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'You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness

first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the mat-

ter; and, of course, I could not rest till I knew the particu-

lars. 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.'

'If you _will_ thank me,' he replied, 'let it be for yourself

alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add

force to the other inducements which led me on I shall not

attempt to deny. But your _family_ owe me nothing. Much as

I respect them, I believe I thought only of _you.'_

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.'

Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness

and anxiety for his situation, now forced herself to speak;

and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to under-

stand that her sentiments had undergone so material a

change since the period to which he alluded as to make her

receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances.

The happiness 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 in love

can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to encounter

his eyes, 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 feelings which, in proving of what impor-

tance she was to him, made his affection every moment more

valuable.

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 present good understanding to the efforts of his

aunt, who _did_ call on him in her return through London, and

there relate her journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the

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