Pagina 563 di 817

Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss Darcy's meditated

elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy was

possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley's connections

her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from that

very wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of

their becoming hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a

plan; and without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to

separate him from Miss Bennet, it is probable that it might add

something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend.