Доводы рассудка
Chapter 21
Myaccountstates,thatyoursister’sfriend,theladynowstayingwithyou,whomIhaveheardyoumention,cametoBathwithMissElliotandSirWalteraslongagoasSeptember(inshortwhentheyfirstcamethemselves),andhasbeenstayingthereeversince;thatsheisaclever,insinuating,handsomewoman,poorandplausible,andaltogethersuchinsituationandmanner,astogiveageneralidea,amongSirWalter’sacquaintance,ofhermeaningtobeLadyElliot,andasgeneralasurprisethatMissElliotshouldbeapparently,blindtothedanger.”
HereMrsSmithpausedamoment;butAnnehadnotawordtosay,andshecontinued—
“Thiswasthelightinwhichitappearedtothosewhoknewthefamily,longbeforeyoureturnedtoit;andColonelWallishadhiseyeuponyourfatherenoughtobesensibleofit,thoughhedidnotthenvisitinCamdenPlace;buthisregardforMrElliotgavehimaninterestinwatchingallthatwasgoingonthere,andwhenMrElliotcametoBathforadayortwo,ashehappenedtodoalittlebeforeChristmas,ColonelWallismadehimacquaintedwiththeappearanceofthings,andthereportsbeginningtoprevail.Nowyouaretounderstand,thattimehadworkedaverymaterialchangeinMrElliot’sopinionsastothevalueofabaronetcy.Uponallpointsofbloodandconnexionheisacompletelyalteredman.Havinglonghadasmuchmoneyashecouldspend,nothingtowishforonthesideofavariceorindulgence,hehasbeengraduallylearningtopinhishappinessupontheconsequenceheisheirto.