were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with
her in private--a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance--to
ruin all my resolution, and with it all my comfort. A discovery took
place,"--here he hesitated and looked down. "Mrs. Smith had somehow or
other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose
interest it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a
connection--but I need not explain myself farther," he added, looking
at her with an heightened colour and an enquiring eye,--"your
particular intimacy--you have probably heard the whole story long
ago."

"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart
anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all. And how you
will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I
confess is beyond my comprehension."

"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account.
Could it be an impartial one? I acknowledge that her situation and her
character ought to have been respected by me. I do not mean to justify
myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have
nothing to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
and because _I_ was a libertine, _she_ must be a saint. If the
violence of her passions, the weakness of her understanding--I do not
mean, however, to defend myself. Her affection for me deserved better
treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the
tenderness which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any
return. I wish--I heartily wish it had never been. But I have injured
more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for
me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose
mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!"

"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl--I must say
it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well
be--your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her. Do
not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of
understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in
Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was
reduced to the extremest indigence."

"But, upon my soul, I did _not_ know it," he warmly replied; "I did
not recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common
sense might have told her how to fin