my
confusion [indeed, my dear, he knows not what respectful love is!] and
gazed upon me, as if he would have looked me through.

He was still more declarative afterwards, as I shall mention by-and-by:
but it was half extorted from him.

My heart struggled violently between resentment and shame, to be thus
teased by one who seemed to have all his passions at command, at a time
when I had very little over mine! till at last I burst into tears, and
was going from him in high disgust: when, throwing his arms about me,
with an air, however, the most tenderly respectful, he gave a stupid
turn to the subject.

It was far from his heart, he said, to take so much advantage of the
streight, which the discovery of my brother's foolish project had
brought me into, as to renew, without my permission, a proposal which I
had hitherto discountenanced, and which for that reason--

And then he came with his half-sentences, apologizing for what he had
not so much as half-proposed.

Surely he had not the insolence to intend to tease me, to see if I could
be brought to speak what became me not to speak. But whether he had or
not, it did tease me; insomuch that my very heart was fretted, and I
broke out, at last, into fresh tears, and a declaration that I was very
unhappy. And just then recollecting how like a tame fool I stood with
his arms about me, I flung from him with indignation. But he seized my
hand, as I was going out of the room, and upon his knees besought my
stay for one moment: and then, in words the most clear and explicit,
tendered himself to my acceptance, as the most effectual means to
disappoint my brother's scheme, and set all right.

But what could I say to this?--Extorted from him, as it seemed to me,
rather as the effect of his compassion than his love? What could I say?
I paused, I looked silly--I am sure I looked very silly. He suffered me
to pause, and look silly; waiting for me to say something: and at last
(ashamed of my confusion, and aiming to make an excuse for it) I told
him that I desired he would avoid such measures as might add to the
uneasiness which it must be visible to him I had, when he reflected upon
the irreconcilableness of my friends, and upon what might follow from
this unaccountable project of my brother.

He promised to be governed by me in every thing. And again the wretch,
instead of pressing his former question, asked me, If I forgave him for
the humble suit he had made to me? What ha