"I don't know," said Elizabeth. "And I don't care — even to ask."
"Suppose they are not returned?"
"I have supposed that in the first place," she answered.
"At that rate you might be over head and ears in your regard for several people at once, none of whom cared a straw for you," said Mr. Haye.
"When I find several, men or women, that deserve the sort of respect and esteem I am talking of," said Elizabeth — "I am not talking of a common kind, that you can give common people — I shall be in a new world!"
"And have you this sort of 'respect and esteem' for Mr.
Winthrop Landholm?" said her father.
"That's another question," said Elizabeth, for the first time dropping her eye and speaking more quietly; — "I was talking of the general principle."
"And I am asking of the particular instance. Have you this respect and esteem for this particular person of your acquaintance?"
"I never gave it to many people in my life," said Elizabeth, colouring again somewhat. "He has as fair a share of it as most have."
"A little more?" said Mr. Haye smiling.