SirPercivalroseandpaidhiscomplimentswithperfectgrace。Hisevidentconcernonseeingthechangefortheworseintheyounglady’slookswasexpressedwithamixtureoftendernessandrespect，withanunassumingdelicacyoftone，voice，andmanner，whichdidequalcredittohisgoodbreedingandhisgoodsense。Iwasrathersurprised，underthesecircumstances，toseethatMissFairliecontinuedtobeconstrainedanduneasyinhispresence，andthatshetookthefirstopportunityofleavingtheroomagain。
SirPercivalneithernoticedtherestraintinherreceptionofhim，norhersuddenwithdrawalfromoursociety。Hehadnotobtrudedhisattentionsonherwhileshewaspresent，andhedidnotembarrassMissHalcombebyanyallusiontoherdeparturewhenshewasgone。HistactandtastewereneveratfaultonthisoranyotheroccasionwhileIwasinhiscompanyatLimmeridgeHouse。
AssoonasMissFairliehadlefttheroomhesparedusallembarrassmentonthesubjectoftheanonymousletter，byadvertingtoitofhisownaccord。
HehadstoppedinLondononhiswayfromHampshire，hadseenhissolicitor，hadreadthedocumentsforwardedbyme，andhadtravelledontoCumberland，anxioustosatisfyourmindsbythespeediestandthefullestexplanationthatwordscouldconvey。Onhearinghimexpresshimselftothiseffect，Iofferedhimtheoriginalletter，whichIhadkeptforhisinspection。
Hethankedme，anddeclinedtolookatit，sayingthathehadseenthecopy，andthathewasquitewillingtoleavetheoriginalinourhands。