Доводи розуму
Chapter 22
Myfatherwouldbewellpleasedifthegentlemenwerericher,buthehasnootherfaulttofind.Money,youknow,comingdownwithmoney—twodaughtersatonce—itcannotbeaveryagreeableoperation,anditstreightenshimastomanythings.However,Idonotmeantosaytheyhavenotarighttoit.Itisveryfittheyshouldhavedaughters’shares;andIamsurehehasalwaysbeenaverykind,liberalfathertome.MarydoesnotabovehalflikeHenrietta’smatch.Sheneverdid,youknow.Butshedoesnotdohimjustice,northinkenoughaboutWinthrop.Icannotmakeherattendtothevalueoftheproperty.Itisaveryfairmatch,astimesgo;andIhavelikedCharlesHayterallmylife,andIshallnotleaveoffnow.”
“SuchexcellentparentsasMrandMrsMusgrove,”exclaimedAnne,“shouldbehappyintheirchildren’smarriages.Theydoeverythingtoconferhappiness,Iamsure.Whatablessingtoyoungpeopletobeinsuchhands!Yourfatherandmotherseemsototallyfreefromallthoseambitiousfeelingswhichhaveledtosomuchmisconductandmisery,bothinyoungandold.IhopeyouthinkLouisaperfectlyrecoverednow?”
Heansweredratherhesitatingly,“Yes,IbelieveIdo;verymuchrecovered;butsheisaltered;thereisnorunningorjumpingabout,nolaughingordancing;itisquitedifferent.Ifonehappensonlytoshutthedooralittlehard,shestartsandwriggleslikeayoungdab-chickinthewater;andBenwicksitsatherelbow,readingverses,orwhisperingtoher,alldaylong.”
Annecouldnothelplaughing.
