第81章 (2/2)

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mestic comforts. She was not sorry,however,to have the recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang.Poor Charlotte!it was melancholy to leave her to such society!But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go,she did not seem to ask for compassion.Her home and her housekeeping,her parish and her poultry,and all their dependent concerns,had not yet lost their charms.

    At length the chaise arrived,the trunks were fastened on,the parcels placed within,and it was pronounced to be ready.After an affectionate parting between the friends,Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr. Collins, and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her with his best respects to all her family,not forgetting his thanks for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his compliments to Mr. and Mrs.Gardiner,though unknown.He then handed her in,Maria followed,and the door was on the point of being closed,when he suddenly reminded them,with some consternation,that they had hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies at Rosings.

    “But,”he added,“you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.”

    Elizabeth made no objection;the door was then allowed to be shut,and the carriage drove off.

    “Good gracious!”cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence,“it seems but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!”

    “A great many indeed,”said her companion with a sigh.

    “We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! How much I shall have to tell!”

    Elizabeth added privately,“And how much I shall have to conceal!”

    Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's house,where they were to remain a few days.

    Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had reserved for them.But Jane was to go home with her,and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.

    It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals.To know that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane,and must,at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away,was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate;and her fear,if she once entered on the subject,of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister further.