Chapter 58

           Insteadofreceivinganysuchletterofexcusefromhisfriend,asElizabethhalfexpectedMr.Bingleytodo,hewasabletobringDarcywithhimtoLongbournbeforemanydayshadpassedafterLadyCatherine’svisit. Thegentlemenarrivedearly;and,beforeMrs.Bennethadtimetotellhimoftheirhavingseenhisaunt,ofwhichherdaughtersatinmomentarydread,Bingley,whowantedtobealonewithJane,proposedtheirallwalkingout. Itwasagreedto. Mrs.Bennetwasnotinthehabitofwalking;Marycouldneversparetime;buttheremainingfivesetofftogether. BingleyandJane,however,soonallowedtheotherstooutstripthem. Theylaggedbehind,whileElizabeth,Kitty,andDarcyweretoentertaineachother. Verylittlewassaidbyeither; Kittywastoomuchafraidofhimtotalk;Elizabethwassecretlyformingadesperateresolution;andperhapshemightbedoingthesame. 

           TheywalkedtowardstheLucases,becauseKittywishedtocalluponMaria; andasElizabethsawnooccasionformakingitageneralconcern,whenKittyleftthemshewentboldlyonwithhimalone. Nowwasthemomentforherresolutiontobeexecuted,and,whilehercouragewashigh,sheimmediatelysaid: 

           "Mr.Darcy,Iamaveryselfishcreature; and,forthesakeofgivingrelieftomyownfeelings,carenothowmuchImaybewoundingyour’s. Icannolongerhelpthankingyouforyourunexampledkindnesstomypoorsister. EversinceIhaveknownit,IhavebeenmostanxioustoacknowledgetoyouhowgratefullyIfeelit. Wereitknowntotherestofmyfamily,Ishouldnothavemerelymyowngratitudetoexpress." 

           "Iamsorry,exceedinglysorry,"repliedDarcy,inatoneofsurpriseandemotion,"thatyouhaveeverbeeninformedofwhatmay,inamistakenlight,havegivenyouuneasiness. IdidnotthinkMrs.Gardinerwassolittletobetrusted."