第96章 (2/2)

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quick step was heard on the stairs,and in a moment he entered the room.All Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away;but had she still felt any,it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He inquired in a friendly, though general way,after her family,and looked and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done.

    To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than to herself.They had long wished to see him.The whole party before them,indeed,excited a lively attention.The suspicions which had just arisen of Mr. Darcy and their niece directed their observation towards each with an earnest though guarded inquiry;and they soon drew from those inquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love.Of the lady's sensations they remained a little in doubt;but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough.

    Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do.She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own,and to make herself agreeable to all;and in the latter object, where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success,for those to whom she endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready,Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined,to be pleased.

    In seeing Bingley,her thoughts naturally flew to her sister;and, oh!how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on former occasions,and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that, as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance.But,though this might be imaginary,she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss Darcy,who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred between them that could justify the hopes of his sister. On this point she was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted,which,in her anxious interpretation,denoted a recollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness,and a wish of saying more that might lead to the mention of her,had he dared. He observed to her,at a moment when the others were talking together,and in a tone which had something of real regret,that it“was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing her;”and,before she could reply,he added,“It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November,when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.”

    Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards took occasion to ask her,when unattended to by any of the rest,whether all her sisters were at Longbourn.There was not much in the question,nor in the preceding remark;but there was a look and a manner which gave them meaning.