第74章[第4页/共5页]

“The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness had been equally excited with my own;our coincidence of feeling was soon discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching their brother,we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London.We accordingly went―and there I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described, and enforced them earnestly.But,however this remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage,had it not been seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your sister's indifference.He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his own.To convince him,therefore,that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point.To persuade him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given,was scarcely the work of a moment.I canno