Доводы рассудка
Chapter 8
WehadnotbeensixhoursintheSound,whenagalecameon,whichlastedfourdaysandnights,andwhichwouldhavedoneforpooroldAspinhalfthetime;ourtouchwiththeGreatNationnothavingmuchimprovedourcondition.Four-and-twentyhourslater,andIshouldonlyhavebeenagallantCaptainWentworth,inasmallparagraphatonecornerofthenewspapers;andbeinglostinonlyasloop,nobodywouldhavethoughtaboutme.”Anne’sshudderingsweretoherselfalone;buttheMissMusgrovescouldbeasopenastheyweresincere,intheirexclamationsofpityandhorror.
“Andsothen,Isuppose,”saidMrsMusgrove,inalowvoice,asifthinkingaloud,“sothenhewentawaytotheLaconia,andtherehemetwithourpoorboy.Charles,mydear,”(beckoninghimtoher),“doaskCaptainWentworthwhereitwashefirstmetwithyourpoorbrother.Ialwaysforgot.”
“ItwasatGibraltar,mother,Iknow.DickhadbeenleftillatGibraltar,witharecommendationfromhisformercaptaintoCaptainWentworth.”
“Oh!but,Charles,tellCaptainWentworth,heneednotbeafraidofmentioningpoorDickbeforeme,foritwouldberatherapleasuretohearhimtalkedofbysuchagoodfriend.”
Charles,beingsomewhatmoremindfuloftheprobabilitiesofthecase,onlynoddedinreply,andwalkedaway.
