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,{419}—
“Is your sister at Pemberley still?”
“Yes; she will remain there till Christmas.”
“And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?”
“Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough

these three weeks.”
She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse

with her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for

some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady’s whispering

to Elizabeth again, he walked away.
When the tea things were removed, and the card tables placed, the ladies

all rose; and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, when

all her views were overthrown, by seeing him fall a victim to her

mother’s rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated

with the rest of the party. She now lost every expectation of pleasure.

They were confined for the evening at different tables; and she had

nothing to hope, but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side

of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself.