his opinion, and some censure I acknowledge myself
liable to.—My behaviour to Miss Woodhouse
indicated, I believe, more than it ought.—
In order to assist a concealment so essential to me,
I was led on to make more than an allowable use of
the sort of intimacy into which we were immediately
thrown.—I cannot deny that Miss Woodhouse
was my ostensible object—but I am sure you
will believe the declaration, that had I not been
convinced of her indifference, I would not have been
induced by any selfish views to go on.—
Amiable and delightful as Miss Woodhouse is, she never
gave me the idea of a young woman likely to be attached;
and that she was perfectly free from any tendency
to being attached to me, was as much my conviction
as my wish.—She received my attentions with
an easy, friendly, goodhumoured playfulness, which
exactly suited me. We seemed to understand each
other. From our relative situation, those attentions
were her due, and were felt to be so.—Whether
Miss Woodhouse began really to understand me before
the expiration of that fortnight, I cannot say;—when
I called to take leave of her, I remember that I was
within a moment of confessing the truth, and I then
fancied she was not without suspicion; but I have no
doubt of her having since detected me, at least in
some degree.— She may not have surmised
the whole, but her quickness must have penetrated
a part. I cannot doubt it. You will find,
whenever the subject becomes freed from its present
restraints, that it did not take her wholly by surprize.
She frequently gave me hints of it. I remember
her telling me at the ball, that I owed Mrs. Elton
gratitude for her attentions to Miss Fairfax.—
I hope this history of my conduct towards her will
be admitted by you and my father as great extenuation
of what you saw amiss. While you considered me
as having sinned against Emma Woodhouse, I could deserve
nothing from either. Acquit me here, and procure
for me, when it is allowable, the acquittal and good
wishes of that said Emma Woodhouse, whom I regard
with so much brotherly affection, as to long to have
her as deeply and as happily in love as myself.—
Whatever strange things I said or did during that fortnight,
you have now a key to. My heart was in Highbury,
and my business was to get my body thither as often
as might be, and with the least suspicion. If
you remember any queernesses, set them all to the right
account.— Of the pianoforte so much talked
of, I feel it only necessary to say, that its being
ordered was absolutely unknown to Miss F—,
who would never have allowed me to send it, had any
choice been given her.— The delicacy of
her mind throughout the whole engagement, my dear
madam, is much beyond my power of doing justice to.
You will soon, I earnestly hope, know her thoroughly
yourself.— No description can describe
her. She must tell you herself what she is—
yet not by word, for never was there a human creature
who would so designedly suppress her own merit.—Since