{{prxprp224.jpg}} || 224 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

much In her favour; and, more than commonly anxious to please,

she naturally suspected that every power of pleasing would fail

her.

She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as

she walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose

herself, saw such looks of inquiring surprize in her uncle and

aunt, as made everything worse.

Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable

introduction took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see,

that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as

herself. Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss

Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few

minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She

found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a

monosyllable.

Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and,

though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her

appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than

her brother, but there was sense and good humour in her face,

and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Eliza'

beth, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed

an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by

discerning such different feelings.

They had not been long together, before Darcy told her that

Bingley was also coming to wait on her; and she had barely

time to express her satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor,

when Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs, and in a

moment he entered the room. All Elizabeth's anger against him

had been long done away; but, had she still felt any, it could

hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality

with which he expressed himself, on seeing her again. He

inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and

looked and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he

had ever done.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting

personage than to herself. They had long wished to see him.

The whole party before them, indeed, excited a lively attention.

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