelingittobethemostprobablethingintheworldtobewishedforbyeverybodybelongingtoeitherofyou;andyoumaydependuponitthatallyouracquaintancehavedisposedofyouinthesameway.ButIneverhearditspokenoftilltwodaysago.”
“Andhasitindeedbeenspokenof?”
“Didyouobservethewomanwhoopenedthedoortoyouwhenyoucalledyesterday?”
“No.
