صفحة 558 من 817

Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss

Bingley, and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss

Darcy, without calling her attention. This observation would not

have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter, had they

not been seated at an inconvenient distance; but she was not

sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much: her own thoughts

were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the

gentlemen would enter the room: she wished, she feared, that the

master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished

or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in

this manner a quarter of an hour, without hearing Miss Bingley's

voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry

after the health of her family. She answered with equal

indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.