Iadded，ifhewastotellmethathewouldnever
　　seememore，thanwhichnothingbutdeathcouldbemore
　　terrible，yetIcouldneverentertainathoughtsodishonourable
　　tomyself，andsobasetohim；andtherefore，Ientreatedhim，
　　ifhehadonegrainofrespectoraffectionleftforme，thathe
　　wouldspeaknomoreofittome，orthathewouldpullhis
　　swordoutandkillme。
　　Heappearedsurprisedatmyobstinacy，
　　ashecalledit；toldmeIwasunkindtomyself，andunkindto
　　himinit；thatitwasacrisisunlookedforuponusboth，and
　　impossibleforeitherofustoforesee，butthathedidnotsee
　　anyotherwaytosaveusbothfromruin，andthereforehe
　　thoughtitthemoreunkind；butthatifhemustsaynomore
　　ofittome，headdedwithanunusualcoldness，thathedid
　　notknowanythingelsewehadtotalkof；andsoheroseupto
　　takehisleave。
　　Iroseuptoo，asifwiththesameindifference；
　　butwhenhecametogivemeasitwereapartingkiss，Iburst
　　outintosuchapassionofcrying，thatthoughIwouldhavespoke，
　　Icouldnot，andonlypressinghishand，seemedtogivehimthe
　　adieu，butcriedvehemently。
　　Hewassensiblymovedwiththis；sohesatdownagain，and
　　saidagreatmanykindthingstome，toabatetheexcessofmy
　　passion，butstillurgedthenecessityofwhathehadproposed；
　　allthewhileinsisting，thatifIdidrefuse，hewouldnotwith-
　　standingprovideforme；butlettingmeplainlyseethathe
　　woulddeclinemeinthemainpoint——nay，evenasamistress；
　　makingitapointofhonournottoliewiththewomanthat，
　　foraughtheknew，mightcometobehisbrother’swife。
　　Thebarelossofhimasagallantwasnotsomuchmyaffliction
　　asthelossofhisperson，whomindeedIlovedtodistraction；
　　andthelossofalltheexpectationsIhad，andwhichIalways
　　hadbuiltmyhopesupon，ofhavinghimonedayformy
　　husband。
　　Thesethingsoppressedmymindsomuch，that，in
　　short，Ifellveryill；theagoniesofmymind，inaword，threw
　　meintoahighfever，andlongitwas，thatnoneinthefamily
　　expectedmylife。
　　Iwasreducedverylowindeed，andwasoftendeliriousand
　　light-headed；butnothinglaysonearmeasthefearthat，when
　　Iwaslight-headed，Ishouldsaysomethingorothertohis
　　prejudice。
　　Iwasdistressedinmymindalsotoseehim，and
　　sohewastoseeme，forhereallylovedmemostpassionately；
　　butitcouldnotbe；therewasnottheleastroomtodesireit
　　ononesideorother，orsomuchastomakeitdecent。
　　ItwasnearfiveweeksthatIkeptmybedandthoughthe
　　violenceofmyfeverabatedinthreeweeks，yetitseveral
　　timesreturned；andthephysicianssaidtwoorthreetimes，
　　theycoulddonomoreforme，butthattheymustleavenature
　　andthedistempertofightitout，onlystrengtheningthefirst
　　withcordialstomaintainthestruggle。
　　Aftertheendoffive
　　weeksIgrewbetter，butwassoweak，soaltered，somelancholy，
　　andrecoveredsoslowly，thattheyphysiciansapprehendedI
　　shouldgointoaconsumption；andwhichvexedmemost，
　　theygaveitastheiropinionthatmymindwasoppressed，
　　thatsomethingtroubledme，and，inshort，thatIwasinlove。
　　Uponthis，thewholehousewassetuponmetoexamineme，
　　andtopressmetotellwhetherIwasinloveornot，andwith
　　whom；butasIwellmight，Ideniedmybeinginloveatall。
　　Theyhadonthisoccasionasquabbleonedayaboutmeat
　　table，thathadliketohaveputthewholefamilyinanuproar，
　　andforsometimedidso。
　　Theyhappenedtobeallattablebut
　　thefather；asforme，Iwasill，andinmychamber。
　　Atthe
　　beginningofthetalk，whichwasjustastheyhadfinished
　　theirdinner，theoldgentlewoman，whohadsentmesomewhat
　　toeat，calledhermaidtogoupandaskmeifIwouldhaveany
　　more；butthemaidbroughtdownwordIhadnoteatenhalf
　　whatshehadsentmealready。
　　’Alas，saystheoldlady，’thatpoorgirl！
　　Iamafraidshewill
　　neverbewell。’
　　’Well！’saystheelderbrother，’howshouldMrs。Bettybewell？
　　Theysaysheisinlove。’
　　’Ibelievenothingofit，’saystheoldgentlewoman。
　　’Idon’tknow，’saystheeldestsister，’whattosaytoit；
　　theyhavemadesucharoutaboutherbeingsohandsome，and
　　socharming，andIknownotwhat，andthatinherhearingtoo，
　　thathasturnedthecreature’shead，Ibelieve，andwhoknows
　　whatpossessionsmayfollowsuchdoings？
　　Formypart，I
　　don’tknowwhattomakeofit。’
　　’Why，sister，youmustacknowledgesheisveryhandsome，’
　　saystheelderbrother。’
　　’Ay，andagreatdealhandsomerthanyou，sister，’saysRobin，
　　’andthat’syourmortification。’
　　’Well，well，thatisnotthequestion，’sayshissister；’thatgirl
　　iswellenough，andsheknowsitwellenough；sheneednot
　　betoldofittomakehervain。’
　　’Wearenottalkingofherbeingvain，’saystheelderbrother，
　　’butofherbeinginlove；itmaybesheisinlovewithherself；
　　itseemsmysistersthinkso。’
　　’Iwouldshewasinlovewithme，’saysRobin；’I’dquickly
　　putheroutofherpain。’
　　’Whatd’yemeanbythat，son，’saystheoldlady；’howcan
　　youtalkso？’
　　’Why，madam，’saysRobin，again，veryhonestly，’doyou
　　thinkI’dletthepoorgirldieforlove，andofonethatisnear
　　athandtobehad，too？’
　　’Fie，brother！’，saysthesecondsister，’howcanyoutalkso？
　　Wouldyoutakeacreaturethathasnotagroatintheworld？’
　　’Prithee，child，’saysRobin，’beauty’saportion，andgood-
　　humourwithitisadoubleportion；Iwishthouhadsthalfher
　　stockofbothforthyportion。’
　　Sotherewashermouthstopped。
　　’Ifind，’saystheeldestsister，’ifBettyisnotinlove，my
　　brotheris。
　　IwonderhehasnotbrokehismindtoBetty；I
　　warrantshewon’tsayNo。’
　　’Theythatyieldwhenthey’reasked，’saysRobin，’areone
　　stepbeforethemthatwereneveraskedtoyield，sister，and
　　twostepsbeforethemthatyieldbeforetheyareasked；and
　　that’sananswertoyou，sister。’
　　Thisfiredthesister，andsheflewintoapassion，andsaid，
　　thingsweresometothatpassthatitwastimethewench，
　　meaningme，wasoutofthefamily；andbutthatshewasnot
　　fittobeturnedout，shehopedherfatherandmotherwould
　　considerofitassoonasshecouldberemoved。
　　Robinreplied，thatwasbusinessforthemasterandmistress
　　ofthefamily，whowherenottobetaughtbyonethathadso
　　littlejudgmentashiseldestsister。
　　Itranupagreatdealfarther；thesisterscolded，Robinrallied
　　andbantered，butpoorBettylostgroundbyitextremelyin
　　thefamily。
　　Iheardofit，andIcriedheartily，andtheoldlady
　　cameuptome，somebodyhavingtoldherthatIwassomuch
　　concernedaboutit。
　　Icomplainedtoher，thatitwasveryhard
　　thedoctorsshouldpasssuchacensureuponme，forwhich
　　theyhadnoground；andthatitwasstillharder，considering
　　thecircumstancesIwasunderinthefamily；thatIhopedI
　　haddonenothingtolessenheresteemforme，orgivenany
　　occasionforthebickeringbetweenhersonsanddaughters，
　　andIhadmoreneedtothinkofacoffinthanofbeinginlove，
　　andbeggedshewouldnotletmesufferinheropinionfor
　　anybody’smistakesbutmyown。
　　ShewassensibleofthejusticeofwhatIsaid，buttoldme，
　　sincetherehadbeensuchaclamouramongthem，andthather
　　youngersontalkedaftersucharattlingwayashedid，she
　　desiredIwouldbesofaithfultoherastoanswerherbutone
　　questionsincerely。
　　ItoldherIwould，withallmyheart，and
　　withtheutmostplainnessandsincerity。
　　Why，then，the
　　questionwas，whethertherewayanythingbetweenherson
　　Robertandme。
　　Itoldherwithalltheprotestationsofsincerity
　　thatIwasabletomake，andasImightwell，do，thattherewas
　　not，noreveryhadbeen；ItoldherthatMr。Roberthadrattled
　　andjested，assheknewitwashisway，andthatItookitalways，
　　asIsupposedhemeantit，tobeawildairywayofdiscourse
　　thathadnosignificationinit；andagainassuredher，thatthere
　　wasnottheleasttittleofwhatsheunderstoodbyitbetween
　　us；andthatthosewhohadsuggestedithaddonemeagreat
　　dealofwrong，andMr。Robertnoserviceatall。
　　Theoldladywasfullysatisfied，andkissedme，spoke
　　cheerfullytome，andbidmetakecareofmyhealthandwant
　　fornothing，andsotookherleave。
　　Butwhenshecamedown
　　shefoundthebrotherandallhissisterstogetherbytheears；
　　theywereangry，eventopassion，athisupbraidingthemwith
　　theirbeinghomely，andhavingneverhadanysweethearts，
　　neverhavingbeenaskedthequestion，andtheirbeingso
　　forwardasalmosttoaskfirst。
　　Heralliedthemuponthe
　　subjectofMrs。Betty；howpretty，howgood-humoured，how
　　shesungbetterthentheydid，anddancedbetter，andhow
　　muchhandsomershewas；andindoingthisheomittedno
　　ill-naturedthingthatcouldvexthem，andindeed，pushedtoo
　　harduponthem。
　　Theoldladycamedownintheheightofit，
　　andtoputastopitto，toldthemallthediscourseshehadhad
　　withme，andhowIanswered，thattherewasnothingbetween
　　Mr。RobertandI。
　　’She’swrongthere，’saysRobin，’foriftherewasnotagreat
　　dealbetweenus，weshouldbeclosertogetherthanweare。
　　ItoldherIloverherhugely，’sayshe，’butIcouldnevermake
　　thejadebelieveIwasinearnest。’
　　’Idonotknowhowyou
　　should，’sayshismother；’nobodyintheirsensescouldbelieve
　　youwereinearnest，totalksotoapoorgirl，whosecircumstances
　　youknowsowell。
　　’Butprithee，son，’addsshe，’sinceyoutellmethatyoucould
　　notmakeherbelieveyouwereinearnest，whatmustwe
　　believeaboutit？
　　Foryouramblesoinyourdiscourse，that
　　nobodyknowswhetheryouareinearnestorinjest；butasI
　　findthegirl，byyourownconfession，hasansweredtruly，I
　　wishyouwoulddosotoo，andtellmeseriously，sothatImay
　　dependuponit。
　　Isthereanythinginitorno？
　　Areyouin
　　earnestorno？