Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper; but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the others,and she had no opportunity of detag them.
“Well girls,”said she, as soon as they were left to themselves,“What say you to the day? I thk every thg has passed off uncommonly well,I assure you.The dner was as well dressed as any I ever saw.The venison was roasted to a turn—and everybody said they never saw so fat a haunch.The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the Lucases'' last week;and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges were remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at least. And,my dear Jane,I never saw you look greater beauty.Mrs. Long said so too,for I asked her whether you did not.And what do you thk she said besides? ''Ah! Mrs. Bennet, we shall have her at Netherfield at last.''She did deed.I do thk Mrs.Long is as good a creature as ever lived—and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls,and not at all handsome:I like them prodigiously.”
Mrs. Bennet, short, was very great spirits; she had seen enough of Bgley''s behaviour to Jane,to be convced that she would get him at last;and her expectations of advantage to her family,when a happy humour,were so far beyond reason,that she was quite disappoted at not seeg him there aga the next day,to make his proposals.
“It has been a very agreeable day,”said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth.“The party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other.I hope we may often meet aga.”
Elizabeth smiled.
“Lizzy,you must not do so. You must not suspect me.It mortifies me. I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man,without havg a wish beyond it.I am perfectly satisfied,from what his manners now are,that he never had any design of engagg my affection.It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of address,and a stronger desire of generally pleasg,than any other man.”
“You are very cruel,”said her sister,“you will not let me smile, and are provokg me to it every moment.”
“How hard it is some cases to be believed!”
“And how impossible others!”
“But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?”
“That is a question which I hardly know how to answer.We all love to struct,though we can teach only what is not worth knowg. Forgive me; and if you persist difference, do not make me your confidante.”
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