صفحة 276 من 817

Miss Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very

first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled

in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret

at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in

Hertfordshire before he left the country.

Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the

rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed

affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss

Darcy's praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions

were again dwelt on; and Caroline boasted joyfully of their

increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment

of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. She

wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate

of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of

the latter with regard to new furniture.