Pagina 731 di 817

He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good

wishes and affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily

expressed her delight in the prospect of their relationship. They

shook hands with great cordiality; and then, till her sister came

down, she had to listen to all he had to say of his own

happiness, and of Jane's perfections; and in spite of his being a

lover, Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity

to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the

excellent understanding and super-excellent disposition of Jane,

and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and

himself.