Доводи розуму
Chapter 17
Thathewasasensibleman,anagreeableman,thathetalkedwell,professedgoodopinions,seemedtojudgeproperlyandasamanofprinciple,thiswasallclearenough.Hecertainlyknewwhatwasright,norcouldshefixonanyonearticleofmoraldutyevidentlytransgressed;butyetshewouldhavebeenafraidtoanswerforhisconduct.Shedistrustedthepast,ifnotthepresent.Thenameswhichoccasionallydroptofformerassociates,theallusionstoformerpracticesandpursuits,suggestedsuspicionsnotfavourableofwhathehadbeen.Shesawthattherehadbeenbadhabits;thatSundaytravellinghadbeenacommonthing;thattherehadbeenaperiodofhislife(andprobablynotashortone)whenhehadbeen,atleast,carelessinallseriousmatters;and,thoughhemightnowthinkverydifferently,whocouldanswerforthetruesentimentsofaclever,cautiousman,grownoldenoughtoappreciateafaircharacter?Howcoulditeverbeascertainedthathismindwastrulycleansed?
MrElliotwasrational,discreet,polished,buthewasnotopen.Therewasneveranyburstoffeeling,anywarmthofindignationordelight,attheevilorgoodofothers.This,toAnne,wasadecidedimperfection.Herearlyimpressionswereincurable.Sheprizedthefrank,theopen-hearted,theeagercharacterbeyondallothers.Warmthandenthusiasmdidcaptivateherstill.Shefeltthatshecouldsomuchmoredependuponthesincerityofthosewhosometimeslookedorsaidacarelessorahastything,thanofthosewhosepresenceofmindnevervaried,whosetongueneverslipped