Pagina 373 van 817

But when Elizabeth told of his silence, it did not seem very

likely, even to Charlotte's wishes, to be the case; and, after

various conjectures, they could at last only suppose his visit to

proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was

the more probable from the time of year. All field sports were

over. Within doors there was Lady Catherine, books, and a

billiard table, but gentlemen cannot be always within doors; and

in the nearness of the Parsonage, or the pleasantness of the walk

to it, or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a

temptation from this period of walking thither almost every day.

They called at various times of the morning, sometimes

separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by

their aunt.