forbearance and command of countenance particularly grateful to the

daughter.
He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went away

an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. Bennet’s

means, for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband.{425}
After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference. Not a word passed

between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in the

happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy

returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably

persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman’s

concurrence.
Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent the

morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more

agreeable than his companion expected. There was nothing of presumption

or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into

silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the

other had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner;

and in the evening Mrs. Bennet’s invention was again at work to get

everybody away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter to

write, went into the breakfast-room for that purpose soon after tea; for

as the others were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be

wanted to counteract her mother’s schemes.
But on her returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished,

she saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her

mother had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she

perceived her sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as

if engaged in earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion,

the faces of both, as they hastily turned round and moved away from each

other, would have told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but

hers she thought was still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by