I beg you will return me the key you gave me to put in the place of the
other; since it must be so, I must agree to it.
I don’t know why you should write to Mr. Danceny, I did not love him:
I don’t think I ever gave you any reason to say so; it has given us
both a great deal of uneasiness:—I know you have a friendship for him,
therefore should not fret him nor me neither. I should be much obliged
to you if, when you write to him next, you would assure him of the
contrary; for he reposes his confidence in you: nothing gives me so
much trouble as not to be believed when I say a thing.
As to the key, you may make yourself perfectly easy; I remember all you
wrote me very well; but if you have your letter still by you, and will
give it to me at the same time, I assure you I shall take particular
notice of it. If you contrive to give it me to-morrow as we go to
dinner, I would give you the other key the day after at breakfast, and
you could return it to me in the same way you did the first. Pray do
not defer it any longer, as we ought not to give Mama an opportunity to
discover it.
When you have once got possession of the key, you will be so good
to make use of it to take my letters; and by this means Mr. Danceny
will oftener hear from me, which will be much more convenient than at
present. I was a good deal frightened at first, which I hope you will
be so good to excuse; and that you will, nevertheless, continue your
friendship as heretofore: you may depend on my gratitude.