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Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and

looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats

there assembled, a doubt of his being present had never occurred

to her. The certainty of meeting him had not been checked by any

of those recollections that might not unreasonably have alarmed

her. She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in

the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained

unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might

be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose the

dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted, for Mr.

Darcy's pleasure, in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers;

and though this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of

his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr. Denny, to whom Lydia

eagerly applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged

to go to town on business the day before, and was not yet

returned; adding, with a significant smile,--