Доводы рассудка

           Themanoeuvresofselfishnessandduplicitymusteverberevolting,butIhaveheardnothingwhichreallysurprisesme.IknowthosewhowouldbeshockedbysucharepresentationofMrElliot,whowouldhavedifficultyinbelievingit;butIhaveneverbeensatisfied.Ihavealwayswantedsomeothermotiveforhisconductthanappeared.Ishouldliketoknowhispresentopinion,astotheprobabilityoftheeventhehasbeenindreadof;whetherheconsidersthedangertobelesseningornot.”

           “Lessening,Iunderstand,”repliedMrsSmith.“HethinksMrsClayafraidofhim,awarethatheseesthroughher,andnotdaringtoproceedasshemightdoinhisabsence.Butsincehemustbeabsentsometimeorother,Idonotperceivehowhecaneverbesecurewhilesheholdsherpresentinfluence.MrsWallishasanamusingidea,asnursetellsme,thatitistobeputintothemarriagearticleswhenyouandMrElliotmarry,thatyourfatherisnottomarryMrsClay.Ascheme,worthyofMrsWallis’sunderstanding,byallaccounts;butmysensiblenurseRookeseestheabsurdityofit.‘Why,tobesure,ma’am,’saidshe,‘itwouldnotpreventhismarryinganybodyelse.’And,indeed,toownthetruth,Idonotthinknurse,inherheart,isaverystrenuousopposerofSirWalter’smakingasecondmatch.