第2章

　　`Shethinksmeanimpudentpuppy，’thoughtI。`Humph！——shehallchangehermindbeforelong，ifIthinkitworthwhile。’

　　Butthen，itflasheduponmethatthesewereveryimproperthoughtsforaplaceofworship，andthatmybehaviour，onthepresentoccasion，wasanythingbutwhatitoughttobe。Previous，however，todirectingmymindtotheservice，Iglancedroundthechurchtoseeifanyonehadbeenobservingme；——butno，——allwhowerenotattendingtotheirprayer-books，wereattendingtohestrangelady，——mygoodmotherandsisteramongtherest，anddrsWilsonandherdaughter；andevenElizaMillwardwasslylylancingfromthecornersofhereyestowardstheobjectofgeneralattraction。

　　Then，sheglancedatme，simperedalittle，andblushed，modestlylookedatherprayer-book，andendeavouredtocomposeherfeatures。

　　HereIwastransgressingagain；andthistimeIwasmadesensibleofitbyasuddendigintheribs，fromtheelbowofmypertother。Forthepresent，Icouldonlyresenttheinsultbypressingmyfootuponhistoes，deferringfurthervengeancetillwegotoutchurch。

　　Now，Halford，beforeIclosethisletter，I’lltellyouwhoElizaMillwardwas；shewasthevicar’syoungerdaughter，andaveryengaginglittlecreature，forwhomIfeltnosmalldegreeofpartiality；——andsheknewit，thoughIhadnevercometoanydirectplanation，andhadnodefiniteintentionofsodoing，formymother，whomaintainedtherewasnoonegoodenoughforme，withintwentymilesround，couldnotbearthethoughtofmymarryingthatinsignificantlittlething，who，inadditiontohernumerousotherdisqualifications，hadnottwentypoundstocallherown。Eliza’sfigurewasatonceslightandplump，herfacesmall，andnearlyasroundasmysister’s，——complexion，somethingsimilartohers，butmoredelicateandlessdecidedlyblooming，——nose，retrouss&eacute；，——features，generallyirregular；——and，altogether，shewasrathercharmingthanpretty。