The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: It was not only with herself that she was sunk--but
with Henry. Her folly, which now seemed even criminal,
was all exposed to him, and he must despise her forever.
The liberty which her imagination had dared to take with
the character of his father--could he ever forgive it? The
absurdity of her curiosity and her fears--could they ever
be forgotten? She hated herself more than she could express.
He had--she thought he had, once or twice before this
fatal morning, shown something like affection for her.
But now--in short, she made herself as miserable as
possible for about half an hour, went down when the clock
 Northanger Abbey |