Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William atall shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.
She was not equal,however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left themtogether, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for theextraordinary kindness she was treated with.
At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to beamused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was thesecond volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasantit is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is noenjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of abook! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have notan excellent library.
And as to laughter, we willnot expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without asubject.
My feelingsare not puffed about with every attempt to move them.
Theyhad often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on whichMrs.
The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasingcivilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at acompliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished thangratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long beforeher mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriagewas extremely agreeable to her.