Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 548 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 548

JANE AUSTEN

family were indebted for the first of benefits, and whom

she regarded herself with an interest, if not quite so

tender, at least as reasonable and just as what Jane felt

for Bingley. Her astonishment at his comingat his

coming to Netherfield, to Longbourn, and voluntarily

seeking her again, was almost equal to what she had

known on first witnessing his altered behaviour in

Derbyshire.

The colour which had been driven from her face,

returned for half a minute with an additional glow,

and a smile of delight added lustre to her eyes, as she

thought for that space of time that his affection and

wishes must still be unshaken. But she would not be

secure.

“Let me first see how he behaves,” said she; “it will

then be early enough for expectation.”

She sat intently at work, striving to be composed,

and without daring to lift up her eyes, till anxious

curiosity carried them to the face of her sister as

the servant was approaching the door. Jane looked a

little paler than usual, but more sedate than Elizabeth

had expected. On the gentlemen’s appearing, her

colour increased; yet she received them with tolerable

ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free

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