’But now he has made it.  He came to me yesterday just before dinner, in the little drawing-room, and told me, in the most delicate manner, in words that even you could not have but approved, that his highest ambition was to be thought worthy of my regard, and that he felt for me the warmest love, and the most profound admiration, and the deepest respect.  You may say, Amelia, that he is only an attorney, and I believe that he is an attorney; but I am sure you would have esteemed him had you heard the very delicate way in which he expressed his sentiments.

’Something had given me a presentiment of what he was going to do when I saw him come into the room, so that I was on my guard.  I tried very hard to show no emotion; but I suppose I was a little flurried, as I once detected myself calling him Mr Mortimer:  his name, you know, is Mortimer Gazebee.  I ought not to have done so, certainly; but it was not so bad as if I had called him Mortimer without the Mr, was it?  I don’t think there could possibly be a prettier Christian name than Mortimer.  Well, Amelia, I allowed him to express himself without interruption.  He once attempted to take my hand; but even this was done without any assumption of familiarity; and when he saw that I would not permit it, he drew back, and fixed his eyes on the ground as though he were ashamed even of that.

’Of course, I had to give him an answer; and though I had expected that something of this sort would take place, I had not made up my mind on the subject.  I would not, certainly, under any circumstances, accept him without consulting you.  If I really disliked him, of course there would be no doubt; but I can’t say, dearest Amelia, that I do absolutely dislike him; and I really think that we would make each other very happy, if the marriage were suitable as regarded both our positions.

’I collected myself as well as I could, and I really do think that you would have said that I did not behave badly, though the position was rather trying.  I told him that, of course, I was flattered by his sentiments, though much surprised at hearing them; that since I knew him, I had esteemed and valued him as an acquaintance, but that, looking on him as a man of business, I had never expected anything more.  I then endeavoured to explain to him, that I was not perhaps privileged as some other girls might be, to indulge my feelings altogether:  perhaps that was saying too much, and might make him think that I was in love with him; but, from the way I said it, I don’t think he would, for I was very much guarded in my manner, and very collected; and then I told him, that in any proposal of marriage that might be made to me, it would be my duty to consult my family as much, if not more than myself.