Доводы рассудка

           Alas!withallherreasoning,shefound,thattoretentivefeelingseightyearsmaybelittlemorethannothing.

           Now,howwerehissentimentstoberead?Wasthislikewishingtoavoidher?Andthenextmomentshewashatingherselfforthefollywhichaskedthequestion.

           Ononeotherquestionwhichperhapsherutmostwisdommightnothaveprevented,shewassoonsparedallsuspense;for,aftertheMissMusgroveshadreturnedandfinishedtheirvisitattheCottageshehadthisspontaneousinformationfromMary:—

           “CaptainWentworthisnotverygallantbyyou,Anne,thoughhewassoattentivetome.Henriettaaskedhimwhathethoughtofyou,whentheywentaway,andhesaid,‘Youweresoalteredheshouldnothaveknownyouagain.’”

           Maryhadnofeelingstomakeherrespecthersister’sinacommonway,butshewasperfectlyunsuspiciousofbeinginflictinganypeculiarwound.

           “Alteredbeyondhisknowledge.”Annefullysubmitted,insilent,deepmortification.Doubtlessitwasso,andshecouldtakenorevenge,forhewasnotaltered,ornotfortheworse.Shehadalreadyacknowledgedittoherself,andshecouldnotthinkdifferently,lethimthinkofherashewould.No:theyearswhichhaddestroyedheryouthandbloomhadonlygivenhimamoreglowing,manly,openlook,innorespectlesseninghispersonaladvantages.ShehadseenthesameFrederickWentworth.

           “Soalteredthatheshouldnothaveknownheragain!”Thesewerewordswhichcouldnotbutdwellwithher.Yetshesoonbegantorejoicethatshehadheardthem.