Доводы рассудка
Chapter 1
Elizabethdidnotquiteequalherfatherinpersonalcontentment.ThirteenyearshadseenhermistressofKellynchHall,presidinganddirectingwithaself-possessionanddecisionwhichcouldneverhavegiventheideaofherbeingyoungerthanshewas.Forthirteenyearshadshebeendoingthehonours,andlayingdownthedomesticlawathome,andleadingthewaytothechaiseandfour,andwalkingimmediatelyafterLadyRusselloutofallthedrawing-roomsanddining-roomsinthecountry.Thirteenwinters’revolvingfrostshadseenheropeningeveryballofcreditwhichascantyneighbourhoodafforded,andthirteenspringsshewntheirblossoms,asshetravelleduptoLondonwithherfather,forafewweeks’annualenjoymentofthegreatworld.Shehadtheremembranceofallthis,shehadtheconsciousnessofbeingnine-and-twentytogivehersomeregretsandsomeapprehensions;shewasfullysatisfiedofbeingstillquiteashandsomeasever,butshefeltherapproachtotheyearsofdanger,andwouldhaverejoicedtobecertainofbeingproperlysolicitedbybaronet-bloodwithinthenexttwelvemonthortwo.Thenmightsheagaintakeupthebookofbookswithasmuchenjoymentasinherearlyyouth,butnowshelikeditnot.Alwaystobepresentedwiththedateofherownbirthandseenomarriagefollowbutthatofayoungestsister,madethebookanevil;andmorethanonce,whenherfatherhadleftitopenonthetablenearher,hadsheclosedit,withavertedeyes,andpusheditaway.
