{{prxprp052.jpg}} || 52 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly

careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing

that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity;

sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour

during the last day must have material weight in confirming or

crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words

to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at

one time left by themselves for half an hour, he adhered most

conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her.

On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable

to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth

increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane;

and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it

would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield,

and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook hands with

the former. -- Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the

liveliest spirits.

They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother.

Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very

wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have

caught cold again. -- But their father, though very laconic in his

expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt

their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation,

when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation,

and almost all its sense, by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough bass

and human nature; and had some new extracts to admire, and

some new observations of thread'bare morality to listen to.

Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different

sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the

regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers

had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and

it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to

be married.

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