own snug ami ing or to represent herself as suffering much any than as the sell she had practised since first knowledge of edward s engagement might suggest a hint of what was practicable to her was clear and simple and thou it could not be given without emotion it was not accompanied by violent nor impetuous that belonged rather to tiie listened with and excessively was to be the oi others in her own no less than in and all ttie comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure of mind and a very earnest of edward from every charge but of was readily offered but for some time would give credit to neither edward seemed a second and acknowledging as did that she aad loved him most sincerely could she feel less than as for she considered her so totally so absolutely incapable of a sensible man that she could not be persuaded at first to believe and afterwards to pardon any of edward for her she would not even admit it to been natural and left her to be convinced that it was by that which only could convince her a better knowledge of mankind her communication had reached no either than to state the the engagement and the length of time it had existed s feelings had then broken in and pat an end to all r of detail and for some time all could be done was to soothe her distress lessen her and combat her resentment the first question on her which led to particulars was � how long has this been known to yon written to i have known it these four months when first came to last november she told me in confidence of her engagement at these words s eyes expressed the astonishment her lips could not utter alter a pause of wonder ihe exclaimed � four months have jou known of this t salt m i what t while � ruling me in id mr � � � � � od i on � h it � � � dot fit yon know how x w� the four months cried again so calm i � how yon i that i was doing mj my to obliged me to be secret i owed it to her to avoid giving any hint of die and i owed it to my family and friends not to create in them a about me which it could not be in my to satisfy seemed i have very often wished to and ny mother added and once or twice i have attempted it but my trust i never could have you four months i and yet you loved him yes but i did not love only liim and while the comfort of others was dear to me i was glad to spare them from knowing how much i felt now i can think and speak of it with little emotion i would not have you suffer on my account for assure you i no longer suffer materially i have many things to support me i am not of having provoked the disappointment by any of my own and i have it as much as possible without spreading it farther i edward of all essential i wish him very happy and i am so sore of his always doing his duty that though now he may harbour some regret in the end he must become sa does not want sense and that is the foundation on which every thing good may be built and after all after au that is in the of a single and constant attachment and all that can be said of one s happiness depending entirely on any particular person it is not meant � it is not fit � it is not possible that it should be so edward will many he will marry a woman superior in person and standing to half hei sex and time and habit will teach him to that he ever thought another superior to and if is your way of thinking said if ion of what is mom valued is so easily to be made up by something else your resolution your self command are a l e less to be wondered at they are brought more within my i understand you you do not suppose that i have ever felt much for four months i have had all this hanging on my mind without being at liberty to of it to a single creature knowing that it would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to you yet unable to prepare you for it in the least it vas told me � it was in a manner forced on me by the veiy person whose prior engagement ruined all my prospects and told me as i thought with triumph person s therefore i have had to oppose by endeavouring to appear indifferent where i have been most deeply interested been only once i have had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again i have known myself to be divided from edward for ever without hearing one that could make me less desire the connection nothing has proved him unworthy nor has any thing declared him indifferent to me i have had to contend against the of his sister and the insolence of his and have suffered the punishment of an attachment without enjoying its advantages and all this has been going on at a time when as you too well know it has not been my only if you can think me capable of ever surely you may suppose that i have suffered the composure of mind with which i have brought at present to consider the matter the consolation at i have been willing to admits have been the effect of constant and painful exertion they did not spring up of them � they 