This discourse surprised him indeed very much. He told me that it was a critical point indeed for me to manage, and he did not see which way I should get out of it; but he would consider it, and let me know next time we met, what resolution he was come to about it; and in the meantime desired I would not give my consent to his brother, nor yet give him a flat denial, but that I would hold him in suspense a while.
Ce discours le surprit vraiment beaucoup; il me dit que j'étais arrivée, en effet, à un point critique, et qu'il ne voyait pas comment je pourrais me tirer d'embarras; mais qu'il y réfléchirait et qu'il me ferait savoir à notre prochaine entrevue à quelle résolution il s'était arrêté; cependant il me pria de ne pas donner mon consentement à son frère, ni de lui opposer un refus net, mais de le tenir en suspens.