Доводы рассудка
Chapter 8
”
Annesuppressedasmile,andlistenedkindly,whileMrsMusgroverelievedherheartalittlemore;andforafewminutes,therefore,couldnotkeeppacewiththeconversationoftheothers.
Whenshecouldletherattentiontakeitsnaturalcourseagain,shefoundtheMissMusgrovesjustfetchingtheNavyList(theirownnavylist,thefirstthathadeverbeenatUppercross),andsittingdowntogethertoporeoverit,withtheprofessedviewoffindingouttheshipsthatCaptainWentworthhadcommanded.
“YourfirstwastheAsp,Iremember;wewilllookfortheAsp.”
“Youwillnotfindherthere.Quitewornoutandbrokenup.Iwasthelastmanwhocommandedher.Hardlyfitforservicethen.Reportedfitforhomeserviceforayearortwo,andsoIwassentofftotheWestIndies.”
Thegirlslookedallamazement.
“TheAdmiralty,”hecontinued,“entertainthemselvesnowandthen,withsendingafewhundredmentosea,inashipnotfittobeemployed.Buttheyhaveagreatmanytoprovidefor;andamongthethousandsthatmayjustaswellgotothebottomasnot,itisimpossibleforthemtodistinguishtheverysetwhomaybeleastmissed.”
“Phoo!phoo!”criedtheAdmiral,“whatstufftheseyoungfellowstalk!NeverwasabettersloopthantheAspinherday.Foranoldbuiltsloop,youwouldnotseeherequal.Luckyfellowtogether!Heknowstheremusthavebeentwentybettermenthanhimselfapplyingforheratthesametime.Luckyfellowtogetanythingsosoon,withnomoreinterestthanhis.
