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Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly, with the

readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very

pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight

observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some

time without speaking to anybody. At length, however, his

civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Elizabeth after the

health of her family. She answered him in the usual way; and,

after a moment's pause, added,--

"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you

never happened to see her there?"

She was perfectly sensible that he never had: but she wished to

see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed

between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little

confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to

meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no further, and the

gentlemen soon afterwards went away.

CHAPTER XXXI.