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第125章（第1页）

Assoonastheyweregone，Elizabethwalkedouttorecoverherspirits;orinotherwords，todwellwithoutinterruptiononthosesubjectsthatmustdeadenthemmore。Mr。Darcysbehaviourastonishedandvexedher。

“Why，ifhecameonlytobesilent，grave，andindifferent，”saidshe，“didhecomeatall?”

Shecouldsettleitinnowaythatgaveherpleasure。

“Hecouldbestillamiable，stillpleasing，tomyuncleandaunt，whenhewasintown;andwhynottome?Ifhefearsme，whycomehither?Ifhenolongercaresforme，whysilent?Teasing，teasing，man!Iwillthinknomoreabouthim。”

Herresolutionwasforashorttimeinvoluntarilykeptbytheapproachofhersister，whojoinedherwithacheerfullook，whichshowedherbettersatisfiedwiththeirvisitors，thanElizabeth。

“Now，”saidshe，“thatthisfirstmeetingisover，Ifeelperfectlyeasy。Iknowmyownstrength，andIshallneverbeembarrassedagainbyhiscoming。IamgladhedineshereonTuesday。Itwillthenbepubliclyseenthat，onbothsides，wemeetonlyascommonandindifferentacquaintance。”

“Yes，veryindifferentindeed，”saidElizabeth，laughingly。“Oh，Jane，takecare。”

“MydearLizzy，youcannotthinkmesoweak，astobeindangernow?”

“Ithinkyouareinverygreatdangerofmakinghimasmuchinlovewithyouasever。”

TheydidnotseethegentlemenagaintillTuesday;andMrs。Bennet，inthemeanwhile，wasgivingwaytoallthehappyschemes，whichthegoodhumourandcommonpolitenessofBingley，inhalfanhoursvisit，hadrevived。

OnTuesdaytherewasalargepartyassembledatLongbourn;andthetwowhoweremostanxiouslyexpected，tothecreditoftheirpunctualityassportsmen，wereinverygoodtime。Whentheyrepairedtothedining-room，ElizabetheagerlywatchedtoseewhetherBingleywouldtaketheplace，which，inalltheirformerparties，hadbelongedtohim，byhersister。Herprudentmother，occupiedbythesameideas，forboretoinvitehimtositbyherself。Onenteringtheroom，heseemedtohesitate;butJanehappenedtolookround，andhappenedtosmile:itwasdecided。Heplacedhimselfbyher。

Elizabeth，withatriumphantsensation，lookedtowardshisfriend。Heboreitwithnobleindifference，andshewouldhaveimaginedthatBingleyhadreceivedhissanctiontobehappy，hadshenotseenhiseyeslikewiseturnedtowardsMr。Darcy，withanexpressionofhalf-laughingalarm。

Hisbehaviourtohersisterwassuch，duringdinnertime，asshowedanadmirationofher，which，thoughmoreguardedthanformerly，persuadedElizabeth，thatifleftwhollytohimself，Janeshappiness，andhisown，wouldbespeedilysecured。Thoughshedarednotdependupontheconsequence，sheyetreceivedpleasurefromobservinghisbehaviour。Itgaveheralltheanimationthatherspiritscouldboast;forshewasinnocheerfulhumour。Mr。Darcywasalmostasfarfromherasthetablecoulddividethem。Hewasononesideofhermother。Sheknewhowlittlesuchasituationwouldgivepleasuretoeither，ormakeeitherappeartoadvantage。Shewasnotnearenoughtohearanyoftheirdiscourse，butshecouldseehowseldomtheyspoketoeachother，andhowformalandcoldwastheirmannerwhenevertheydid。Hermothersungraciousness，madethesenseofwhattheyowedhimmorepainfultoElizabethsmind;andshewould，attimes，havegivenanythingtobeprivilegedtotellhimthathiskindnesswasneitherunknownnorunfeltbythewholeofthefamily。

Shewasinhopesthattheeveningwouldaffordsomeopportunityofbringingthemtogether;thatthewholeofthevisitwouldnotpassawaywithoutenablingthemtoenterintosomethingmoreofconversationthanthemereceremonioussalutationattendinghisentrance。Anxiousanduneasy，theperiodwhichpassedinthedrawing-room，beforethegentlemencame，waswearisomeanddulltoadegreethatalmostmadeheruncivil。Shelookedforwardtotheirentranceasthepointonwhichallherchanceofpleasurefortheeveningmustdepend。

“Ifhedoesnotcometome，then，”saidshe，“Ishallgivehimupforever。”