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broken by Mrs。 Annesley； a genteel； agreeable…looking woman；
whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse； proved her
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to be more truly well bred than either of the others； and between
her and Mrs。 Gardiner； with occasional help from Elizabeth； the
conversation was carried on。 Miss Darcy looked as if she wished
for courage enough to join in it； and sometimes did venture a short
sentence； when there was least danger of its being heard。
Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by
Miss Bingley； and that she could not speak a word； especially to
Miss Darcy； without calling her attention。 This observation would
not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter； had they
not been seated at an inconvenient distance； but she was not sorry
to be spared the necessity of saying much。 Her own thoughts were
employing her。 She expected every moment that some of the
gentlemen would enter the room。 She wished； she feared that the
master of the house might be amongst them and whether she
wished or feared it most； she could scarcely determine。 After
sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss
Bingley’s voice； Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold
enquiry after the health of her family。 She answered with equal
indifference and brevity； and the other said no more。
The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by
the entrance of servants with cold meat； cake； and a variety of all
the finest fruits in season； but this did not take place till after
many a significant look and smile from Mrs。 Annesley to Miss
Darcy had been given； to remind her of her post。 There was now
employment for the whole party； for though they could not all talk；
they could all eat； and the beautiful pyramids of grapes；
nectarines； and peaches； soon collected them round the table。
While thus engaged； Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of
deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of
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Mr。 Darcy； by the feelings which prevailed on his entering the
room； and then； though but a moment before she had believed her
wishes to predominate； she began to regret that he came。
He had been some time with Mr。 Gardiner who； with two or
three other gentlemen from the house； was engaged by the river；
and had left him only on learning that the ladies of the family
intended a visit to Georgiana that morning。 No sooner did he
appear； than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and
unembarrassed；—a resolution the more necessary to be made； but
perhaps not the more easily kept； because she saw that the
suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them； and
that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour
when he first came into the room。 In no countenance was attentive
curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley’s； in spite of the
smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its
objects； for jealousy had not yet made her desperate； and her
attentions to Mr。 Darcy were by no means over。 Miss Darcy； on her
brother’s entrance； exerted herself much more to talk； and
Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get
acquainted； and forwarded； as much as possible； every attempt at
conversation on either side。 Miss Bingley saw all this likewise；
and； in the imprudence of anger； took the first opportunity of
saying； with sneering civility；
‘Pray； Miss Eliza； are not the —shire militia removed from
Meryton？ They must be a great loss to your family。’
In Darcy’s presence she dared not mention Wickham’s name；
but Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in
her thoughts； and the various recollections connected with him
gave her a moment’s distress； but； exerting herself vigorously to
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repel the ill…natured attack； she presently answered the question
in a tolerably disengaged tone。 While she spoke； an involuntary
glance shewed her Darcy with an heightened complexion；
earnestly looking at her； and his sister overcome with confusion；
and unable to lift up her eyes。 Had Miss Bingley known what pain
she was then giving her beloved friend； she undoubtedly would
have refrained from the hint； but she had merely intended to
discompose Elizabeth； by bringing forward the idea of a man to
whom she believed her partial； to make her betray a sensibility
which might injure her in Darcy’s opinion； and perhaps to remind
the latter of all the follies and absurdities； by which some part of
her family were connected with that corps。 Not a syllable had ever
reached her of Miss Darcy’s meditated elopement。 To no creature
had it been revealed； where secresy was possible； except to
Elizabeth； and from all Bingley’s connections her brother was
particularly anxious to conceal it； from that very wish which
Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him； of their becoming
hereafter her own。 He had certainly formed such a plan； and
without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate
him from Miss Bennet； it is probable that it might add something
to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend。
Elizabeth’s collected behaviour； however； soon quieted his
emotion； and as Miss Bingley； vexed and disappointed； dared not
approach nearer to Wickham； Georgiana also recovered in time；
though not