Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 489 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 489

Pride and Prejudice

The present unhappy state of the family rendered

any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnec-

essary; nothing, therefore, could be fairly conjectured

from that, though Elizabeth, who was by this time

tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was

perfectly aware that, had she known nothing of Darcy,

she could have borne the dread of Lydia’s infamy

somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought,

one sleepless night out of two.

When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance

of his usual philosophic composure. He said as little

as he had ever been in the habit of saying; made no

mention of the business that had taken him away, and

it was some time before his daughters had courage to

speak of it.

It was not till the afternoon, when he had joined

them at tea, that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the

subject; and then, on her briefly expressing her sorrow

for what he must have endured, he replied, “Say

nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has

been my own doing, and I ought to feel it.”

“You must not be too severe upon yourself,” replied

Elizabeth.

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