صفحة 37 من 817

"It may, perhaps, be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to

impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a

disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her

affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose

the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor

consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so

much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it

is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely--a

slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us

who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection

than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may

never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."

"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I

can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed

not to discover it too."