Chapter 53 314
be looked at . I do assure you that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain . I am glad of one thing , that he comes alone ; because we shall see the less of him . Not that I am afraid of myself , but I dread other people ' s remarks ."
Elizabeth did not know what to make of it . Had she not seen him in Derbyshire , she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no other view than what was acknowledged ; but she still thought him partial to Jane , and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming there with his friend ' s permission , or being bold enough to come without it .
" Yet it is hard ," she sometimes thought , " that this poor man cannot come to a house which he has legally hired , without raising all this speculation ! I will leave him to himself ."
In spite of what her sister declared , and really believed to be her feelings in the expectation of his arrival , Elizabeth could easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it . They were more disturbed , more unequal , than she had often seen them .
The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents , about a twelvemonth ago , was now brought forward again .
" As soon as ever Mr . Bingley comes , my dear ," said Mrs . Bennet , " you will wait on him of course ."
" No , no . You forced me into visiting him last year , and promised , if I went to see him , he should marry one of my daughters . But it ended in nothing , and I will not be sent on a fool ' s errand again ."
His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen , on his returning to Netherfield .
"' Tis an etiquette I despise ," said he . " If he wants our society , let him seek it . He knows where we live . I will not spend my hours in running after my