Pagina 425 van 817

Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it

to contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation

at all of its contents. But such as they were, it may be well

supposed how eagerly she went through them, and what a

contrariety of emotion they excited. Her feelings as she read

were scarcely to be defined. With amazement did she first

understand that he believed any apology to be in his power; and

steadfastly was she persuaded, that he could have no explanation

to give, which a just sense of shame would not conceal. With a

strong prejudice against everything he might say, she began his

account of what had happened at Netherfield. She read with an

eagerness which hardly left her power of comprehension; and from

impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring, was

incapable of attending to the sense of the one before her eyes.