Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 414 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 414

JANE AUSTEN

spoke, his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and

he repeated his inquiries as to the time of her having

left Longbourn, and of her having stayed in Derbyshire,

so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the

distraction of his thoughts.

At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after

standing a few moments without saying a word, he

suddenly recollected himself, and took leave.

The others then joined her, and expressed admira-

tion of his figure; but Elizabeth heard not a word,

and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, followed

them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and

vexation. Her coming there was the most unfortunate,

the most ill-judged thing in the world! How strange it

must appear to him! In what a disgraceful light might

it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had

purposely thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why

did she come? Or, why did he thus come a day before

he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes

sooner, they should have been beyond the reach of

his discrimination; for it was plain that he was that

moment arrivedthat moment alighted from his horse

or his carriage. She blushed again and again over the

perverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour, so

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