Доводы рассудка

           Washeatallsuchasheappearsnow?”

           “IhavenotseenMrElliotthesethreeyears,”wasMrsSmith’sanswer,givensogravelythatitwasimpossibletopursuethesubjectfarther;andAnnefeltthatshehadgainednothingbutanincreaseofcuriosity.Theywerebothsilent:MrsSmithverythoughtful.Atlast—

           “Ibegyourpardon,mydearMissElliot,”shecried,inhernaturaltoneofcordiality,“IbegyourpardonfortheshortanswersIhavebeengivingyou,butIhavebeenuncertainwhatIoughttodo.IhavebeendoubtingandconsideringastowhatIoughttotellyou.Thereweremanythingstobetakenintotheaccount.Onehatestobeofficious,tobegivingbadimpressions,makingmischief.Eventhesmoothsurfaceoffamily-unionseemsworthpreserving,thoughtheremaybenothingdurablebeneath.However,Ihavedetermined;IthinkIamright;IthinkyououghttobemadeacquaintedwithMrElliot’srealcharacter.ThoughIfullybelievethat,atpresent,youhavenotthesmallestintentionofacceptinghim,thereisnosayingwhatmayhappen.Youmight,sometimeorother,bedifferentlyaffectedtowardshim.Hearthetruth,therefore,now,whileyouareunprejudiced.MrElliotisamanwithoutheartorconscience;adesigning,wary,cold-bloodedbeing,whothinksonlyofhimself;whomforhisowninterestorease,wouldbeguiltyofanycruelty,oranytreachery,thatcouldbeperpetratedwithoutriskofhisgeneralcharacter.Hehasnofeelingforothers.