Chapter 58 353
" No indeed ; I felt nothing but surprise ."
" Your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you . My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness , and I confess that I did not expect to receive more than my due ."
" My object then ," replied Darcy , " was to show you , by every civility in my power , that I was not so mean as to resent the past ; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness , to lessen your ill opinion , by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to . How soon any other wishes introduced themselves I can hardly tell , but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you ."
He then told her of Georgiana ' s delight in her acquaintance , and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption ; which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption , she soon learnt that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn , and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend .
She expressed her gratitude again , but it was too painful a subject to each , to be dwelt on farther .
After walking several miles in a leisurely manner , and too busy to know anything about it , they found at last , on examining their watches , that it was time to be at home .
" What could become of Mr . Bingley and Jane !" was a wonder which introduced the discussion of their affairs . Darcy was delighted with their engagement ; his friend had given him the earliest information of it .
" I must ask whether you were surprised ?" said Elizabeth . " Not at all . When I went away , I felt that it would soon happen ."