Доводы рассудка

           Andthere,astheyslowlypacedthegradualascent,heedlessofeverygrouparoundthem,seeingneithersaunteringpoliticians,bustlinghousekeepers,flirtinggirls,nornursery-maidsandchildren,theycouldindulgeinthoseretrospectionsandacknowledgements,andespeciallyinthoseexplanationsofwhathaddirectlyprecededthepresentmoment,whichweresopoignantandsoceaselessininterest.Allthelittlevariationsofthelastweekweregonethrough;andofyesterdayandtodaytherecouldscarcelybeanend.

           Shehadnotmistakenhim.JealousyofMrElliothadbeentheretardingweight,thedoubt,thetorment.ThathadbeguntooperateintheveryhouroffirstmeetingherinBath;thathadreturned,afterashortsuspension,toruintheconcert;andthathadinfluencedhimineverythinghehadsaidanddone,oromittedtosayanddo,inthelastfour-and-twentyhours.Ithadbeengraduallyyieldingtothebetterhopeswhichherlooks,orwords,oractionsoccasionallyencouraged;ithadbeenvanquishedatlastbythosesentimentsandthosetoneswhichhadreachedhimwhileshetalkedwithCaptainHarville;andundertheirresistiblegovernanceofwhichhehadseizedasheetofpaper,andpouredouthisfeelings.

           Ofwhathehadthenwritten,nothingwastoberetractedorqualified.Hepersistedinhavinglovednonebuther.Shehadneverbeensupplanted.Heneverevenbelievedhimselftoseeherequal.