else though pretending to listen to the others jane was forced to smile completely for a moment and the smile partly remained as she turned towards him and said in a conscious low yet steady voice � how you can bear such recollections is astonishing to me they will sometimes but how you can court them he had a great deal to say in return and very enter ii r but s feelings were chiefly with jane in the argument and on leaving and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men she felt that pleased as she had been to sec frank and really regarding him as she did with friendship she had never been more sensible of mr s high superiority of character the happiness of this most happy day received its completion in the animated contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced c if had still at intervals an anxious feeling for a momentary doubt of its being possible for her to be really cured of her attachment to mr and really able to accept another man from inclination it was not long that she had to suffer from the of any such uncertainty a very few days brought the party from london and she had no sooner an opportunity of being one hour alone with than she became perfectly satisfied unaccountable as it was that robert martin had thoroughly mr and was now forming all her views of happiness was a little did look a little foolish at first but having once owned that she had been and silly and self deceived before her pain and confusion seemed to die away with the words and leave her without a care for the st and with the fullest exultation in the present and future for as to her friend s approbation had instantly removed every fear of that nature by meeting her with the most congratulations was most happy to give every particular of the evening at s and the dinner the next day she could dwell on it all with the utmost delight but what did such particulars explain the fact was as could now acknowledge that had always liked robert martin and his continuing to love her had been irresistible beyond this it must ever be unintelligible to the event however was most joyful and every day was giving her fresh reason for thinking so s became known she proved to be the daughter of a rich enough to afford her the comfortable maintenance which had ever been hers and decent enough to have always wished for concealment such was the blood of which had formerly been so ready to for it was likely to be as perhaps as the blood of many a gentleman but what a connection had she been preparing for mr or for the or even for mr the stain of by nobility or wealth would have been a stain indeed no objection was raised on the father s side the young man was treated liberally it was all as it should be and as became acquainted with robert martin who was now introduced at she fully acknowledged in him all the of sense and worth which could bid fairest for her little friend she had no doubt of s happiness with any man but with him and in the home he offered there would be the hope of more of security and improvement she would be placed in the midst of those who loved her and who had better sense than herself retired enough for safety and occupied enough for cheerfulness she would be never led into temptation nor left for it to find her out she would be and happy and admitted her to be the creature in the world to have created so steady and an affection in such a man or if not quite the to yield only to herself necessarily drawn away by her engagements with the was less and less at which was not to be regretted the intimacy between her and must sink their friendship must change into a calmer sort of good will and fortunately what ought to be and must be seemed already beginning and in the most gradual natural manner before the end of september attended to church and saw her hand bestowed on robert martin with so complete a satisfaction as no even connected with mr as he stood before them could perhaps indeed at that time she scarcely saw mr but as the clergyman whose blessing at the altar might next fall on herself robert martin and smith the latest couple engaged of the three were the first to be married jane had already quitted and was restored to the comforts of her beloved home with the the mr were also in town and they were only waiting for november the month was the one fixed on as far as they dared by and mr they had determined that their marriage ought to be concluded while john and were still at to allow them the fortnight s absence in a tour to the sea side which was the plan john and and every other friend were agreed in it but mr � how was mr to be induced to consent � he who had never yet alluded to their marriage but as a distant event when first sounded on the subject he was so miserable that they were almost hopeless a second allusion indeed gave less pain he began to think it was to be and that he could not prevent it � a very ing step of the mind on its way to resignation still however he was not happy nay he appeared so much otherwise that his daughter s courage failed she could not bear to see him suffering to know him ring himself neglected and though her understanding almost in the assurance of both the mr tliat when once the event were over his 