 to have conducted
        yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure, is praise no
        less generally bestowed on you and your eldest sister, than it is
        honourable to the sense and disposition of both. - I will only say
        farther, that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties
        was confirmed, and every inducement heightened, which could have led me
        before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy
        connection. - He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as
        you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning. - The
        part which I acted, is now to be explained. - His sisters' uneasiness
        had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was
        soon discovered; and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in
        detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in
        London. - We accordingly went - and there I readily engaged in the
        office of pointing out to my friend, the certain evils of such a choice.
        - I described, and enforced them earnestly. - But, however this
        remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not
        suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not
        been seconded by the assurance which I hesitated not in giving, of your
        sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his
        affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. - But Bingley has
        great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on
        his own. - To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was
        no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into
        Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the
        work of a moment. - I cannot blame myself for having done thus much.
        There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair, on which I do
        not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the
        measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in
        town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley, but her brother
        is even yet ignorant of it. - That they might have met without ill
        consequence, is perhaps probable; - but his regard did not appear to me
        enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. - Perhaps
        this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me. - It is done, however,
        and it was done for the best. - On this subject I have nothing more to
        say, no other apology to offer
