“You may depend on it,”replied the other,“for Mrs.Nicholls was in Meryton last night; I saw her passing by, and went out myself on purpose to know the truth of it;and she told me that it was certain true.He comes down on Thurs... --
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n Thursday at the latest,very likely on Wednesday.She was going to the butcher's,she told me, on purpose to order in some meat on Wednesday,and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed.”
Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing colour.It was many months since she had mentioned his name to Elizabeth;but now,as soon as they were alone together, she said:
“I saw you look at me to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present report;and I know I appeared distressed.But don't imagine it was from any silly cause.I was only confused for the moment,because I felt that I should be looked at.I do assure you that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain.I am glad of one thing,that he comes alone;because we shall see the less of him.Not that I am afraid of myself,but I dread other people's remarks.”
Elizabeth did not know what to make of it.Had she not seen him in Derbyshire, she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no other view than what was acknowledged;but she still thought him partial to Jane, and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming there with his friend's permission,or being bold enough to come without it.
“Yet it is hard,”she sometimes thought,“that this poor man cannot come to a house which he has legally hired,without raising all this speculation!I will leave him to himself.”
In spite of what her sister declared,and really believed to be her feelings in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it.They were more disturbed,more unequal,than she had often seen them.
The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents, about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again.
“As soon as ever Mr.Bingley comes,my dear,”said Mrs.Bennet,“you will wait on him of course.”
“No,no.You forced me into visiting him last year,and promised, if I went to see him,he should marry one of my daughters.But it ended in nothing,and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again.”
His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen,on his returning to Netherfield.
“'Tis an etiquette I despise,”said he.“If he wants our society,let him seek it.He knows where we live.I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.'”
“Well,all I know is,that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait on him.But,however,that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here,I am determined.We must have Mrs.Long and the Gouldings soon.That will make thirteen with ourselves,so there will be just room at table for him.”
Consoled by this resolution,she was the better able to bear her husband's incivility;though it was very mortifying to know that her neighbours might all see Mr. Bingley, in consequence of it, before they did.As the day of his arrival drew near:
