Chapter 32

           Elizabethwassittingbyherselfthenextmorning,andwritingtoJanewhileMrs.CollinsandMariaweregoneonbusinessintothevillage,whenshewasstartledbyaringatthedoor,thecertainsignalofavisitor. Asshehadheardnocarriage,shethoughtitnotunlikelytobeLadyCatherine,andunderthatapprehensionwasputtingawayherhalf-finishedletterthatshemightescapeallimpertinentquestions,whenthedooropened,and,toherverygreatsurprise,Mr.Darcy,andMr.Darcyonly,enteredtheroom. 

           Heseemedastonishedtooonfindingheralone,andapologisedforhisintrusionbylettingherknowthathehadunderstoodalltheladiesweretobewithin. 

           Theythensatdown,andwhenherinquiriesafterRosingsweremade,seemedindangerofsinkingintototalsilence. Itwasabsolutelynecessary,therefore,tothinkofsomething,andinthisemergencerecollectingwhenshehadseenhimlastinHertfordshire,andfeelingcurioustoknowwhathewouldsayonthesubjectoftheirhastydeparture,sheobserved: 

           "HowverysuddenlyyouallquittedNetherfieldlastNovember,Mr.Darcy! ItmusthavebeenamostagreeablesurprisetoMr.Bingleytoseeyouallafterhimsosoon; for,ifIrecollectright,hewentbutthedaybefore. Heandhissisterswerewell,Ihope,whenyouleftLondon?" 

           "Perfectlyso,Ithankyou." 

           Shefoundthatshewastoreceivenootheranswer,and,afterashortpauseadded: 

           "IthinkIhaveunderstoodthatMr.BingleyhasnotmuchideaofeverreturningtoNetherfieldagain?"