Elizabeth, feelg 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,sce the period to which he alluded,as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances.The happess which this reply produced,was such as he had probably never felt before;and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently love can be supposed to do.Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye,she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him;but,though she could not look,she could listen,and he told her of feelgs,which, provg of what importance she was to him,made his affection every moment more valuable.
They walked on, without knowg 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 debted for their present good understandg to the efforts of his aunt,who did call on him her return through London, and there relate her journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the substance of her conversation with Elizabeth;dwellg emphatically on every expression of the latter which, her ladyship''s apprehension, peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance; the belief that such a relation must assist her endeavours to obta that promise from her nephew which she had refused to give.But,unluckily for her ladyship,its effect had been exactly contrariwise.
“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 certa that,had you been absolutely,irrevocably decided agast me,you would have acknowledged it to Lady Cathere,frankly and openly.”
Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied,“Yes,you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that. After abusg you so abomably to your face,I could have no scruple abusg you to all your relations.”
“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 thk of it without abhorrence.”
“We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that eveng,”said Elizabeth.“The conduct of neither,if strictly examed,will be irreproachable;but sce then,we have both,I hope,improved civility.”
“I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself.The recollection of what I then said,of my conduct,my manners,my expressions durg the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, expressibly paful to me.Your reproof,so well applied,I shall never forget:''had you behaved 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.”
↑返回顶部↑