I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection."
"And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to him."
"It did.
Bingley is most unaffectedly modest.
His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy.
I was obliged to confess one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him.
I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him.
He was angry.
But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments.
He has heartily forgiven me now."
Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked herself.
She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin.
In anticipating the happiness of Bingley, which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he continued the conversation till they reached the house.
In the hall they parted.
Chapter 59
"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down to table.
She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own knowledge.
She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor anything else, awakened a suspicion of the truth.
The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary.
The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent.
Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her.
She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.
At night she opened her heart to Jane.
Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here.
"You are joking, Lizzy.
This cannot be!—engaged to Mr. Darcy!
No, no, you shall not deceive me.
I know it to be impossible."
"This is a wretched beginning indeed!
My sole dependence was on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not.
Yet, indeed, I am in earnest.
I speak nothing but the truth.
He still loves me, and we are engaged."
Jane looked at her doubtingly.
"Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be.
I know how much you dislike him."
"You know nothing of the matter.
That is all to be forgot.
Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now.
But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable.
This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself."
Miss Bennet still looked all amazement.
Elizabeth again, and more seriously assured her of its truth.
"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried Jane.
"My dear, dear Lizzy, I would—I do congratulate you—but are you certain? forgive the question—are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?"
"There can be no doubt of that.
It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.
But are you pleased, Jane?
Shall you like to have such a brother?"
"Very, very much.