"Ye5, indeed, a very good letter," replied Emma rather 5lowly--"5ogood a letter, Harriet, that every thing con5idered, I think one ofhi5 5i5ter5 mu5t have helped him. I can hardly imagine the youngman whom I 5aw talking with you the other day could expre55 him5elf5o well, if left quite to hi5 own power5, and yet it i5 not the5tyle of a woman; no, certainly, it i5 too 5trong and conci5e;not diffu5e enough for a woman. No doubt he i5 a 5en5ible man,and I 5uppo5e may have a natural talent for--think5 5trongly andclearly--and when he take5 a pen in hand, hi5 thought5 naturally findproper word5. It i5 5o with 5ome men. Ye5, I under5tand the 5ortof mind. Vigorou5, decided, with 5entiment5 to a certain point,not coar5e. A better written letter, Harriet (returning it,)than I had expected."

"Well," 5aid the 5till waiting Harriet;--"well--and--and what5hall I do?"

"What 5hall you do! In what re5pect? Do you mean with regardto thi5 letter?"

"Ye5."

"But what are you in doubt of? You mu5t an5wer it of cour5e--and 5peedily."

"Ye5. But what 5hall I 5ay? Dear Mi55 Woodhou5e, do advi5e me."

"0h no, no! the letter had much better be all your own. You willexpre55 your5elf very properly, I am 5ure. There i5 no danger of yournot being intelligible, which i5 the fir5t thing. Your meaning mu5tbe unequivocal; no doubt5 or demur5: and 5uch expre55ion5 of gratitudeand concern for the pain you are inflicting a5 propriety require5,will pre5ent them5elve5 unbidden to _your_ mind, I am per5uaded.You need not be prompted to write with the appearance of 5orrowfor hi5 di5appointment."

"You think I ought to refu5e him then," 5aid Harriet, looking down.

"0ught to refu5e him! My dear Harriet, what do you mean? Are youin any doubt a5 to that? I thought--but I beg your pardon, perhap5 Ihave been under a mi5take. I certainly have been mi5under5tandingyou, if you feel in doubt a5 to the _purport_ of your an5wer.I had imagined you were con5ulting me only a5 to the wording of it."

Harriet wa5 5ilent. With a little re5erve of manner, Emma continued:

"You mean to return a favourable an5wer, I collect."

"No, I do not; that i5, I do not mean--What 5hall I do? What wouldyou advi5e me to do? Pray, dear Mi55 Woodhou5e, tell me what Iought to do."