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his return to the house； and the delay of his plan； has merely
desired it； asked it without offering one argument in favour of its
propriety。’
‘To yield readily—easily—to the persuasion of a friend is no
merit with you。’
‘To yield without conviction is no compliment to the under…
standing of either。’
‘You appear to me； Mr。 Darcy； to allow nothing for the influence
of friendship and affection。 A regard for the requester would often
make one readily yield to a request； without waiting for arguments
to reason one into it。 I am not particularly speaking of such a case
as you have supposed about Mr。 Bingley。 We may as well wait；
perhaps； till the circumstance occurs； before we discuss the
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discretion of his behaviour thereupon。 But in general and ordinary
cases between friend and friend； where one of them is desired by
the other to change a resolution of no very great moment； should
you think ill of that person for complying with the desire； without
waiting to be argued into it？’
‘Will it not be advisable； before we proceed on this subject； to
arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance
which is to appertain to this request； as well as the degree of
intimacy subsisting between the parties？’
‘By all means；’ cried Bingley； ‘let us hear all the particulars； not
forgetting their comparative height and size； for that will have
more weight in the argument； Miss Bennet； than you may be aware
of。 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 aweful 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。 If you and
Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room； I shall be
very thankful； and then you may say whatever you like of me。’
‘What you ask；’ said Elizabeth； ‘is no sacrifice on my side； and
Mr。 Darcy had much better finish his letter。’
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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 pianoforté； and after a polite request that
Elizabeth would lead the way； which the other as politely and more
earnestly negatived； she seated herself。
Mrs。 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。
Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her。 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。 She could only imagine however at last； that she drew his
notice because there was a something about her more wrong and
reprehensible； according to his ideas of right； than in any other
person present。 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 not you 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。 You wanted me； I know； to say
“Yes；” that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste； but I
always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes； and
cheating a person of their premeditated contempt。 I have therefore
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made up my mind to tell you； that I do not want to dance a reel at
all—and now despise me if you dare。’
‘Indeed I do not dare。’
Elizabeth； having rather expected to affront him； was amazed at
his gallantry； but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in
her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody； and
Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by
her。 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。
‘I hope；’ said she； as they were walking together in the
shrubbery the next day； ‘you will give your mother…in…law a few
hints； when this desirable event takes place； as to the advantage of
holding her tongue； and if you can compass it； do cure the younger
girls of running after the officers。—And； if I may mention so
delicate a subject； endeavour to check that little something；
bordering on conceit and impertinence； which your lady
possesses。’
‘Have you any thing else to propose for my domestic felicity？’
‘Oh！ yes。—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。 As for your Elizabeth’s picture； you must not
attempt to have it taken； for what painter could do justice to those
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beautiful eyes？’
‘It would not be easy； indeed； to catch their expression； but their
colour and shape； and the eye…lashes； so remarkably fine； might be
copied。’
At that moment they were met from another walk； by Mrs。
Hurst and Elizabeth herself。
‘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； ‘in 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。 The path just admitted three。 Mr。 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 group’d； 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 a