But he was overwhelmed by her aspect of illness. He
almost forgot his own wishes, his own suit, in his desire to relieve her
from the pain, physical as he believed it, under which she was suffering.
It was she who had to begin the subject.
"I received your letter yesterday, Mr. Livingstone. I was anxious to see
you to-day, in order that I might prevent you from speaking to my father.
I do not say anything of the kind of affection you can feel for me--me,
whom you have only seen once. All I shall say is, that the sooner we
both forget what I must call folly, the better."
She took the airs of a woman considerably older and more experienced than
himself. He thought her haughty; she was only miserable.
"You are mistaken," said he, more quietly and with more dignity than was
likely from his previous conduct. "I will not allow you to characterise
as folly what might be presumptuous on my part--I had no business to
express myself so soon--but which in its foundation was true and sincere.
That I can answer for most solemnly. It is possible, though it may not
be a usual thing, for a man to feel so strongly attracted by the charms
and qualities of a woman, even at first sight, as to feel sure that she,
and she alone, can make his happiness. My folly consisted--there you are
right--in even dreaming that you could return my feelings in the
slightest degree, when you had only seen me once: and I am most truly
ashamed of myself.
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