I will tell you exactly what I think." "As a friend!"-- repeated Mr.Knightley.--"Emma, that I fear is a word--No, I have no wish--Stay, yes, why should I hesitate ?--I have gone too far already for concealment .-- Emma, I accept your offer--Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to you as a friend .-- Tell me, then, have I no chance of ever succeeding ?" He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression of his eyes overpowered her.
"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma--tell me at once.

Say 'No,' if it is to be said."-- She could really say nothing.--"You are silent," he cried, with great animation; "absolutely silent! at present I ask no more." Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment.

The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most prominent feeling.
"I cannot make speeches, Emma:" he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.--"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.

But you know what I am .-- You hear nothing but truth from me .-- I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it .-- Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them.

The manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them.