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Chapter　II　of　Volume　III　（Chap。　44）
　ELIZABETH　had　settled　it　that　Mr。　Darcy　would　bring　his　sister　to　visit　her　the　very　day　after　her　reaching　Pemberley；　and　was　consequently　resolved　not　to　be　out　of　sight　of　the　inn　the　whole　of　that　morning。　But　her　conclusion　was　false；　for　on　the　very　morning　after　their　own　arrival　at　Lambton；　these　visitors　came。　They　had　been　walking　about　the　place　with　some　of　their　new　friends；　and　were　just　returned　to　the　inn　to　dress　themselves　for　dining　with　the　same　family；　when　the　sound　of　a　carriage　drew　them　to　a　window；　and　they　saw　a　gentleman　and　lady　in　a　curricle；　driving　up　the　street。　Elizabeth；　immediately　recognising　the　livery；　guessed　what　it　meant；　and　imparted　no　small　degree　of　surprise　to　her　relations　by　acquainting　them　with　the　honour　which　she　expected。　Her　uncle　and　aunt　were　all　amazement；　and　the　embarrassment　of　her　manner　as　she　spoke；　joined　to　the　circumstance　itself；　and　many　of　the　circumstances　of　the　preceding　day；　opened　to　them　a　new　idea　on　the　business。　Nothing　had　ever　suggested　it　before；　but　they　now　felt　that　there　was　no　other　way　of　accounting　for　such　attentions　from　such　a　quarter　than　by　supposing　a　partiality　for　their　niece。　While　these　newly…born　notions　were　passing　in　their　heads；　the　perturbation　of　Elizabeth's　feelings　was　every　moment　increasing。　She　was　quite　amazed　at　her　own　discomposure；　but　amongst　other　causes　of　disquiet；　she　dreaded　lest　the　partiality　of　the　brother　should　have　said　too　much　in　her　favour；　and　more　than　commonly　anxious　to　please；　she　naturally　suspected　that　every　power　of　pleasing　would　fail　her。
She　retreated　from　the　window；　fearful　of　being　seen；　and　as　she　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　endeavouring　to　compose　herself；　saw　such　looks　of　enquiring　surprise　in　her　uncle　and　aunt　as　made　every　thing　worse。
Miss　Darcy　and　her　brother　appeared；　and　this　formidable　introduction　took　place。　With　astonishment　did　Elizabeth　see　that　her　new　acquaintance　was　at　least　as　much　embarrassed　as　herself。　Since　her　being　at　Lambton；　she　had　heard　that　Miss　Darcy　was　exceedingly　proud；　but　the　observation　of　a　very　few　minutes　convinced　her　that　she　was　only　exceedingly　shy。　She　found　it　difficult　to　obtain　even　a　word　from　her　beyond　a　monosyllable。
Miss　Darcy　was　tall；　and　on　a　larger　scale　than　Elizabeth；　and；　though　little　more　than　sixteen；　her　figure　was　formed；　and　her　appearance　womanly　and　graceful。　She　was　less　handsome　than　her　brother；　but　there　was　sense　and　good　humour　in　her　face；　and　her　manners　were　perfectly　unassuming　and　gentle。　Elizabeth；　who　had　expected　to　find　in　her　as　acute　and　unembarrassed　an　observer　as　ever　Mr。　Darcy　had　been；　was　much　relieved　by　discerning　such　different　feelings。
They　had　not　been　long　together　before　Darcy　told　her　that　Bingley　was　also　coming　to　wait　on　her；　and　she　had　barely　time　to　express　her　satisfaction；　and　prepare　for　such　a　visitor；　when　Bingley's　quick　step　was　heard　on　the　stairs；　and　in　a　moment　he　entered　the　room。　All　Elizabeth's　anger　against　him　had　been　long　done　away；　but；　had　she　still　felt　any；　it　could　hardly　have　stood　its　ground　against　the　unaffected　cordiality　with　which　he　expressed　himself　on　seeing　her　again。　He　enquired　in　a　friendly；　though　general　way；　after　her　family；　and　looked　and　spoke　with　the　same　good…humoured　ease　that　he　had　ever　done。
To　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Gardiner　he　was　scarcely　a　less　interesting　personage　than　to　herself。　They　had　long　wished　to　see　him。　The　whole　party　before　them；　indeed；　excited　a　lively　attention。　The　suspicions　which　had　just　arisen；　of　Mr。　Darcy　and　their　niece；　directed　their　observation　towards　each　with　an　earnest；　though　guarded；　enquiry；　and　they　soon　drew　from　those　enquiries　the　full　conviction　that　one　of　them　at　least　knew　what　it　was　to　love。　Of　the　lady's　sensations　they　remained　a　little　in　doubt；　but　that　the　gentleman　was　overflowing　with　admiration　was　evident　enough。
Elizabeth；　on　her　side；　had　much　to　do。　She　wanted　to　ascertain　the　feelings　of　each　of　her　visitors；　she　wanted　to　compose　her　own；　and　to　make　herself　agreeable　to　all；　and　in　the　latter　object；　where　she　feared　most　to　fail；　she　was　most　sure　of　success；　for　those　to　whom　she　endeavoured　to　give　pleasure　were　prepossessed　in　her　favour。　Bingley　was　ready；　Georgiana　was　eager；　and　Darcy　determined　to　be　pleased。
In　seeing　Bingley；　her　thoughts　naturally　flew　to　her　sister；　and　oh！　how　ardently　did　she　long　to　know　whether　any　of　his　were　directed　in　a　like　manner。　Sometimes　she　could　fancy　that　he　talked　less　than　on　former　occasions；　and　once　or　twice　pleased　herself　with　the　notion　that　as　he　looked　at　her；　he　was　trying　to　trace　a　resemblance。　But　though　this　might　be　imaginary；　she　could　not　be　deceived　as　to　his　behaviour　to　Miss　Darcy；　who　had　been　set　up　as　a　rival　of　Jane。　No　look　appeared　on　either　side　that　spoke　particular　regard。　Nothing　occurred　between　them　that　could　justify　the　hopes　of　his　sister。　On　this　point　she　was　soon　satisfied；　and　two　or　three　little　circumstances　occurred　ere　they　parted　which；　in　her　anxious　interpretation；　denoted　a　recollection　of　Jane　not　untinctured　by　tenderness；　and　a　wish　of　saying　more　that　might　lead　to　the　mention　of　her；　had　he　dared。　He　observed　to　her；　at　a　moment　when　the　others　were　talking　together；　and　in　a　tone　which　had　something　of　real　regret；　that　it　‘‘was　a　very　long　time　since　he　had　had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　her　''　and；　before　she　could　reply；　he　added；　‘‘It　is　above　eight　months。　We　have　not　met　since　the　26th　of　November；　when　we　were　all　dancing　together　at　Netherfield。''
Elizabeth　was　pleased　to　find　his　memory　so　exact；　and　he　afterwards　took　occasion　to　ask　her；　when　unattended　to　by　any　of　the　rest；　whether　all　her　sisters　were　at　Longbourn。　There　was　not　much　in　the　question；　nor　in　the　preceding　remark；　but　there　was　a　look　and　manner　which　gave　them　meaning。
It　was　not　often　that　she　could　turn　her　eyes　on　Mr。　Darcy　himself；　but；　whenever　she　did　catch　a　glimpse；　she　saw　an　expression　of　general　complaisance；　and　in　all　that　he　said　she　heard　an　accent　so　far　removed　from　hauteur　or　disdain　of　his　companions；　as　convinced　her　that　the　improvement　of　manners　which　she　had　yesterday　witnessed；　however　temporary　its　existence　might　prove；　had　at　least　outlived　one　day。　When　she　saw　him　thus　seeking　the　acquaintance　and　courting　the　good　opinion　of　people；　with　whom　any　intercourse　a　few　months　ago　would　have　been　a　disgrace；　when　she　saw　him　thus　civil；　not　only　to　herself；　but　to　the　very　relations　whom　he　had　openly　disdained；　and　recollected　their　last　lively　scene　in　Hunsford　Parsonage；　the　difference；　the　change　was　so　great；　and　struck　so　forcibly　on　her　mind；　that　she　could　hardly　restrain　her　astonishment　from　being　visible。　Never；　even　in　the　company　of　his　dear　friends　at　Netherfield；　or　his　dignified　relations　at　Rosings；　had　she　seen　him　so　desirous　to　please；　so　free　from　self…consequence　or　unbending　reserve；　as　now；　when　no　importance　could　result　from　the　success　of　his　endeavours；　and　when　even　the　acquaintance　of　those　to　whom　his　attentions　were　addressed　would　draw　down　the　ridicule　and　censure　of　the　ladies　both　of　Netherfield　and　Rosings。
Their　visitors　staid　with　them　above　half　an　hour；　and　when　they　arose　to　depart；　Mr。　Darcy　called　on　his　sister　to　join　him　in　expressing　their　wish　of　seeing　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Gardiner　and　Miss　Bennet　to　dinner　at　Pemberley　before　they　left　the　country。　Miss　Darcy；　though　with　a　diffidence　which　marked　her　little　in　the　habit　of　giving　invitations；　readily　obeyed。　Mrs。　Gardiner　looked　at　her　niece；　desirous　of　knowing　how　she；　whom　the　invitation　most　concerned；　felt　disposed　as　to　its　acceptance；　but　Elizabeth　had　turned　away　her　head。　Presuming；　however；　that　this　studied　avoidance　spoke　rather　a　momentary　embarrassment；　than　any　dislike　of　the　proposal；　and　seeing　in　her　husband；　who　was　fond　of　society；　a　perfect　willingness　to　accept　it；　she　ventured　to　engage　for　her　attendance；　and　the　day　after　the　next　was　fixed　on。
Bingley　expressed　great　pleasure　in　the　certainty　of　seeing　Elizabeth　again；　having　still　a　great　deal　to　say　to　her；　and　many　enquiries　to　make　after　all　their　Hertfordshire　friends。　Elizabeth；　construing　all　this　into　a　wish　of　hearing　her　speak　of　her　sister；　was　pleased；　and　on　this　account；　as　well　as　some　others；　found　herself；　when　their　visitors　left　them；　capable　of　considering　the　last　half　hour　with　some　satisfaction；　though　while　it　was　passing　the　enjoyment　of　it　had　been　little。　Eager　to　be　alone；　and　fearful　of　enquiries　or　hints　from　her　uncle　and　aunt；　she　staid　with　them　only　long　enough　to　hear　their　favourable　opinion　of　Bingley；　and　then　hurried　away　to　dress。
But　she　had　no　reason　to　fear　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Gardiner's　curiosity；　it　was　not　their　wish　to　force　her　communication。　It　was　evident　that　she　was　much　better　acquainted　with　Mr。　Darcy　than　they　had　before　any　idea　of；　it　was　evident　that　he　was　very　much　in　love　with　her。　They　saw　much　to　interest；　but　nothing　to　justify　enquiry。
Of　Mr。　Darcy　it　was　now　a　matter　of　anxiety　to　think　well；　and；　as　far　as　their　acquaintance　reached；　there　was　no　fault　to　find。　They　could　not　be　untouched　by　his　politeness；　and；　had　they　drawn　his　character　from　their　own　feelings　and　his　servant's　report；　without　any　reference　to　any　other　account；　the　circle　in　Hertfordshire　to　which　he　was　known　would　not　have　recognised　it　for　Mr。　Darcy。　There　was　now　an　interest；　however；　in　believing　the　housekeeper；　and　they　soon　became　sensible　that　the　authority　of　a　servant　who　had　known　him　since　he　was　four　years　old；　and　whose　own　manners　indicated　respectability；　was　not　to　be　hastily　rejected。　Neither　had　any　thing　occurred　in　the　intelligence　of　their　Lambton　friends　that　could　materially　lessen　its　weight。　They　had　nothing　to　accuse　him　of　but　pride；　pride　he　probably　had；　and　if　not；　it　would　certainly　be　imputed　by　the　inhabitants　of　a　small　market…town　where　the　family　did　not　visit。　It　was　acknowledged；　however；　that　he　was　a　liberal　man；　and　did　much　good　among　the　poor。
With　respect　to　Wickham；　the　travellers　soon　found　that　he　was　not　held　there　in　much　estimation；　for　though　the　chief　of　his　concerns　with　the　son　of　his　pat