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"It must have been his sisters' doing. They were certainly no

friends to his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at,

since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many

respects. But when they see, as I trust they will, that their

brother is happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we

shall be on good terms again: though we can never be what we once

were to each other."

"That is the most unforgiving speech," said Elizabeth, "that I

ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see

you again the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard."

"Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last

November he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my

being indifferent would have prevented his coming down again?"

"He made a little mistake, to be sure; but it is to the credit of

his modesty."

This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his

diffidence, and the little value he put on his own good

qualities.