Доводы рассудка

           Itwouldbewellfortheeldestsisterifshewereequallysatisfiedwithhersituation,forachangeisnotveryprobablethere.ShehadsoonthemortificationofseeingMrElliotwithdraw,andnooneofproperconditionhassincepresentedhimselftoraiseeventheunfoundedhopeswhichsunkwithhim.

           ThenewsofhiscousinsAnne’sengagementburstonMrElliotmostunexpectedly.Itderangedhisbestplanofdomestichappiness,hisbesthopeofkeepingSirWaltersinglebythewatchfulnesswhichason-in-law’srightswouldhavegiven.But,thoughdiscomfitedanddisappointed,hecouldstilldosomethingforhisowninterestandhisownenjoyment.HesoonquittedBath;andonMrsClay’squittingitsoonafterwards,andbeingnextheardofasestablishedunderhisprotectioninLondon,itwasevidenthowdoubleagamehehadbeenplaying,andhowdeterminedhewastosavehimselffrombeingcutoutbyoneartfulwoman,atleast.

           MrsClay’saffectionshadoverpoweredherinterest,andshehadsacrificed,fortheyoungman’ssake,thepossibilityofscheminglongerforSirWalter.Shehasabilities,however,aswellasaffections;anditisnowadoubtfulpointwhetherhiscunning,orhers,mayfinallycarrytheday;whether,afterpreventingherfrombeingthewifeofSirWalter,hemaynotbewheedledandcaressedatlastintomakingherthewifeofSirWilliam.

           ItcannotbedoubtedthatSirWalterandElizabethwereshockedandmortifiedbythelossoftheircompanion,andthediscoveryoftheirdeceptioninher.