Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 203 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 203

Pride and Prejudice

to follow their brother to town directly, and of

their meaning to dine in Grosvenor Street, where

Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words:

“I do not pretend to regret anything I shall leave in

Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend;

but we will hope, at some future period, to enjoy

many returns of that delightful intercourse we have

known, and in the meanwhile may lessen the pain of

separation by a very frequent and most unreserved

correspondence. I depend on you for that.” To these

high-flown expressions Elizabeth listened with all the

insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness

of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it

really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their

absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley’s

being there; and as to the loss of their society, she

was persuaded that Jane must cease to regard it, in the

enjoyment of his.

“It is unlucky,” said she, after a short pause, “that

you should not be able to see your friends before

they leave the country. But may we not hope that the

period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks

forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that

the delightful intercourse you have known as friends

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