第138章[第3页/共5页]

At night she opened her heart to Jane.Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here.

“There can be no doubt of that.It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.But are you pleased,Jane?Shall you like to have such a brother?”

“Oh, yes!You will only think I feel more than I ought to do, when I tell you all.”

“Very,very much.Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight.But we considered it,we talked of it as impossible. And do you really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Good gracious!”cried Mrs.Bennet,as she stood at a window the next morning,“if that disagreeable Mr.Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley!What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here?I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or other, and not disturb us with his company.What shall we do with him? Lizzy, you must walk out with him again,that he may not be in Bingley's way.”

Jane looked at her doubtingly.“Oh,Lizzy!it cannot be.I know how much you dislike him.”

“It has been coming on so gradually,that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.”