John was very glad that I was willing personally to give the letters into your own hands again." "I suppose he thought I had been very imprudent ?" Brandon recalled the scene.

John had in fact expressed himself to that effect in no measured terms; but he had been pleasant and even cordial to Joseph, partly because the young man declared the thing to be quite over, partly because he did him the justice to remember that such an acquaintance must always have been begun by the woman.

It could not possibly be Joe's doing that he had corresponded with Laura Melcombe.
Laura repeated her words.
"I suppose he thought I had been very imprudent ?" "Perhaps he did." "Perhaps he thought I had been heartless too ?" "Not to bring the thing to a decided and honourable termination ?--yes, probably.

He remarked that it certainly was most unnecessary to have behaved as you have done." "How so, Mr.Brandon ?" "I believe, indeed I am sure, that you are of age ?" "Yes, I am.

He meant that no one can really prevent my doing as I please; but Amelia wanted me to ignore the whole thing because she was so ashamed of him and his people." "He told John so." "And what did he answer ?" "Among other things, he said he was glad it was all over." "Yes," said Laura, not in the least impressed by this hint, "but what else ?" "He said, 'Joe, you ought to have been above wanting to marry any woman who was ashamed of you.