to London. I was right, therefore; my last letter had never reached her.

I inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much

engaged with Mr. Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that

Miss Darcy was expected to dinner: I wish I could see her. My visit was

not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall

soon see them here.”
Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that

accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister’s being in town.
Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to

persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be

blind to Miss Bingley’s inattention. After waiting at home every morning

for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the

visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and, yet

more, the alteration of her manner, would allow Jane to deceive herself

no longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister

will prove what she felt:{186}—
“My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in

her better judgment, at my expense, when I confess myself to have

been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley’s regard for me. But, my

dear sister, though the event has proved you right, do not think me

obstinate if I still assert that, considering what her behaviour

was, my confidence was as natural as your suspicion. I do not at

all comprehend her reason for wishing to be intimate with me; but,

if the same circumstances were to happen again, I am sure I should

be deceived again. Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday;

and not a note, not a line, did I receive in the meantime. When she

did come, it was very evident that she had no pleasure in it; she

made a slight, formal apology for not calling before, said not a

word of wishing to see me again, and was, in every respect, so

altered a creature, that when she went away I was perfectly