Seite 249 von 817

"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your

representation of all this might make me quite easy. But I know

the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully

deceiving anyone; and all that I can hope in this case is, that

she is deceived herself."

"That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea,

since you will not take comfort in mine: believe her to be

deceived, by all means. You have now done your duty by her, and

must fret no longer."

"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in

accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to

marry elsewhere?"

"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth; "and if, upon

mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his

two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his

wife, I advise you, by all means, to refuse him."