{{prxprp104.jpg}} || 104 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'It is unlucky,' said she, after a short pause, 'that you should not

be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But

may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which

Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware,

and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends,

will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters; -- Mr.

Bingley will not be detained in London by them.'

'Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return

into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you: --

"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the

business which took him to London, might be concluded in

three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at

the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town, he wili

be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following

him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant

hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are

already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my

dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the crowd,

but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in

Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season

generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as

to prevent your feeling the loss of the three, of whom we shall

deprive you."

'It is evident by this,' added Jane, 'that he comes back no

more this winter.'

'It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should.'

'Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is

his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the

passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from

you. "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the

truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do

not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance,

and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa

and myself, is heightened into something still more interesting,

from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister.

I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my

feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without

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