Chapter 323.docx

Chapter 323.docx

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Chapter323

Chapter32

ELIZABETHwassittingbyherselfthenextmorning,andwritingtoJane,whileMrs.CollinsandMariaweregoneonbusinessintothevillage,whenshewasstartledbyaringatthedoor,thecertainsignalofavisitor.Asshehadheardnocarriage,shethoughtitnotunlikelytobeLadyCatherine,andunderthatapprehensionwasputtingawayherhalf-finishedletterthatshemightescapeallimpertinentquestions,whenthedooropened,andtoherverygreatsurprise,Mr.Darcy,andMr.Darcyonly,enteredtheroom.

Heseemedastonishedtooonfindingheralone,andapologisedforhisintrusionbylettingherknowthathehadunderstoodalltheladiestobewithin.Theythensatdown,andwhenherenquiriesafterRosingsweremade,seemedindangerofsinkingintototalsilence.Itwasabsolutelynecessary,therefore,tothinkofsomething,andinthisemergencyrecollectingwhenshehadseenhimlastinHertfordshire,andfeelingcurioustoknowwhathewouldsayonthesubjectoftheirhastydeparture,sheobserved,

"HowverysuddenlyyouallquittedNetherfieldlastNovember,Mr.Darcy!

ItmusthavebeenamostagreeablesurprisetoMr.Bingleytoseeyouallafterhimsosoon;for,ifIrecollectright,hewentbutthedaybefore.Heandhissisterswerewell,Ihope,whenyouleftLondon."

"perfectlyso--Ithankyou."

Shefoundthatshewastoreceivenootheranswer--and,afterashortpause,added,

"IthinkIhaveunderstoodthatMr.BingleyhasnotmuchideaofeverreturningtoNetherfieldagain?

"

"Ihaveneverheardhimsayso;butitisprobablethathemayspendverylittleofhistimethereinfuture.Hehasmanyfriends,andheisatatimeoflifewhenfriendsandengagementsarecontinuallyincreasing."

"IfhemeanstobebutlittleatNetherfield,itwouldbebetterfortheneighbourhoodthatheshouldgiveuptheplaceentirely,forthenwemightpossiblygetasettledfamilythere.ButperhapsMr.Bingleydidnottakethehousesomuchfortheconvenienceoftheneighbourhoodasforhisown,andwemustexpecthimtokeeporquititonthesameprinciple."

"Ishouldnotbesurprised,"saidDarcy,"ifheweretogiveitup,assoonasanyeligiblepurchaseoffers."

Elizabethmadenoanswer.Shewasafraidoftalkinglongerofhisfriend;and,havingnothingelsetosay,wasnowdeterminedtoleavethetroubleoffindingasubjecttohim.

Hetookthehint,andsoonbeganwith,"Thisseemsaverycomfortablehouse.LadyCatherine,Ibelieve,didagreatdealtoitwhenMr.CollinsfirstcametoHunsford."

"Ibelieveshedid--andIamsureshecouldnothavebestowedherkindnessonamoregratefulobject."

"Mr.Collinsappearsveryfortunateinhischoiceofawife."

"Yes,indeed;hisfriendsmaywellrejoiceinhishavingmetwithoneoftheveryfewsensiblewomenwhowouldhaveacceptedhim,orhavemadehimhappyiftheyhad.Myfriendhasanexcellentunderstanding--thoughIamnotcertainthatIconsiderhermarryingMr.Collinsasthewisestthingsheeverdid.Sheseemsperfectlyhappy,however,andinaprudentiallight,itiscertainlyaverygoodmatchforher."

"Itmustbeveryagreeabletohertobesettledwithinsoeasyadistanceofherownfamilyandfriends."

"Aneasydistancedoyoucallit?

Itisnearlyfiftymiles."

"Andwhatisfiftymilesofgoodroad?

Littlemorethanhalfaday'sjourney.Yes,Icallitaveryeasydistance."

"Ishouldneverhaveconsideredthedistanceasoneoftheadvantagesofthematch,"criedElizabeth."IshouldneverhavesaidMrs.Collinswassettlednearherfamily."

"ItisaproofofyourownattachmenttoHertfordshire.AnythingbeyondtheveryneighbourhoodofLongbourn,Isuppose,wouldappearfar."

Ashespoketherewasasortofsmile,whichElizabethfanciedsheunderstood;hemustbesupposinghertobethinkingofJaneandNetherfield,andsheblushedassheanswered,

"Idonotmeantosaythatawomanmaynotbesettledtoonearherfamily.Thefarandthenearmustberelative,anddependonmanyvaryingcircumstances.Wherethereisfortunetomaketheexpenceoftravellingunimportant,distancebecomesnoevil.Butthatisnotthecasehere.Mr.andMrs.Collinshaveacomfortableincome,butnotsuchaoneaswillallowoffrequentjourneys--andIampersuadedmyfriendwouldnotcallherselfnearherfamilyunderlessthanhalfthepresentdistance."

Mr.Darcydrewhischairalittletowardsher,andsaid,"Youcannothavearighttosuchverystronglocalattachment.YoucannothavebeenalwaysatLongbourn."

Elizabethlookedsurprised.Thegentlemanexperiencedsomechangeoffeeling;hedrewbackhischair,tookanewspaperfromthetable,and,glancingoverit,said,inacoldervoice,

"AreyoupleasedwithKent?

"

Ashortdialogueonthesubjectofthecountryensued,oneithersidecalmandconcise--andsoonput