“What do you mean?”
“I advise Mr.Darcy,and Lizzy,and Kitty,”said Mrs.Bennet,“to walk to Oakham Mount this morning.It is a nice long walk,and Mr.Darcy has never seen the view.”
Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home.Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount,and Elizabeth silently consented.As she went upstairs to get ready,Mrs.Bennet followed her,saying:
The evening passed quietly,unmarked by anything extraordinary. The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed,the unacknowledged were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth;and Elizabeth,agitated and confused,rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so;for,besides the immediate embarrassment,there were other evils before her.She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known;she was aware that no one liked him but Jane;and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.
Another entreaty that she would be serious,however,produced the desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment.When convinced on that article,Miss Bennet had nothing further to wish.
As soon as they entered,Bingley looked at her so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth,as left no doubt of his good information; and he soon afterwards said aloud,“Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?”