no longer cares for me, why silent? Teasing, teasing man! I will think

no more about him.”
Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach

of her sister, who joined her with a cheerful look which showed her

better satisfied with their visitors than Elizabeth.
“Now,” said she, “that this first meeting is over, I feel perfectly

easy. I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed again by

his coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be publicly

seen, that on both sides we meet only as common and indifferent

acquaintance.”
“Yes, very indifferent, indeed,” said Elizabeth, laughingly. “Oh, Jane!

take care.”
“My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now.”
“I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with

you as ever.”
They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday; and Mrs. Bennet, in

the meanwhile, was giving way to all the happy schemes which the

good-humour and common politeness of Bingley, in half an hour’s visit,

had revived.
On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn; and the two

who were most anxiously expected, to the credit of their punctuality as

sportsmen, were in very good time. When they repaired to the

dining-room, Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take

the place which, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by

her sister. Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore to

invite him to sit by herself. On entering the room, he{417} seemed to

hesitate; but Jane happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was

decided. He placed himself by her.
Elizabeth, with a triumphant sensation, looked towards his friend. He

bore it with noble indifference; and she would have imagined that

Bingley had received his sanction to be happy, had she not seen his eyes

likewise turned towards Mr. Darcy, with an expression of half-laughing

alarm.