Page 699 sur 817

"Yet it is hard," she sometimes thought, "that this poor man

cannot come to a house, which he has legally hired, without

raising all this speculation! I will leave him to himself."

In spite of what her sister declared, and really believed to be

her feelings, in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could

easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it. They were

more disturbed, more unequal, than she had often seen them.

The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their

parents, about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again.

"As soon as ever Mr. Bingley comes, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet,

"you will wait on him, of course."

"No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised,

if I went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it

ended in nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand

again."