enjoyment of all her former dislike.
Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard with any
complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing, and
they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the
others. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr. Darcy,
her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man,
who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a
ragout, had nothing to say to her.
When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as
soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture
of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the
same, and added:
"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget
her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."
"She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all!
Why must SHE be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so
untidy, so blowsy!"
"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely
certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office."
25
"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought
Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her
dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."
"YOU observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that
you would not wish to see YOUR sister make such an exhibition."
"Certainly not."
"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and
alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of
conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum."
"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley.
"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, "that this adventure has
rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."
"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise." A short pause followed this
speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again:
"I have a excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with
all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections,
I am afraid there is no chance of it."
"I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney on Meryton."
"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside."
"That is capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.
"If they had uncles enough to fill ALL Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it would not make them one
jot less agreeable."
"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the
world," replied Darcy.
To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged
their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar relations.
26
With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on leaving the dining-parlour,
and sat with her till summoned to coffee. She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit
her at all, till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and when it
seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself. On entering the
drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but
suspecting them to be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she
would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at
her with astonishment.
"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular."
"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no
pleasure in anything else."
"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am NOT a great reader, and I
have pleasure in many things."
"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and I hope it will be soon
increased by seeing her quite well."
Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table where a few books
were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others—all that his library afforded.
"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle
fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into."
Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.
"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left so small a collection of
books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!"
"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of many generations."
"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books."
"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these."
"Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles,
when you build YOUR house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley."
27
"I wish it may."
"But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take
Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire."
"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it."
"I am talking of possibilities, Charles."
"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by
imitation."
Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed, as to leave her very little attention for her book;
and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr.
Bingley and his eldest sister, to observe the game."
"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley; "will she be as tall as I am?"
"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or rather taller."
"How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a
countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on
the pianoforte is exquisite."