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"I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive

can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there. You

dare not, you cannot deny that you have been the principal, if

not the only means of dividing them from each other, of exposing

one to the censure of the world for caprice and instability, the

other to its derision for disappointed hopes, and involving them

both in misery of the acutest kind."

She paused, and saw with no slight indignation that he was

listening with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any

feeling of remorse. He even looked at her with a smile of

affected incredulity.

"Can you deny that you have done it?" she repeated.

With assumed tranquillity he then replied, "I have no wish of

denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend

from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards him I

have been kinder than towards myself."