Доводы рассудка

           Afewyearsbefore,AnneElliothadbeenaveryprettygirl,butherbloomhadvanishedearly;andaseveninitsheight,herfatherhadfoundlittletoadmireinher,(sototallydifferentwereherdelicatefeaturesandmilddarkeyesfromhisown),therecouldbenothinginthem,nowthatshewasfadedandthin,toexcitehisesteem.Hehadneverindulgedmuchhope,hehadnownone,ofeverreadinghernameinanyotherpageofhisfavouritework.AllequalityofalliancemustrestwithElizabeth,forMaryhadmerelyconnectedherselfwithanoldcountryfamilyofrespectabilityandlargefortune,andhadthereforegivenallthehonourandreceivednone:Elizabethwould,onedayorother,marrysuitably.

           Itsometimeshappensthatawomanishandsomerattwenty-ninethanshewastenyearsbefore;and,generallyspeaking,iftherehasbeenneitherillhealthnoranxiety,itisatimeoflifeatwhichscarcelyanycharmislost.ItwassowithElizabeth,stillthesamehandsomeMissElliotthatshehadbeguntobethirteenyearsago,andSirWaltermightbeexcused,therefore,inforgettingherage,or,atleast,bedeemedonlyhalfafool,forthinkinghimselfandElizabethasbloomingasever,amidstthewreckofthegoodlooksofeverybodyelse;forhecouldplainlyseehowoldalltherestofhisfamilyandacquaintanceweregrowing.Annehaggard,Marycoarse,everyfaceintheneighbourhoodworsting,andtherapidincreaseofthecrow’sfootaboutLadyRussell’stempleshadlongbeenadistresstohim.