Knightley.â âIt seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in her favour, as if his eyes received the truth from hers, and all that had passed of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured.â âHe looked at her with a glow of regard. She was warmly gratifiedâ âand in another moment still more so, by a little movement of more than common friendliness on his part.â âHe took her hand;â âwhether she had not herself made the first motion, she could not sayâ âshe might, perhaps, have rather offered itâ âbut he took her hand, pressed it, and certainly was on the point of carrying it to his lipsâ âwhen, from some fancy or other, he suddenly let it go.â âWhy he should feel such a scruple, why he should change his mind when it was all but done, she could not perceive.â âHe would have judged better, she thought, if he had not stopped.â âThe intention, however, was indubitable; and whether it was that his manners had in general so little gallantry, or however else it happened, but she thought nothing became him more.â âIt was with him, of so simple, yet so dignified a nature.â âShe could not but recall the attempt with great satisfaction. It spoke such perfect amity.â âHe left them immediately afterwardsâ âgone in a moment. He always moved with the alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory, but now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance.
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