Home > Pride and Prejudice(68)

Pride and Prejudice(68)
Author: Il'ia Frank

any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were

concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his

sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride exciting not only astonishment but gratitude—

for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such its impression on her was of a sort to be

encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. She respected,

she esteemed, she was grateful to him, she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted

to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the

happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed,

of bringing on her the renewal of his addresses.

It had been settled in the evening between the aunt and the niece, that such a striking civility as

Miss Darcy's in coming to see them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley, for she had

reached it only to a late breakfast, ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, by some

exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it would be highly expedient to wait

on her at Pemberley the following morning. They were, therefore, to go. Elizabeth was pleased;

though when she asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply.

Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been renewed the day

before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley

before noon.

Chapter 45

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Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy,

she could not help feeling how unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was

curious to know with how much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be

renewed.

On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, whose northern aspect

rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing

view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts

which were scattered over the intermediate lawn.

In this house they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss

Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. Georgiana's reception of them was very

civil, but attended with all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the

fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her

being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice, and pitied her.

By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a curtsey; and, on their being seated,

a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first

broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce

some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the others; and

between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation was

carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes

did venture a short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard.

Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, and that she could not

speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without calling her attention. This observation would not

have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an inconvenient

distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much. Her own thoughts

were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the

room. She wished, she feared that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether

she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner a quarter

of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a

cold inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity, and

the others said no more.

The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold

meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after

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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 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 repel the ill-natured

attack, she presently answered the question in a tolerably detached tone. While she spoke, an

involuntary glance showed her Darcy, with a 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

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