Доводы рассудка
Chapter 23
Youarealwayslabouringandtoiling,exposedtoeveryriskandhardship.Yourhome,country,friends,allquitted.Neithertime,norhealth,norlife,tobecalledyourown.Itwouldbehard,indeed”(withafalteringvoice),“ifwoman’sfeelingsweretobeaddedtoallthis.”
“Weshallneveragreeuponthisquestion,”CaptainHarvillewasbeginningtosay,whenaslightnoisecalledtheirattentiontoCaptainWentworth’shithertoperfectlyquietdivisionoftheroom.Itwasnothingmorethanthathispenhadfallendown;butAnnewasstartledatfindinghimnearerthanshehadsupposed,andhalfinclinedtosuspectthatthepenhadonlyfallenbecausehehadbeenoccupiedbythem,strivingtocatchsounds,whichyetshedidnotthinkhecouldhavecaught.
“Haveyoufinishedyourletter?”saidCaptainHarville.
“Notquite,afewlinesmore.Ishallhavedoneinfiveminutes.”
“Thereisnohurryonmyside.Iamonlyreadywheneveryouare.Iaminverygoodanchoragehere,”(smilingatAnne,)“wellsupplied,andwantfornothing.Nohurryforasignalatall.Well,MissElliot,”(loweringhisvoice,)“asIwassayingweshallneveragree,Isuppose,uponthispoint.Nomanandwoman,would,probably.Butletmeobservethatallhistoriesareagainstyou—allstories,proseandverse.IfIhadsuchamemoryasBenwick,Icouldbringyoufiftyquotationsinamomentonmysidetheargument,andIdonotthinkIeveropenedabookinmylifewhichhadnotsomethingtosayuponwoman’sinconstancy.
