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After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if Mr.

Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the

Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town, and

attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation and

the concern of everybody were well talked over. To Elizabeth,

however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his

absence had been self-imposed.

"I found," said he, "as the time drew near, that I had better not

meet Mr. Darcy;--that to be in the same room, the same party with

him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear,

and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself."