Доводы рассудка
Chapter 21
Itdoesnotcometomeinquitesodirectalineasthat;ittakesabendortwo,butnothingofconsequence.Thestreamisasgoodasatfirst;thelittlerubbishitcollectsintheturningsiseasilymovedaway.MrElliottalksunreservedlytoColonelWallisofhisviewsonyou,whichsaidColonelWallis,Iimaginetobe,inhimself,asensible,careful,discerningsortofcharacter;butColonelWallishasaveryprettysillywife,towhomhetellsthingswhichhehadbetternot,andherepeatsitalltoher.Sheintheoverflowingspiritsofherrecovery,repeatsitalltohernurse;andthenurseknowingmyacquaintancewithyou,verynaturallybringsitalltome.OnMondayevening,mygoodfriendMrsRookeletmethusmuchintothesecretsofMarlboroughBuildings.WhenItalkedofawholehistory,therefore,youseeIwasnotromancingsomuchasyousupposed.”
“MydearMrsSmith,yourauthorityisdeficient.Thiswillnotdo.MrElliot’shavinganyviewsonmewillnotintheleastaccountfortheeffortshemadetowardsareconciliationwithmyfather.ThatwasallpriortomycomingtoBath.IfoundthemonthemostfriendlytermswhenIarrived.”
“Iknowyoudid;Iknowitallperfectly,but—”
“Indeed,MrsSmith,wemustnotexpecttogetrealinformationinsuchaline.Factsoropinionswhicharetopassthroughthehandsofsomany,tobemisconceivedbyfollyinone,andignoranceinanother,canhardlyhavemuchtruthleft.”
“Onlygivemeahearing.
