Доводы рассудка

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           MrShepherdhastenedtoassurehim,thatAdmiralCroftwasaveryhale,hearty,well-lookingman,alittleweather-beaten,tobesure,butnotmuch,andquitethegentlemaninallhisnotionsandbehaviour;notlikelytomakethesmallestdifficultyaboutterms,onlywantedacomfortablehome,andtogetintoitassoonaspossible;knewhemustpayforhisconvenience;knewwhatrentaready-furnishedhouseofthatconsequencemightfetch;shouldnothavebeensurprisedifSirWalterhadaskedmore;hadinquiredaboutthemanor;wouldbegladofthedeputation,certainly,butmadenogreatpointofit;saidhesometimestookoutagun,butneverkilled;quitethegentleman.

           MrShepherdwaseloquentonthesubject;pointingoutallthecircumstancesoftheAdmiral’sfamily,whichmadehimpeculiarlydesirableasatenant.Hewasamarriedman,andwithoutchildren;theverystatetobewishedfor.Ahousewasnevertakengoodcareof,MrShepherdobserved,withoutalady:hedidnotknow,whetherfurnituremightnotbeindangerofsufferingasmuchwheretherewasnolady,aswherethereweremanychildren.Alady,withoutafamily,wastheverybestpreserveroffurnitureintheworld.HehadseenMrsCroft,too;shewasatTauntonwiththeadmiral,andhadbeenpresentalmostallthetimetheyweretalkingthematterover.