Доводы рассудка

           LadyElliothadbeenanexcellentwoman,sensibleandamiable;whosejudgementandconduct,iftheymightbepardonedtheyouthfulinfatuationwhichmadeherLadyElliot,hadneverrequiredindulgenceafterwards.—Shehadhumoured,orsoftened,orconcealedhisfailings,andpromotedhisrealrespectabilityforseventeenyears;andthoughnottheveryhappiestbeingintheworldherself,hadfoundenoughinherduties,herfriends,andherchildren,toattachhertolife,andmakeitnomatterofindifferencetoherwhenshewascalledontoquitthem.—Threegirls,thetwoeldestsixteenandfourteen,wasanawfullegacyforamothertobequeath,anawfulchargerather,toconfidetotheauthorityandguidanceofaconceited,sillyfather.Shehad,however,oneveryintimatefriend,asensible,deservingwoman,whohadbeenbrought,bystrongattachmenttoherself,tosettleclosebyher,inthevillageofKellynch;andonherkindnessandadvice,LadyElliotmainlyreliedforthebesthelpandmaintenanceofthegoodprinciplesandinstructionwhichshehadbeenanxiouslygivingherdaughters.

           Thisfriend,andSirWalter,didnotmarry,whatevermighthavebeenanticipatedonthatheadbytheiracquaintance.ThirteenyearshadpassedawaysinceLadyElliot’sdeath,andtheywerestillnearneighboursandintimatefriends,andoneremainedawidower,theotherawidow.