Доводы рассудка
Chapter 2
Ifhewilladopttheseregulations,insevenyearshewillbeclear;andIhopewemaybeabletoconvincehimandElizabeth,thatKellynchHallhasarespectabilityinitselfwhichcannotbeaffectedbythesereductions;andthatthetruedignityofSirWalterElliotwillbeveryfarfromlessenedintheeyesofsensiblepeople,byactinglikeamanofprinciple.Whatwillhebedoing,infact,butwhatverymanyofourfirstfamilieshavedone,oroughttodo?Therewillbenothingsingularinhiscase;anditissingularitywhichoftenmakestheworstpartofoursuffering,asitalwaysdoesofourconduct.Ihavegreathopeofprevailing.Wemustbeseriousanddecided;forafterall,thepersonwhohascontracteddebtsmustpaythem;andthoughagreatdealisduetothefeelingsofthegentleman,andtheheadofahouse,likeyourfather,thereisstillmoreduetothecharacterofanhonestman.”
ThiswastheprincipleonwhichAnnewantedherfathertobeproceeding,hisfriendstobeurginghim.Sheconsidereditasanactofindispensabledutytoclearawaytheclaimsofcreditorswithalltheexpeditionwhichthemostcomprehensiveretrenchmentscouldsecure,andsawnodignityinanythingshortofit.Shewantedittobeprescribed,andfeltasaduty.SheratedLadyRussell’sinfluencehighly;andastotheseveredegreeofself-denialwhichherownconscienceprompted,shebelievedtheremightbelittlemoredifficultyinpersuadingthemtoacomplete,thantohalfareformation.
