Доводы рассудка

           Thetheatreortherooms,wherehewasmostlikelytobe,werenotfashionableenoughfortheElliots,whoseeveningamusementsweresolelyintheelegantstupidityofprivateparties,inwhichtheyweregettingmoreandmoreengaged;andAnne,weariedofsuchastateofstagnation,sickofknowingnothing,andfancyingherselfstrongerbecauseherstrengthwasnottried,wasquiteimpatientfortheconcertevening.ItwasaconcertforthebenefitofapersonpatronisedbyLadyDalrymple.Ofcoursetheymustattend.Itwasreallyexpectedtobeagoodone,andCaptainWentworthwasveryfondofmusic.Ifshecouldonlyhaveafewminutesconversationwithhimagain,shefanciedsheshouldbesatisfied;andastothepowerofaddressinghim,shefeltallovercourageiftheopportunityoccurred.Elizabethhadturnedfromhim,LadyRusselloverlookedhim;hernerveswerestrengthenedbythesecircumstances;shefeltthatsheowedhimattention.

           ShehadoncepartlypromisedMrsSmithtospendtheeveningwithher;butinashorthurriedcallsheexcusedherselfandputitoff,withthemoredecidedpromiseofalongervisitonthemorrow.MrsSmithgaveamostgood-humouredacquiescence.

           “Byallmeans,”saidshe;“onlytellmeallaboutit,whenyoudocome.Whoisyourparty?”

           Annenamedthemall