Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word.After a short pause,her companion added,“You are too generous to trifle with me.If your feelings are still what they were last April,tell me so at once.My affections and wishes are unchanged,but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”
“I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself.The recollection of what I then said,of my conduct,my manners,my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me.Your reproof,so well applied,I shall never forget:'had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner.' Those were your words.You know not,you can scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me;―though it was some time,I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice.”
“It taught me to hope,”said he,“as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before.I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that,had you been absolutely,irrevocably decided against me,you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine,frankly and openly.”
They walked on, without knowing in what direction.There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects. She soon learnt that they were indebted for their pre