"HowverysuddenlyyouallquittedNetherfieldlastNovember, Mr. Darcy! Itmusthavebeen a mostagreeablesurprisetoMr. Bingleytoseeyouallafterhimsosoon; for, if I recollectright, hewentbutthedaybefore. Heandhissisterswerewell, I hope, whenyouleftLondon?"
4
"Perfectlyso, I thankyou."
5
Shefoundthatshewastoreceivenootheranswer, and, after a shortpauseadded:
6
"I think I haveunderstoodthatMr. BingleyhasnotmuchideaofeverreturningtoNetherfieldagain?"
7
"I haveneverheardhimsayso; butitisprobablethathemayspendverylittleofhistimethereinthefuture. Hehasmanyfriends, andisat a timeoflifewhenfriendsandengagementsarecontinuallyincreasing."
8
"IfhemeanstobebutlittleatNetherfield, itwouldbebetterfortheneighbourhoodthatheshouldgiveuptheplaceentirely, forthenwemightpossiblyget a settledfamilythere. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingleydidnottakethehousesomuchfortheconvenienceoftheneighbourhoodasforhisown, andwemustexpecthimtokeepitorquititonthesameprinciple."
9
"I shouldnotbesurprised," saidDarcy, "ifheweretogiveitupassoonasanyeligiblepurchaseoffers."
10
Elizabethmadenoanswer. Shewasafraidoftalkinglongerofhisfriend; and, havingnothingelsetosay, wasnowdeterminedtoleavethetroubleoffinding a subjecttohim.
11
Hetookthehint, andsoonbeganwith, "Thisseems a verycomfortablehouse. LadyCatherine, I believe, did a greatdealtoitwhenMr. CollinsfirstcametoHunsford."
12
"I believeshedid—and I amsureshecouldnothavebestowedherkindnesson a moregratefulobject."
13
"Mr. Collinsappearstobeveryfortunateinhischoiceof a wife."
14
"Yes, indeed, hisfriendsmaywellrejoiceinhishavingmetwithoneoftheveryfewsensiblewomenwhowouldhaveacceptedhim, orhavemadehimhappyiftheyhad. Myfriendhasanexcellentunderstanding—though I amnotcertainthat I considerhermarryingMr. Collinsasthewisestthingsheeverdid. Sheseemsperfectlyhappy, however, andin a prudentiallightitiscertainly a verygoodmatchforher."
15
"Itmustbeveryagreeableforhertobesettledwithinsoeasy a distanceofherownfamilyandfriends."
"Andwhatisfiftymilesofgoodroad? Littlemorethanhalf a day's journey. Yes, I callit a veryeasydistance."
18
"I shouldneverhaveconsideredthedistanceasoneoftheadvantagesofthematch," criedElizabeth. "I shouldneverhavesaidMrs. Collinswassettlednearherfamily."
19
"Itis a proofofyourownattachmenttoHertfordshire. AnythingbeyondtheveryneighbourhoodofLongbourn, I suppose, wouldappearfar."
20
Ashespoketherewas a sortofsmilewhichElizabethfanciedsheunderstood; hemustbesupposinghertobethinkingofJaneandNetherfield, andsheblushedassheanswered:
21
"I donotmeantosaythat a womanmaynotbesettledtoonearherfamily. Thefarandthenearmustberelative, anddependonmanyvaryingcircumstances. Wherethereisfortunetomaketheexpensesoftravellingunimportant, distancebecomesnoevil. Butthatisnotthecasehere. Mr. andMrs. Collinshave a comfortableincome, butnotsuch a oneaswillallowoffrequentjourneys—and I ampersuadedmyfriendwouldnotcallherselfnearherfamilyunderlessthanhalfthepresentdistance."
22
Mr. Darcydrewhischair a littletowardsher, andsaid, "Youcannothave a righttosuchverystronglocalattachment. YoucannothavebeenalwaysatLongbourn."
23
Elizabethlookedsurprised. Thegentlemanexperiencedsomechangeoffeeling; hedrewbackhischair, took a newspaperfromthetable, andglancingoverit, said, in a coldervoice:
24
"AreyoupleasedwithKent?"
25
A shortdialogueonthesubjectofthecountryensued, oneithersidecalmandconcise—andsoonputanendtobytheentranceofCharlotteandhersister, justreturnedfromherwalk. Thetete-a-tetesurprisedthem. Mr. DarcyrelatedthemistakewhichhadoccasionedhisintrudingonMissBennet, andaftersitting a fewminuteslongerwithoutsayingmuchtoanybody, wentaway.