Having done this, he seemed immediately to recollect himself, and to take refuge in the usual distance and solemnity of his manner.
I easily understood that secrecy was one of the things expected from me; and, indeed, my mind was too much disposed to meditate upon what I had heard and seen, to make it a topic of indiscriminate communication.

Mr.
Collins, however, and myself happened to sup together that evening, which was but seldom the case, his avocations obliging him to be much abroad.

He could not help observing an uncommon dejection and anxiety in my countenance, and affectionately enquired into the reason.

I endeavoured to evade his questions, but my youth and ignorance of the world gave me little advantage for that purpose.

Beside this, I had been accustomed to view Mr.Collins with considerable attachment, and I conceived from the nature of his situation that there could be small impropriety in making him my confident in the present instance.