Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 59

"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a

question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she

entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down

to table. She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered

about, till she was beyond her own knowledge. She coloured as

she spoke; but neither that, nor anything else, awakened a

suspicion of the truth.

The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary.

The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged

were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness

overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather

_knew_ that she was happy than _felt_ herself to be so; for, besides

the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her.

She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her

situation became known; she was aware that no one liked him but

Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike

which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.

At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was

very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely

incredulous here.

"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be!--engaged to Mr. Darcy!

No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible."

"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was

on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do

not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the

truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged."

Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be.

I know how much you dislike him."

"You know nothing of the matter. _That_ is all to be forgot.

Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in

such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is

the last time I shall ever remember it myself."

Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and

more seriously assured her of its truth.

"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe

you," cried Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would--I do

congratulate you--but are you certain? forgive the question

--are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?"

"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us

already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.

But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a