Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes,envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee;and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!
“You are very cruel,”said her sister,“you will not let me smile, and are provoking me to it every moment.”
Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper; but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the others,and she had no opportunity of detaining them.
“That is a question which I hardly know how to answer.We all love to instruct,though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante.”
The gentlemen came;and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes;but,alas!the ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee,in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit of a chair.And on the gentlemen's approaching,one of the girls moved closer to her than ever,and said,in a whisper:
“Mrs.Annesley is with her.The others have been gone on to Scarborough,these three weeks.”