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been unfolded。’ 

    ‘Well;’ said Charlotte; ‘I wish Jane success with all my heart; and 

if  she   were   married   to  him   to…morrow;   I   should   think   she   had   as 

good     a  chance     of  happiness;      as  if  she   were    to  be   studying     his 

character for a twelve…month。 Happiness in marriage is entirely a 

matter of chance。 If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well 

known   to   each   other;   or   ever   so   similar   before…hand;   it   does   not 

advance   their   felicity   in   the   least。   They   always   contrive   to   grow 

sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it 

is   better  to  know as little   as   possible   of  the   defects   of   the   person 

with whom you are to pass your life。’ 

    ‘You make me laugh; Charlotte; but it is not sound。 You know it 

is not sound; and that you would never act in this way yourself。’ 

    Occupied   in      observing   Mr。      Bingley’s   attentions       to   her   sister; 

Elizabeth  was   far  from   suspecting  that  she   was   herself  becoming 

an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend。 Mr。 Darcy had 

at   first   scarcely   allowed   her   to   be   pretty;   he   had   looked   at   her 

without admiration at the ball; and when they next met; he looked 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                              ElecBook 


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                       Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                           31 



at   her   only   to   criticise。   But   no   sooner   had   he  made   it   clear   to 

himself and his friends that she  had   hardly  a  good   feature  in   her 

face; than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent 

by   the   beautiful   expression      of  her   dark   eyes。   To   this   discovery 

succeeded        some     others    equally     mortifying。     Though       he   had 

detected      with   a  critical   eye   more    than    one    failure   of  perfect 

symmetry in her form; he was forced to acknowledge her figure to 

be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners 

were   not   those   of   the   fashionable   world;   he   was   caught   by   their 

easy playfulness。 Of this she was perfectly unaware;—to her he was 

only the man who made himself agreeable no where; and who had 

not thought her handsome enough to dance with。 

    He   began   to  wish  to  know more   of  her;   and   as   a   step   towards 

conversing   with   her   himself;   attended         to   her   conversation    with 

others。 His doing so drew her notice。 It was at Sir William Lucas’s; 

where a large party were assembled。 

    ‘What does Mr。 Darcy mean;’ said she to Charlotte; ‘by listening 

to my conversation with Colonel Forster?’ 

    ‘That is a question which Mr。 Darcy only can answer。’ 

    ‘But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I 

see   what  he   is   about。   He   has   a   very   satirical   eye;   and   if   I   do  not 

begin by being impertinent myself; I shall soon grow afraid of him。’ 

    On    his   approaching       them    soon    afterwards;     though     without 

seeming to have any intention of speaking; Miss Lucas defied her 

friend     to  mention     such    a   subject    to  him;   which     immediately 

provoking Elizabeth to do it; she turned to him and said; 

    ‘Did    not    you   think;    Mr。    Darcy;     that   I  expressed       myself 

uncommonly well just now; when I was teazing Colonel Forster to 

give us a ball at Meryton?’ 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                          ElecBook 


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                        Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                            32 



    ‘With   great   energy;—but   it   is   a   subject   which   always   makes   a 

lady energetic。’ 

    ‘You are severe on us。’ 

    ‘It   will   be her  turn   soon   to   be   teazed;’   said   Miss。   Lucas。   ‘I   am 

going to open the instrument; Eliza; and you know what follows。’ 

    ‘You   are   a   very   strange   creature   by   way   of   a   friend!—always 

wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body!—If 

my     vanity    had    taken    a   musical     turn;    you   would     have    been 

invaluable;   but   as   it   is;   I   would   really   rather   not   sit   down   before 

those     who     must     be   in   the   habit    of   hearing     the    very   best 

performers。’       On   Miss    Lucas’s    persevering;      however;     she   added; 

‘Very  well;   if  it must  be so;   it   must。’   And   gravely   glancing   at   Mr。 

Darcy;   ‘There   is   a   fine   old   saying;   which   every   body   here   is   of 

course familiar with—“Keep your breath to cool your porridge;”— 

and I shall keep mine to swell my song。’ 

    Her   performance   was   pleasing;          though   by    no   means     capital。 

After a song or two; and before she could reply to the entreaties of 

several that she would sing again; she was eagerly succeeded at the 

instrument       by   her   sister  Mary;     who    having;    in  consequence       of 

being the only plain one in the family; worked hard for knowledge 

and accomplishments; was always impatient for display。 

    Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given 

her    application;     it  had    given    her   likewise    a  pedantic      air  and 

conceited   manner;   which   would   have   injured   a   higher   degree   of 

excellence  than she   had   reached。   Elizabeth;   easy  and   unaffected; 

had been listened to with much more pleasure; though not playing 

half so well; and Mary; at the end of  a long concerto;   was  glad   to 

purchase       praise   and    gratitude    by   Scotch   and     Irish   airs;  at  the 

request of her younger sisters; who with some of the Lucases and 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                            ElecBook 


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                       Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                           33 



two   or   three   officers   joined   eagerly   in   dancing  at   one   end   of   the 

room。 

    Mr。 Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode 

of passing the evening; to the exclusion of all conversation; and was 

too    much    engrossed      by   his  own    thoughts     to  perceive    that   Sir 

William Lucas was his neighbour; till Sir William thus began。 

    ‘What     a  charming      amusement       for  young     people    this  is;  Mr。 

Darcy!—There   is   nothing   like   dancing   after   all。—I   consider   it   as 

one of the first refinements of polished societies。’ 

    ‘Certainly; Sir;—and it has the advantage also of being in vogue 

amongst   the   less   polished   societies   of   the   world。—Every   savage 

can dance。’ 

    Sir William only smiled。 ‘Your friend performs delightfully;’   he 

continued after a pause; on seeing Bingley join the group;—‘and I 

doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself; Mr。 Darcy。’ 

    ‘You saw me dance at Meryton; I believe; Sir。’ 

    ‘Yes; indeed; and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the 

sight。 Do you often dance at St。 James’s?’ 

    ‘Never; sir。’ 

    ‘Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?’ 

    ‘It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid 

it。’ 

    ‘You have a house in town; I conclude?’ 

    Mr。 Darcy bowed。 

    ‘I   had   once   some   thoughts   of   fixing   in   town   myself—for   I   am 

fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air 

of London would agree with Lady Lucas。’ 

    He   paused   in   hopes   of  an   answer;   but   his   companion   was   not 

disposed      to   make    any;    and   Elizabeth     at   that   instant   moving 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                          ElecBook 


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                       Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                            34 



towards them; he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant 

thing; and called out to her; 

    ‘My dear Miss Eliza; why are not you dancing?—Mr。 Darcy; you 

must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable 

partner。—You   cannot   refuse   to   dance;   I   am   sure;   when   so   much 

beauty is before you。’ And taking her hand; he would have given it 

to Mr。 Darcy; who; though extremely surprised; was not unwilling 

to   receive   it;   when   she   instantly   drew   back;   and   said   with   some 

discomposure to Sir William; 

    ‘Indeed; Sir; I have not the least intention of dancing。—I entreat 

you   not   to   suppose   that   I   moved   this   way   in   order   to   beg   for   a 

partner。’ 

    Mr。    Darcy   with   grave     propriety   requeste

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