Chapter 44 248
manner . Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on former occasions , and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that , as he looked at her , he was trying to trace a resemblance . But , though this might be imaginary , she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss Darcy , who had been set up as a rival to Jane . No look appeared on either side that spoke particular regard . Nothing occurred between them that could justify the hopes of his sister . On this point she was soon satisfied ; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted , which , in her anxious interpretation , denoted a recollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness , and a wish of saying more that might lead to the mention of her , had he dared . He observed to her , at a moment when the others were talking together , and in a tone which had something of real regret , that it " was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing her ;" and , before she could reply , he added , " It is above eight months . We have not met since the 26th of November , when we were all dancing together at Netherfield ."
Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact ; and he afterwards took occasion to ask her , when unattended to by any of the rest , whether all her sisters were at Longbourn . There was not much in the question , nor in the preceding remark ; but there was a look and a manner which gave them meaning .
It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr . Darcy himself ; but , whenever she did catch a glimpse , she saw an expression of general complaisance , and in all that he said she heard an accent so removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions , as convinced her that the improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed however temporary its existence might prove , had at least outlived one day . When she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace--when she saw him thus civil , not only to herself , but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained , and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage--the difference , the change was so great , and struck so forcibly on her mind , that she could hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible . Never , even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield , or his dignified relations at Rosings , had she seen