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Chapter LVIII

Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from

his friend as Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do,

he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourn be-

fore many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit. The

gentlemen arrived early; and, before Mrs. Bennet had time

to tell him of their having seen his aunt, of which her

daughter sat in momentary dread, Bingley, who wanted to be

alone with Jane, proposed their all walking out. It was

agreed to. Mrs. Bennet was not in the habit of walking,

Mary could never spare time, but the remaining five set off

together. Bingley and Jane, however, soon allowed the

others to outstrip them. They lagged behind, while Eliza-

beth, Kitty, and Darcy were to entertain each other. Very

little was said by either; Kitty was too much afraid of him to

talk; Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution;

and, perhaps, he might be doing the same.

They walked toward the Lucases', because Kitty wished to

call upon Maria; and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for mak-

ing it a general concern, when Kitty left them she went

boldly on with him alone. Now was the moment for her reso-

lution to be executed; and while her courage was high she

immediately said,--

'Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature, and for the sake

of giving relief to my own feelings care not how much I may

be wounding yours. I can no longer help thanking you for

your unexampled kindness to my poor sister. Ever since I

have known it I have been most anxious to acknowledge to

you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of

my family I should not have merely my own gratitude to

express.'

'I am sorry, exceedingly sorry,' replied Darcy, in a tone of

surprise and emotion, 'that you have ever been informed of

what may, in a mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I

did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so little to be trusted.'

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