{{prxprp317.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 317 ||

'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.'

'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 of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and imme/

diately, 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 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 violendy in love can be supposed to do. Had

Elizabeth been able to encounter his eyes, she might have seen

how well the expression of heanvfelt 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

importance 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 diat 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 substance of her

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