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went but the day before。 He and his sisters were well； I hope；
when you left London。’
‘Perfectly so—I thank you。’
She found that she was to receive no other answer—and； after a
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short pause； added；
‘I think I have understood that Mr。 Bingley has not much idea
of ever returning to Netherfield again？’
‘I have never heard him say so； but it is probable that he may
spend very little of his time there in future。 He has many friends；
and he is at a time of life when friends and engagements are
continually increasing。’
‘If he means to be but little at Netherfield； it would be better for
the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely； for
then we might possibly get a settled family there。 But perhaps Mr。
Bingley did not take the house so much for the convenience of the
neighbourhood as for his own； and we must expect him to keep or
quit it on the same principle。’
‘I should not be surprised；’ said Darcy； ‘if he were to give it up；
as soon as any eligible purchase offers。’
Elizabeth made no answer。 She was afraid of talking longer of
his friend； and； having nothing else to say； was now determined to
leave the trouble of finding a subject to him。
He took the hint； and soon began with； ‘This seems a very
comfortable house。 Lady Catherine； I believe； did a great deal to it
when Mr。 Collins first came to Hunsford。’
‘I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have bestowed
her kindness on a more grateful object。’
‘Mr。 Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife。’
‘Yes； indeed； his friends may well rejoice in his having met with
one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him；
or have made him happy if they had。 My friend has an excellent
understanding—though I am not certain that I consider her
marrying Mr。 Collins as the wisest thing she ever did。 She seems
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perfectly happy； however； and in a prudential light； it is certainly a
very good match for her。’
‘It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a
distance of her own family and friends。’
‘An easy distance do you call it？ It is nearly fifty miles。’
‘And what is fifty miles of good road？ Little more than half a
day’s journey。 Yes； I call it a very easy distance。’
‘I should never have considered the distance as one of the
advantages of the match；’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘I should never have
said Mrs。 Collins was settled near her family。’
‘It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire。 Any
thing beyond the very neighbourhood of Longbourn； I suppose；
would appear far。’
As he spoke there was a sort of smile； which Elizabeth fancied
she understood； he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane
and Netherfield； and she blushed as she answered；
‘I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near
her family。 The far and the near must be relative； and depend on
many varying circumstances。 Where there is fortune to make the
expence of travelling unimportant； distance becomes no evil。 But
that is not the case here。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Collins have a comfortable
income； but not such a one as will allow of frequent journeys—and
I am persuaded my friend would not call herself near her family
under less than half the present distance。’
Mr。 Darcy drew his chair a little towards her； and said； ‘You
cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment。 You
cannot have been always at Longbourn。’
Elizabeth looked surprised。 The gentleman experienced some
change of feeling； he drew back his chair； took a newspaper from
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the table； and； glancing over it； said； in a colder voice；
‘Are you pleased with Kent？’
A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued； on either
side calm and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of
Charlotte and her sister； just returned from their walk。 The tête…à…
tête surprised them。 Mr。 Darcy related the mistake which had
occasioned his intruding on Miss Bennet； and after sitting a few
minutes longer without saying much to any body； went away。
‘What can be the meaning of this！’ said Charlotte； as soon as he
was gone。 ‘My dear Eliza he must be in love with you； or he would
never have called on us in this familiar way。’
But when Elizabeth told of his silence； it did not seem very
likely； even to Charlotte’s wishes； to be the case； and after various
conjectures； they could at last only suppose his visit to proceed
from the difficulty of finding any thing to do； which was the more
probable from the time of year。 All field sports were over。 Within
doors there was Lady Catherine； books； and a billiard table； but
gentlemen cannot be always within doors； and in the nearness of
the Parsonage； or the pleasantness of the walk to it； or of the
people who lived in it； the two cousins found a temptation from
this period of walking thither almost every day。 They called at
various times of the morning； sometimes separately； sometimes
together； and now and then accompanied by their aunt。 It was
plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had
pleasure in their society； a persuasion which of course
recommended him still more； and Elizabeth was reminded by her
own satisfaction in being with him； as well as by his evident
admiration of her； of her former favourite George Wickham； and
though； in comparing them； she saw there was less captivating
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softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s manners； she believed he might
have the