Chapter 11

by Jane Austen

　　When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to hersister, and seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her intothe drawing-room, where she was welcomed by her two friendswith many professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seenthem so agreeable as they were during the hour which passedbefore the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversationwere considerable. They could describe an entertainment withaccuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at theiracquaintance with spirit.But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the firstobject; Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy,and she had something to say to him before he had advancedmany steps. He addressed himself to Miss Bennet, with a politecongratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and saidhe was "very glad"; but diffuseness and warmth remained forBingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The firsthalf-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should sufferfrom the change of room; and she removed at his desire to theother side of the fireplace, that she might be further from thedoor. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyoneelse. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all withgreat delight.When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of thecard-table-- but in vain. She had obtained private intelligencethat Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon foundeven his open petition rejected. She assured him that no oneintended to play, and the silence of the whole party on thesubject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing todo, but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep.Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs.Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets andrings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation withMiss Bennet.Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watchingMr. Darcy's progress through his book, as in reading her own;and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or lookingat his page. She could not win him, however, to anyconversation; he merely answered her question, and read on. Atlength, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with herown book, which she had only chosen because it was the secondvolume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasant itis to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is noenjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anythingthan of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall bemiserable if I have not an excellent library."No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside herbook, and cast her eyes round the room in quest for someamusement; when hearing her brother mentioning a ball to MissBennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said:"By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a danceat Netherfield? I would advise you, before you determine on it,to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken ifthere are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather apunishment than a pleasure.""If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if hechooses, before it begins-- but as for the ball, it is quite a settledthing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, Ishall send round my cards.""I should like balls infinitely better," she replied, "if they werecarried on in a different manner; but there is somethinginsufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. Itwould surely be much more rational if conversation instead ofdancing were made the order of the day.""Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it wouldnot be near so much like a ball."Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she got upand walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and shewalked well; but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was stillinflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, sheresolved on one effort more, and, turning to Elizabeth, said:"Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example,and take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshingafter sitting so long in one attitude."Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. MissBingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr.Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty ofattention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, andunconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to jointheir party, but he declined it, observing that he could imaginebut two motives for their choosing to walk up and down theroom together, with either of which motives his joining themwould interfere. "What could he mean? She was dying to knowwhat could be his meaning?"-- and asked Elizabeth whether shecould at all understand him?"Not at all," was her answer; "but depend upon it, he means tobe severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will beto ask nothing about it."Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr.Darcy in anything, and persevered therefore in requiring anexplanation of his two motives."I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said he,as soon as she allowed him to speak. "You either choose thismethod of passing the evening because you are in each other'sconfidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you areconscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage inwalking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and ifthe second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.""Oh! shocking!" cried Miss Bingley. "I never heard anything soabominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?""Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination," said Elizabeth."We can all plague and punish one another. Tease him-- laughat him. Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to bedone.""But upon my honour, I do not. I do assure you that myintimacy has not yet taught me that. Tease calmness ofmanner and presence of mind! No, no-- feel he may defy usthere. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if youplease, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy mayhug himself.""Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. "That is anuncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue,for it would be a great loss to me to have many suchacquaintances. I dearly love a laugh.""Miss Bingley," said he, "has given me more credit than can be.The wisest and the best of men-- nay, the wisest and best of theiractions-- may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose firstobject in life is a joke.""Certainly," replied Elizabeth-- "there are such people, but Ihope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what iswise and good. Follies and nonsense, whims andinconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at themwhenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what youare without.""Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been thestudy of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose astrong understanding to ridicule.""Such as vanity and pride.""Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride-- where there is areal superiority of mind, pride will be always under goodregulation."Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile."Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said MissBingley; "and pray what is the result?""I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect.He owns it himself without disguise.""No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I havefaults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. Mytemper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding--certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannotforget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor theiroffenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about withevery attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps becalled resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.""That is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacableresentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen yourfault well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me.""There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to someparticular evil-- a natural defect, which not even the besteducation can overcome.""And your defect is to hate everybody.""And yours, "he replied with a smile, "is willfully tomisunderstand them.""Do let us have a little music," cried Miss Bingley, tired of aconversation in which she had no share. "Louisa, you will notmind my waking Mr. Hurst?"Her sister had not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte wasopened; and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was notsorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth toomuch attention.