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The present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse

for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore,

could be fairly conjectured from that,--though Elizabeth, who was

by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was

perfectly aware that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could

have borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would

have spared her, she thought, one sleepless night out of two.

When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual

philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in

the habit of saying; made no mention of the business that had

taken him away; and it was some time before his daughters had

courage to speak of it.