“A man who has once been refused!How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love?Is there one among the sex,who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman?There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!”
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:
She was a little revived,however,by his bringing back his coffee cup himself;and she seized the opportunity of saying:
“Yes,she will remain there till Christmas.”
“You are very cruel,”said her sister,“you will not let me smile, and are provoking me to it every moment.”
“The men shan't come and part us,I am determined.We want none of them;do we?”
“And quite alone?Have all her friends left her?”
“And how impossible in others!”
Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in very great spirits; she had seen enough of Bingley's behaviour to Jane,to be convinced that she would get him at last;and her expectations of advantage to her family,when in a happy humour,were so far beyond reason,that she was quite disappointed at not seeing him there again the next day,to make his proposals.