Pride and Prejudice

Jane receives a letter from Miss Bingley reiterating their intention to stay in London through the winter and praising Miss Darcy, whom she believes will marry Bingley. With this letter, “[h]ope was over, entirely over” (129). Elizabeth is indignant. She believes Bingley truly loves Jane and that his “easiness of temper” makes him “the slave of his designing friends” (129). She feels he’s entitled to sacrifice his own happiness if he chooses but can’t forgive him for sacrificing her sister’s, too.

Mrs. Bennet continues to complain, to the annoyance of Jane and Elizabeth. Jane insists she will be over Bingley soon and that she simply misinterpreted Bingley’s feelings; Elizabeth tells her she is “angelic” and “too good” (130). She goes on to say that “[t]he more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it” (131) and that “every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters” (131). Jane, sensing Elizabeth is referring to Bingley and Charlotte, pleads with her not to think thoughts that “will ruin [her] happiness” (131) and to remember that people’s circumstances sometimes dictate their behavior. Elizabeth tells Jane that if Charlotte actually loved

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