{{prxprp106.jpg}} || 106 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

in her power to persuade him that, instead of being in love with

you, he is very much in love with her friend.'

'If we thought alike of Miss Bingley,' replied Jane, 'your

representation of all this might make me quite easy. But I know

the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully

deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is that

she is deceived herself.'

'That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy

idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to

be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by

her, and must fret no longer.'

'But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best,

in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him

to marry elsewhere?'

'You must decide for yourself,' said Elizabeth; 'and if, upon

mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his

two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his

wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him.'

'Plow can you talk so?' -- said Jane faintly smiling; -- 'you must

know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their

disapprobation, I could not hesitate.'

'I did not think you would; -- and that being the case, I cannot

consider your situation with much compassion.'

'But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never

be required. A thousand things may arise in six months!'

The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the

utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of

Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment

suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken,

could influence a young man so totally independent of every one.

She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she

felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy

effect. Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually

led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes over^

came the hope, that Bingley would return to Nethcrfield and

■answer every wish of her heart.

They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure

 [[106]]