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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。
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CHAPTER XI
hen the ladies removed after dinner； Elizabeth ran up
Wto her sister； and seeing her well guarded from cold；
attended her into the drawing…room； where she was
welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure；
and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were
during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared。
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。 The first half hour was
spent in piling up the fire； lest she should suffer from the change of
room； and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fire…
place； that she might be farther from the door。 He then sat down
by her； and talked scarcely to any one else。 Elizabeth； at work in
the opposite corner； saw it all with great delight。
When tea was over； Mr。 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。 She assured him that no one intended to
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play； and the silence of the whole party on the subject； seemed to
justify her。 Mr。 Hurst had therefore nothing to do； but to stretch
himself on one of the sophas and go to sleep。 Darcy took up a book；
Miss Bingley did the same； and Mrs。 Hurst； principally occupied in
playing with her bracelets and rings； joined now and then in her
brother’s conversation with Miss Bennet。
Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching
Mr。 Darcy’s progress through his book； as in reading her own； and
she was perpetually either making some inquiry； or looking at his
page。 She could not win him； however； to any conversation； he
merely answered her question； and read on。 At length； quite
exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book； which
she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his； she
gave a great yawn and said； ‘How pleasant it is to spend an evening
in this way！ I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading！
How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book！—When I
have a house of my own； I shall be miserable if I have not an
excellent library。’
No one made any reply。 She then yawned again； threw aside her
book； and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some
amusement； when hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss
Bennet； she turned suddenly towards him and said；
‘By the bye； Charles； are you really serious in meditating a
dance at Netherfield？—I would advise you； before you determine
on it； to consult the wishes of the present party； I am much
mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be
rather a punishment than a pleasure。’
‘If you mean Darcy；’ cried her brother； ‘he may go to bed； if he
chuses； before it begins—but as for the ball； it is quite a settled
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thing； and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall
send round my cards。’
‘I should like balls infinitely better；’ she replied； ‘if they were
carried on in a different manner； but there is something
insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting。 It
would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of
dancing made the order of the day。’
‘Much more rational； my dear Caroline； I dare say but it would
not be near so much like a ball。’
Miss Bingley made no answer； and soon afterwards got up and
walked about the room。 Her figure was elegant； and she walked
well；—but Darcy； at whom it was all aimed； was still inflexibly
studious。 In the desperation of her feelings she resolved 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 refreshing
after sitting so long in one attitude。’
Elizabeth was surprised； but agreed to it immediately。 Miss
Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility； Mr。
Darcy looked up。 He was as much awake to the novelty of attention
in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be； and unconsciously
closed his book。 He was directly invited to join their party； but he
declined it； observing； that he could imagine but two motives for
their chusing to walk up and down the room together； with either
of which motives his joining them would interfere。 ‘What could he
mean？ she was dying to know what could be his meaning’—and
asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him？
‘Not at all；’ was her answer； ‘but depend upon it； he means to be
severe on us； and our surest way of disappointing him； will be to
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ask nothing about it。’
Miss Bingley； however； was incapable of disappointing Mr。
Darcy in any thing； and persevered therefore in requiring an
explanation 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 chuse this method of
passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence
and have secret affairs to discuss； or because you are conscious
that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking；—if
the first； I should be completely in your way；—and if the second； I
can admire you much better as I sit by the fire。’
‘Oh！ shocking！’ cried Miss Bingley。 ‘I never heard any thing so
abominable。 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。 Teaze him—laugh at
him。—Intimate as you are； you must know how it is to be done。’
‘But upon my honour I do not。 I do assure you that my intimacy
has not yet taught me that。 Teaze calmness of temper and presence
of mind！ No； no—I feel he may defy us there。 And as to laughter；
we will not expose ourselves； if you please； by attempting to laugh
without a subject。 Mr。 Darcy may hug himself。’
‘Mr。 Darcy is not to be laughed at！’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘That is an
uncommon advantage； and uncommon I hope it will continue； for
it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance。 I
dearly love a laugh。’
‘Miss Bingley；’ said he； ‘has given me credit for more than can
be。 The wisest and the best of men； nay； the wisest and best of their
actions； may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object
in life is a joke。’
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