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The gentlemen came;and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes;but,alas!the ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee,in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit of a chair.And on the gentlemen's approaching,one of the girls moved closer to her than ever,and said,in a whisper:

“The men shan't come and part us,I am determined.We want none of them;do we?”

Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes,envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee;and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!

“A man who has once been refused!How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love?Is there one among the sex,who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman?There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!”

She was a little revived,however,by his bringing back his coffee cup himself;and she seized the opportunity of saying:

“Is your sister at Pemberley still?”

“Yes,she will remain there till Christmas.”

“And quite alone?Have all her friends left her?”

“Mrs.Annesley is with her.The others have been gone on to Scarborough,these three weeks.”

She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse with her,he might have better success.He stood by her, however,for some minutes,in silence;and,at last,on the young lady's whispering to Elizabeth again,he walked away.

When the tea-things were removed,and the card-tables placed, the ladies all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him,when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her mother's rapacity for whist players,and in a few moments after seated with the rest of the party.She now lost every expectation of pleasure.They were confined for the evening at different tables,and she had nothing to hope,but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself.