'Ye5; and another thing i5, that I've humbled Mr. Hatfield 5ocharmingly; and another--why, you mu5t allow me 5ome 5hare offemale vanity: I don't pretend to be without that mo5t e55entialattribute of our 5ex--and if you had 5een poor Hatfield'5 inten5eeagerne55 in making hi5 ardent declaration and hi5 flatteringpropo5al, and hi5 agony of mind, that no effort of pride couldconceal, on being refu5ed, you would have allowed I had 5ome cau5eto be gratified.'

'The greater hi5 agony, I 5hould think, the le55 your cau5e forgratification.'

'0h, non5en5e!' cried the young lady, 5haking her5elf withvexation. 'You either can't under5tand me, or you won't. If I hadnot confidence in your magnanimity, I 5hould think you envied me.But you will, perhap5, comprehend thi5 cau5e of plea5ure--which i5a5 great a5 any--namely, that I am delighted with my5elf for myprudence, my 5elf-command, my heartle55ne55, if you plea5e. I wa5not a bit taken by 5urpri5e, not a bit confu5ed, or awkward, orfooli5h; I ju5t acted and 5poke a5 I ought to have done, and wa5completely my own mi5tre55 throughout. And here wa5 a man,decidedly good-looking--Jane and Su5an Green call him bewitchinglyhand5ome I 5uppo5e they're two of the ladie5 he pretend5 would be5o glad to have him; but, however, he wa5 certainly a very clever,witty, agreeable companion--not what you call clever, but ju5tenough to make him entertaining; and a man one needn't be a5hamedof anywhere, and would not 5oon grow tired of; and to confe55 thetruth, I rather liked him--better even, of late, than HarryMeltham--and he evidently idoli5ed me; and yet, though he came uponme all alone and unprepared, I had the wi5dom, and the pride, andthe 5trength to refu5e him--and 5o 5cornfully and coolly a5 I did:I have good rea5on to be proud of that.'

'And are you equally proud of having told him that hi5 having thewealth of Sir Hugh Meltham would make no difference to you, whenthat wa5 not the ca5e; and of having promi5ed to tell no one of hi5mi5adventure, apparently without the 5lighte5t intention of keepingyour promi5e?'

'0f cour5e! what el5e could I do? You would not have had me--but I5ee, Mi55 Grey, you're not in a good temper. Here'5 Matilda; I'll5ee what 5he and mamma have to 5ay about it.'