Chapter 55 328
He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper ; and before he went away , an engagement was formed , chiefly through his own and Mrs . Bennet ' s means , for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband .
After this day , Jane said no more of her indifference . Not a word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley ; but Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded , unless Mr . Darcy returned within the stated time . Seriously , however , she felt tolerably persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman ' s concurrence .
Bingley was punctual to his appointment ; and he and Mr . Bennet spent the morning together , as had been agreed on . The latter was much more agreeable than his companion expected . There was nothing of presumption or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule , or disgust him into silence ; and he was more communicative , and less eccentric , than the other had ever seen him . Bingley of course returned with him to dinner ; and in the evening Mrs . Bennet ' s invention was again at work to get every body away from him and her daughter . Elizabeth , who had a letter to write , went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea ; for as the others were all going to sit down to cards , she could not be wanted to counteract her mother ' s schemes .
But on returning to the drawing-room , when her letter was finished , she saw , to her infinite surprise , there was reason to fear that her mother had been too ingenious for her . On opening the door , she perceived her sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth , as if engaged in earnest conversation ; and had this led to no suspicion , the faces of both , as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other , would have told it all . Their situation was awkward enough ; but hers she thought was still worse . Not a syllable was uttered by either ; and Elizabeth was on the point of going away again , when Bingley , who as well as the other had sat down , suddenly rose , and whispering a few words to her sister , ran out of the room .
Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth , where confidence would give pleasure ; and instantly embracing her , acknowledged , with the liveliest