will do the business.”
“And do you impute it to either of those?”
“Yes; to the last. But if I go on I shall displease you by saying what I

think of persons you esteem. Stop me, whilst you can.”
“You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him?”
“Yes, in conjunction with his friend.”
“I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can

only wish his happiness; and if he is attached to me no other woman can

secure it.”
“Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his

happiness: they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they

may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great

connections, and pride.”
“Beyond a doubt they do wish him to choose Miss Darcy,” replied Jane;

“but this may be from better{173} feelings than you are supposing. They have

known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love

her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely

they should have opposed their brother’s. What sister would think

herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very

objectionable? If they believed him attached to me they would not try to

part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an

affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most

unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been

mistaken—or, at least, it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of

what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it

in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood.”
Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley’s

name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.
Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no

more; and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account

for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it