moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room: she wished, she

feared, that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether

she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After

sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour, without hearing Miss

Bingley’s voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold

inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal

indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.
The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the

entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the

finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many a

significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been

given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole

party; for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the

beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches, soon collected

them round the table.
While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether

she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the

feelings which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but

a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to

regret that he came.
He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other

gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river; and had left him

only on learning{330} that the ladies of the family intended a visit to

Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear, than Elizabeth wisely

resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed;—a resolution the more

necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she

saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them,

and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour

when he first came into the room. In no countenance was attentive