“What did you say of me,that I did not deserve?For,though your accusations were ill-founded,formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable.I cannot think of it without abhorrence.”
Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied,“Yes,you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that. After abusing you so abominably to your face,I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations.”
“You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter;and,of course,I could not rest till I knew the particulars.Let me thank you again and again,in the name of all my family,for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble,and bear so many mortifications,for the sake of discovering them.”
Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change,since the period to which he alluded,as to make her receive with gratitud