第137章[第1頁/共5頁]

After walking several miles in a leisurely manner,and too busy to know anything about it,they found at last,on examining their watches,that it was time to be at home.

“No indeed;I felt nothing but surprise.”

She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to each,to be dwelt on farther.

Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his friend.

“Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen.”

“I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me,when we met at Pemberley.You blamed me for coming?”

“It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess one thing,which for a time,and not unjustly, offended him.I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter,that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded,lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments.He has heartily forgiven me now.”