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of her intended civility； and they were invited and engaged to dine
at Longbourn in a few days time。
‘You are quite a visit in my debt； Mr。 Bingley；’ she added； ‘for
when you went to town last winter； you promised to take a family
dinner with us； as soon as you returned。 I have not forgot； you see；
and I assure you； I was very much disappointed that you did not
come back and keep your engagement。’
Bingley looked a little silly at this reflection； and said something
of his concern； at having been prevented by business。 They then
went away。
Mrs。 Bennet had been strongly inclined to ask them to stay and
dine there； that day； but； though she always kept a very good table；
she did not think any thing less than two courses； could be good
enough for a man； on whom she had such anxious designs； or
satisfy the appetite and pride of one who had ten thousand a…year。
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CHAPTER XII
s soon as they were gone； Elizabeth walked out to recover
Aher spirits； or in other words； to dwell without
interruption on those subjects that must deaden them
more。 Mr。 Darcy’s behaviour astonished and vexed her。
‘Why； if he came only to be silent； grave； and indifferent；’ said
she； ‘did he come at all？’
She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure。
‘He could be still amiable； still pleasing； to my uncle and aunt；
when he was in town； and why not to me？ If he fears me； why
come hither？ If he no longer cares for me； why silent？ Teazing；
teazing； man！ I will think no more about him。’
Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the
approach of her sister； who joined her with a cheerful look； which
shewed her better satisfied with their visitors； than Elizabeth。
‘Now；’ said she； ‘that this first meeting is over； I feel perfectly
easy。 I know my own strength； and I shall never be embarrassed
again by his coming。 I am glad he dines here on Tuesday。 It will
then be publicly seen； that on both sides； we meet only as common
and indifferent acquaintance。’
‘Yes； very indifferent indeed；’ said Elizabeth； laughingly。 ‘Oh；
Jane； take care。’
‘My dear Lizzy； you cannot think me so weak； as to be in danger
now。’
‘I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in
love with you as ever。’
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They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday； and Mrs。
Bennet； in the meanwhile； was giving way to all the happy
schemes； which the good humour； and common politeness of
Bingley； in half an hour’s visit； had revived。
On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn；
and the two； who were most anxiously expected； to the credit of
their punctuality as sportsmen； were in very good time。 When they
repaired to the dining…room； Elizabeth eagerly watched to see
whether Bingley would take the place； which； in all their former
parties； had belonged to him； by her sister。 Her prudent mother；
occupied by the same ideas； forbore to invite him to sit by herself。
On entering the room； he seemed to hesitate； but Jane happened
to look round； and happened to smile： it was decided。 He placed
himself by her。
Elizabeth； with a triumphant sensation； looked towards his
friend。 He bore it with noble indifference； and she would have
imagined that Bingley had received his sanction to be happy； had
she not seen his eyes likewise turned towards Mr。 Darcy； with an
expression of half…laughing alarm。
His behaviour to her sister was such； during dinner time； as
shewed an admiration of her； which； though more guarded than
formerly； persuaded Elizabeth； that if left wholly to himself； Jane’s
happiness； and his own； would be speedily secured。 Though she
dared not depend upon the consequence； she yet received
pleasure from observing his behaviour。 It gave her all the
animation that her spirits could boast； for she was in no cheerful
humour。 Mr。 Darcy was almost as far from her； as the table could
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divide them。 He was on one side of her mother。 She knew how
little such a situation would give pleasure to either； or make either
appear to advantage。 She was not near enough to hear any of their
discourse； but she could see how seldom they spoke to each other；
and how formal and cold was their manner； whenever they did。
Her mother’s ungraciousness； made the sense of what they owed
him more painful to Elizabeth’s mind； and she would； at times；
have given any thing to be privileged to tell him； that his kindness
was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the family。
She was in hopes that the evening would afford some
opportunity of bringing them together； that the whole of the visit
would not pass away without enabling them to enter into
something more of conversation； than the mere ceremonious
salutation attending his entrance。 Anxious and uneasy； the period
which passed in the drawing…room； before the gentlemen came；
was wearisome and dull to a degree； that almost made her uncivil。
She looked forward to their entrance； as the point on which all her
chance of pleasure for the evening must depend。
‘If he does not come to me； then；’ said she； ‘I shall give him up
for ever。’
The gentlemen came； and she thought he looked as if he would
have answered her hopes； but； alas！ the ladies had crowded round
the table； where Miss Bennet was making tea； and Elizabeth
pouring out the coffee； in so close a confederacy； that there was
not a single vacancy near her； which would admit of a chair。 And
on the gentlemen’s approaching； one of the girls moved closer to
her than ever； and said； in a whisper；
‘The men shan’t come and part us； I am determined。 We want
none of them； do we？’
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Darcy had walked away to another part of the room。 She
followed him with her eyes； envied every one to whom he spoke；
had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee； and then
was enraged against herself for being so silly！
‘A man who has once been refused！ How could I ever be foolish
enough to expect a renewal of his love？ Is there one among the
sex； who would not protest against such a weakness as a second
proposal to the same woman？ There is no indignity so abhorrent
to their feelings！’
She was a little revived； however； by his bringing back his
coffee cup himself； and she seized the opportunity of saying；
‘Is your sister at Pemberley still？’
‘Yes； she will remain there till Christmas。’
‘And quite alone？ Have all her friends left her？’
‘Mrs。 Annesley is with her。 The others have been gone on to
Scarborough； these three weeks。’
She could think of nothing more to say； but if he wished to
converse with her； he might have better success。 He stood by her；
however； for some minutes； in silence； and； at last； on the young
lady’s whispering to Elizabeth again； he walked away。
When the tea…things were removed； and the card tables placed；
the ladies all rose； and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon
joined by him； when all her views were overthrown； by seeing him
fall a victim to her mother’s rapacity for whist players； and in a few
moments aft