Chapter 59

           "MydearLizzy,wherecanyouhavebeenwalkingto?"wasaquestionwhichElizabethreceivedfromJaneassoonassheenteredtheirroom,andfromalltheotherswhentheysatdowntotable. Shehadonlytosayinreply,thattheyhadwanderedabout,tillshewasbeyondherownknowledge. Shecolouredasshespoke; butneitherthat,noranythingelse,awakenedasuspicionofthetruth. 

           Theeveningpassedquietly,unmarkedbyanythingextraordinary. Theacknowledgedloverstalkedandlaughed,theunacknowledgedweresilent. Darcywasnotofadispositioninwhichhappinessoverflowsinmirth;andElizabeth,agitatedandconfused,ratherknewthatshewashappythanfeltherselftobeso; for,besidestheimmediateembarrassment,therewereotherevilsbeforeher. Sheanticipatedwhatwouldbefeltinthefamilywhenhersituationbecameknown; shewasawarethatnoonelikedhimbutJane;andevenfearedthatwiththeothersitwasadislikewhichnotallhisfortuneandconsequencemightdoaway. 

           AtnightsheopenedherhearttoJane. ThoughsuspicionwasveryfarfromMissBennet’sgeneralhabits,shewasabsolutelyincreduloushere. 

           "Youarejoking,Lizzy. Thiscannotbe!—engagedtoMr.Darcy! No,no,youshallnotdeceiveme.Iknowittobeimpossible." 

           "Thisisawretchedbeginningindeed! Mysoledependencewasonyou;andIamsurenobodyelsewillbelieveme,ifyoudonot. Yet,indeed,Iaminearnest. Ispeaknothingbutthetruth. Hestilllovesme,andweareengaged." 

           Janelookedatherdoubtingly. "Oh,Lizzy!itcannotbe.Iknowhowmuchyoudislikehim."