第771页 / 共817页

They walked on without knowing in what direction. There was too

much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any

other objects. She soon learnt that they were indebted for their

present good understanding to the efforts of his aunt, who did

call on him in her return through London, and there relate her

journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the substance of her

conversation with Elizabeth; dwelling emphatically on every

expression of the latter, which, in her Ladyship's apprehension,

peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance, in the belief

that such a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that

promise from her nephew which she had refused to give. But,

unluckily for her Ladyship, its effect had been exactly

contrariwise.