第124章[第1頁/共5頁]

“When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley,”said her mother,“I beg you will come here,and shoot as many as you please on Mr.Bennet's manor.I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you,and will save all the best of the coveys for you.”

“I began to be afraid you would never come back again.People did say you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas;but, however, I hope it is not true.A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood,since you went away.Miss Lucas is married and settled.And one of my own daughters.I suppose you have heard of it;indeed,you must have seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier,I know;though it was not put in as it ought to be.It was only said,'Lately,George Wickham, Esq.to Miss Lydia Bennet,'without there being a syllable said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up too,and I wonder how he came to make such an awkward business of it.Did you see it?”

Darcy, after inquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, a question which she could not answer without confusion, said scarcely anything. He was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but it had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends,when he could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without bringing the sound of his voice;and when occasionally,unable to resist the impulse of curiosity,she raised her eyes to his face,she as often found him looking at Jane as at herself,and frequently on no object but the ground. More thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please, than when they last met,were plainly expressed.She was disappointed, and angry with herself for being so.