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But on her returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was

finished, she saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to

fear that her mother had been too ingenious for her. On opening

the door, she perceived her sister and Bingley standing together

over the hearth, as if engaged in earnest conversation; and had

this led to no suspicion, the faces of both, as they hastily

turned round and moved away from each other, would have told it

all. Their situation was awkward enough; but hers she thought was

still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by either; and Elizabeth

was on the point of going away again, when Bingley, who as well

as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and, whispering a few

words to her sister, ran out of the room.

Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence

would give pleasure; and, instantly embracing her, acknowledged,

with the liveliest emotion, that she was the happiest creature in

the world.