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Darcy, after inquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, a question which she could not answer without confusion, said scarcely anything. He was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but it had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends,when he could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without bringing the sound of his voice;and when occasionally,unable to resist the impulse of curiosity,she raised her eyes to his face,she as often found him looking at Jane as at herself,and frequently on no object but the ground. More thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please, than when they last met,were plainly expressed.She was disappointed, and angry with herself for being so.

“Could I expect it to be otherwise!”said she.“Yet why did he come?”

She was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself;and to him she had hardly courage to speak.

She inquired after his sister,but could do no more.

“It is a long time,Mr.Bingley,since you went away,”said Mrs. Bennet.

He readily agreed to it.

“I began to be afraid you would never come back again.People did say you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas;but, however, I hope it is not true.A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood,since you went away.Miss Lucas is married and settled.And one of my own daughters.I suppose you have heard of it;indeed,you must have seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier,I know;though it was not put in as it ought to be.It was only said,'Lately,George Wickham, Esq.to Miss Lydia Bennet,'without there being a syllable said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up too,and I wonder how he came to make such an awkward business of it.Did you see it?”

Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations. Elizabeth dared not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked, therefore,she could not tell.

“It is a delightful thing, to be sure, to have a daughter well married,”continued her mother,“but at the same time, Mr.Bingley, it is very hard to have her taken such a way from me. They are gone down to Newcastle, a place quite northward, it seems,and there they are to stay,I do not know how long.His regiment is there; for I suppose you have heard of his leaving the—shire, and of his being gone into the regulars. Thank Heaven!he has some friends,though perhaps not so many as he deserves.”