Доводи розуму
Chapter 10
Itwasaremainderofformersentiment;itwasanimpulseofpure,thoughunacknowledgedfriendship;itwasaproofofhisownwarmandamiableheart,whichshecouldnotcontemplatewithoutemotionssocompoundedofpleasureandpain,thatsheknewnotwhichprevailed.
Heranswerstothekindnessandtheremarksofhercompanionswereatfirstunconsciouslygiven.Theyhadtravelledhalftheirwayalongtheroughlane,beforeshewasquiteawaketowhattheysaid.Shethenfoundthemtalkingof“Frederick.”
“Hecertainlymeanstohaveoneorotherofthosetwogirls,Sophy,”saidtheAdmiral;“butthereisnosayingwhich.Hehasbeenrunningafterthem,too,longenough,onewouldthink,tomakeuphismind.Ay,thiscomesofthepeace.Ifitwerewarnow,hewouldhavesettleditlongago.Wesailors,MissElliot,cannotaffordtomakelongcourtshipsintimeofwar.Howmanydayswasit,mydear,betweenthefirsttimeofmyseeingyouandoursittingdowntogetherinourlodgingsatNorthYarmouth?”
“Wehadbetternottalkaboutit,mydear,”repliedMrsCroft,pleasantly;“forifMissElliotweretohearhowsoonwecametoanunderstanding,shewouldneverbepersuadedthatwecouldbehappytogether.Ihadknownyoubycharacter,however,longbefore.”
“Well,andIhadheardofyouasaveryprettygirl,andwhatwerewetowaitforbesides?Idonotlikehavingsuchthingssolonginhand.IwishFrederickwouldspreadalittlemorecanvass,andbringushomeoneoftheseyoungladiestoKellynch.Thentherewouldalwaysbecompanyforthem