resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, though I

cannot help blaming, her. She was very wrong in singling me out as

she did; I can safely say, that every advance to intimacy began on

her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been

acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her

brother is the cause of it. I need not explain myself farther; and

though we know this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she

feels it, it will easily account for her behaviour to me; and so

deservedly dear as he is to his sister, whatever anxiety she may

feel on his behalf is natural and amiable. I cannot but wonder,

however, at her having any such fears now, because if he had at all

cared about me, we must have met long, long ago. He knows of my

being in town, I am certain, from something she said herself; and

yet it would seem, by her manner of talking,{187} as if she wanted to

persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I cannot

understand it. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be

almost tempted to say, that there is a strong appearance of

duplicity in all this. I will endeavour to banish every painful

thought, and think only of what will make me happy, your affection,

and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear

from you very soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never

returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the house, but not

with any certainty. We had better not mention it. I am extremely

glad that you have such pleasant accounts from our friends at

Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and Maria. I am

sure you will be very comfortable there.


“Yours, etc.”

This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned, as she

considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least.

All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not