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Such I was, from eight to eight-and-twenty; and such I might

still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What

do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first,

but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to

you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how

insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of

being pleased."

"Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?"

"Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you

to be wishing, expecting my addresses."

"My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I

assure you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might

often lead me wrong. How you must have hated me after that

evening!"

"Hate you! I was angry, perhaps, at first, but my anger soon

began to take a proper direction."

"I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when we met

at Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?"

"No, indeed, I felt nothing but surprise."