Доводы рассудка
Chapter 8
Alargebulkyfigurehasasgoodarighttobeindeepaffliction,asthemostgracefulsetoflimbsintheworld.But,fairornotfair,thereareunbecomingconjunctions,whichreasonwillpatronizeinvain—whichtastecannottolerate—whichridiculewillseize.
TheAdmiral,aftertakingtwoorthreerefreshingturnsabouttheroomwithhishandsbehindhim,beingcalledtoorderbyhiswife,nowcameuptoCaptainWentworth,andwithoutanyobservationofwhathemightbeinterrupting,thinkingonlyofhisownthoughts,beganwith—
“IfyouhadbeenaweeklateratLisbon,lastspring,Frederick,youwouldhavebeenaskedtogiveapassagetoLadyMaryGriersonandherdaughters.”
“ShouldI?IamgladIwasnotaweeklaterthen.”
TheAdmiralabusedhimforhiswantofgallantry.Hedefendedhimself;thoughprofessingthathewouldneverwillinglyadmitanyladiesonboardashipofhis,exceptingforaball,oravisit,whichafewhoursmightcomprehend.
“But,ifIknowmyself,”saidhe,“thisisfromnowantofgallantrytowardsthem.Itisratherfromfeelinghowimpossibleitis,withallone’sefforts,andallone’ssacrifices,tomaketheaccommodationsonboardsuchaswomenoughttohave.Therecanbenowantofgallantry,Admiral,inratingtheclaimsofwomentoeverypersonalcomforthigh,andthisiswhatIdo.Ihatetohearofwomenonboard,ortoseethemonboard;andnoshipundermycommandshalleverconveyafamilyofladiesanywhere,ifIcanhelpit.”
Thisbroughthissisteruponhim.
