Доводы рассудка
Chapter 23
“Andso,ma’am,allthesethingconsidered,”saidMrsMusgrove,inherpowerfulwhisper,“thoughwecouldhavewisheditdifferent,yet,altogether,wedidnotthinkitfairtostandoutanylonger,forCharlesHayterwasquitewildaboutit,andHenriettawasprettynearasbad;andsowethoughttheyhadbettermarryatonce,andmakethebestofit,asmanyothershavedonebeforethem.Atanyrate,saidI,itwillbebetterthanalongengagement.”
“ThatispreciselywhatIwasgoingtoobserve,”criedMrsCroft.“Iwouldratherhaveyoungpeoplesettleonasmallincomeatonce,andhavetostrugglewithafewdifficultiestogether,thanbeinvolvedinalongengagement.Ialwaysthinkthatnomutual—”
“Oh!dearMrsCroft,”criedMrsMusgrove,unabletoletherfinishherspeech,“thereisnothingIsoabominateforyoungpeopleasalongengagement.ItiswhatIalwaysprotestedagainstformychildren.Itisallverywell,Iusedtosay,foryoungpeopletobeengaged,ifthereisacertaintyoftheirbeingabletomarryinsixmonths,orevenintwelve;butalongengagement—”
“Yes,dearma’am,”saidMrsCroft,“oranuncertainengagement,anengagementwhichmaybelong.Tobeginwithoutknowingthatatsuchatimetherewillbethemeansofmarrying,Iholdtobeveryunsafeandunwise,andwhatIthinkallparentsshouldpreventasfarastheycan.”
Annefoundanunexpectedinteresthere.
