I had so invariably paid her

I will not reason here- nor will I stop for you to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was already bound. The event has proved thatI was a cunning fool, providing with great circumspection for a possible opportunity of making myself contemptible and wretched for ever. At last, however, my resolution was taken; and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone, to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and openly assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains to display. But in the interim- in the interim of the very few hours that were to pass before I could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private- a circumstance occurred- an unlucky circumstance- to ruin all my resolution, and with it all my comfort. A discovery took place,"- here he hesitated and looked down. "Mrs. Smith had somehow or other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose interest it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a connection- but I need not explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an heightened colour and an enquiring eye- "your particular intimacy- you have probably heard the whole story long ago." "I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all; and how you will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business I confess is beyond my comprehension." "Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account. Could it be an impartial one? I acknowledge that her situation and her character ought to have been respected by me. I do not mean to justify myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have nothing to urge- that because she was injured she was irreproachable, and because I was a libertine, she must be a saint. If the violence of her passions, the weakness of her understanding- I do not mean, however, to defend myself. Her affection for me deserved better treatment; and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any return. I wish- I heartily wish it had never been. But I have injured morethan herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for me (may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose mind- oh, how infinitely superior!" "Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl- I must say it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well be- your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her.