I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have
supposed about Mr
We may as well wait, perhaps, till the
circumstance occurs, before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour
thereupon
I assure
you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with
myself, I should not pay him half so much deference
I declare I do not
know a more awful object than Darcy on particular occasions, and in
particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening,
when he has nothing to do.”

Mr
Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was
rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh
Miss Bingley warmly
resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her
brother for talking such nonsense
“I see your design, Bingley,” said his friend
“You dislike an argument,
and want to silence this.”

“Perhaps I do
Arguments are too much like disputes
Darcy had much better finish his letter.”

Mr
Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter
When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth
for the indulgence of some music
Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to
the pianoforte, and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the
way, which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she
seated herself
Hurst sang with her sister; and while they were thus employed,
Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books
that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr
She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of
admiration to so great a man, and yet that he should look at her because
he disliked her was still more strange
The supposition did not pain her
She liked
him too little to care for his approbation
After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a
lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr
Darcy, drawing near
Elizabeth, said to her,--

“Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an
opportunity of dancing a reel?”

She smiled, but made no answer
He repeated the question, with some
surprise at her silence
“Oh,” said she, “I heard you before; but I could not immediately
determine what to say in reply
He really
believed that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he
should be in some danger
Miss Bingley saw, or suspected, enough to be jealous; and her great
anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some
assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth
She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of
their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance
Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips be placed
in the gallery at Pemberley
Put them next to your great-uncle the
judge
They are in the same profession, you know, only in different
lines
“I did not know that you intended to walk,” said Miss Bingley, in some
confusion, lest they had been overheard
“You used us abominably ill,” answered Mrs
Hurst, “running away without
telling us that you were coming out.”

Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr
Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk
by herself
Darcy felt their rudeness,
and immediately said,--

“This walk is not wide enough for our party
We had better go into the
avenue.”

But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them,
laughingly answered,--

“No, no; stay where you are
You are charmingly grouped, and appear to
uncommon advantage
The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a
fourth
Good-bye.”

She then ran gaily off, rejoicing, as she rambled about, in the hope of
being at home again in a day or two
Jane was already so much recovered
as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening
[Illustration:

     “Piling up the fire”

[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]




CHAPTER XI
Their powers
of conversation were considerable
They could describe an entertainment
with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their
acquaintance with spirit
But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object;
Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy, and she had
something to say to him before he had advanced many steps
He addressed
himself directly to Miss Bennet with a polite congratulation; Mr
Hurst
also made her a slight bow, and said he was “very glad;” but diffuseness
and warmth remained for Bingley’s salutation
He was full of joy and
attention
He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone else
Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great
delight
Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the
card-table--but in vain
She had obtained private intelligence that Mr
Darcy did not wish for cards, and Mr
Hurst soon found even his open
petition rejected