Доводы рассудка

           Exceptingoneshortperiodofherlife,shehadnever,sincetheageoffourteen,neversincethelossofherdearmother,knownthehappinessofbeinglistenedto,orencouragedbyanyjustappreciationorrealtaste.Inmusicshehadbeenalwaysusedtofeelaloneintheworld;andMrandMrsMusgrove’sfondpartialityfortheirowndaughters’performance,andtotalindifferencetoanyotherperson’s,gavehermuchmorepleasurefortheirsakes,thanmortificationforherown.

           ThepartyattheGreatHousewassometimesincreasedbyothercompany.Theneighbourhoodwasnotlarge,buttheMusgroveswerevisitedbyeverybody,andhadmoredinner-parties,andmorecallers,morevisitorsbyinvitationandbychance,thananyotherfamily.Thereweremorecompletelypopular.

           Thegirlswerewildfordancing;andtheeveningsended,occasionally,inanunpremeditatedlittleball.TherewasafamilyofcousinswithinawalkofUppercross,inlessaffluentcircumstances,whodependedontheMusgrovesforalltheirpleasures:theywouldcomeatanytime,andhelpplayatanything,ordanceanywhere;andAnne,verymuchpreferringtheofficeofmusiciantoamoreactivepost,playedcountrydancestothembythehourtogether;akindnesswhichalwaysrecommendedhermusicalpowerstothenoticeofMrandMrsMusgrovemorethananythingelse,andoftendrewthiscompliment—“Welldone,MissAnne!verywelldoneindeed!Lordblessme!howthoselittlefingersofyoursflyabout!”

           Sopassedthefirstthreeweeks.