And now I come to the principal, the only important part of my conduct while belonging to you, which excites my own anxiety, or requires very solicitous explanation.

With the greatest respect, and the warmest friendship, do I mention Miss Woodhouse; my father perhaps will think I ought to add, with the deepest humiliation .-- A few words which dropped from him yesterday spoke his opinion, and some censure I acknowledge myself liable to .-- My behaviour to Miss Woodhouse indicated, I believe, more than it ought .-- In order to assist a concealment so essential to me, I was led on to make more than an allowable use of the sort of intimacy into which we were immediately thrown .-- I cannot deny that Miss Woodhouse was my ostensible object--but I am sure you will believe the declaration, that had I not been convinced of her indifference, I would not have been induced by any selfish views to go on .-- Amiable and delightful as Miss Woodhouse is, she never gave me the idea of a young woman likely to be attached; and that she was perfectly free from any tendency to being attached to me, was as much my conviction as my wish .-- She received my attentions with an easy, friendly, goodhumoured playfulness, which exactly suited me.
We seemed to understand each other.

From our relative situation, those attentions were her due, and were felt to be so .-- Whether Miss Woodhouse began really to understand me before the expiration of that fortnight, I cannot say;--when I called to take leave of her, I remember that I was within a moment of confessing the truth, and I then fancied she was not without suspicion; but I have no doubt of her having since detected me, at least in some degree .-- She may not have surmised the whole, but her quickness must have penetrated a part.

I cannot doubt it.

You will find, whenever the subject becomes freed from its present restraints, that it did not take her wholly by surprize.