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his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Elizabeth

after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual

way; and, after a moment's pause, added,--

'My eldest sister has been in town these three months.

Have you never happened to see her there?'

She was perfectly sensible that he never had: but she

wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of

what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she

thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he

had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The

subject was pursued no further, and the gentlemen soon after-

wards went away.

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