Доводи розуму

           Astheheadofthehouse,hefeltthatheoughttohavebeenconsulted,especiallyaftertakingtheyoungmansopubliclybythehand;“Fortheymusthavebeenseentogether,”heobserved,“onceatTattersall’s,andtwiceinthelobbyoftheHouseofCommons.”Hisdisapprobationwasexpressed,butapparentlyverylittleregarded.MrElliothadattemptednoapology,andshewnhimselfasunsolicitousofbeinglongernoticedbythefamily,asSirWalterconsideredhimunworthyofit:allacquaintancebetweenthemhadceased.

           ThisveryawkwardhistoryofMrElliotwasstill,afteranintervalofseveralyears,feltwithangerbyElizabeth,whohadlikedthemanforhimself,andstillmoreforbeingherfather’sheir,andwhosestrongfamilypridecouldseeonlyinhimapropermatchforSirWalterElliot’seldestdaughter.TherewasnotabaronetfromAtoZwhomherfeelingscouldhavesowillinglyacknowledgedasanequal.Yetsomiserablyhadheconductedhimself,thatthoughshewasatthispresenttime(thesummerof1814)wearingblackribbonsforhiswife,shecouldnotadmithimtobeworththinkingofagain.Thedisgraceofhisfirstmarriagemight,perhaps,astherewasnoreasontosupposeitperpetuatedbyoffspring,havebeengotover,hadhenotdoneworse;buthehad,asbytheaccustomaryinterventionofkindfriends,theyhadbeeninformed,spokenmostdisrespectfullyofthemall,mostslightinglyandcontemptuouslyoftheverybloodhebelongedto,andthehonourswhichwerehereaftertobehisown.Thiscouldnotbepardoned.