Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 224 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 224

JANE AUSTEN

Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater

distress of Mr. Bingley’s continued absence.

Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this

subject. Day after day passed away without bringing

any other tidings of him than the report which shortly

prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to

Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly

incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to

contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.

Even Elizabeth began to fearnot that Bingley was

indifferentbut that his sisters would be successful

in keeping him away. Unwilling as she was to admit

an idea so destructive of Jane’s happiness, and so

dishonourable to the stability of her lover, she could

not prevent its frequently occurring. The united efforts

of his two unfeeling sisters and of his overpowering

friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and the

amusements of London might be too much, she feared,

for the strength of his attachment.

As for Jane, her anxiety under this suspense was, of

course, more painful than Elizabeth’s, but whatever she

felt she was desirous of concealing, and between herself

and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject was never alluded

to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother,

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