Chapter 45 253
Her own thoughts were employing her . She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room . She wished , she feared that the master of the house might be amongst them ; and whether she wished or feared it most , she could scarcely determine . After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley ' s voice , Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her family . She answered with equal indifference and brevity , and the others said no more .
The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold meat , cake , and a variety of all the finest fruits in season ; but this did not take place till after many a significant look and smile from Mrs . Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given , to remind her of her post . There was now employment for the whole party--for though they could not all talk , they could all eat ; and the beautiful pyramids of grapes , nectarines , and peaches soon collected them round the table .
While thus engaged , Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr . Darcy , by the feelings which prevailed on his entering the room ; and then , though but a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate , she began to regret that he came .
He had been some time with Mr . Gardiner , who , with two or three other gentlemen from the house , was engaged by the river , and had left him only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to Georgiana that morning . No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed ; a resolution the more necessary to be made , but perhaps not the more easily kept , because she saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them , and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came into the room . In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley ' s , in spite of the smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its objects ; for jealousy had not yet made her desperate , and her attentions to Mr . Darcy were by no means over . Miss Darcy , on her brother ' s entrance , exerted herself much more to talk , and