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invitation thither； for while there were visitors in the house； they
could not be necessary； and it was not till Easter…day； almost a
week after the gentlemen’s arrival； that they were honoured by
such an attention； and then they were merely asked on leaving
church to come there in the evening。 For the last week they had
seen very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter。 Colonel
Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during the
time； but Mr。 Darcy they had only seen at church。
The invitation was accepted of course； and at a proper hour
they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing room。 Her
ladyship received them civilly； but it was plain that their company
was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else；
and she was； in fact； almost engrossed by her nephews； speaking
to them； especially to Darcy； much more than to any other person
in the room。
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them； any thing
was a welcome relief to him at Rosings； and Mrs。 Collins’s pretty
friend had moreover caught his fancy very much。 He now seated
himself by her； and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire；
of travelling and staying at home； of new books and music； that
Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that room
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before； and they conversed with so much spirit and flow； as to
draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself； as well as of Mr。
Darcy。 His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards
them with a look of curiosity； and that her ladyship after a while
shared the feeling； was more openly acknowledged； for she did not
scruple to call out；
‘What is that you are saying； Fitzwilliam？ What is it you are
talking of？ What are you telling Miss Bennet？ Let me hear what it
is。’
‘We are speaking of music； Madam；’ said he； when no longer
able to avoid a reply。
‘Of music！ Then pray speak aloud。 It is of all subjects my
delight。 I must have my share in the conversation； if you are
speaking of music。 There are few people in England； I suppose；
who have more true enjoyment of music than myself； or a better
natural taste。 If I had ever learnt； I should have been a great
proficient。 And so would Anne； if her health had allowed her to
apply。 I am confident that she would have performed delightfully。
How does Georgiana get on； Darcy？’
Mr。 Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s
proficiency。
‘I am very glad to hear such a good account of her；’ said Lady
Catherine； ‘and pray tell her from me； that she cannot expect to
excel； if she does not practise a great deal。’
‘I assure you； Madam；’ he replied； ‘that she does not need such
advice。 She practises very constantly。’
‘So much the better。 It cannot be done too much； and when I
next write to her； I shall charge her not to neglect it on any
account。 I often tell young ladies； that no excellence in music is to
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be acquired； without constant practise。 I have told Miss Bennet
several times； that she will never play really well； unless she
practises more； and though Mrs。 Collins has no instrument； she is
very welcome； as I have often told her； to come to Rosings every
day； and play on the pianoforté in Mrs。 Jenkinson’s room。 She
would be in nobody’s way； you know； in that part of the house。’
Mr Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill breeding and
made no answer。
When coffee was over； Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth
of having promised to play to him； and she sat down directly to the
instrument。 He drew a chair near her。 Lady Catherine listened to
half a song； and then talked； as before； to her other nephew； till
the latter walked away from her； and moving with his usual
deliberation towards the pianoforté； stationed himself so as to
command a full view of the fair performer’s countenance。
Elizabeth saw what he was doing； and at the first convenient
pause； turned to him with an arch smile； and said；
‘You mean to frighten me； Mr。 Darcy； by coming in all this state
to hear me？ But I will not be alarmed though your sister does play
so well。 There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to
be frightened at the will of others。 My courage always rises with
every attempt to intimidate me。’
‘I shall not say that you are mistaken；’ he replied； ‘because you
could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming
you； and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long
enough to know； that you find great enjoyment in occasionally
professing opinions which in fact are not your own。’
Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself； and said to
Colonel Fitzwilliam； ‘Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion
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of me； and teach you not to believe a word I say。 I am particularly
unlucky in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real
character； in a part of the world； where I had hoped to pass myself
off with some degree of credit。 Indeed； Mr。 Darcy； it is very
ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my
disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and； give me leave to say； very
impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate； and such things
may come out； as will shock your relations to hear。’
‘I am not afraid of you；’ said he； smilingly。
‘Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of；’ cried Colonel
Fitzwilliam。 ‘I should like to know how he behaves among
strangers。’
‘You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very
dreadful。 The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire；
you must know； was at a ball—and at this ball； what do you think
he did？ He danced only four dances！ I am sorry to pain you—but
so it was。 He danced only four dances； though gentlemen were
scarce； and； to my certain knowledge； more than one young lady
was sitting down in want of a partner。 Mr。 Darcy； you cannot deny
the fact。’
‘I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the
assembly beyond my own party。’
‘True； and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball room。 Well；
Colonel Fitzwilliam； what do I play next？ My fingers wait your
orders。’
‘Perhaps；’ said Darcy； ‘I should have judged better； had I sought
an introduction； but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to
strangers。’
‘Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this？’ said Elizabeth；
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still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam。 ‘Shall we ask him why a man
of sense and education； and who has lived in the world； is ill
qualified to recommend himself to strangers？’
‘I can answer your question；’ said Fitzwilliam； ‘without applying
to him。 It is because he will not give himself the trouble。’
‘I certainly have not the talent which some people possess；’ said
Darcy； ‘of conversing easily with those I have never seen before。 I
cannot catch their tone of conversation； or appear interested in
their concerns； as I often see done。’
‘My fingers；’ said Elizabeth； ‘do not move over this instrument
in the masterly manner which