第589页 / 共817页

"I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth," said her uncle,

as they drove from the town; "and really, upon serious

consideration, I am much more inclined than I was to judge as

your eldest sister does of the matter. It appears to me so very

unlikely that any young man should form such a design against a

girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless, and who was

actually staying in his Colonel's family, that I am strongly

inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends would

not step forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the

regiment, after such an affront to Colonel Forster? His

temptation is not adequate to the risk."

"Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth, brightening up for a

moment.