“Butatleast，Mamma，youcannotdenytheabsurdityoftheaccusation，thoughyoumaynotthinkitintentionallyill-natured。ColonelBrandoniscertainlyyoungerthanMrs。Jennings，butheisoldenoughtobeMYfather;
andifhewereeveranimatedenoughtobeinlove，musthavelongoutlivedeverysensationofthekind。
Itistooridiculous！，Whenisamantobesafefromsuchwit，ifageandinfirmitywillnotprotecthim？”
“Infirmity！”saidElinor，“doyoucallColonelBrandoninfirm？，Icaneasilysupposethathisagemayappearmuchgreatertoyouthantomymother;butyoucanhardlydeceiveyourselfastohishavingtheuseofhislimbs！”
“Didnotyouhearhimcomplainoftherheumatism？