Доводы рассудка
Chapter 22
”
Annefelttrulyobligedtoherforsuchkindness;andquiteasmuchsofortheopportunityitgaveherofdecidedlysaying—
“Ifitdependedonlyonmyinclination,ma’am,thepartyathome(exceptingonMary’saccount)wouldnotbethesmallestimpediment.Ihavenopleasureinthesortofmeeting,andshouldbetoohappytochangeitforaplay,andwithyou.But,ithadbetternotbeattempted,perhaps.”Shehadspokenit;butshetrembledwhenitwasdone,consciousthatherwordswerelistenedto,anddaringnoteventotrytoobservetheireffect.
ItwassoongenerallyagreedthatTuesdayshouldbetheday;Charlesonlyreservingtheadvantageofstillteasinghiswife,bypersistingthathewouldgototheplayto-morrowifnobodyelsewould.
CaptainWentworthlefthisseat,andwalkedtothefire-place;probablyforthesakeofwalkingawayfromitsoonafterwards,andtakingastation,withlessbare-faceddesign,byAnne.
“YouhavenotbeenlongenoughinBath,”saidhe,“toenjoytheeveningpartiesoftheplace.”
“Oh!no.Theusualcharacterofthemhasnothingforme.Iamnocard-player.”
“Youwerenotformerly,Iknow.Youdidnotusetolikecards;buttimemakesmanychanges.”
“Iamnotyetsomuchchanged,”criedAnne,andstopped,fearingshehardlyknewwhatmisconstruction.Afterwaitingafewmomentshesaid,andasifitweretheresultofimmediatefeeling,“Itisaperiod,indeed!Eightyearsandahalfisaperiod.
