Доводы рассудка

           Hepromisedmethesightofacapitalgunheisjustgoingtosendoff;saidhewouldkeepitunpackedtothelastpossiblemoment,thatImightseeit;andifIdonotturnbacknow,Ihavenochance.Byhisdescription,agooddeallikethesecondsizedouble-barrelofmine,whichyoushotwithonedayroundWinthrop.”

           Therecouldnotbeanobjection.Therecouldbeonlythemostproperalacrity,amostobligingcomplianceforpublicview;andsmilesreinedinandspiritsdancinginprivaterapture.InhalfaminuteCharleswasatthebottomofUnionStreetagain,andtheothertwoproceedingtogether:andsoonwordsenoughhadpassedbetweenthemtodecidetheirdirectiontowardsthecomparativelyquietandretiredgravelwalk,wherethepowerofconversationwouldmakethepresenthourablessingindeed,andprepareitforalltheimmortalitywhichthehappiestrecollectionsoftheirownfuturelivescouldbestow.Theretheyexchangedagainthosefeelingsandthosepromiseswhichhadoncebeforeseemedtosecureeverything,butwhichhadbeenfollowedbysomany,manyyearsofdivisionandestrangement.Theretheyreturnedagainintothepast,moreexquisitelyhappy,perhaps,intheirre-union,thanwhenithadbeenfirstprojected;moretender,moretried,morefixedinaknowledgeofeachother’scharacter,truth,andattachment;moreequaltoact,morejustifiedinacting.