Доводи розуму
Chapter 8
“Oh!Frederick!ButIcannotbelieveitofyou.—Allidlerefinement!—Womenmaybeascomfortableonboard,asinthebesthouseinEngland.IbelieveIhavelivedasmuchonboardasmostwomen,andIknownothingsuperiortotheaccommodationsofaman-of-war.IdeclareIhavenotacomfortoranindulgenceaboutme,evenatKellynchHall,”(withakindbowtoAnne),“beyondwhatIalwayshadinmostoftheshipsIhavelivedin;andtheyhavebeenfivealtogether.”
“Nothingtothepurpose,”repliedherbrother.“Youwerelivingwithyourhusband,andweretheonlywomanonboard.”
“Butyou,yourself,broughtMrsHarville,hersister,hercousin,andthreechildren,roundfromPortsmouthtoPlymouth.Wherewasthissuperfine,extraordinarysortofgallantryofyoursthen?”
“Allmergedinmyfriendship,Sophia.Iwouldassistanybrotherofficer’swifethatIcould,andIwouldbringanythingofHarville’sfromtheworld’send,ifhewantedit.ButdonotimaginethatIdidnotfeelitanevilinitself.”
“Dependuponit,theywereallperfectlycomfortable.”
“Imightnotlikethemthebetterforthatperhaps.Suchanumberofwomenandchildrenhavenorighttobecomfortableonboard.”
“MydearFrederick,youaretalkingquiteidly.Pray,whatwouldbecomeofuspoorsailors’wives,whooftenwanttobeconveyedtooneportoranother,afterourhusbands,ifeverybodyhadyourfeelings?”
“Myfeelings,yousee,didnotpreventmytakingMrsHarvilleandallherfamilytoPlymouth.
