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with the Lucases； his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs。
Bennet。 His marriage was now fast approaching； and she was at
length so far resigned as to think it inevitable； and even repeatedly
to say in an ill…natured tone that she ‘wished they might be happy。’
Thursday was to be the wedding day； and on Wednesday Miss
Lucas paid her farewell visit； and when she rose to take leave；
Elizabeth； ashamed of her mother’s ungracious and reluctant good
wishes； and sincerely affected herself； accompanied her out of the
room。 As they went down stairs together； Charlotte said；
‘I shall depend on hearing from you very often； Eliza。’
‘That you certainly shall。’
‘And I have another favour to ask。 Will you come and see me？’
‘We shall often meet； I hope； in Hertfordshire。’
‘I am not likely to leave Kent for some time。 Promise me；
therefore； to come to Hunsford。’
Elizabeth could not refuse； though she foresaw little pleasure in
the visit。
‘My father and Maria are to come to me in March；’ added
Charlotte； ‘and I hope you will consent to be of the party。 Indeed；
Eliza； you will be as welcome to me as either of them。’
The wedding took place； the bride and bridegroom set off for
Kent from the church door； and every body had as much to say or
to hear on the subject as usual。 Elizabeth soon heard from her
friend； and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it
had ever been； that it should be equally unreserved was
impossible。 Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that
all the comfort of intimacy was over； and； though determined not
to slacken as a correspondent； it was for the sake of what had
been； rather than what was。 Charlotte’s first letters were received
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with a good deal of eagerness； there could not but be curiosity to
know how she would speak of her new home； how she would like
Lady Catherine； and how happy she would dare pronounce herself
to be； though； when the letters were read； Elizabeth felt that
Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly as she might
have foreseen。 She wrote cheerfully； seemed surrounded with
comforts； and mentioned nothing which she could not praise。 The
house； furniture； neighbourhood； and roads； were all to her taste；
and Lady Catherine’s behaviour was most friendly and obliging。 It
was Mr。 Collins’s picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally
softened； and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own
visit there； to know the rest。
Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce
their safe arrival in London； and when she wrote again； Elizabeth
hoped it would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys。
Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as
impatience generally is。 Jane had been a week in town； without
either seeing or hearing from Caroline。 She accounted for it；
however； by supposing that her last letter to her friend from
Longbourn； had by some accident been lost。
‘My aunt；’ she continued； ‘is going to…morrow into that part of
the town； and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor…
street。’
She wrote again when the visit was paid； and she had seen Miss
Bingley。 ‘I did not think Caroline in spirits；’ were her words； ‘but
she was very glad to see me； and reproached me for giving her no
notice of my coming to London。 I was right； therefore； my last
letter had never reached her。 I enquired after their brother； of
course。 He was well； but so much engaged with Mr。 Darcy； that
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 173
they scarcely ever saw him。 I found that Miss Darcy was expected
to dinner。 I wish I could see her。 My visit was not long； as Caroline
and Mrs。 Hurst were going out。 I dare say I shall soon see them
here。’
Elizabeth shook her head over this letter。 It convinced her； that
accident only could discover to Mr。 Bingley her sister’s being in
town。
Four weeks passed away； and Jane saw nothing of him。 She
endeavoured to persuade herself that she did not regret it； but she
could no longer be blind to Miss Bingley’s inattention。 After
waiting at home every morning for a fortnight； and inventing
every evening a fresh excuse for her； the visitor did at last appear；
but the shortness of her stay； and yet more； the alteration of her
manner； would allow Jane to deceive herself no longer。 The letter
which she wrote on this occasion to her sister； will prove what she
felt。
‘My dearest Lizzy will； I am sure； be incapable of triumphing in
her better judgment； at my expence； when I confess myself to have
been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley’s regard for me。 But； my
dear sister； though the event has proved you right； do not think me
obstinate if I still assert； that； considering what her behaviour was；
my confidence was as natural as your suspicion。 I do not at all
comprehend her reason for wishing to be intimate with me； but if
the same circumstances were to happen again； I am sure I should
be deceived again。 Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday；
and not a note； not a line； did I receive in the mean time。 When she
did come； it was very evident that she had no pleasure in it； she
made a slight； formal； apology； for not calling before； said not a
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word of wishing to see me again； and was in every respect so
altered a creature； that when she went away； I was perfectly
resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer。 I pity； though I
cannot help blaming her。 She was very wrong in singling me out
as she did； I can safely say； that every advance to intimacy began
on her side。 But I pity her； because she must feel that she has been
acting wrong； and because I am very sure that anxiety for her
brother is the cause of it。 I need not explain myself farther； and
though we know this anxiety to be quite needless； yet if she feels it；
it will easily account for her behaviour to me； and so deservedly
dear as he is to his sister； whatever anxiety she may feel on his
behalf； is natural and amiable。 I cannot but wonder； however； at
her having any such fears now； because； if he had at all cared
about me； we must have met long； long ago。 He knows of my being
in town； I am certain； from something she said herself； and yet it
should seem by her manner of talking； as if she wanted to
persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy。 I cannot
understand it。 If I were not afraid of judging harshly； I should be
almost tempted to say； that there is a strong appearance of
duplicity in all this。 But I will endeavour to banish every painful
thought； and think only of what will make me happy； your
affection； and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt。
Let me hear from you very soon。 Miss Bingley said something of
his never returning to Netherfield again； of giving up the house；
but not with any certainty。 We had better not mention it。 I am
extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts from our
friends at Hunsford。 Pray go to see them； with Sir William and
Maria。 I am sure you will be very comfortable there。
‘Your’s； &c。’
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