第99章[第1页/共4页]

He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river, and had left him only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed; a resolution the more necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them,and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came into the room.In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley's, in spite of the smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its objects; for jealousy had not yet made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over.Miss Darcy,on her brother's entrance,exerted herself much more to talk,and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted,and forwarded as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side. Miss Bingley saw all this likewise;and,in the imprudence of anger,took the first opportunity of saying,with sneering civility:

Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley,and that she could not speak a word,especially to Miss Darcy,without calling her attention.This observation would not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter,had they not been seated at an inconvenient distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much. Her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room.She wished,she feared that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished or feared it most,she could scarcely determine.After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley's voice,Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity,and the others said no more.