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Chapter eighteen
Till elizaath entered the drawing room at netherfield
And looked in vain for mister ickm among the cluster of red coatthey're assembled a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her
The certainty of meeting
Him had not been checked by any of those recollections
That might not unreasonably have alarmed her
She had dressed with more than usual care and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubded of his hard trusting that it was not more than might be one in the course of the evening
But in an inciant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely ommitted for mister darcey's pleasure in the billeyinvitation to the officers
And though this was not exactly the case
The absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend mister danny to whomlidia eagerly applied and who told them that icickhahad been obged ged go to town on business the day before
And was not yet returned
Adding with a significant smile
I did not imagine his business would have called him away
Just now if he had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman
Here this part of his intelligence though unheard by lydia
Was caued by elizabeth
And as it deshort her
That darcy was not less answable for vickam's absence
Than if her first surmise had been just every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate disappointtthat she could hardly reply with tolerable ciquriity to the polite inquiries
Which she directly afterwards approach to make attention for parents
Patients with darsey was injury to vick m
She was resolved against any sort of conversation with him
And turned away with a degree of ilill humor
Which she could not wholly surmount even in speaking to mister binley whose blind parcharity provoked her
But elizabeth was not formed for ill humor
And though every prospect of her own was destroyed for the evening
It could not well long on her spirits
And having told all her grief to shartte lucas
Whom she had not seen for a week
She was soon able to make a voluntary transition to the audities of her cousin
And to point him out to her particular notice
The two first dances however brought a return of distress
They were dances of motification
Mister collins
Awkward and solum apologizing instead of attending and often moving wrong without being aware of it gave her all the shame and misery
Which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can gave the moment of her release from him was ecstasy
She danced next with an officer
And had the refreshment of talking of wicham and of hearing
That he was universally light
When those dances were over
She returned to shartte lucis
And was in conversation with her
When she found herself suddenly addressed by mister darcy who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand
That without knowing what she did
She accepted him
He walked away again immediately
And she was left to fed over her own wanted presence of mind charlolet tried to consule her
I dare say you will find him very agreeable heaven for bed
That would be the greatest misfortune of all to find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate
Do not wish me set unevil
When the dancing recommenced however endarcy approach to claim her hand charload could not help cautioning her in a whisper
Not to be a simple ton
And allow her fancy for wicham m make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man
Often times his consequence elizabeth made no answer and took her place in the set amazed at the dignity to which she was arrived in being
Allowed to stand opposite to mister darcy and reading in her neighbours look their equal amazement and beholding it
They stood for some time without speaking a word
And she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances
And at first was result not to break it till suddenly fancing that it would be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk
She made some slight observation on the dance
He replied and was again silent after a pause of some minutes
She addressed him a second time with it is your turn to say something now mister darcy i talked about the dance
And you want to make some kind of remark on the size of the room war the number of couples
He smiled and assured her
That whatever she wished him to say she should be d dary
Well that reply will do for the present perhaps by and buy
I may observe that private balls are much pleaster than public ones
But now we may be silent do you talk by rule
Then while you were dancing
Sometimes one must speak a little
You know it would look god d be entirely ililfor hhalf an hour together
Yet for the advantage of sam conversation ought to be so arranged
As that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible are you consulting your own feelings in the present case
Or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine
Both replied elizabeth archley for i have always en a great similarity in the turn of our minds
We are each of an unsocial tasatturn disposition unwilling to speak unless
We expect to say something that will amaze the whole room and be handed down to passterity with all the olalab a verb
This is no very striking resemblance of your own character
I am sure said he how new
Or it may be to mine
I cannot pretend to say you think it a faithful portrait
Undoubtedly
I must not decide on my own performance
He made no answer
And they were again silent
Till they had gone down the dance
When he asked her
If she and her sisters did not very often walk to maraon
She answered red in the affirmative ununable to resist the temptation added when you met us for the other day
We had just been forming a new acquaintance
The effect was immediate a deeper shade of hoter overspread his features
But he said not a word and elizabeth they'blaming herself for her own weakness could not go on at length
Darcy spoke and in a constrained matter said mister wickham blessed with such happy matters as may ensure his making friends
Whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain
He has been so unlucky as to lucia friendship replied elizabeth with emphasis and in a matter
Which he is likely to suffer from all his life
Darcy made no answer and seeing desirs of changing the subject at that moments
Zwilliam
Luca appeared close to them
Meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room
But on perceiving mister darcy
He stopped with a bell of superior curtesy to compliment him on his dancing and his partner
I have been most highly gratified indeed my dear sir
Such very superior dancing is not often seen it is evident that you belong to the first circles
Allow me to say however that your fair partner does not discgrace you
And that i must hope to have this pleasure often repeated
Especially
When a certain desirable event my dear missilliza glancing at her sister and bingly shall take place
What congratulations will then flow in i appealed to mister darcy
But let me not interrupt you sir
You will not thank me for detataining you from the be witching converse of that young lady whose bright eyes are also upbrading me
The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by darcy
But sir william's illusion to his friend seemed to strike enforceably
And his eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards bingley jane who were dancing together recovering himself
However shortly he turned to his partner
And said surwilliam's interruption has made me forget what we were talking of
I do not think we were speaking at all
Surwilliam could not have interrupted any two people in the room
Who had less to safer themselves
We have tried two or three subjects already without success and what we are to talk of next
I cannot imagine what thinking of books
Said he smiling books or no
I am sure
We never read the same or not with the same feelings
I am sorry
You think so
But if that be the case there can at least be no one of subject
We may compare our different opinions
No
I cannot talk of books in a ballroom
My head is always full of something else
The present always occupies you in such scenes
Does it said he with a look of doubt
Yes
Always she replied without knowing what she said for her thoughts had wandered far from the subject as soon afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming
I remember hearing you once say mister darsey that you hardly ever forgive that your resentment once created was una peasible
You are very cautious
I suppose as to it's being created
I am said he with a firm boice and never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice
I hope not it is particularly incubant on those who never changed their opinion to be secure of judging
Properly at first may i ask to what these questions tend merely to the illustration of your character said she endeaving to shake off her gravity
I am trying to make it out
And what is your success she shook her head
I do not get on
At all i hear such different account of you as puzzle me exceedingly i can readily believe answered he gravely that reports may vary greatly with respect to me
And i could wish misbennet that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either
But if i do not take your liketss now i may never have another opportunity
I would buy no means
Suspend any pleasure of yours
He callly replied she said no more
And they went down the other downs and parted in silence on each side to satisfied the not to an equal degree
Foreign darse's breast
There was a tolerably powerful feeling towards her
Which soon proccured her pardon and directed all his anger against another
They had not long separated when miss binley came towards her
And with an expression of civil disstain
Thus accosted her so miss elisa
I hear you were quite delighted with georwicicham
Your sister has been talking to me about him
And asking me a thousand questions
And i find that the young man forgot to tell you among his other communications
That he was the son of old wicham m late mister darsey steward let me recommend you however as a friend not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions for as to mister darse's using male
It is perfectly false for on the contrary
He has been always remarkably kind to him
Though george wickham treated mister darcy in a most infmous matter
I do not know the particulars
But i know very well
That mister darcy is not in the least to blame
That he cannot bear to hear george wicker mentioned
And that though my brother thought he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers
He was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself out of the way
He's coming into the country at all is the most insulent thing indeed
And i wonder how he could presume to do it
I pity you missilliza for this discovery of your favourite skilt
But really considering his descent one could not expect much better
His giltton is decent appear by your account to be the same said elizabeth angrily for i have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of mister darcy steward
And of that i can assure you
He informed me himself
I beg your pardon replied miss billey turning away with a snear excuse my interference
It was kindly meant insulent girl said elizabeth to herself
You are much mistaken
If you expect to influence me by such a potray attack as this i see nothing in it
But your own wilful ignorance and the mallice of mister darcy
She then sought her eldest sister who had undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of billy jane met her with a smile of such sweet complacency
A glow of such happy expression as sufficiently mart
How well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening
Elizabeth instantly read her feelings
And at that moment solicitde for wichaham setment against his enemies
And everything else gave way before the hope of janes being in the faist way for happiness
I want to know said she with accountinets know less smiling than her sisters
What you have learned about mister wichaham perhaps
You have been too pleasanly engaged to think of any third person in which case she may be sure of my pardon no replied jane
I have not forgotten him
But i have nothing satisfactory to tell you
Mister bingley does not know the whole of his history
And is quite ignorant of cirircumstances
Which principally offended mister darcy
But he will vouch for the good conduct
The property and honor of his friend
And is perfectly convinced that mister wichaham deserved much less attention for mister darcy
Than he has received
And i am sorry to say that by his account as well as his sisters
Mister wickham by no mean to respectable young man
I am afraid
He has been very important
And has deserved to lose mister darce's regard
Mister bingley does not know mister wickem himself
No
He never saw him til the other morning at mariton
This account ban is what he has received for mister darsey
I am perfectly satisfied
But what does he say of the living
He does not exactly recollect the circumstances
Though he has heard them from mister darcy more than once
But he believed that it was left to him
Conditionally only i have not a doubt of mister bingle's sincerity said it as a bit warmly
But you must excuse my not being convinced by assurance is only mister bingley 's defence of his friend was a variable one i dare say
But since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story
And has learned the rest from that friend himself
I shall venture still to think of both gentleman as i did before she then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each
And on which there could be no difference of sentiment
Elizabeth listeened with delight to the happy though modest hopes
Which jane entertained of binglaies regard
And said all in her power to heighten her confidence in it
On there being joined by mister billy himself
Elizabeth withdrew to miss lucis to whose inquiry after the pleasaness of her last partner
She had scarcely replied before mister collins came up to them
And told her with great exhaltation
That he had just been so fortunate as to make a most important discovery
I have found out
Said he by a singular accident
That there is now in the room
A near relation to my patronss
I happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentiontioning to the young dy
Dy does the hhnours of this house
The names of his cousin mister borg and of her mother lady catherine
How wonderfully these sort of things occur
Who would have thought of my meeting with perhaps say nephew of lady catherine to borg in assesembly i am most thankful that the discovery is made in time for me to pay my respects to him
Which i am going
Going do and trust he will excuse my not having done it before my total ignorance of the connection must plead my apology
You are not going to introduce yourself to mister darcy indeed i am
I shall intreat his parden for not having done it earlier
I believe him to be lady cather's nephew
It will be in my power to assure him that her lady ship was quite well
Yesterday esa night
Elizabeth tried hard to disuade him from such a scheme assuring him that mister darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an important freedom rather than a compliment to his ant
That it was not in the least necessary
There should be any notice on either side
And that if it were
It must belong to mister darcy
The superior in consequence to begin the acquintance
Mister collins listeened to her with a determined air of following his own inclination
And when she ceased speaking replied us
My dear misseezabeth th have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your understanding
But permit me to say that there must be a wide difference
Between the established forms of ceremony amongdelaity and those which regulate the clergy for give me leave to observe that i consider the clerical office as equal and point of dignity with the which hiest st rank and the kingdom provided that a proper humility of behaviis is the same same for maintained you must therefore allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion
Which lead me to perform what i look on as a point of duty pardon me from neglecting to profit by your advice
Which on every other subject shall be my constant guide though ll in the case before us
I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young lady like yourself
And with a lobet he left her to attack mister darcy
Whose reception of his advances she eagerly watched
And whose astonishment are being so addressed
Was very evident her cousin prefesttest speech with a solumn baw and though she could not hear a word of it
She felt as of hearing it all and saw in the motion of his lips
The world's apology hunzford and lady catherine to org it vexher to see him expose himself to such a man
Mister darcy was eying him with unstrained wonder
And when at last mister collins allowed him to speak replied with an arab distance siability
Mister collins however was not discouraged from speaking again
And mister darce's contempt seemed abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech
And at the end of it
He only made him a slighbow
And moved another way
Mister colins then returned to elizabeth
I have no reason
I assure you said he to be dissatisfied with my reception
Mister darcy seemed much pleased with the attention
He anstered me with the umociability
And even paid me the compliment of saying that he was so well convinced of lady catherondedeserminant as to be certain
She could never bestole a favor unworthily
It was really a very handsome thought upon the whole i am much pleased with him as elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue she turned her attention almost entirely on her sister and mister bingley and the train of agreeable reflection
Which her observations gave birth to met her perhaps
Almost as happy as jane
She saw her an idea settled in that very house in all the folicity
Which a merit of true affection could be stoll
And she felt capable under such irircumstces ces endeaving even to like binglay's two sisters
Her mothers thought she plainly saw were bent the same way
And she determined not to venture near her lest
She might hear too much when they sat down to supper
Therefore she considered a most unlucky perverseness
Which placed them within one of each other
And deeply was she beacks to find that her mother was talking to that one person lady lucas freely
Openly and of nothing else
But of her expectation that jane would be soon married to misbingley
It was an animatating subject
And mrs bennet seemed incapable of fatigue
While anumerating the advantages of the match
He's being such a charming young man and so rich and living
But three miles from them were the first points of self gratulation
And then it was such a comfort to think have fuon the two sisters were of jane and to be certain that they must desire connection as much much she could do
It was moreover such a promising thing for her younger daughters as jane marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of other rich man
And lastly it was so pleasant at her time of life to be able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister
That she might not be obliged to go into company
More than she liked it was necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure because on such occasions
It is the adequate
But no one was less likely than mrs bennet to find comfort in staying at home
At any period of her life
She concluded with many good wishes that lady lucas might soon be equally fortunate
Though evidently intriumpantly believing
There was no chance of it in vanin did ezzath th deavor to check the rapidity of her mother's words or persuade
Her to describe her ficity in a less audible whisper for to her inexpressible vacation
She could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by mister darsey who sat opposite to them
Her mother only scoded her for being nonsensical
What is mister darcy to me pry that i should be afraid of him
I am sure
We owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing
He may not like to hear for haa't saick madam speak lower
What advantage can abbeto you to offend mister darcy
You will never recommend yourself to his friend by so doing nothing that she could say however had any influence
Her mother would talk of her views in the same intelligible tone
Elizabeth blushed bblushed again with shame and exation ation
She could not freququently gancing her eye mister darcy though every glance convinced her of what she dreaded for
Though he was not always looking at her mother
She was convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her
The expression of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and steady gravity at length
However mrs bentt had no more to say
And lady lukis who had been long younning at the repetition of delights
Which she saw no likelihood of sharing was left to the comforts of cold hamman chicken
Elizabeth now began to revive
But not long was the interval of tranquality for when supper was over singing was talked of
And she had the modification of seeing mary after very little intreaty preparing to oblige the company by many significant looks and silent and treaties
Did she endeavor to prevent such a proof of complacance
But in vain mary would not understand them such an opportunity of exhibiting was delightful to her
And she began her song elizabeth ze were fixed on her with most painful sensations
And she watched her progress through the several stances with an impatience
Which was very ial rewarded at their clothes for mary on receiceding amonst the thanks of the table
The hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favour them again
After the pause of half a minute began another marri's powers were by no means fitted for such a display
Her voice was weak
And her manner affected elizabeth was in agonies
She looked at jane to see how she bore red
But jane was very composively talking to bingly
She looked at his two sisters and saw the mamaking ns ns of origsion at each other and a darcy who continued however impenetably grave
She looked at her father to intreahis interinterference
Last mary should be singing all night he took the hint
And when mary had finished her second song said allowed that will do extremely well child you have delighted ted long long engh like the the other young ladies have time to exhibit mary dy'd preding ding to hear was somewhat disconcerted and elizabeth sorry for her and sorry for her father's speech was afraid
Her anxiety had done no good others of the party were now applied to if i said mister collins were so fortunate as to be able to sing
I should have great pleasure
I am sure in obliging the with an an ir r for i consimumuc ca very innocent diversion and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clclergimen
I do not mean however to assert that we can be justified in voting too much of our time to music for there are certainly other things to be attended to director of a perish has much to deal in the first place
He must make such an agreement for ties as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron
He must write his own sermons and the time that remains will not be too much for his perish duties and the care and improvement of his dwelling
Which he cannot be excused for making as comfortable as possible
And i do not think it of light importance
That he should have attentive in concilatory matters towards everybody
Especially towards those to whom
He owes his performant
I cannot acquit him of that duty
Nor could i think well of the man who should omid an occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family and with about to mister darcy
He concluded his speech which had been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room
Many stared
Many smiled
But no one looked more amused than mister bennett himself while his wife seriously commended mister collins for having spoken so sensibly and observed in a half whisper to lady lucis
That he was a remarkably clever good kind of young man to elizabeth
It appeared that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves
Says much as they could during the evening
It would had been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success and happy
Did she think it for being ingly and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice
And that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly
Which she must have witnessed that his two sisters and mister darcy however should have such an opportunity of ridiculing
Her relations was bad enough
And she could not determine
Whether the silent contempt of the gentleman or the insulent smiles of the ladies were more intolerable
The rest of the evening brought her little amusement
She was teased by mister collins who continued most perseveringly by her side
And though he could not prevail with her to dance with him again put it out of her power to dance with others invaned
Did she and treat him to stand up with somebody else
And offered to introduce him to any young lady in the room
He assured her that as to dancing
He was perfectly indifferent to it
That his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to her
And that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her
The whole evening there was no arguing upon such a project
She owed her greatest relief to her friend miss lucus who often joined them and good naturally engaged mister collins s's conversation to herself
She was at least free from the offence of mister darsey's further notice though often standing within a very short distance of her quite diengaged he never came near enough to speak she felt it to be the probable consequence of her illusions to mister wicham and rejoiced in it the long born party were the last of all the company to depart and by a mananevvof
Mrs bennett had to wait for their carriage
A quarter of an hour after everybody else was gone
Which gave them time to see
How hardly they were wished away by some of the family
Mrs hursed and her sister scarcely opened their mouth except to complain a fatigue
And we're evidently impatient to have the house to themselves
They were posed every attempt of mrs bennett conconsation and by so doing ing a langer over the whole party
Which was very little relieved by the long speeches of mister collins
Who was complimenting mister ingingley
His sisters on the elegance of their entertainment and the hospitality and polictness
Which had marked their behavior to their guests
Darsey said
Nothing at all mister bennett in equal silence was enjoying the scene
Mister billie and jane were standing together
A little detached from the rest and talked only to each other
Elizabeth preserved this stedious silence as either mrs hurst or misbingly and even liyya was too much fatigue to utter
More than the occasional explloation of llord
How tired i am acananed by a violent yon
When it lengked arrose to take leave
Mrs bennett was most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon ate long gboure adaddress herself particularly to mister binglee to assure him how happy
He would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time
Without the ceremony of a formal invitation
Bingley was all grateful pleasure
And he readtily engaged for taking the earlieest opportunity of waiting on her
After his return from london
Whether he was obliged to go the next day for a short time
Mrs bennet was perfectly satisfied and quitted the house under the delightful persuason that allowing for the necessary preparations of settlements
New carriages and wedding clothes
She should undoubtedly see her daughter settled that never field in the course of three or four months of having another daughter married to mister collen
She thought with equal certainty and with considerable though not equal pleasure
Elizabeth was the least dear to her of her children
And though the man and the match were quite good enough for her
The worth of beach was eclipsed by mister bingley
Another field
