Доводы рассудка

           Thiswasacruelaggravationofactuallystraitenedmeans.Tofeelthatsheoughttobeinbettercircumstances,thatalittletroubleintherightplacemightdoit,andtofearthatdelaymightbeevenweakeningherclaims,washardtobear.

           ItwasonthispointthatshehadhopedtoengageAnne’sgoodofficeswithMrElliot.Shehadpreviously,intheanticipationoftheirmarriage,beenveryapprehensiveoflosingherfriendbyit;butonbeingassuredthathecouldhavemadenoattemptofthatnature,sincehedidnotevenknowhertobeinBath,itimmediatelyoccurred,thatsomethingmightbedoneinherfavourbytheinfluenceofthewomanheloved,andshehadbeenhastilypreparingtointerestAnne’sfeelings,asfarastheobservancesduetoMrElliot’scharacterwouldallow,whenAnne’srefutationofthesupposedengagementchangedthefaceofeverything;andwhileittookfromherthenew-formedhopeofsucceedingintheobjectofherfirstanxiety,leftheratleastthecomfortoftellingthewholestoryherownway.

           AfterlisteningtothisfulldescriptionofMrElliot,AnnecouldnotbutexpresssomesurpriseatMrsSmith’shavingspokenofhimsofavourablyinthebeginningoftheirconversation.“Shehadseemedtorecommendandpraisehim!”

           “Mydear,”wasMrsSmith’sreply,“therewasnothingelsetobedone.Iconsideredyourmarryinghimascertain,thoughhemightnotyethavemadetheoffer,andIcouldnomorespeakthetruthofhim,thanifhehadbeenyourhusband