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affection。’
‘And your assurance of it； I suppose； carried immediate
conviction to him。’
‘It did。 Bingley is most unaffectedly modest。 His diffidence had
prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a
case； but his reliance on mine； made every thing easy。 I was
obliged to confess one thing； which for a time； and not unjustly；
offended him。 I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister
had been in town three months last winter； that I had known it；
and purposely kept it from him。 He was angry。 But his anger； I am
persuaded； lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your
sister’s sentiments。 He has heartily forgiven me now。
Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr。 Bingley had been a most
delightful friend； so easily guided that his worth was invaluable；
but she checked herself。 She remembered that he had yet to learn
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to be laught at； and it was rather too early to begin。 In anticipating
the happiness of Bingley； which of course was to be inferior only
to his own； he continued the conversation till they reached the
house。 In the hall they parted。
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CHAPTER XVII
y dear Lizzy； where can you have been walking to？’
was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane
‘M
as soon as she entered their room； and from all the
others when they sat down to table。 She had only to say in reply；
that they had wandered about； till she was beyond her own
knowledge。 She coloured as she spoke； but neither that； nor any
thing else； awakened a suspicion of the truth。
The evening passed quietly； unmarked by any thing extra…
ordinary。 The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed； the
unacknowledged were silent。 Darcy was not of a disposition in
which happiness overflows in mirth； and Elizabeth； agitated and
confused； rather knew that she was happy； than felt herself to be
so； for； besides the immediate embarrassment； there were other
evils before her。 She anticipated what would be felt in the family
when her situation became known； she was aware that no one
liked him but Jane； and even feared that with the others it was a
dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away。
At night she opened her heart to Jane。 Though suspicion was
very far from Miss Bennet’s general habits； she was absolutely
incredulous here。
‘You are joking； Lizzy。 This cannot be！—engaged to Mr。 Darcy！
No； no； you shall not deceive me。 I know it to be impossible。’
‘This is a wretched beginning indeed！ My sole dependence was
on you； and I am sure nobody else will believe me； if you do not。
Yet； indeed； I am in earnest。 I speak nothing but the truth。 He still
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loves me； and we are engaged。’
Jane looked at her doubtingly。 ‘Oh； Lizzy！ it cannot be。 I know
how much you dislike him。’
‘You know nothing of the matter。 That is all to be forgot。—
Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now。 But in such
cases as these； a good memory is unpardonable。 This is the last
time I shall ever remember it myself。’
Miss Bennet still looked all amazement。 Elizabeth again； and
more seriously assured her of its truth。
‘Good Heaven！ can it be really so！ Yet now I must believe you；’
cried Jane。 ‘My dear； dear Lizzy； I would—I do congratulate you—
but are you certain？ forgive the question—are you quite certain
that you can be happy with him？’
‘There can be no doubt of that。 It is settled between us already；
that we are to be the happiest couple in the world。 But are you
pleased； Jane？ Shall you like to have such a brother？’
‘Very； very much。 Nothing could give either Bingley or myself
more delight。 But we considered it； we talked of it as impossible。
And do you really love him quite well enough？ Oh； Lizzy！ do any
thing rather than marry without affection。 Are you quite sure that
you feel what you ought to do？’
‘Oh； yes！ You will only think I feel more than I ought to do；
when I tell you all。’
‘What do you mean？’
‘Why； I must confess； that I love him better than I do Bingley。 I
am afraid you will be angry。’
‘My dearest sister； now be serious。 I want to talk very seriously。
Let me know every thing that I am to know； without delay。 Will
you tell me how long you have loved him？’
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‘It has been coming on so gradually； that I hardly know when it
began。 But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his
beautiful grounds at Pemberley。’
Another intreaty that she would be serious； however； produced
the desired effect； and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn
assurances of attachment。 When convinced on that article； Miss
Bennet had nothing farther to wish。
‘Now I am quite happy；’ said she； ‘for you will be as happy as
myself。 I always had a value for him。 Were it for nothing but his
love of you； I must always have esteemed him； but now； as
Bingley’s friend and your husband； there can be only Bingley and
yourself more dear to me。 But Lizzy； you have been very sly； very
reserved with me。 How little did you tell me of what passed at
Pemberley and Lambton！ I owe all that I know of it； to another；
not to you。’
Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy。 She had been
unwilling to mention Bingley； and the unsettled state of her own
feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend。 But
now she would no longer conceal from her； his share in Lydia’s
marriage。 All was acknowledged； and half the night spent in
conversation。
——————
‘Good gracious！’ cried Mrs。 Bennet； as she stood at a window
the next morning； ‘if that disagreeable Mr。 Darcy is not coming
here again with our dear Bingley！ What can he mean by being so
tiresome as to be always coming here？ I had no notion but he
would go a shooting； or something or other； and not disturb us
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with his company。 What shall we do with him？ Lizzy； you must
walk out with him again； that he may not be in Bingley’s way。’
Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a
proposal； yet was really vexed that her mother should be always
giving him such an epithet。
As soon as they entered； Bingley looked at her so expressively；
and shook hands with such warmth； as left no doubt of his good
information； and he soon afterwards said aloud； ‘Mr。 Bennet；’ have
you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way
again to…day？’
‘I advise Mr。 Darcy； and Lizzy； and Kitty；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； ‘to
walk to Oakham Mount this morning。 It is a nice long walk； and
Mr。 Darcy has never seen the view。’
‘It may do very well for the others；’ replied Mr。 Bingley； ‘but I
am sure it will be too much for Kitty。 Wont it； Kitty？’
Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home。 Darcy professed
a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount； and Elizabeth
silently