"andwhatisyoursuccess?"

sheshookherhead."idonotgetonatall.ihearsuchdifferentaccountsofyouaspuzzlemeexceedingly."

"icanreadilybelieve,"answeredhegravely,"thatreportmayvarygreatlywithrespecttome;andicouldwish,missbennet,thatyouwerenottosketchmycharacteratthepresentmoment,asthereisreasontofearthattheperformancewouldreflectnocreditoneither."

"butifidonottakeyourlikenessnow,imayneverhaveanotheropportunity."

"iwouldbynomeanssuspendanypleasureofyours,"hecoldlyreplied.shesaidnomore,andtheywentdowntheotherdanceandpartedinsilence;oneachsidedissatisfied,thoughnottoanequaldegree,forindarcy'sbreasttherewasatolerablepowerfulfeelingtowardsher,whichsoonprocuredherpardon,anddirectedallhisangeragainstanother.

theyhadnotlongseparatedwhenmissbingleycametowardsher,andwithanexpressionofcivildisdainthusaccostedher,"so,misseliza,ihearyouarequitedelightedwithgeorgewickham!—yoursisterhasbeentalkingtomeabouthim,andaskingmeathousandquestions;andifindthattheyoungmanforgottotellyou,amonghisothercommunications,thathewasthesonofoldwickham,thelatemr.darcy'ssteward.letmerecommendyou,however,asafriend,nottogiveimplicitconfidencetoallhisassertions;forastomr.darcy'susinghimill,itisperfectlyfalse;for,onthecontrary,hehasbeenalwaysremarkablykindtohim,thoughgeorgewickhamhastreatedmr.darcy,inamostinfamousmanner.idonotknowtheparticulars,butiknowverywellthatmr.darcyisnotintheleasttoblame,thathecannotbeartoheargeorgewickhammentioned,andthatthoughmybrotherthoughthecouldnotwellavoidincludinghiminhisinvitationtotheofficers,hewasexcessivelygladtofindthathehadtakenhimselfoutoftheway.hiscomingintothecountryatall,isamostinsolentthingindeed,andiwonderhowhecouldpresumetodoit.ipityyou,misseliza,forthisdiscoveryofyourfavorite'sguilt;butreally,consideringhisdescentonecouldnotexpectmuchbetter."

"hisguiltandhisdescentappearbyyouraccounttobethesame,"saidelizabethangrily;"forihaveheardyouaccusehimofnothingworsethanofbeingthesonofmr.darcy'ssteward,andofthat,icanassureyou,heinformedmehimself."

"ibegyourpardon,"repliedmissbingley,turningawaywithasneer."excusemyinterference.—itwaskindlymeant."

"insolentgirl!"saidelizabethtoherself.—"youaremuchmistakenifyouexpecttoinfluencemebysuchapaltryattackasthis.iseenothinginitbutyourownwilfulignoranceandthemaliceofmr.darcy."shethensoughthereldestsister,whohadundertakentomakeinquiriesonthesamesubjectofbingley.janemetherwithasmileofsuchsweetcomplacency,aglowofsuchhappyexpression,assufficientlymarkedhowwellshewassatisfiedwiththeoccurrencesoftheevening.—elizabethinstantlyreadherfeelings,andatthatmomentsolicitudeforwickham,resentmentagainsthisenemiesandeverythingelsegavewaybeforethehopeofjane'sbeinginthefairestwayforhappiness.

"iwanttoknow,"saidshe,withacountenancenolesssmilingthanhersister's,"whatyouhavelearntaboutmr.wickham.butperhapsyouhavebeentoopleasantlyengagedtothinkofanythirdperson,inwhichcaseyoumaybesureofmypardon."

"no,"repliedjane,"ihavenotforgottenhim;butihavenothingsatisfactorytotellyou.mr.bingleydoesnotknowthewholeofhishistory,andisquiteignorantofthecircumstanceswhichhaveprincipallyoffendedmr.darcy;buthewillvouchforthegoodconduct,theprobityandhonourofhisfriend,andisperfectlyconvincedthatmr.wickhamhasdeservedmuchlessattentionfrommr.darcythanhehasreceived;andiamsorrytosaythatbyhisaccountaswellashissister's,mr.wickhamisbynomeansarespectableyoungman.iamafraidhehasbeenveryimprudent,andhasdeservedtolosemr.darcy'sregard."

"mr.bingleydoesnotknowmr.wickhamhimself?"

"no;heneversawhimtilltheothermorningatmeryton."

"thisaccounttheniswhathehasreceivedfrommr.darcy.iamperfectlysatisfied.butwhatdoeshesayoftheliving?"

"hedoesnotexactlyrecollectthecircumstances,thoughhehasheardthemfrommr.darcymorethanonce,buthebelievesthatitwaslefttohimconditionallyonly."

"ihavenotadoubtofmr.bingley'ssincerity,"saidelizabethwarmly;"butyoumustexcusemynotbeingconvincedbyassurancesonly.mr.bingley'sdefenceofhisfriendwasaveryableoneidaresay,butsinceheisunacquaintedwithseveralpartsofthestory,andhaslearnttherestfromthatfriendhimself,ishallventurestilltothinkofbothgentlemenasididbefore."

shethenchangedthediscoursetoonemoregratifyingtoeach,andonwhichtherecouldbenodifferenceofsentiment.elizabethlistenedwithdelighttothehappy,thoughmodesthopeswhichjaneentertainedofbingley'sregard,andsaidallinherpowertoheightenherconfidenceinit.ontheirbeingjoinedbymr.bingleyhimself,elizabethwithdrewtomisslucas;towhoseinquiryafterthepleasantnessofherlastpartnershehadscarcelyreplied,beforemr.collinscameuptothemandtoldherwithgreatexultationthathehadjustbeensofortunateastomakeamostimportantdiscovery.

"ihavefoundout,"saidhe,"byasingularaccident,thatthereisnowintheroomanearrelationofmypatroness.ihappenedtooverhearthegentlemanhimselfmentioningtotheyoungladywhodoesthehonoursofthishousethenamesofhiscousinmissdebourgh,andofhermotherladycatherine.howwonderfullythesesortofthingsoccur!whowouldhavethoughtofmymeetingwith—perhaps—anephewofladycatherinedebourghinthisassembly!—iammostthankfulthatthediscoveryismadeintimeformetopaymyrespectstohim,whichiamnowgoingtodo,andtrusthewillexcusemynothavingdoneitbefore.mytotalignoranceoftheconnectionmustpleadmyapology."

"youarenotgoingtointroduceyourselftomr.darcy?"

"indeediam.ishallintreathispardonfornothavingdoneitearlier.ibelievehimtobeladycatherine'snephew.itwillbeinmypowertoassurehimthatherladyshipwasquitewellyesterdayse'nnight."

elizabethtriedhardtodissuadehimfromsuchascheme;assuringhimthatmr.darcywouldconsiderhisaddressinghimwithoutintroductionasanimpertinentfreedom,ratherthanacomplimenttohisaunt;thatitwasnotintheleastnecessarythereshouldbeanynoticeoneitherside,andthatifitwere,itmustbelongtomr.darcy,thesuperiorinconsequence,tobegintheacquaintance.—mr.collinslistenedtoherwiththedeterminedairoffollowinghisowninclinationandwhensheceasedspeaking,repliedthus,"mydearmisselizabeth,ihavethehighestopinionintheworldofyourexcellentjudgmentinallmatterswithinthescopeofyourunderstanding,butpermitmetosaythattheremustbeawidedifferencebetweentheestablishedformsofceremonyamongstthelaity,andthosewhichregulatetheclergy;forgivemeleavetoobservethaticonsidertheclericalofficeasequalinpointofdignitywiththehighestrankinthekingdom—providedthataproperhumilityofbehaviourisatthesametimemaintained.youmustthereforeallowmetofollowthedictatesofmyconscienceonthisoccasion,whichleadsmetoperformwhatilookonasapointofduty.pardonmeforneglectingtoprofitbyyouradvice,whichoneveryothersubjectshallbemyconstantguide,thoughinthecasebeforeusiconsidermyselfmorefittedbyeducationandhabitualstudytodecideonwhatisrightthanayoungladylikeyourself."andwithalowbowhelefthertoattackmr.darcy,whosereceptionofhisadvancessheeagerlywatched,andwhoseastonishmentatbeingsoaddressedwasveryevident.hercousinprefacedhisspeechwithasolemnbow,andthoughshecouldnothearawordofit,shefeltasifhearingitall,andsawinthemotionofhislipsthewords"apology,""hunsford,"and"ladycatherinedebourgh."—itvexedhertoseehimexposehimselftosuchaman.mr.darcywaseyeinghimwithunrestrainedwonder,andwhenatlastmr.collinsallowedhimtimetospeak,repliedwithanairofdistantcivility.mr.collins,however,wasnotdiscouragedfromspeakingagain,andmr.darcy'scontemptseemedabundantlyincreasingwiththelengthofhissecondspeech,andattheendofitheonlymadehimaslightbow,andmovedanotherway.mr.collinsthenreturnedtoelizabeth.

"ihavenoreason,iassureyou,"saidhe,"tobedissatisfiedwithmyreception.mr.darcyseemedmuchpleasedwiththeattention.heansweredmewiththeutmostcivility,andevenpaidmethecomplimentofsayingthathewassowellconvincedofladycatherine'sdiscernmentastobecertainshecouldneverbestowafavourunworthily.itwasreallyaveryhandsomethought.uponthewhole,iammuchpleasedwithhim."

aselizabethhadnolongeranyinterestofherowntopursue,sheturnedherattentionalmostentirelyonhersisterandmr.bingley,andthetrainofagreeablereflectionswhichherobservationsgavebirthto,madeherperhapsalmostashappyasjane.shesawher,inidea,settledinthatveryhouse,inallthefelicitywhichamarriageoftrueaffectioncouldbestow;andshefeltcapable,undersuchcircumstances,ofendeavouringeventolikebingley'stwosisters.hermother'sthoughtssheplainlysawwerebentthesameway,andshedeterminednottoventurenearher,lestshemightheartoomuch.whentheysatdowntosupper,therefore,sheconsidereditamostunluckyperversenesswhichplacedthemwithinoneofeachother;anddeeplywasshevexedtofindthathermotherwastalkingtothatoneperson(ladylucas)freely,openly,andofnothingelsebutofherexpectationthatjanewouldbesoonmarriedtomr.bingley.—itwasananimatingsubject,andmrs.bennetseemedincapableoffatiguewhileenumeratingtheadvantagesofthematch.hisbeingsuchacharmingyoungman,andsorich,andlivingbutthreemilesfromthem,werethefirstpointsofself-gratulation;andthenitwassuchacomforttothinkhowfondthetwosisterswereofjane,andtobecertainthattheymustdesiretheconnectionasmuchasshecoulddo.itwas,moreover,suchapromisingthingforheryoungerdaughters,asjane'smarryingsogreatlymustthrowtheminthewayofotherrichmen;andlastly,itwassopleasantathertimeoflifetobeabletoconsignhersingledaughterstothecareoftheirsister,thatshemightnotbeobligedtogointocompanymorethansheliked.itwasnecessarytomakethiscircumstanceamatterofpleasure,becauseonsuchoccasionsitistheetiquettebutnoonewaslesslikelythanmrs.bennettofindcomfortinstayingathomeatanyperiodofherlife.sheconcludedwithmanygoodwishesthatladylucasmightsoonbeequallyfortunate,thoughevidentlyandtriumphantlybelievingtherewasnochanceofit.

invaindidelizabethendeavourtochecktherapidityofhermother'swords,orpersuadehertodescribeherfelicityinalessaudiblewhisper;fortoherinexpressiblevexation,shecouldperceivethatthechiefofitwasoverheardbymr.darcy,whosatoppositetothem.hermotheronlyscoldedherforbeingnonsensical.

"whatismr.darcytome,pray,thatishouldbeafraidofhim?iamsureweowehimnosuchparticularcivilityastobeobligedtosaynothinghemaynotliketohear."

"forheaven'ssake,madam,speaklower.—whatadvantagecanitbetoyoutooffendmr.darcy?—youwillneverrecommendyourselftohisfriendbysodoing."

nothingthatshecouldsay,however,hadanyinfluence.hermotherwouldtalkofherviewsinthesameintelligibletone.elizabethblushedandblushedagainwithshameandvexation.shecouldnothelpfrequentlyglancinghereyeatmr.darcy,thougheveryglanceconvincedherofwhatshedreaded;forthoughhewasnotalwayslookingathermother,shewasconvincedthathisattentionwasinvariablyfixedbyher.theexpressionofhisfacechangedgraduallyfromindignantcontempttoacomposedandsteadygravity.

atlengthhowevermrs.bennethadnomoretosay;andladylucas,whohadbeenlongyawningattherepetitionofdelightswhichshesawnolikelihoodofsharing,waslefttothecomfortsofcoldhamandchicken.elizabethnowbegantorevive.butnotlongwastheintervaloftranquillity;forwhensupperwasover,singingwastalkedof,andshehadthemortificationofseeingmary,afterverylittleentreaty,preparingtoobligethecompany.bymanysignificantlooksandsilententreaties,didsheendeavourtopreventsuchaproofofcomplaisance,—butinvain;marywouldnotunderstandthem;suchanopportunityofexhibitingwasdelightfultoher,andshebeganhersong.elizabeth'seyeswerefixedonherwithmostpainfulsensations;andshewatchedherprogressthroughtheseveralstanzaswithanimpatiencewhichwasveryillrewardedattheirclose;formary,onreceivingamongstthethanksofthetable,thehintofahopethatshemightbeprevailedontofavourthemagain,afterthepauseofhalfaminutebegananother.mary'spowerswerebynomeansfittedforsuchadisplay;hervoicewasweak,andhermanneraffected.—elizabethwasinagonies.shelookedatjane,toseehowsheboreit;butjanewasverycomposedlytalkingtobingley.shelookedathistwosisters,andsawthemmakingsignsofderisionateachother,andatdarcy,whocontinuedhoweverimpenetrablygrave.shelookedatherfathertoentreathisinterference,lestmaryshouldbesingingallnight.hetookthehint,andwhenmaryhadfinishedhersecondsong,saidaloud,

"thatwilldoextremelywell,child.youhavedelighteduslongenough.lettheotheryoungladieshavetimetoexhibit."

mary,thoughpretendingnottohear,wassomewhatdisconcerted;andelizabethsorryforher,andsorryforherfather'sspeech,wasafraidheranxietyhaddonenogood.—othersofthepartywerenowappliedto.

"ifi,"saidmr.collins,"weresofortunateastobeabletosing,ishouldhavegreatpleasure,iamsure,inobligingthecompanywithanair;foriconsidermusicasaveryinnocentpersion,andperfectlycompatiblewiththeprofessionofaclergyman.—idonotmeanhowevertoassertthatwecanbejustifiedindevotingtoomuchofourtimetomusic,fortherearecertainlyotherthingstobeattendedto.therectorofaparishhasmuchtodo.—inthefirstplace,hemustmakesuchanagreementfortithesasmaybebeneficialtohimselfandnotoffensivetohispatron.hemustwritehisownsermons;andthetimethatremainswillnotbetoomuchforhisparishduties,andthecareandimprovementofhisdwelling,whichhecannotbeexcusedfrommakingascomfortableaspossible.andidonotthinkitoflightimportancethatheshouldhaveattentiveandconciliatorymannerstowardseverybody,especiallytowardsthosetowhomheoweshispreferment.icannotacquithimofthatduty;norcouldithinkwellofthemanwhoshouldomitanoccasionoftestifyinghisrespecttowardsanybodyconnectedwiththefamily."andwithabowtomr.darcy,heconcludedhisspeech,whichhadbeenspokensoloudastobeheardbyhalftheroom.—manystared.—manysmiled;butnoonelookedmoreamusedthanmr.bennethimself,whilehiswifeseriouslycommendedmr.collinsforhavingspokensosensibly,andobservedinahalf-whispertoladylucas,thathewasaremarkablyclever,goodkindofyoungman.

toelizabethitappeared,thathadherfamilymadeanagreementtoexposethemselvesasmuchastheycouldduringtheevening,itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthemtoplaytheirpartswithmorespirit,orfinersuccess;andhappydidshethinkitforbingleyandhersisterthatsomeoftheexhibitionhadescapedhisnotice,andthathisfeelingswerenotofasorttobemuchdistressedbythefollywhichhemusthavewitnessed.thathistwosistersandmr.darcy,however,shouldhavesuchanopportunityofridiculingherrelationswasbadenough,andshecouldnotdeterminewhetherthesilentcontemptofthegentleman,ortheinsolentsmilesoftheladies,weremoreintolerable.

therestoftheeveningbroughtherlittleamusement.shewasteazedbymr.collins,whocontinuedmostperseveringlybyherside,andthoughhecouldnotprevailwithhertodancewithhimagain,putitoutofherpowertodancewithothers.invaindidsheentreathimtostandupwithsomebodyelse,andoffertointroducehimtoanyyoungladyintheroom.heassuredherthatastodancing,hewasperfectlyindifferenttoit;thathischiefobjectwasbydelicateattentionstorecommendhimselftoher,andthatheshouldthereforemakeapointofremainingclosetoherthewholeevening.therewasnoarguinguponsuchaproject.sheowedhergreatestrelieftoherfriendmisslucas,whooftenjoinedthem,andgood-naturedlyengagedmr.collins'sconversationtoherself.

shewasatleastfreefromtheoffenceofmr.darcy'sfarthernotice;thoughoftenstandingwithinaveryshortdistanceofher,quitedisengaged,henevercamenearenoughtospeak.shefeltittobetheprobableconsequenceofherallusionstomr.wickham,andrejoicedinit.

thelongbournpartywerethelastofallthecompanytodepart;andbyamanoeuvreofmrs.bennet,hadtowaitfortheircarriagesaquarterofanhouraftereverybodyelsewasgone,whichgavethemtimetoseehowheartilytheywerewishedawaybysomeofthefamily.mrs.hurstandhersisterscarcelyopenedtheirmouthsexcepttocomplainoffatigue,andwereevidentlyimpatienttohavethehousetothemselves.theyrepulsedeveryattemptofmrs.bennetatconversation,andbysodoing,threwalanguoroverthewholeparty,whichwasverylittlerelievedbythelongspeechesofmr.collins,whowascomplimentingmr.bingleyandhissistersontheeleganceoftheirentertainment,andthehospitalityandpolitenesswhichhadmarkedtheirbehaviourtotheirguests.darcysaidnothingatall.mr.bennet,inequalsilence,wasenjoyingthescene.mr.bingleyandjanewerestandingtogether,alittledetachedfromtherest,andtalkedonlytoeachother.elizabethpreservedassteadyasilenceaseithermrs.hurstormissbingley;andevenlydiawastoomuchfatiguedtouttermorethantheoccasionalexclamationof"lordhowtirediam!"accompaniedbyaviolentyawn.

whenatlengththeyarosetotakeleave,mrs.bennetwasmostpressinglycivilinherhopeofseeingthewholefamilysoonatlongbourn;andaddressedherselfparticularlytomr.bingley,toassurehimhowhappyhewouldmakethembyeatingafamilydinnerwiththematanytime,withouttheceremonyofaformalinvitation.bingleywasallgratefulpleasure,andhereadilyengagedfortakingtheearliestopportunityofwaitingonher,afterhisreturnfromlondon,whitherhewasobligedtogothenextdayforashorttime.

mrs.bennetwasperfectlysatisfied;andquittedthehouseunderthedelightfulpersuasionthat,allowingforthenecessarypreparationsofsettlements,newcarriages,andweddingclothes,sheshouldundoubtedlyseeherdaughtersettledatnetherfieldinthecourseofthreeorfourmonths.ofhavinganotherdaughtermarriedtomr.collins,shethoughtwithequalcertainty,andwithconsiderable,thoughnotequal,pleasure.elizabethwastheleastdeartoherofallherchildren;andthoughthemanandthematchwerequitegoodenoughforher,theworthofeachwaseclipsedbymr.bingleyandnetherfield.