It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals.To know that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane,and must,at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away,was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate;and her fear,if she once entered on the subject,of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister further.
On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared;and he took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.
“A great many indeed,”said her companion with a sigh.
“Good gracious!”cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence,“it seems but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!”