We shall not tell her at all, unless it be under the promise of the strictest secrecy.' 'But how can you expect her to keep her promises better than her more enlightened mistress ?' 'Well, well, she shan't hear it then,' said Miss Murray, somewhat snappishly.
'But you will tell your mamma, of course,' pursued I; 'and she will tell your papa.' 'Of course I shall tell mamma--that is the very thing that pleases me so much.

I shall now be able to convince her how mistaken she was in her fears about me.' 'Oh, _that's_ it, is it?
I was wondering what it was that delighted you so much.' 'Yes; and another thing is, that I've humbled Mr.Hatfield so charmingly; and another--why, you must allow me some share of female vanity: I don't pretend to be without that most essential attribute of our sex--and if you had seen poor Hatfield's intense eagerness in making his ardent declaration and his flattering proposal, and his agony of mind, that no effort of pride could conceal, on being refused, you would have allowed I had some cause to be gratified.' 'The greater his agony, I should think, the less your cause for gratification.' 'Oh, nonsense!' cried the young lady, shaking herself with vexation.
'You either can't understand me, or you won't.

If I had not confidence in your magnanimity, I should think you envied me.

But you will, perhaps, comprehend this cause of pleasure--which is as great as any--namely, that I am delighted with myself for my prudence, my self-command, my heartlessness, if you please.

I was not a bit taken by surprise, not a bit confused, or awkward, or foolish; I just acted and spoke as I ought to have done, and was completely my own mistress throughout.