Доводы рассудка

           Wasitunpardonabletothinkitworthmywhiletocome?andtoarrivewithsomedegreeofhope?Youweresingle.Itwaspossiblethatyoumightretainthefeelingsofthepast,asIdid;andoneencouragementhappenedtobemine.Icouldneverdoubtthatyouwouldbelovedandsoughtbyothers,butIknewtoacertaintythatyouhadrefusedoneman,atleast,ofbetterpretensionsthanmyself;andIcouldnothelpoftensaying,‘Wasthisforme?’”

           TheirfirstmeetinginMilsomStreetaffordedmuchtobesaid,buttheconcertstillmore.Thateveningseemedtobemadeupofexquisitemoments.ThemomentofhersteppingforwardintheOctagonRoomtospeaktohim:themomentofMrElliot’sappearingandtearingheraway,andoneortwosubsequentmoments,markedbyreturninghopeorincreasingdespondency,weredweltonwithenergy.