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Pride & Prejudice – page 362

JANE AUSTEN

“Good gracious!” cried Maria, after a few minutes’

silence, “it seems but a day or two since we first came!

and yet how many things have happened!”

“A great many indeed,” said her companion with a

sigh.

“We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides

drinking tea there twice! How much I shall have to tell!”

Elizabeth added privately, “And how much I shall

have to conceal!”

Their journey was performed without much conver-

sation, or any alarm; and within four hours of their

leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner’s house,

where they were to remain a few days.

Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little oppor-

tunity of studying her spirits, amidst the various

engagements which the kindness of her aunt had

reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her,

and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for

observation.

It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she

could wait even for Longbourn, before she told her

sister of Mr. Darcy’s proposals. To know that she had

the power of revealing what would so exceedingly

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