Assoonastheyweregone,Elizabethwalkedouttorecoverherspirits;orinotherwords,todwellwithoutinterruptiononthosesubjectsthatmustdeadenthemmore.Mr.Darcysbehaviourastonishedandvexedher.
“Why,ifhecameonlytobesilent,grave,andindifferent,”saidshe,“didhecomeatall?”
Shecouldsettleitinnowaythatgaveherpleasure.
“Hecouldbestillamiable,stillpleasing,tomyuncleandaunt,whenhewasintown;andwhynottome?Ifhefearsme,whycomehither?Ifhenolongercaresforme,whysilent?Teasing,teasing,man!Iwillthinknomoreabouthi”
Herresolutionwasforashorttimeinvoluntarilykeptbytheapproachofhersister,whojoinedherwithacheerfullook,whichshowedherbettersatisfiedwiththeirvisitors,thanElizabeth.
“Now,”saidshe,“thatthisfirstmeetingisover,Ifeelperfectlyeasy.Iknowmyownstrength,andIshallneverbeembarrassedagainbyhiscoming.IamgladhedineshereonTuesday.Itwillthenbepubliclyseenthat,onbothsides,wemeetonlyascommonandindifferentacquaintance.”
“Yes,veryindifferentindeed,”saidElizabeth,laughingly.“Oh,Jane,takecare.”
“MydearLizzy,youcannotthinkmesoweak,astobeindangernow?”
“Ithinkyouareinverygreatdangerofmakinghimasmuchinlovewithyouasever.”
TheydidnotseethegentlemenagaintillTuesday;andMrs.Bennet,inthemeanwhile,wasgivingwaytoallthehappyschemes,whichthegoodhumourandcommonpolitenessofBingley,inhalfanhoursvisit,hadrevived.
OnTuesdaytherewasalargepartyassembledatLongbourn;andthetwowhoweremostanxiouslyexpected,tothecreditoftheirpunctualityassportsmen,wereinverygoodtime.Whentheyrepairedtothedining-room,ElizabetheagerlywatchedtoseewhetherBingleywouldtaketheplace,which,inalltheirformerparties,hadbelongedtohim,byhersister.Herprudentmother,occupiedbythesameideas,forboretoinvitehimtositbyherself.Onenteringtheroom,heseemedtohesitate;butJanehappenedtolookround,andhappenedtosmile:itwasdecided.Heplacedhimselfbyher.
Elizabeth,withatriumphantsensation,lookedtowardshisfriend.Heboreitwithnobleindifference,andshewouldhaveimaginedthatBingleyhadreceivedhissanctiontobehappy,hadshenotseenhiseyeslikewiseturnedtowardsMr.Darcy,withanexpressionofhalf-laughingalar
Hisbehaviourtohersisterwassuch,duringdinnertime,asshowedanadmirationofher,which,thoughmoreguardedthanformerly,persuadedElizabeth,thatifleftwhollytohimself,Janeshappiness,andhisown,wouldbespeedilysecured.Thoughshedarednotdependupontheconsequence,sheyetreceivedpleasurefromobservinghisbehaviour.Itgaveheralltheanimationthatherspiritscouldboast;forshewasinnocheerfulhumour.Mr.DarcywasalmostasfarfromherasthetablecoulddividetheHewasononesideofhermother.Sheknewhowlittlesuchasituationwouldgivepleasuretoeither,ormakeeitherappeartoadvantage.Shewasnotnearenoughtohearanyoftheirdiscourse,butshecouldseehowseldomtheyspoketoeachother,andhowformalandcoldwastheirmannerwhenevertheydid.Hermothersungraciousness,madethesenseofwhattheyowedhimmorepainfultoElizabethsmind;andshewould,attimes,havegivenanythingtobeprivilegedtotellhimthathiskindnesswasneitherunknownnorunfeltbythewholeofthefamily.
Shewasinhopesthattheeveningwouldaffordsomeopportunityofbringingthemtogether;thatthewholeofthevisitwouldnotpassawaywithoutenablingthemtoenterintosomethingmoreofconversationthanthemereceremonioussalutationattendinghisentrance.Anxiousanduneasy,theperiodwhichpassedinthedrawing-room,beforethegentlemencame,waswearisomeanddulltoadegreethatalmostmadeheruncivil.Shelookedforwardtotheirentranceasthepointonwhichallherchanceofpleasurefortheeveningmustdepend.
“Ifhedoesnotcometome,then,”saidshe,“Ishallgivehimupforever.”
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