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many a significant look and smile from Mrs。 Annesley to Miss
Darcy had been given； to remind her of her post。 There was now
employment for the whole party； for though they could not all talk；
they could all eat； and the beautiful pyramids of grapes；
nectarines； and peaches； soon collected them round the table。
While thus engaged； Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of
deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of
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Mr。 Darcy； by the feelings which prevailed on his entering the
room； and then； though but a moment before she had believed her
wishes to predominate； she began to regret that he came。
He had been some time with Mr。 Gardiner who； with two or
three other gentlemen from the house； was engaged by the river；
and had left him only on learning that the ladies of the family
intended a visit to Georgiana that morning。 No sooner did he
appear； than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and
unembarrassed；—a resolution the more necessary to be made； but
perhaps not the more easily kept； because she saw that the
suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them； and
that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour
when he first came into the room。 In no countenance was attentive
curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley’s； in spite of the
smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its
objects； for jealousy had not yet made her desperate； and her
attentions to Mr。 Darcy were by no means over。 Miss Darcy； on her
brother’s entrance； exerted herself much more to talk； and
Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get
acquainted； and forwarded； as much as possible； every attempt at
conversation on either side。 Miss Bingley saw all this likewise；
and； in the imprudence of anger； took the first opportunity of
saying； with sneering civility；
‘Pray； Miss Eliza； are not the —shire militia removed from
Meryton？ They must be a great loss to your family。’
In Darcy’s presence she dared not mention Wickham’s name；
but Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in
her thoughts； and the various recollections connected with him
gave her a moment’s distress； but； exerting herself vigorously to
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repel the ill…natured attack； she presently answered the question
in a tolerably disengaged tone。 While she spoke； an involuntary
glance shewed her Darcy with an heightened complexion；
earnestly looking at her； and his sister overcome with confusion；
and unable to lift up her eyes。 Had Miss Bingley known what pain
she was then giving her beloved friend； she undoubtedly would
have refrained from the hint； but she had merely intended to
discompose Elizabeth； by bringing forward the idea of a man to
whom she believed her partial； to make her betray a sensibility
which might injure her in Darcy’s opinion； and perhaps to remind
the latter of all the follies and absurdities； by which some part of
her family were connected with that corps。 Not a syllable had ever
reached her of Miss Darcy’s meditated elopement。 To no creature
had it been revealed； where secresy was possible； except to
Elizabeth； and from all Bingley’s connections her brother was
particularly anxious to conceal it； from that very wish which
Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him； of their becoming
hereafter her own。 He had certainly formed such a plan； and
without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate
him from Miss Bennet； it is probable that it might add something
to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend。
Elizabeth’s collected behaviour； however； soon quieted his
emotion； and as Miss Bingley； vexed and disappointed； dared not
approach nearer to Wickham； Georgiana also recovered in time；
though not enough to be able to speak any more。 Her brother；
whose eye she feared to meet； scarcely recollected her interest in
the affair； and the very circumstance which had been designed to
turn his thoughts from Elizabeth； seemed to have fixed them on
her more； and more cheerfully。
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Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer
above…mentioned； and while Mr。 Darcy was attending them to
their carriage； Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms
on Elizabeth’s person； behaviour； and dress。 But Georgiana would
not join her。 Her brother’s recommendation was enough to ensure
her favour： his judgment could not err； and he had spoken in such
terms of Elizabeth； as to leave Georgiana without the power of
finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable。 When Darcy
returned to the saloon； Miss Bingley could not help repeating to
him some part of what she had been saying to his sister。
‘How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning； Mr。 Darcy；’ she
cried； ‘I never in my life saw any one so much altered as she is
since the winter。 She is grown so brown and coarse！ Louisa and I
were agreeing that we should not have known her again。’
However little Mr。 Darcy might have liked such an address； he
contented himself with coolly replying； that he perceived no other
alteration than her being rather tanned；—no miraculous
consequence of travelling in the summer。
‘For my own part；’ she rejoined； ‘I must confess that I never
could see any beauty in her。 Her face is too thin； her complexion
has no brilliancy； and her features are not at all handsome。 Her
nose wants character； there is nothing marked in its lines。 Her
teeth are tolerable； but not out of the common way； and as for her
eyes； which have sometimes been called so fine； I never could
perceive any thing extraordinary in them。 They have a sharp；
shrewish look； which I do not like at all； and in her air altogether；
there is a self…sufficiency without fashion； which is intolerable。’
Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth；
this was not the best method of recommending herself； but angry
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people are not always wise； and in seeing him at last look
somewhat nettled； she had all the success she expected。 He was
resolutely silent however； and； from a determination of making
him speak； she continued；
‘I remember； when we first knew her in Hertfordshire； how
amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty； and I
particularly recollect your saying one night； after they had been
dining at Netherfield； “She a beauty！—I should as soon call her
mother a wit。” But afterwards she seemed to improve on you； and
I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time。’
‘Yes；’ replied Darcy； who could contain himself no longer； ‘but
that was only when I first knew her； for it is many months since I
have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my
acquaintance。’
He then went away； and Miss Bingley was left to all the
satisfaction of having forced hi