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

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

He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance,and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption;which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption,she soon learnt that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn,and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend.

“It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess one thing,which for a time,and not unjustly, offended him.I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter,that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded,lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments.He has heartily forgiven me now.”

“From the former.I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here;and I was convinced of her affection.”