Доводи розуму
Chapter 24
Itwouldbewellfortheeldestsisterifshewereequallysatisfiedwithhersituation,forachangeisnotveryprobablethere.ShehadsoonthemortificationofseeingMrElliotwithdraw,andnooneofproperconditionhassincepresentedhimselftoraiseeventheunfoundedhopeswhichsunkwithhim.
ThenewsofhiscousinsAnne’sengagementburstonMrElliotmostunexpectedly.Itderangedhisbestplanofdomestichappiness,hisbesthopeofkeepingSirWaltersinglebythewatchfulnesswhichason-in-law’srightswouldhavegiven.But,thoughdiscomfitedanddisappointed,hecouldstilldosomethingforhisowninterestandhisownenjoyment.HesoonquittedBath;andonMrsClay’squittingitsoonafterwards,andbeingnextheardofasestablishedunderhisprotectioninLondon,itwasevidenthowdoubleagamehehadbeenplaying,andhowdeterminedhewastosavehimselffrombeingcutoutbyoneartfulwoman,atleast.
MrsClay’saffectionshadoverpoweredherinterest,andshehadsacrificed,fortheyoungman’ssake,thepossibilityofscheminglongerforSirWalter.Shehasabilities,however,aswellasaffections;anditisnowadoubtfulpointwhetherhiscunning,orhers,mayfinallycarrytheday;whether,afterpreventingherfrombeingthewifeofSirWalter,hemaynotbewheedledandcaressedatlastintomakingherthewifeofSirWilliam.
ItcannotbedoubtedthatSirWalterandElizabethwereshockedandmortifiedbythelossoftheircompanion,andthediscoveryoftheirdeceptioninher.