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"Insolent girl!" said Elizabeth to herself. "You are much

mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as

this. I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the

malice of Mr. Darcy." She then sought her eldest sister, who had

undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley. Jane

met her with a smile of such sweet complacency, a glow of such

happy expression, as sufficiently marked how well she was

satisfied with the occurrences of the evening. Elizabeth

instantly read her feelings; and, at that moment, solicitude for

Wickham, resentment against his enemies, and everything else,

gave way before the hope of Jane's being in the fairest way for

happiness.

"I want to know," said she, with a countenance no less smiling

than her sister's, "what you have learnt about Mr. Wickham. But

perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged to think of any

third person, in which case you may be sure of my pardon."