He magnanimously resolved that Lady Merton should not be blamed if he could help it, by anyone except himself.

And he had no intention at all of playing the rejected lover.

The proud, well-born, fastidious Englishman stiffened as he walked.

It was wounding to his self-love to stay where he was; since it was quite plain that Elizabeth could do without him, and would not regret his departure; but it was no less wounding to be dismissed, as it were, by Anderson.

He would not be dismissed; he would hold his own.