Page:The Novels of Jane Austen - Chapman 1923 (Volume 1).djvu/213

and fhen turnɡ eaɡerly to willouɡby rctter rcad as ollows bohd steet janaryu tollows ,y dear ,adan have juust had the hoe honour fo tetter for whieh beɡ to to return ,y sicee tetter a, ,ueh ( 183 ) , and then turning eagerly to Willoughby’s letter, read as follows : Bond Street, January. My Dear Mapa, a I nave just had the honour of receiving your letter, for which I beg to return my sincere acknowledgments. I am much concerned to find there was any thing in my behaviour last night that did not meet your approba- tion; and though I am quite at a loss to discover in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been perfectly unintentional. I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance with your family in Devon- shire without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or mis- apprehension of my actions. My esteem for your whole family is very sincere ; but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself for not having been more guarded in my professions of that esteem. That I should ever have meant more you will allow to be impossible, when you understand that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere, and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before this engagement is ful- filled. It is with great regret that I obey your commands of returning the letters, with which I have been honoured from you, and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed on me. I am, dear Madam, Your most obedient humble Servant, Jou~x WILLOUGHBY.

With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss Dashwood, may be imagined. Though aware, before she began it, that it must bring a con- fession of his inconstancy, and confirm their separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could

be