Miss Bingley’s impertinence had been very shortly silenced. She was then so much astonished by Mr. Darcy’s proposal, as to be incapable of thinking of any thing else. But the following morning she had recovered her spirits, and was in great spirits.
She met Elizabeth at breakfast, and to her great joy, pronounced her to be a most charming woman. Elizabeth, not inattentive to her praise, was at the same time quite inattentive to her person. She recollected her own happiness, and could not be sorry that she had made so favorable an impression. She felt no apprehension of any interference, and indeed had no reason to be apprehensive. Mr. Darcy had been very open in his approbation of her sister, and Elizabeth had no doubt that he would always speak of her with respect.
The conversation then turned to Bingley, and to the possibility of his arriving at Netherfield with a wife. Elizabeth, of course, could not avoid being very much surprised by her sister’s observation, and her own answer. She had no expectation of any interference.
“And do you really think,” said Miss Bingley, “that Mr. Bingley will be very happy with Jane?”
“I do,” replied Elizabeth. “I am very certain he will be happy. He is so amiable, so excellent, so sensible, so good-tempered, so amiable in his disposition, that I am persuaded he will make his wife the happiest woman in the world.”
“Oh, you are a most charming creature!” cried Miss Bingley. “And I am delighted to hear you say so. I have always said that Jane was the handsomest girl in the world, and I hope that she will be married by next spring.”
Elizabeth could not help smiling at her cousin’s admiration.
“I believe,” said she, “that you are in love with her.”
“And I believe,” said Miss Bingley, “that you are in love with Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth blushed, but did not deny the charge. She was, however, very much amused by her cousin’s impertinence.
Miss Bingley then asked her if she were not going to pay a visit to Pemberley, and if she were not determined to get acquainted with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth answered in the affirmative to both questions, and Miss Bingley replied,
“Then I am sure that you will be very happy. He is a most agreeable man, and I have no doubt that you will be able to persuade him to do whatever you please. He is exceedingly fond of you, and I am sure he will do any thing to oblige you.”
Elizabeth smiled at her cousin’s assurance, and was exceedingly grateful for her kindness. She knew that she had no reason to be afraid of him, and she did not doubt that she would be able to get acquainted with him.
After breakfast, Elizabeth went to her own room, and sat down to write to Jane. She told her of her interview with Mr. Darcy, and of the conversation which she had with Miss Bingley. She concluded by saying that she had no doubt that she would be able to get acquainted with Mr. Darcy, and that she was very happy that she had made so favorable an impression.