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Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude； but
said nothing。
‘You doubt me；’ cried Jane； slightly colouring； ‘indeed you have
no reason。 He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of
my acquaintance； but that is all。 I have nothing either to hope or
fear； and nothing to reproach him with。 Thank God！ I have not
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that pain。 A little time therefore。—I shall certainly try to get the
better。’
With a stronger voice she soon added； ‘I have this comfort
immediately； that it has not been more than an error of fancy on
my side； and that it has done no harm to any one but myself。’
‘My dear Jane！’ exclaimed Elizabeth； ‘you are too good。 Your
sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic； I do not know
what to say to you。 I feel as if I had never done you justice； or loved
you as you deserve。’
Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit； and
threw back the praise on her sister’s warm affection。
‘Nay；’ said Elizabeth； ‘this is not fair。 You wish to think all the
world respectable； and are hurt if I speak ill of any body。 I only
want to think you perfect； and you set yourself against it。 Do not
be afraid of my running into any excess； of my encroaching on
your privilege of universal good will。 You need not。 There are few
people whom I really love； and still fewer of whom I think well。
The more I see of the world； the more am I dissatisfied with it； and
every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human
characters； and of the little dependence that can be placed on the
appearance of either merit or sense。 I have met with two instances
lately； one I will not mention； the other is Charlotte’s marriage。 It
is unaccountable！ in every view it is unaccountable！’
‘My dear Lizzy； do not give way to such feelings as these。 They
will ruin your happiness。 You do not make allowance enough for
difference of situation and temper。 Consider Mr。 Collins’s
respectability； and Charlotte’s prudent； steady character。
Remember that she is one of a large family； that as to fortune； it is
a most eligible match； and be ready to believe； for every body’s
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sake； that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our
cousin。
‘To oblige you； I would try to believe almost any thing； but no
one else could be benefited by such a belief as this； for were I
persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him； I should only
think worse of her understanding； than I now do of her heart。 My
dear Jane； Mr。 Collins is a conceited； pompous； narrow…minded；
silly man； you know he is； as well as I do； and you must feel； as
well as I do； that the woman who marries him； cannot have a
proper way of thinking。 You shall not defend her； though it is
Charlotte Lucas。 You shall not； for the sake of one individual；
change the meaning of principle and integrity； nor endeavour to
persuade yourself or me； that selfishness is prudence； and
insensibility of danger； security for happiness。’
‘I must think your language too strong in speaking of both；’
replied Jane； ‘and I hope you will be convinced of it； by seeing
them happy together。 But enough of this。 You alluded to
something else。 You mentioned two instances。 I cannot
misunderstand you； but I intreat you； dear Lizzy； not to pain me
by thinking that person to blame； and saying your opinion of him is
sunk。 We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally
injured。 We must not expect a lively young man to be always so
guarded and circumspect。 It is very often nothing but our own
vanity that deceives us。 Women fancy admiration means more
than it does。’
‘And men take care that they should。’
‘If it is designedly done； they cannot be justified； but I have no
idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons
imagine。’
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‘I am far from attributing any part of Mr。 Bingley’s conduct to
design；’ said Elizabeth； ‘but without scheming to do wrong； or to
make others unhappy； there may be error； and there may be
misery。 Thoughtlessness； want of attention to other people’s
feelings； and want of resolution； will do the business。’
‘And do you impute it to either of those？’
‘Yes； to the last。 But if I go on； I shall displease you by saying
what I think of persons you esteem。 Stop me whilst you can。’
‘You persist； then； in supposing his sisters influence him。’
‘Yes； in conjunction with his friend。’
‘I cannot believe it。 Why should they try to influence him？ They
can only wish his happiness； and if he is attached to me； no other
woman can secure it。’
‘Your first position is false。 They may wish many things besides
his happiness； they may wish his increase of wealth and
consequence； they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the
importance of money； great connections； and pride。’
‘Beyond a doubt； they do wish him to chuse Miss Darcy；’ replied
Jane； ‘but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing。
They have known her much longer than they have known me； no
wonder if they love her better。 But； whatever may be their own
wishes； it is very unlikely they should have opposed their
brother’s。 What sister would think herself at liberty to do it； unless
there were something very objectionable？ If they believed him
attached to me； they would not try to part us； if he were so； they
could not succeed。 By supposing such an affection； you make
every body acting unnaturally and wrong； and me most unhappy。
Do not distress me by the idea。 I am not ashamed of having been
mistaken—or； at least； it is slight； it is nothing in comparison of
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what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters。 Let me take
it in the best light； in the light in which it may be understood。’
Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish； and from this time Mr。
Bingley’s name was scarcely ever mentioned between them。
Mrs。 Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his
returning no more； and though a day seldom passed in which
Elizabeth did not account for it clearly； there seemed little chance
of her ever considering it with less perplexity。 Her daughter
endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself；
that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common
and transient liking； which ceased when he saw her no more； but
though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time；
she had the same story to repeat every day。 Mrs。 Bennet’s best
comfort was； that Mr。 Bingley must be down again in the summer。
Mr。 Bennet treated the matter differently。 ‘So； Lizzy；’ said he
one day； ‘your sister is crossed in love I find。 I congratulate her。
Next to being married； a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now
and then。 It is something to think of； and gives her a sort of
distinction among her companions。 When is your turn to come？
You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane。 Now is your time。
Here are officers enough at Meryton