Page 308 of 817

Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She

endeavoured to persuade herself that she did not regret it; but

she could no longer be blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After

waiting at home every morning for a fortnight, and inventing

every evening a fresh excuse for her, the visitor did at last

appear; but the shortness of her stay, and, yet more, the

alteration of her manner, would allow Jane to deceive herself no

longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister

will prove what she felt:--