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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 381
satisfaction of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me；
because you have always so much。’
Mr。 Bingley arrived。 Mrs。 Bennet； through the assistance of
servants； contrived to have the earliest tidings of it； that the period
of anxiety and fretfulness on her side； might be as long as it could。
She counted the days that must intervene before their invitation
could be sent； hopeless of seeing him before。 But on the third
morning after his arrival in Hertfordshire； she saw him from her
dressing…room window； enter the paddock； and ride towards the
house。
Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy。 Jane
resolutely kept her place at the table； but Elizabeth； to satisfy her
mother； went to the window—she looked；—she saw Mr。 Darcy
with him； and sat down again by her sister。
‘There is a gentleman with him； mamma；’ said Kitty； ‘who can it
be？’
‘Some acquaintance or other； my dear； I suppose； I am sure I do
not know。’
‘La！’ replied Kitty； ‘it looks just like that man that used to be
with him before。 Mr。 what’s his name。 That tall； proud man。’
‘Good gracious！ Mr。 Darcy！—and so it does I vow。 Well； any
friend of Mr。 Bingley’s will always be welcome here to be sure； but
else I must say that I hate the very sight of him。’
Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern。 She knew
but little of their meeting in Derbyshire； and therefore felt for the
awkwardness which must attend her sister； in seeing him almost
for the first time after receiving his explanatory letter。 Both sisters
were uncomfortable enough。 Each felt for the other； and of course
for themselves； and their mother talked on； of her dislike of Mr。
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Darcy； and her resolution to be civil to him only as Mr。 Bingley’s
friend； without being heard by either of them。 But Elizabeth had
sources of uneasiness which could not be suspected by Jane； to
whom she had never yet had courage to shew Mrs。 Gardiner’s
letter； or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him。 To
Jane； he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused；
and whose merit she had undervalued； but to her own more
extensive information； he was the person； to whom the whole
family were indebted for the first of benefits； and whom she
regarded herself with an interest； if not quite so tender； at least as
reasonable and just； as what Jane felt for Bingley。 Her
astonishment at his coming—at his coming to Netherfield； to
Longbourn； and voluntarily seeking her again； was almost equal to
what she had known on first witnessing his altered behaviour in
Derbyshire。
The colour which had been driven from her face； returned for
half a minute with an additional glow； and a smile of delight added
lustre to her eyes； as she thought for that space of time； that his
affection and wishes must still be unshaken。 But she would not be
secure。
‘Let me first see how he behaves；’ said she； ‘it will then be early
enough for expectation。’
She sat intently at work； striving to be composed； and without
daring to lift up her eyes； till anxious curiosity carried them to the
face of her sister； as the servant was approaching the door。 Jane
looked a little paler than usual； but more sedate than Elizabeth
had expected。 On the gentlemen’s appearing； her colour
increased； yet she received them with tolerable ease； and with a
propriety of behaviour equally free from any symptom of
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 383
resentment； or any unnecessary complaisance。
Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow； and sat
down again to her work； with an eagerness which it did not often
command。 She had ventured only one glance at Darcy。 He looked
serious as usual； and she thought； more as he had been used to
look in Hertfordshire； than as she had seen him at Pemberley。 But；
perhaps he could not in her mother’s presence be what he was
before her uncle and aunt。 It was a painful； but not an improbable；
conjecture。
Bingley； she had likewise seen for an instant； and in that short
period saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed。 He was
received by Mrs。 Bennet with a degree of civility； which made her
two daughters ashamed； especially when contrasted with the cold
and ceremonious politeness of her curtsey and address to his
friend。
Elizabeth particularly； who knew that her mother owed to the
latter the preservation of her favourite daughter from
irremediable infamy； was hurt and distressed to a most painful
degree by a distinction so ill applied。
Darcy； after enquiring of her how Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner did； a
question which she could not answer without confusion； said
scarcely any thing。 He was not seated by her； perhaps that was the
reason of his silence； but it had not been so in Derbyshire。 There
he had talked to her friends； when he could not to herself。 But now
several minutes elapsed； without bringing the sound of his voice；
and when occasionally； unable to resist the impulse of curiosity；
she raised her eyes to his face； she as often found him looking at
Jane； as at herself； and frequently on no object but the ground。
More thoughtfulness； and less anxiety to please than when they
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 384
last met； were plainly expressed。 She was disappointed； and angry
with herself for being so。
‘Could I expect it to be otherwise！’ said she。 ‘Yet