Quotation from: Villette

Written by: Charlotte Bronte

"Graham spoke with deep respect of papa, but implied that he dared not
approach that quarter as yet; he must first prove his worth: he added
that he must have some light respecting myself and my own feelings ere
he ventured to risk a step in the matter elsewhere."

"How did you reply?"

"I replied briefly, but I did not repulse him. Yet I almost trembled
for fear of making the answer too cordial: Graham's tastes are so
fastidious. I wrote it three times--chastening and subduing the
phrases at every rescript; at last, having confected it till it seemed
to me to resemble a morsel of ice flavoured with ever so slight a zest
of fruit or sugar, I ventured to seal and despatch it."