(Jane Austen - Pride and prejudice ) With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room onleaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee.
His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best menthat ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can neverbe in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul bya thousand tender recollections.
Thepossibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough tointerest all her tender feelings; and nothing remained therefore to bedone, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each,and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not beotherwise explained.
He spoke well; but there were feelings besidesthose of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on thesubject of tenderness than of pride.
She still cherished avery tender affection for Bingley.
She saw all the glories of the camp--its tentsstretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the youngand the gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and, to complete the view, shesaw herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least sixofficers at once.
On this pointshe was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurredere they parted, which, in her anxious interpretation, denoted arecollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of sayingmore that might lead to the mention of her, had he dared.
To Jane, he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused,and whose merit she had undervalued; but to her own more extensiveinformation, he was the person to whom the whole family were indebtedfor the first of benefits, and whom she regarded herself with aninterest, if not quite so tender, at least as reasonable and just aswhat Jane felt for Bingley.