Chapter 54 323
She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of bringing them together ; that the whole of the visit would not pass away without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance . Anxious and uneasy , the period which passed in the drawing-room , before the gentlemen came , was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her uncivil . She looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend .
" If he does not come to me , then ," said she , " I shall give him up for ever ."
The gentlemen came ; and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes ; but , alas ! the ladies had crowded round the table , where Miss Bennet was making tea , and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee , in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit of a chair . And on the gentlemen ' s approaching , one of the girls moved closer to her than ever , and said , in a whisper :
" The men shan ' t come and part us , I am determined . We want none of them ; do we ?"
Darcy had walked away to another part of the room . She followed him with her eyes , envied everyone to whom he spoke , had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee ; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly !
" A man who has once been refused ! How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love ? Is there one among the sex , who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman ? There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings !"
She was a little revived , however , by his bringing back his coffee cup himself ; and she seized the opportunity of saying :
" Is your sister at Pemberley still ?"