Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do.She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own,and to make herself agreeable to all;and in the latter object, where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success,for those to whom she endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready,Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined,to be pleased.
She retreated from the window,fearful of being seen;and as she walked up and down the room,endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse.
Miss Darcy was tall,and on a larger scale than Elizabeth;and, though little more than sixteen,her figure was formed,and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother; but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle.Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.
Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards took occasion to ask her,when unattended to by any of the rest,whether all her sisters were at Longbourn.There was not much in the question,nor in the preceding remark;but there was a look and a manner which gave them meaning.