Доводы рассудка

           Histone,hisexpressions,hischoiceofsubject,hisknowingwheretostop;itwasalltheoperationofasensible,discerningmind.Assoonashecould,hebegantotalktoherofLyme,wantingtocompareopinionsrespectingtheplace,butespeciallywantingtospeakofthecircumstanceoftheirhappeningtobeguestsinthesameinnatthesametime;togivehisownroute,understandsomethingofhers,andregretthatheshouldhavelostsuchanopportunityofpayinghisrespectstoher.ShegavehimashortaccountofherpartyandbusinessatLyme.Hisregretincreasedashelistened.Hehadspenthiswholesolitaryeveningintheroomadjoiningtheirs;hadheardvoices,mirthcontinually;thoughttheymustbeamostdelightfulsetofpeople,longedtobewiththem,butcertainlywithoutthesmallestsuspicionofhispossessingtheshadowofarighttointroducehimself.Ifhehadbutaskedwhothepartywere!ThenameofMusgrovewouldhavetoldhimenough.“Well,itwouldservetocurehimofanabsurdpracticeofneveraskingaquestionataninn,whichhehadadopted,whenquiteayoungman,ontheprincipalofitsbeingveryungenteeltobecurious.

           “Thenotionsofayoungmanofoneortwoandtwenty,”saidhe,“astowhatisnecessaryinmannerstomakehimquitethething,aremoreabsurd,Ibelieve,thanthoseofanyothersetofbeingsintheworld.Thefollyofthemeanstheyoftenemployisonlytobeequalledbythefollyofwhattheyhaveinview