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 downstairs together, Charlotte said:
"I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza."
"THAT you certainly shall."
"And I have another favour to ask you. 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 coming to me in March," added Charlotte, "and I hope you will
consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome as either of them."
The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the church door, and
everybody 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 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.
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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 inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged with Mr.
Darcy that 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 see them soon 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 judgement, at my
expense, 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 meantime. When she
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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 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 must 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 ago. He knows of my being in town, I am certain,
from something she said herself; and yet it would 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.—
Yours, etc."
This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she considered that Jane would
no longer be duped, by the sister at least. All expectation from the brother was now absolutely
over. She would not even wish for a renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on every