On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn;and the two who were most anxiously expected,to the credit of their punctuality as sportsmen, were in very good time.When they repaired to the dining-room, Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take the place,which,in all their former parties,had belonged to him, by her sister. Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas,forbore to invite him to sit by herself. On entering the room, he seemed to hesitate;but Jane happened to look round,and happened to smile: it was decided. He placed himself by her.
“He could be still amiable,still pleasing,to my uncle and aunt, when he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If he no longer cares for me, why silent?Teasing, teasing,man!I will think no more about him.”
She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure.
She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of bringing them together;that the whole of the visit would not pass away without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance.Anxious and uneasy,the period which passed in the drawing-room, before the gentlemen came, was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her uncivil.She looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend.