Доводи розуму
Chapter 21
MrElliotmarriedthencompletelyformoney?Thecircumstances,probably,whichfirstopenedyoureyestohischaracter.”
MrsSmithhesitatedalittlehere.“Oh!thosethingsaretoocommon.Whenonelivesintheworld,amanorwoman’smarryingformoneyistoocommontostrikeoneasitought.Iwasveryyoung,andassociatedonlywiththeyoung,andwewereathoughtless,gayset,withoutanystrictrulesofconduct.Welivedforenjoyment.Ithinkdifferentlynow;timeandsicknessandsorrowhavegivenmeothernotions;butatthatperiodImustownIsawnothingreprehensibleinwhatMrElliotwasdoing.‘Todothebestforhimself,’passedasaduty.”
“Butwasnotsheaverylowwoman?”
“Yes;whichIobjectedto,buthewouldnotregard.Money,money,wasallthathewanted.Herfatherwasagrazier,hergrandfatherhadbeenabutcher,butthatwasallnothing.Shewasafinewoman,hadhadadecenteducation,wasbroughtforwardbysomecousins,thrownbychanceintoMrElliot’scompany,andfellinlovewithhim;andnotadifficultyorascruplewasthereonhisside,withrespecttoherbirth.Allhiscautionwasspentinbeingsecuredoftherealamountofherfortune,beforehecommittedhimself.Dependuponit,whateveresteemMrElliotmayhaveforhisownsituationinlifenow,asayoungmanhehadnotthesmallestvalueforit.HischancefortheKellynchestatewassomething,butallthehonourofthefamilyheheldascheapasdirt.
