{{prxprp302.jpg}} || 302 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

on any one else; but she found herself considerably useful to both

of them, in those hours of separation that must sometimes occur.

In the absence of Jane, he always attached himself to Elizabeth

for the pleasure of talking of her; and when Bingley was gone,

Jane constantly sought the same means of relief.

'He has made me so happy,' said she, one evening, 'by telling

me, that he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring!

I had not believed it possible.'

'I suspected as much,' replied Elizabeth. 'But how did he

account for it?'

'It must have been his sisters' doing. They were certainly no

friends to his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at,

since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in

many respects. But when they see, as I trust they will, that their

brother is happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we

shall be on good terms again: though we can never be what we

once were to each other.'

'That is the most unforgiving speech,' said Elizabeth, 'that

I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed,

to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley 's pretended regard!'

'Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last

November, he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of

my being indifferent would have prevented his coming down

again!'

'He made a little mistake, to be sure; but it is to the credit of

his modesty.'

This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his dim"'

dence, and the little value he put on his own good qualities.

Elizabeth was pleased to find, that he had not betrayed the

interference of his friends, for, though Jane had the most generous

and forgiving heart in the world, she knew it was a circumstance

which must prejudice her against him.

'I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!'

cried Jane. 'Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family,

and blessed above them all! If I could but see you as happy! If

there were but such another man for you!'

'If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so

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