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Miss Bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy, Elizabeth was convinced. She could not help feeling how unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be and was curious to discover with how much civility the acquaintance would be renewed.
On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows opening to the ground admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts which were scattered over the intermediate lawn.
In this house, they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil. Attended with all the embarrassment proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, A manner which would easily support the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice and pitied her.
By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, they were noticed only by a curtsey. On their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the others. Between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation carried on.
Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in. Sometimes she ventured a short sentence when there was the least danger of its being heard.
Elizabeth soon saw that she was closely watched by Miss Bingley. She could not speak a word without calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an inconvenient distance. She was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much. Her thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room. She wished, she feared that the master of the house might be amongst them. Whether she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.
The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season. This did not take place till after many a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole party—for though they could not all talk, they could all eat. The beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them round the table.
While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy.
By the feelings which prevailed on his entering the room, she began to regret that he came. No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed. A resolution the more necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept. She saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened. There was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came into the room.
He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, and a few other gentlemen, engaged by the river. He had left them only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to Georgiana that morning.
In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley's. In spite of the smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke. Jealousy had not made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. Miss Darcy, on her brother's entrance, exerted herself much more to talk. Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted. He forwarded as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side.
Miss Bingley saw all this likewise. In the imprudence of anger, she took the opportunity of speaking, with sneering civility. "Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the Militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family."
In Darcy's presence, she dared not mention Wickham's name. Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts. The various memories connected with him gave her a moment's distress. Exerting herself to repel the ill-natured attack, she answered the question in a detached tone.
While she spoke, an involuntary glance showed her Darcy, with a heightened complexion, earnestly looking at her. His sister overcome with confusion, and unable to lift up her eyes.
Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would have refrained from the hint. She had merely intended to discompose Elizabeth by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed her partial. To make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in Darcy's opinion. And to remind the latter of all the follies and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected with that corps.
Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss Darcy's meditated elopement.
To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth.
After it all, Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their visit, as they returned. The look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had most engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit—of everything but himself. Yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him.