Chapter 34

           Whentheyweregone,Elizabeth,asifintendingtoexasperateherselfasmuchaspossibleagainstMr.Darcy,choseforheremploymenttheexaminationofalltheletterswhichJanehadwrittentohersinceherbeinginKent. Theycontainednoactualcomplaint,norwasthereanyrevivalofpastoccurrences,oranycommunicationofpresentsuffering. Butinall,andinalmosteverylineofeach,therewasawantofthatcheerfulnesswhichhadbeenusedtocharacteriseherstyle,andwhich,proceedingfromtheserenityofamindateasewithitselfandkindlydisposedtowardseveryone,hadbeenscarcelyeverclouded. Elizabethnoticedeverysentenceconveyingtheideaofuneasiness,withanattentionwhichithadhardlyreceivedonthefirstperusal. Mr.Darcy’sshamefulboastofwhatmiseryhehadbeenabletoinflict,gaveherakeenersenseofhersister’ssufferings. ItwassomeconsolationtothinkthathisvisittoRosingswastoendonthedayafterthenext—and,astillgreater,thatinlessthanafortnightsheshouldherselfbewithJaneagain,andenabledtocontributetotherecoveryofherspirits,byallthataffectioncoulddo. 

           ShecouldnotthinkofDarcy’sleavingKentwithoutrememberingthathiscousinwastogowithhim; butColonelFitzwilliamhadmadeitclearthathehadnointentionsatall,andagreeableashewas,shedidnotmeantobeunhappyabouthim. 

           Whilesettlingthispoint,shewassuddenlyrousedbythesoundofthedoor-bell,andherspiritswerealittleflutteredbytheideaofitsbeingColonelFitzwilliamhimself,whohadoncebeforecalledlateintheevening,andmightnowcometoinquireparticularlyafterher. Butthisideawassoonbanished,andherspiritswereverydifferentlyaffected,when,toherutteramazement,shesawMr.Darcywalkintotheroom. Inanhurriedmannerheimmediatelybegananinquiryafterherhealth,imputinghisvisittoawishofhearingthatshewerebetter.