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"Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen."

"That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as

much." And though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had

been pretty much the case.

"On the evening before my going to London," said he, "I made a

confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago.

I told him of all that had occurred to make my former

interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise

was great. He had never had the slightest suspicion. I told him,

moreover, that I believed myself mistaken in supposing, as I had

done, that your sister was indifferent to him; and as I could

easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt

no doubt of their happiness together."

Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing

his friend.

"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you

told him that my sister loved him, or merely from my information

last spring?"