"yousawmedanceatmeryton,ibelieve,sir."

"yes,indeed,andreceivednoinconsiderablepleasurefromthesight.doyouoftendanceatst.james's?"

"never,sir."

"doyounotthinkitwouldbeapropercomplimenttotheplace?"

"itisacomplimentwhichineverpaytoanyplace,ificanavoidit."

"youhaveahouseintown,iconclude?"

mr.darcybowed.

"ihadoncesomethoughtsoffixingintownmyself—foriamfondofsuperiorsociety;butididnotfeelquitecertainthattheairoflondonwouldagreewithladylucas."

hepausedinhopesofananswer;buthiscompanionwasnotdisposedtomakeany;andelizabethatthatinstantmovingtowardsthem,hewasstruckwiththenotionofdoingaverygallantthing,andcalledouttoher,

"mydearmisseliza,whyarenotyoudancing?—mr.darcy,youmustallowmetopresentthisyoungladytoyouasaverydesirablepartner.—youcannotrefusetodance,iamsure,whensomuchbeautyisbeforeyou."andtakingherhand,hewouldhavegivenittomr.darcy,who,thoughextremelysurprised,wasnotunwillingtoreceiveit,whensheinstantlydrewback,andsaidwithsomediscomposuretosirwilliam,

"indeed,sir,ihavenottheleastintentionofdancing.—ientreatyounottosupposethatimovedthiswayinordertobegforapartner."

mr.darcywithgraveproprietyrequestedtobeallowedthehonourofherhand;butinvain.elizabethwasdetermined;nordidsirwilliamatallshakeherpurposebyhisattemptatpersuasion.

"youexcelsomuchinthedance,misseliza,thatitiscrueltodenymethehappinessofseeingyou;andthoughthisgentlemandislikestheamusementingeneral,hecanhavenoobjection,iamsure,toobligeusforonehalfhour."

"mr.darcyisallpoliteness,"saidelizabeth,smiling.

"heisindeed—butconsideringtheinducement,mydearmisseliza,wecannotwonderathiscomplaisance;forwhowouldobjecttosuchapartner?"

elizabethlookedarchly,andturnedaway.herresistancehadnotinjuredherwiththegentleman,andhewasthinkingofherwithsomecomplacency,whenthusaccostedbymissbingley.

"icanguessthesubjectofyourreverie."

"ishouldimaginenot."

"youareconsideringhowinsupportableitwouldbetopassmanyeveningsinthismanner—insuchsociety;andindeediamquiteofyouropinion.iwasnevermoreannoyed!theinsipidityandyetthenoise;thenothingnessandyettheself-importanceofallthesepeople!—whatwouldigivetohearyourstricturesonthem!"

"yourconjectureistotallywrong,iassureyou.mymindwasmoreagreeablyengaged.ihavebeenmeditatingontheverygreatpleasurewhichapairoffineeyesinthefaceofaprettywomancanbestow."

missbingleyimmediatelyfixedhereyesonhisface,anddesiredhewouldtellherwhatladyhadthecreditofinspiringsuchreflections.mr.darcyrepliedwithgreatintrepidity,

"misselizabethbennet."

"misselizabethbennet!"repeatedmissbingley."iamallastonishment.howlonghasshebeensuchafavourite?—andpraywhenamitowishyoujoy?"

"thatisexactlythequestionwhichiexpectedyoutoask.alady'simaginationisveryrapid;itjumpsfromadmirationtolove,fromlovetomatrimony,inamoment.iknewyouwouldbewishingmejoy."

"nay,ifyouaresoseriousaboutit,ishallconsiderthematterasabsolutelysettled.youwillhaveacharmingmother-in-law,indeed,andofcourseshewillbealwaysatpemberleywithyou."

helistenedtoherwithperfectindifferencewhileshechosetoentertainherselfinthismanner,andashiscomposureconvincedherthatallwassafe,herwitflowedlong.