Доводи розуму
Chapter 21
Thiswasacruelaggravationofactuallystraitenedmeans.Tofeelthatsheoughttobeinbettercircumstances,thatalittletroubleintherightplacemightdoit,andtofearthatdelaymightbeevenweakeningherclaims,washardtobear.
ItwasonthispointthatshehadhopedtoengageAnne’sgoodofficeswithMrElliot.Shehadpreviously,intheanticipationoftheirmarriage,beenveryapprehensiveoflosingherfriendbyit;butonbeingassuredthathecouldhavemadenoattemptofthatnature,sincehedidnotevenknowhertobeinBath,itimmediatelyoccurred,thatsomethingmightbedoneinherfavourbytheinfluenceofthewomanheloved,andshehadbeenhastilypreparingtointerestAnne’sfeelings,asfarastheobservancesduetoMrElliot’scharacterwouldallow,whenAnne’srefutationofthesupposedengagementchangedthefaceofeverything;andwhileittookfromherthenew-formedhopeofsucceedingintheobjectofherfirstanxiety,leftheratleastthecomfortoftellingthewholestoryherownway.
AfterlisteningtothisfulldescriptionofMrElliot,AnnecouldnotbutexpresssomesurpriseatMrsSmith’shavingspokenofhimsofavourablyinthebeginningoftheirconversation.“Shehadseemedtorecommendandpraisehim!”
“Mydear,”wasMrsSmith’sreply,“therewasnothingelsetobedone.Iconsideredyourmarryinghimascertain,thoughhemightnotyethavemadetheoffer,andIcouldnomorespeakthetruthofhim,thanifhehadbeenyourhusband