Whatdidsheknow？Whathadshefoundout？Hadsheseenherfatherandtalkedtohim？Thatwasscarcelypossible，sincehermotherhadbeenillandshehadleftatonce。Austenhadaskedhimselfthesequestionsmanytimes，andwasnonearerthesolution。Hehadheardnothingofhersince，andhetoldhimselfthatperhapsitwasbetter，afterall，thatshewasstillaway。ToknowthatshewasatFairview，andnottobeabletoseeher，weretortureindeed。
Thenotewasformalenough，andattimeshepretendedtobegladthatitwas。Howcoulditbeotherwise？Andwhyshouldheinterpretherinterestinhiminothertermsthanthoseinwhichitwaswritten？Shehadawarmheart——thatheknew；andhefeltforhersakethathehadnorighttowishformorethanthenoteexpressed。Afterseveralunsuccessfulattempts；hehadanswereditinaline，“Ithankyou，andI
understand。“
CHAPTERXVI
THE“BOOKOFARGUMENTS“ISOPENED