Доводы рассудка

           Buthewascarelessandimmethodical,likeothermen,aboutthosethings;andwhenIcametoexaminehispapers,Ifounditwithothersstillmoretrivial,fromdifferentpeoplescatteredhereandthere,whilemanylettersandmemorandumsofrealimportancehadbeendestroyed.Hereitis;Iwouldnotburnit,becausebeingeventhenverylittlesatisfiedwithMrElliot,Iwasdeterminedtopreserveeverydocumentofformerintimacy.IhavenowanothermotiveforbeinggladthatIcanproduceit.”

           Thiswastheletter,directedto“CharlesSmith,Esq.TunbridgeWells,”anddatedfromLondon,asfarbackasJuly,1803:—

           “DearSmith—Ihavereceivedyours.Yourkindnessalmostoverpowersme.Iwishnaturehadmadesuchheartsasyoursmorecommon,butIhavelivedthree-and-twentyyearsintheworld,andhaveseennonelikeit.Atpresent,believeme,Ihavenoneedofyourservices,beingincashagain.Givemejoy:IhavegotridofSirWalterandMiss.TheyaregonebacktoKellynch,andalmostmademesweartovisitthemthissummer;butmyfirstvisittoKellynchwillbewithasurveyor,totellmehowtobringitwithbestadvantagetothehammer.Thebaronet,nevertheless,isnotunlikelytomarryagain;heisquitefoolenough.Ifhedoes,however,theywillleavemeinpeace,whichmaybeadecentequivalentforthereversion.Heisworsethanlastyear.

           “IwishIhadanynamebutElliot.Iamsickofit.ThenameofWalterIcandrop,thankGod!andIdesireyouwillneverinsultmewithmysecondW.