Доводы рассудка

           Morningvisitsareneverfairbywomenathertimeoflife,whomakethemselvesupsolittle.Ifshewouldonlywearrougeshewouldnotbeafraidofbeingseen;butlasttimeIcalled,Iobservedtheblindswereletdownimmediately.”

           Whileherfatherspoke,therewasaknockatthedoor.Whocoulditbe?Anne,rememberingthepreconcertedvisits,atallhours,ofMrElliot,wouldhaveexpectedhim,butforhisknownengagementsevenmilesoff.Aftertheusualperiodofsuspense,theusualsoundsofapproachwereheard,and“MrandMrsCharlesMusgrove”wereusheredintotheroom.

           Surprisewasthestrongestemotionraisedbytheirappearance;butAnnewasreallygladtoseethem;andtheotherswerenotsosorrybutthattheycouldputonadecentairofwelcome;andassoonasitbecameclearthatthese,theirnearestrelations,werenotarrivedwithanviewsofaccommodationinthathouse,SirWalterandElizabethwereabletoriseincordiality,anddothehonoursofitverywell.TheywerecometoBathforafewdayswithMrsMusgrove,andwereattheWhiteHart.Somuchwasprettysoonunderstood;buttillSirWalterandElizabethwerewalkingMaryintotheotherdrawing-room,andregalingthemselveswithheradmiration,AnnecouldnotdrawuponCharles’sbrainforaregularhistoryoftheircoming,oranexplanationofsomesmilinghintsofparticularbusiness,whichhadbeenostentatiouslydroppedbyMary,aswellasofsomeapparentconfusionastowhomtheirpartyconsistedof.