Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 428 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 428

JANE AUSTEN

minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly

shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from

her beyond a monosyllable.

Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than

Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen, her

figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and

graceful. She was less handsome than her brother; but

there was sense and good humour in her face, and

her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle.

Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute

and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had

been, was much relieved by discerning such different

feelings.

They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy

told her that Bingley was also coming to wait on her;

and she had barely time to express her satisfaction, and

prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley’s quick step

was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered

the room. All Elizabeth’s anger against him had been

long done away; but had she still felt any, it could

hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected

cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing

her again. He inquired in a friendly, though general

420