I was a poor school teacher , and you may imagine with what horror his relatives received the news of Miles 's attentions to one whom they considered his inferior . Now that I have thought the whole matter over calmly , I scarcely blame them . It must be hard for aristocratic parents who have lavished every care upon a son , and cherished for him the highest hopes , when he turns from the women of his own order to one considered beneath him in station . But I did not view the subject in this light then ; and instead of declining his attentions , as I perhaps should have done , I encouraged them -- I loved him so dearly , Nell ! -- and in spite of family opposition , Miles soon openly declared his attachment . `` When his parents found they could not change his purpose , their affection for him forced them into outward acquiescence , but their reluctant condescension was gall and wormwood to me . I saw things only from my own point of view , and was keenly sensitive to their politely concealed disapprobation , and my offended vanity found its victim in Miles . I belonged to the class who admit and resent slights , instead of ignoring them , as do the higher bred , and I thought he would not see those offered to me . I grew cold and formal to him . He was very patient , but his ways were not mine , and my manner puzzled and annoyed him . Our relations soon became strained , and the trifle necessary for an open quarrel was easily supplied . `` One evening I went to a large At Home given by his mother . I knew but few and , as Miles was necessarily busy with his social duties to her guests , I was , after the first hurried greeting , left unattended for a time . Not being accustomed to such functions , I resented this as a covert insult and , in a fit of jealous pique , I blush to own that I took the revenge of a peasant maid and entered into a marked flirtation with Fred Currie , who had paid me some attention before my engagement . When Miles was at liberty to seek me , he found me , to all appearances , quite absorbed in my companion and oblivious of his approach . He turned on his heel and went away , nor did he come near me the rest of the evening . `` I went home angry enough , but so miserable and repentant that if Miles had been his usual patient self when he called the following evening I would have begged his forgiveness . But I had gone too far ; his mother was shocked by my gaucherie , and he was humiliated and justly exasperated . We had a short , bitter quarrel . I said a great many foolish , unpardonable things , and finally I threw his ring at him .
He gave me a startled look then , in which there was something XXXXX contempt , and went away without another word .
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