Доводы рассудка

           LadyRussellconfessedshehadexpectedsomethingbetter;butyet“itwasanacquaintanceworthhaving;”andwhenAnneventuredtospeakheropinionofthemtoMrElliot,heagreedtotheirbeingnothinginthemselves,butstillmaintainedthat,asafamilyconnexion,asgoodcompany,asthosewhowouldcollectgoodcompanyaroundthem,theyhadtheirvalue.Annesmiledandsaid,

           “Myideaofgoodcompany,MrElliot,isthecompanyofclever,well-informedpeople,whohaveagreatdealofconversation;thatiswhatIcallgoodcompany.”

           “Youaremistaken,”saidhegently,“thatisnotgoodcompany;thatisthebest.Goodcompanyrequiresonlybirth,education,andmanners,andwithregardtoeducationisnotverynice.Birthandgoodmannersareessential;butalittlelearningisbynomeansadangerousthingingoodcompany;onthecontrary,itwilldoverywell.MycousinAnneshakesherhead.Sheisnotsatisfied.Sheisfastidious.Mydearcousin”(sittingdownbyher),“youhaveabetterrighttobefastidiousthanalmostanyotherwomanIknow;butwillitanswer?Willitmakeyouhappy?WillitnotbewisertoacceptthesocietyofthosegoodladiesinLauraPlace,andenjoyalltheadvantagesoftheconnexionasfaraspossible?Youmaydependuponit,thattheywillmoveinthefirstsetinBaththiswinter,andasrankisrank,yourbeingknowntoberelatedtothemwillhaveitsuseinfixingyourfamily(ourfamilyletmesay)inthatdegreeofconsiderationwhichwemustallwishfor.