PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER ELEVEN

After dinner the ladies assembled in the drawing room.  Elizabeth ran upto her sister and seeing her out of danger attended her to the drawing room. She was welcomed by Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. Elizabeth had seen them very agreeable. The gentlemen came after some time.

Jane was no longer the first object. Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned to Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps.  He addressed himself 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 Jane should suffer from the change of room; and she moved at his desire to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be further from the door.  He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone 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 was rejected.  Mr Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep.  Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelet and rings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet.

Miss Bingley's attention was quite engaged in watching Mr Darcy's progress through his book, and 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; merely answered her question, and read on.  At last, exhausted by the attempt to be amused by 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 on an evening this way!  After all there is no enjoyment like reading!  How much sooner one tired tires of anything than 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 away her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest for other amusement; when hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet turned suddenly towards him and said:

"By the by, Charles, are you really serious in mediating a ball at Netherfield? I would advise you,  before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am mistaken if there are some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than pleasure."

"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins - but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing, and as soon as Nichols 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 were made the order of the day."

"Much more rational, my dear Caroline, but it would not be near so much like a ball."

Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she 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 desparation of her feelings, she resolved 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 succeed in the real object of her civility; Mr Darcy looked up. He was awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter and closed his book.  He was invited to join their party. But he declined it, fearing he would interfere with their motives.  The ladies were sceptical about his intention.  Miss Bingley wanted Darcy an explanation for not joining them.

"You choose this method of passing the evening," said Darcy, "because you are in each other's confidence, and you must have some secret to discuss and my presence may disturb you. If your intention had been to enjoy the advantage of walking I can simply watch it sitting by the fire."

"Oh! Shocking!" cried Miss Bingley. I never heard anything so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?"

"Nothing so easy, we can plague and punish one another."

"But upon my honour I do not.  My intimacy has not yet taught me that. Tease calmness of manner and presence of mind. And as to laughter, Mr Darcy may hug himself."

"Mr Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. That is an uncommon advantage. I dearly love laugh."

"Miss Bingley has given me a credit, said Darcy. "A wise man may be rendered ridiculous by a joke."

"But I never ridicule," said Elizabeth, "what is wise and good. But follies and nonsenses I do laugh at."

"It has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses."

"Such as vanity and pride."

"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride is always under good regulations."

"Your examination of Darcy is over," said Miss Bingley, "and pray what is the result."

"Perfectly convinced that Darcy has no defect."

"No," said Darcy, "I have no such pretension.  I have faults enough. My temper I dare not vouch for it.  My temper would perhaps be called resentful."

"That is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth.  But you have chosen your fault well.  I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me."

"In every disposition there is a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."

"And your defect is to hate everybody."

"And yours," he replied with a smile,  "is wilfully to misunderstand them" 

"Do let us have some music," cried Miss Bingley tired of the conversation. "Louisa, you will not mind my waking Mr Hurst."

His sister had not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte was opened.  Darcy began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.

THE END