Доводы рассудка

           Theywereofsoberingtendency;theyallayedagitation;theycomposed,andconsequentlymustmakeherhappier.

           FrederickWentworthhadusedsuchwords,orsomethinglikethem,butwithoutanideathattheywouldbecarriedroundtoher.Hehadthoughtherwretchedlyaltered,andinthefirstmomentofappeal,hadspokenashefelt.HehadnotforgivenAnneElliot.Shehadusedhimill,desertedanddisappointedhim;andworse,shehadshewnafeeblenessofcharacterindoingso,whichhisowndecided,confidenttempercouldnotendure.Shehadgivenhimuptoobligeothers.Ithadbeentheeffectofover-persuasion.Ithadbeenweaknessandtimidity.

           Hehadbeenmostwarmlyattachedtoher,andhadneverseenawomansincewhomhethoughtherequal;but,exceptfromsomenaturalsensationofcuriosity,hehadnodesireofmeetingheragain.Herpowerwithhimwasgoneforever.

           Itwasnowhisobjecttomarry.Hewasrich,andbeingturnedonshore,fullyintendedtosettleassoonashecouldbeproperlytempted;actuallylookinground,readytofallinlovewithallthespeedwhichaclearheadandaquicktastecouldallow.HehadaheartforeitheroftheMissMusgroves,iftheycouldcatchit;aheart,inshort,foranypleasingyoungwomanwhocameinhisway,exceptingAnneElliot.Thiswashisonlysecretexception,whenhesaidtohissister,inanswertohersuppositions:—

           “Yes,hereIam,Sophia,quitereadytomakeafoolishmatch.Anybodybetweenfifteenandthirtymayhavemeforasking