"Well then, I must say I look upon it as neither kind nor honorable of you to cut me out, or at least try to do so, for until she convinces me, I will not believe you have quite succeeded. But you should not have used me so, when I had been quite open with you."
His companion was embarrassed; for the total absence of self-confidence, which formed a prominent part of his character, made it very hard for him to publish his love whilst his prospects were uncertain.
"Tell me," continued Lord Osborne with some warmth, "do you not yourself love Emma Watson? Have you not sought to supplant me?"
"I will not deny that I do love her,—but I trust the acknowledgement will be safe with you—I own I love her—have loved her long—did love her well when you told me your own views, my Lord, and in fact have loved her ever since our first meeting in the assembly rooms."
"And why was I not told of this when I mentioned my plans to you—why allow me to form false hopes, whilst you were undermining the ground on which I stood?"
"You are unjust to me, my Lord, you speak as if I had tried to injure you, or prejudice her against you. Had I not a right to love her—have I not a right to win her if I can? Though I am but a poor parson and you are a peer, surely she is the only one to decide whether my addresses may not be acceptable to her. I have never attempted to thwart your success, nor have I ever made Emma a declaration of my own attachment. But I have as good a right to do so as yourself."
"I did not mean to call your rights in question at all, Mr. Howard; what I quarrel with is, your want of openness in not letting me know that I had a rival in you. Had you done so, I should have had no cause to complain."
"I own I was sorry afterwards that I did not speak openly, my lord, on that occasion, but my uncertainty as to her feelings prevented me!"
"Then you are now convinced of success?" observed Lord Osborne gloomily.
"By no means; you have forced a confession from me, which under other circumstances I would not have made; but I am very far indeed from confidence on the subject. She has never heard me declare my feelings."