shewasalittlerevived,however,byhisbringingbackhiscoffeecuphimself;andsheseizedtheopportunityofsaying,

"isyoursisteratpemberleystill?"

"yes,shewillremaintheretillchristmas."

"andquitealone?haveallherfriendslefther?"

"mrs.annesleyiswithher.theothershavebeengoneontoscarborough,thesethreeweeks."

shecouldthinkofnothingmoretosay;butifhewishedtoconversewithher,hemighthavebettersuccess.hestoodbyher,however,forsomeminutes,insilence;and,atlast,ontheyounglady'swhisperingtoelizabethagain,hewalkedaway.

whenthetea-thingswereremoved,andthecardtablesplaced,theladiesallrose,andelizabethwasthenhopingtobesoonjoinedbyhim,whenallherviewswereoverthrownbyseeinghimfallavictimtohermother'srapacityforwhistplayers,andinafewmomentsafterseatedwiththerestoftheparty.shenowlosteveryexpectationofpleasure.theywereconfinedfortheeveningatdifferenttables,andshehadnothingtohope,butthathiseyesweresooftenturnedtowardshersideoftheroom,astomakehimplayasunsuccessfullyasherself.

mrs.bennethaddesignedtokeepthetwonetherfieldgentlementosupper;buttheircarriagewasunluckilyorderedbeforeanyoftheothers,andshehadnoopportunityofdetainingthem.

"wellgirls,"saidshe,assoonastheywerelefttothemselves,"whatsayyoutotheday?ithinkeverythinghaspassedoffuncommonlywell,iassureyou.thedinnerwasaswelldressedasanyieversaw.thevenisonwasroastedtoaturn—andeverybodysaidtheyneversawsofatahaunch.thesoupwasfiftytimesbetterthanwhatwehadatthelucases'lastweek;andevenmr.darcyacknowledged,thatthepartridgeswereremarkablywelldone;andisupposehehastwoorthreefrenchcooksatleast.and,mydearjane,ineversawyoulookingreaterbeauty.mrs.longsaidsotoo,foriaskedherwhetheryoudidnot.andwhatdoyouthinkshesaidbesides?'ah!mrs.bennet,weshallhaveheratnetherfieldatlast.'shedidindeed.idothinkmrs.longisasgoodacreatureaseverlived—andherniecesareveryprettybehavedgirls,andnotatallhandsome:ilikethemprodigiously."

mrs.bennet,inshort,wasinverygreatspirits;shehadseenenoughofbingley'sbehaviourtojane,tobeconvincedthatshewouldgethimatlast;andherexpectationsofadvantagetoherfamily,wheninahappyhumour,weresofarbeyondreason,thatshewasquitedisappointedatnotseeinghimthereagainthenextday,tomakehisproposals.

"ithasbeenaveryagreeableday,"saidmissbennettoelizabeth."thepartyseemedsowellselected,sosuitableonewiththeother.ihopewemayoftenmeetagain."

elizabethsmiled.

"lizzy,youmustnotdoso.youmustnotsuspectme.itmortifiesme.iassureyouthatihavenowlearnttoenjoyhisconversationasanagreeableandsensibleyoungman,withouthavingawishbeyondit.iamperfectlysatisfied,fromwhathismannersnoware,thatheneverhadanydesignofengagingmyaffection.itisonlythatheisblessedwithgreatersweetnessofaddress,andastrongerdesireofgenerallypleasing,thananyotherman."

"youareverycruel,"saidhersister,"youwillnotletmesmile,andareprovokingmetoiteverymoment."

"howharditisinsomecasestobebelieved!"

"andhowimpossibleinothers!"

"butwhyshouldyouwishtopersuademethatifeelmorethaniacknowledge?"

"thatisaquestionwhichihardlyknowhowtoanswer.wealllovetoinstruct,thoughwecanteachonlywhatisnotworthknowing.forgiveme;andifyoupersistinindifference,donotmakemeyourconfidante."