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Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home。 Darcy professed
a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount； and Elizabeth
silently consented。 As she went up stairs to get ready； Mrs。 Bennet
followed her； saying；
‘I am quite sorry； Lizzy； that you should be forced to have that
disagreeable man all to yourself。 But I hope you will not mind it： it
is all for Jane’s sake； you know； and there is no occasion for
talking to him； except just now and then。 So； do not put yourself to
inconvenience。’
During their walk； it was resolved that Mr。 Bennet’s consent
should be asked in the course of the evening。 Elizabeth reserved to
herself the application for her mother’s。 She could not determine
how her mother would take it； sometimes doubting whether all his
wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her
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abhorrence of the man。 But whether she were violently set against
the match； or violently delighted with it； it was certain that her
manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense； and
she could no more bear that Mr。 Darcy should hear the first
raptures of her joy； than the first vehemence of her
disapprobation。
——————
In the evening； soon after Mr。 Bennet withdrew to the library；
she saw Mr。 Darcy rise also and follow him； and her agitation on
seeing it was extreme。 She did not fear her father’s opposition； but
he was going to be made unhappy； and that it should be through
her means； that she； his favourite child； should be distressing him
by her choice； should be filling him with fears and regrets in
disposing of her； was a wretched reflection； and she sat in misery
till Mr。 Darcy appeared again； when； looking at him； she was a
little relieved by his smile。 In a few minutes he approached the
table where she was sitting with Kitty； and； while pretending to
admire her work； said in a whisper； ‘Go to your father； he wants
you in the library。’ She was gone directly。
Her father was walking about the room； looking grave and
anxious。 ‘Lizzy；’ said he； ‘what are you doing？ Are you out of your
senses； to be accepting this man？ Have not you always hated
him？’
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had
been more reasonable； her expressions more moderate！ It would
have spared her from explanations and professions which it was
exceedingly awkward to give； but they were now necessary； and
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she assured him with some confusion； of her attachment to Mr。
Darcy。
‘Or in other words； you are determined to have him。 He is rich；
to be sure； and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages
than Jane。 But will they make you happy？’
‘Have you any other objection；’ said Elizabeth； ‘than your belief
of my indifference？’
‘None at all。 We all know him to be a proud； unpleasant sort of
man； but this would be nothing if you really liked him。’
‘I do； I do like him；’ she replied； with tears in her eyes； ‘I love
him。 Indeed he has no improper pride。 He is perfectly amiable。
You do not know what he really is； then pray do not pain me by
speaking of him in such terms。’
‘Lizzy；’ said her father； ‘I have given him my consent。 He is the
kind of man； indeed； to whom I should never dare refuse any
thing； which he condescended to ask。 I now give it to you； if you
are resolved on having him。 But let me advise you to think better
of it。 I know your disposition； Lizzy。 I know that you could be
neither happy nor respectable； unless you truly esteemed your
husband； unless you looked up to him as a superior。 Your lively
talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal
marriage。 You could scarcely escape discredit and misery。 My
child； let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect
your partner in life。 You know not what you are about。’
Elizabeth； still more affected； was earnest and solemn in her
reply； and at length； by repeated assurances that Mr。 Darcy was
really the object of her choice； by explaining the gradual change
which her estimation of him had undergone； relating her absolute
certainty that his affection was not the work of a day； but had
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stood the test of many months suspense； and numerating with
energy all his good qualities； she did conquer her father’s
incredulity； and reconcile him to the match。
‘Well； my dear；’ said he； when she ceased speaking； ‘I have no
more to say。 If this be the case； he deserves you。 I could not have
parted with you； my Lizzy； to any one less worthy。’
To complete the favourable impression； she then told him what
Mr。 Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia。 He heard her with
astonishment。
‘This is an evening of wonders； indeed！ And so； Darcy did every
thing； made up the match； gave the money； paid the fellow’s debts；
and got him his commission！ So much the better。 It will save me a
world of trouble and economy。 Had it been your uncle’s doing； I
must and would have paid him； but these violent young lovers
carry every thing their own way。 I shall offer to pay him to…
morrow； he will rant and storm about his love for you； and there
will be an end of the matter。’
He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before； on
his reading Mr。 Collins’s letter； and after laughing at her some
time； allowed her at last to go—saying； as she quitted the room； ‘If
any young men come for Mary or Kitty； send them in； for I am
quite at leisure。’
Elizabeth’s mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight；
and； after half an hour’s quiet reflection in her own room； she was
able to join the others with tolerable composure。 Every thing was
too recent for gaiety； but the evening passed tranquilly away；
there was no longer any thing material to be dreaded； and the
comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time。
When her mother went up to her dressing…room at night； she
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followed her； and made the important communication。 Its effect
was most extraordinary； for on first hearing it； Mrs。 Bennet sat
quite still； and unable to utter a syllable。 Nor was it under many；
many minutes； that she could comprehend what she heard；
though not in general backward to credit what was for the
advantage of her family； or that came in the shape of a lover to any
of them。 She began at length to recover； to fidget about in her
chair； get up； sit down again； wonder； and bless herself。
‘Good gracious！ Lord bless me！ only think！ dear me！ Mr。 Darcy！
Who would have thought it！ And is it really true？ Oh！ my sweetest
Lizzy！ how rich and how great you will be！ What pin…money； what
jewels； what carriages you will have！ Jane’s is nothing to it—
nothing at all。 I am so pleased—so happy。 Such a charming
man！—so handsome！ so tall！—Oh； my dear Lizzy！ pray apologise
for my having disliked him so much before。 I hope he will overlook
it。 Dear； dear Lizzy。 A house in town！ Every thing that is