Pride and Prejudice

the evening Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing-room. The loo-table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching t

tual commendations of the lady, either on his handwriting, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the

Darcy will be to rec

e no a

e uncommo

ken. I write r

write in the course of a year! Letters of bu

, that they fall to my

sister that I

told her so once

our pen. Let me mend it for yo

ut I always

contrive to w

as s

nd pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little

raptures till I write again? At presen

her in January. But do you always write su

t whether always charming it

erson who can write a long lett

d her brother, "because he does not write with ease. He stud

ing is very diffe

n the most careless way imaginable. He leav

o express them-by which means my letters sometim

ngley," said Elizabeth

appearance of humility. It is often only careless

o you call my little re

oing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting Netherfield you should be gone

ing. And yet, upon my honour, I believe what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this moment. At l

te as dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, 'Bingley, yo

r. Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition. Yo

of my temper. But I am afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend; for he would cert

ss of your original intentions as atoned

ctly explain the matter; Da

er, to stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is supposed to desire his return

to the persuasion of a fr

on is no compliment to the

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 discretion of his behaviour thereupon. But in general and ordinary

h rather more precision the degree of importance which is to appertain to th

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 d

ended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignit

d his friend. "You dislike an arg

Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall

no sacrifice on my side; and Mr. Dar

r advice, and did

ic. Miss Bingley moved with some alacrity to the pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Eliza

ardly 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 dre

ed the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon after

ion, Miss Bennet, to seize such a

. He repeated the question, wi

might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their pre

I do n

hness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman

great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane receiv

her guest, by talking of their supposed marriage

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 officers. And,

lse to propose for m

next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for

xpression, but their colour and shape, and the

t from another walk by Mrs.

walk," said Miss Bingley, in some con

ed Mrs. Hurst, "running away without

lizabeth to walk by herself. The path just admitted thr

ugh for our party. We had

least inclination to remain w

ped, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesq

f being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recov