第99章[第1页/共4页]

Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy,she could not help feeling how unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be to her,and was curious to know with how much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed.

“Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the―shire Militia removed from Meryton?They must be a great loss to your family.”

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: