“That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much.”And though he exclaimed at the term,she found that it had been pretty much the case.

“Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen.”

“No indeed;I felt nothing but surprise.”

She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to each,to be dwelt on farther.

“Did you speak from your own observation,”said she,“when you told him that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?”

“And your assurance of it,I suppose,carried immediate conviction to him.”

“I must ask whether you were surprised?”said Elizabeth.

“What could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane!”was a wonder which introduced the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with their engagement; his friend had given him the earliest information of it.

After walking several miles in a leisurely manner,and too busy to know anything about it,they found at last,on examining their watches,that it was time to be at home.

“Your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you.My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness, and I confess that I did not expect to receive more than my due.”