Доводы рассудка
Chapter 23
Youhavealwaysaprofession,pursuits,businessofsomesortorother,totakeyoubackintotheworldimmediately,andcontinualoccupationandchangesoonweakenimpressions.”
“Grantingyourassertionthattheworlddoesallthissosoonformen(which,however,IdonotthinkIshallgrant),itdoesnotapplytoBenwick.Hehasnotbeenforceduponanyexertion.Thepeaceturnedhimonshoreattheverymoment,andhehasbeenlivingwithus,inourlittlefamilycircle,eversince.”
“True,”saidAnne,“verytrue;Ididnotrecollect;butwhatshallwesaynow,CaptainHarville?Ifthechangebenotfromoutwardcircumstances,itmustbefromwithin;itmustbenature,man’snature,whichhasdonethebusinessforCaptainBenwick.”
“No,no,itisnotman’snature.Iwillnotallowittobemoreman’snaturethanwoman’stobeinconstantandforgetthosetheydolove,orhaveloved.Ibelievethereverse.Ibelieveinatrueanalogybetweenourbodilyframesandourmental;andthatasourbodiesarethestrongest,soareourfeelings;capableofbearingmostroughusage,andridingouttheheaviestweather.”
“Yourfeelingsmaybethestrongest,”repliedAnne,“butthesamespiritofanalogywillauthorisemetoassertthatoursarethemosttender.Manismorerobustthanwoman,butheisnotlongerlived;whichexactlyexplainsmyviewofthenatureoftheirattachments.Nay,itwouldbetooharduponyou,ifitwereotherwise.Youhavedifficulties,andprivations,anddangersenoughtostrugglewith.
