Доводы рассудка

           Fromhiswife’saccountofhimshecoulddiscernMrSmithtohavebeenamanofwarmfeelings,easytemper,carelesshabits,andnotstrongunderstanding,muchmoreamiablethanhisfriend,andveryunlikehim,ledbyhim,andprobablydespisedbyhim.MrElliot,raisedbyhismarriagetogreataffluence,anddisposedtoeverygratificationofpleasureandvanitywhichcouldbecommandedwithoutinvolvinghimself,(forwithallhisself-indulgencehehadbecomeaprudentman),andbeginningtoberich,justashisfriendoughttohavefoundhimselftobepoor,seemedtohavehadnoconcernatallforthatfriend’sprobablefinances,but,onthecontrary,hadbeenpromptingandencouragingexpenseswhichcouldendonlyinruin;andtheSmithsaccordinglyhadbeenruined.

           Thehusbandhaddiedjustintimetobesparedthefullknowledgeofit.Theyhadpreviouslyknownembarrassmentsenoughtotrythefriendshipoftheirfriends,andtoprovethatMrElliot’shadbetternotbetried;butitwasnottillhisdeaththatthewretchedstateofhisaffairswasfullyknown.WithaconfidenceinMrElliot’sregard,morecreditabletohisfeelingsthanhisjudgement,MrSmithhadappointedhimtheexecutorofhiswill;butMrElliotwouldnotact,andthedifficultiesanddistresswhichthisrefusalhadheapedonher,inadditiontotheinevitablesufferingsofhersituation,hadbeensuchascouldnotberelatedwithoutanguishofspirit,orlistenedtowithoutcorrespondingindignation.