'As to the circumstance, for which you think so hardly of me, I do
freely confess, that having a suspicion that you would revoke your
intention of getting away, and in that case apprehending that we should
not have the time together that was necessary for that purpose; I had
ordered him to keep off every body he could keep off, and to be himself
within a view of the garden-door; for I was determined, if possible, to
induce you to adhere to your resolution.'--
But pray, Sir, interrupting him, how came you to apprehend that I should
revoke my intention? I had indeed deposited a letter to that purpose;
but you had it not: and how, as I had reserved to myself the privilege
of a revocation, did you know, but I might have prevailed upon my
friends, and so have revoked upon good grounds?
'I will be very ingenuous, Madam--You had made me hope that if you
changed your mind, you would give me a meeting to apprize me of the
reasons for it. I went to the loose bricks, and I saw the letter there:
and as I knew your friends were immovably fixed in their schemes, I
doubted not but the letter was to revoke or suspend your resolution; and
probably to serve instead of a meeting too. I therefore let it lie, that
if you did revoke, you might be under the necessity of meeting me for
the sake of the expectation you had given me: and as I came prepared, I
was resolved, pardon me, Madam, whatever were your intentions, that you
should not go back. Had I taken your letter I must have been determined
by the contents of it, for the present at least: but not having
received it, and you having reason to think I wanted not resolution in
a situation so desperate, to make your friends a personal visit, I
depended upon the interview you had bid me hope for.'
Wicked wretch, said I; it is my grief, that I gave you opportunity to
take so exact a measure of my weakness!--But would you have presumed to
visit the family, had I not met you?
Indeed I would. I had some friends in readiness, who were to have
accompanied me to them. And had your father refused to give me audience,
I would have taken my friends with me to Solmes.
And what did you intend to do to Mr. Solmes?
Not the least hurt, had the man been passive.
But had he not been passive, as you call it, what would you have done to
Mr. Solmes?
He was loth, he said to tell me--yet not the least hurt to his person.