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Chapter XVIII · Pride and Prejudice | Audiobook

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Speaker 1: Chapter 18 Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and
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Speaker 1: looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of
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Speaker 1: red coats there assembled, a doubt of his being present
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Speaker 1: had never occurred to her. The certainty of meeting him
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Speaker 1: had not been checked by any of those recollections that
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Speaker 1: might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with
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Speaker 1: more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits
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Speaker 1: for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart,
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Speaker 1: trusting that it was not more than might be one
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Speaker 1: in the course of the evening. But in an instant
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Speaker 1: arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted, for Mr.
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Speaker 1: Darcy's pleasure, in the Bingley's invitation to the officers. And
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Speaker 1: though this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact
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Speaker 1: of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr Denny,
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Speaker 1: to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who told them that
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Speaker 1: Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business
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Speaker 1: the day before, and was not yet returned, adding, with
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Speaker 1: a significant smile, I do not imagine his business would
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Speaker 1: have called him away just now if he had not
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Speaker 1: wished to avoid a certain gentleman here. This part of
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Speaker 1: his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by Elizabeth, and,
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Speaker 1: as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable
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Speaker 1: for Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just,
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Speaker 1: every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened
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Speaker 1: by immediate disappointment. that she could hardly reply with tolerable
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Speaker 1: civility to the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached
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Speaker 1: to make. Attention, forbearance, patience with Darcy was injury to Wickham.
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Speaker 1: She was resolved against any sort of conversation with him,
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Speaker 1: and turned away with a degree of ill humour which
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Speaker 1: she could not wholly surmount, even in speaking to Mr Bingley.
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Speaker 1: whose blind partiality provoked her. But Elizabeth was not formed
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Speaker 1: for ill-humour, and though every prospect of her own was
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Speaker 1: destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on
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Speaker 1: her spirits. And having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas,
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Speaker 1: whom she had not seen for a week, she was
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Speaker 1: soon able to make a voluntary transition to the oddities
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Speaker 1: of her cousin, and to point him out to her
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Speaker 1: particular notice. The two first dances, however, brought a return
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Speaker 1: of distress. They were dances of mortification. Mr Collins, awkward
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Speaker 1: and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong
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Speaker 1: without being aware of it, gave her all the shame
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Speaker 1: and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of
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Speaker 1: dances can give. The moment of her release from him
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Speaker 1: was ecstasy. she danced next with an officer and had
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Speaker 1: the refreshment of talking of Wickham and of hearing that
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Speaker 1: he was universally liked. When those dances were over, she
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Speaker 1: returned to Charlotte Lucas and was in conversation with her
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Speaker 1: when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr Darcy, who
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Speaker 1: took her so much by surprise in his application for
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Speaker 1: her hand that, without knowing what she did, She accepted him.
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Speaker 1: He walked away again immediately, and she was left to
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Speaker 1: fret over her own want of presence of mind. Charlotte
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Speaker 1: tried to console her. I dare say you will find
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Speaker 1: him very agreeable. Heaven forbid. That would be the greatest
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Speaker 1: misfortune of all. To find a man agreeable whom one
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Speaker 1: is determined to hate. Do not wish me such an evil.
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Speaker 1: When the dancing recommenced, however... and Darcy approached to claim
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Speaker 1: her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her, in a whisper,
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Speaker 1: not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for
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Speaker 1: Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of
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Speaker 1: a man, oftentimes his consequence. Elizabeth made no answer, and
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Speaker 1: took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity
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Speaker 1: to which she was arrived in being allowed to stand
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Speaker 1: opposite to Mr Darcy. and reading in her neighbour's looks
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Speaker 1: their equal amazement in beholding it. They stood for some
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Speaker 1: time without speaking a word, and she began to imagine
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Speaker 1: that their silence was to last through the two dances, and,
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Speaker 1: at first, was resolved not to break it, till suddenly
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Speaker 1: fancying that it would be the greater punishment to her
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Speaker 1: partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight
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Speaker 1: observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent.
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Speaker 1: After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a
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Speaker 1: second time with, It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy.
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Speaker 1: I talked about the dance, and you ought to make
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Speaker 1: some kind of remark on the size of the room,
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Speaker 1: or the number of couples. He smiled, and assured her
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Speaker 1: that whatever she wished him to say, should be said.
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Speaker 1: Very well, that reply will do for the present. Perhaps
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Speaker 1: by and by I may observe that private balls are
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Speaker 1: much pleasanter than public ones. But now we may be silent.
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Speaker 1: Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing? Sometimes.
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Speaker 1: One must speak a little, you know. It would look
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Speaker 1: odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together.
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Speaker 1: And yet, for the advantage of some, conversation ought to
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Speaker 1: be so arranged as that they may have the trouble
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Speaker 1: of saying as little as possible. Are you consulting your
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Speaker 1: own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine
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Speaker 1: that you are gratifying mine? Both, replied Elizabeth archly. for
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Speaker 1: I have always seen a great similarity in the turn
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Speaker 1: of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition,
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Speaker 1: unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that
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Speaker 1: will amaze the whole room and be handed down to
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Speaker 1: posterity with all the éclat of a proverb. This is
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Speaker 1: no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure,
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Speaker 1: said he. How near it may be to mine I
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Speaker 1: cannot pretend to say. You think it a faithful portrait, undoubtedly.
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Speaker 1: I must not decide on my own performance. He made
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Speaker 1: no answer, and they were again silent, till they had
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Speaker 1: gone down the dance. When he asked her if she
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Speaker 1: and her sisters did not very often walk to Meryton,
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Speaker 1: she answered in the affirmative, and unable to resist the temptation, added,
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Speaker 1: When you met us there the other day, we had
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Speaker 1: just been forming a new acquaintance. The effect was immediate.
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Speaker 1: A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features. But he
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Speaker 1: said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself for
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Speaker 1: her own weakness, could not go on. At length, Darcy spoke,
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Speaker 1: and in a constrained manner said, Mr Wickham is blessed
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Speaker 1: with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends,
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Speaker 1: whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is
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Speaker 1: less certain. He has been so unlucky as to lose
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Speaker 1: your friendship, replied Elizabeth with emphasis, and in a manner
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Speaker 1: which he is likely to suffer from all his life.
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Speaker 1: Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject.
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Speaker 1: At that moment, Sir William Lucas appeared close to them.
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Speaker 1: meaning to pass through the set to the other side
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Speaker 1: of the room. But, on perceiving Mr. Darcy, he stopped,
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Speaker 1: with a bow of superior courtesy, to compliment him on
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Speaker 1: his dancing and his partner. I have been most highly
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Speaker 1: gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very superior dancing is
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Speaker 1: not often seen. It is evident that you belong to
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Speaker 1: the first circles. Allow me to say, however, that your
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Speaker 1: fair partner does not disgrace you, and that I must
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Speaker 1: hope to have this pleasure often repeated, especially when a
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Speaker 1: certain desirable event, my dear Miss Eliza, glancing at her
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Speaker 1: sister and Bingley, shall take place. What congratulations will then
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Speaker 1: flow in? I appeal to Mr. Darcy. But let me
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Speaker 1: not interrupt you, sir. You will not thank me for
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Speaker 1: detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady.
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Speaker 1: whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me. The latter part
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Speaker 1: of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy, but Sir
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Speaker 1: William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly,
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Speaker 1: and his eyes were directed, with a very serious expression,
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Speaker 1: towards Bingley and Jane, who were dancing together. Recovering himself, however,
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Speaker 1: shortly he turned to his partner and said, Sir William's
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Speaker 1: interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.
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Speaker 1: I do not think we were speaking at all. Sir
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Speaker 1: William could not have interrupted any two people in the
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Speaker 1: room who had less to say for themselves. We have
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Speaker 1: tried two or three subjects already without success, and what
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Speaker 1: we are to talk of next I cannot imagine. What
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Speaker 1: think you of books? said he, smiling. Books, oh no,
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Speaker 1: I am sure we never read the same, or not
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Speaker 1: with the same feelings. I am sorry you think so,
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Speaker 1: but if that be the case, there can at least
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Speaker 1: be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions. No,
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Speaker 1: I cannot talk of books in a ballroom. My head
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Speaker 1: is always full of something else. The present always occupies
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Speaker 1: you in such scenes, does it? said he, with a
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Speaker 1: look of doubt. Yes, always, she replied, without knowing what
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Speaker 1: she said, for her thoughts had wandered far from the subject,
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Speaker 1: as soon afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming, I remember
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Speaker 1: hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, that you hardly ever forgave,
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Speaker 1: that your resentment, once created, was unappeasable. You are very cautious,
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Speaker 1: I suppose. as to its being created. I am, said he,
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Speaker 1: with a firm voice. And never allow yourself to be
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Speaker 1: blinded by prejudice. I hope not. It is particularly incumbent
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Speaker 1: on those who never change their opinion to be secure
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Speaker 1: of judging properly at first. May I ask to what
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Speaker 1: these questions tend? Merely to the illustration of your character,
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Speaker 1: said she. endeavouring to shake off her gravity. I am
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Speaker 1: trying to make it out. And what is your success?
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Speaker 1: She shook her head. I do not get on at all.
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Speaker 1: I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.
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Speaker 1: I can readily believe, answered he gravely, that reports may
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Speaker 1: vary greatly with respect to me, and I could wish,
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Speaker 1: Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character
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Speaker 1: at the present moment, as there is reason to fear
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Speaker 1: that the performance would reflect no credit on either. But
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Speaker 1: if I do not take your likeness now, I may
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Speaker 1: never have another opportunity. I would by no means suspend
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Speaker 1: any pleasure of yours, he coldly replied. She said no more,
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Speaker 1: and they went down the other dance and parted in silence.
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Speaker 1: on each side dissatisfied, though not to an equal degree,
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Speaker 1: for in Darcy's breast there was a tolerably powerful feeling
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Speaker 1: towards her, which soon procured her pardon and directed all
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Speaker 1: his anger against another. They had not long separated when
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Speaker 1: Miss Bingley came towards her, and with an expression of
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Speaker 1: civil disdain thus accosted her. So, Miss Eliza, I hear
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Speaker 1: you are quite delighted with George Wickham. Your sister has
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Speaker 1: been talking to me about him, and asking me a
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Speaker 1: thousand questions, and I find that the young man forgot
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Speaker 1: to tell you, among his other communications, that he was
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Speaker 1: the son of old Wickham, the late Mr Darcy's steward.
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Speaker 1: Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to
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Speaker 1: give implicit confidence to all his assertions, for... As to
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Speaker 1: Mr Darcy's using him ill, it is perfectly false, for,
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Speaker 1: on the contrary, he has been always remarkably kind to him,
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Speaker 1: though George Wickham has treated Mr Darcy in a most
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Speaker 1: infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I
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Speaker 1: know very well that Mr Darcy is not in the
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Speaker 1: least to blame, that he cannot bear to hear George
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Speaker 1: Wickham mentioned. and that though my brother thought he could
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Speaker 1: not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers,
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Speaker 1: he was excessively glad to find that he had taken
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Speaker 1: himself out of the way. His coming into the country
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Speaker 1: at all is a most insolent thing indeed, and I
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Speaker 1: wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you,
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Speaker 1: Miss Eliza, for this discovery of your favourite's guilt, but really,
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Speaker 1: Considering his descent, one could not expect much better. His
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Speaker 1: guilt and his descent appear, by your account, to be
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Speaker 1: the same, said Elizabeth angrily, for I have heard you
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Speaker 1: accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son
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Speaker 1: of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of that, I can assure you,
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Speaker 1: he informed me himself. I beg your pardon, replied Miss Bingley,
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Speaker 1: turning away with a sneer, Excuse my interference. It was
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Speaker 1: kindly meant. Insolent girl, said Elizabeth to herself. You are
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Speaker 1: much mistaken if you expect to influence me by such
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Speaker 1: a paltry attack as this. I see nothing in it
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Speaker 1: but your own willful ignorance and the malice of Mr. Darcy.
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Speaker 1: She then sought her eldest sister, who had undertaken to
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Speaker 1: make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley. Jane met
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Speaker 1: her with a smile of such sweet complacency, a glow
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Speaker 1: of such happy expression, as sufficiently marked how well she
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Speaker 1: was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening. Elizabeth instantly
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Speaker 1: read her feelings, and at that moment solicitude for Wickham,
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Speaker 1: resentment against his enemies, and everything else, gave way before
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Speaker 1: the hope of Jane's being in the fairest way for happiness.
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Speaker 1: I want to know, said she, with a countenance no
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Speaker 1: less smiling than her sister's, what you have learnt about
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Speaker 1: Mr Wickham. But perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged
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Speaker 1: to think of any third person, in which case you
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Speaker 1: may be sure of my pardon. No, replied Jane, I
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Speaker 1: have not forgotten him. But I have nothing satisfactory to
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Speaker 1: tell you. Mr Bingley does not know the whole of
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Speaker 1: his history, and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which
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Speaker 1: have principally offended Mr Darcy. But he will vouch for
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Speaker 1: the good conduct, the probity and honour of his friend,
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Speaker 1: and is perfectly convinced that Mr Wickham has deserved much
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Speaker 1: less attention from Mr Darcy than he has received. And
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Speaker 1: I am sorry to say... that by his account, as
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Speaker 1: well as his sister's, Mr. Wickham is by no means
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Speaker 1: a respectable young man. I'm afraid he has been very imprudent,
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Speaker 1: and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard. Mr. Bingley
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Speaker 1: does not know Mr. Wickham himself. No, he never saw
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Speaker 1: him till the other morning at Meryton. This account, then,
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Speaker 1: is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am
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Speaker 1: perfectly satisfied, but what does he say of the living?
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Speaker 1: He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has
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Speaker 1: heard them from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he
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Speaker 1: believes that it was left to him conditionally only. I
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Speaker 1: have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity, said Elizabeth warmly,
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Speaker 1: but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr.
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Speaker 1: Bingley's defence of his friend was a very able one,
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Speaker 1: I dare say. But since he is unacquainted with several
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Speaker 1: parts of the story, and has learnt the rest from
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Speaker 1: that friend himself, I shall venture still to think of
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Speaker 1: both gentlemen as I did before. She then changed the
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Speaker 1: discourse to one more gratifying to each, and on which
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Speaker 1: there could be no difference of sentiment. Elizabeth listened with
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Speaker 1: delight to the happy though modest hopes which Jane entertained
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Speaker 1: of Bingley's regard, and said all in her power to
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Speaker 1: heighten her confidence in it. On their being joined by Mr.
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Speaker 1: Bingley himself, Elizabeth withdrew to Miss Lucas, to whose inquiry
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Speaker 1: after the pleasantness of her last partner, she had scarcely replied,
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Speaker 1: before Mr. Collins came up to them, and told her
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Speaker 1: with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate
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Speaker 1: as to make a most important discovery. I have found out,
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Speaker 1: said he, by a singular accident, that there is now
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Speaker 1: in the room a near relation to my patroness. I
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Speaker 1: happen to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young
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Speaker 1: lady who does the honours of this house the names
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Speaker 1: of his cousin Mr Borg, and of her mother, Lady Catherine.
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Speaker 1: How wonderfully these sort of things occur! Who would have
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Speaker 1: thought of my meeting with, perhaps, a nephew of Lady
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Speaker 1: Catherine de Bourgh in this assembly? I am most thankful
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Speaker 1: that the discovery is made in time for me to
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Speaker 1: pay my respects to him, which I am now going
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Speaker 1: to do, and trust he will excuse my not having
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Speaker 1: done it before. My total ignorance of the connection must
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Speaker 1: plead my apology. You are not going to introduce yourself
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Speaker 1: to Mr. Darcy? Indeed I am. I shall entreat his
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Speaker 1: pardon for not having done it earlier. I believe him
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Speaker 1: to be Lady Catherine's nephew. It will be in my
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Speaker 1: power to assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday, Senite.
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Speaker 1: Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme.
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Speaker 1: assuring him that Mr Darcy would consider his addressing him
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Speaker 1: without introduction as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment
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Speaker 1: to his aunt. That it was not in the least
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Speaker 1: necessary there should be any notice on either side, and
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Speaker 1: that if it were, it must belong to Mr Darcy,
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Speaker 1: the superior in consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr Collins
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Speaker 1: listened to her, with the determined air of following his
21:36
Speaker 1: own inclination, and when she ceased speaking, replied thus, My
21:43
Speaker 1: dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the
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Speaker 1: world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the
21:51
Speaker 1: scope of your understanding, but permit me to say that
21:56
Speaker 1: there must be a wide difference between the established forms
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Speaker 1: of ceremony amongst the laity and and those which regulate
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Speaker 1: the clergy. For, give me leave to observe that I
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Speaker 1: consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity
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Speaker 1: with the highest rank in the kingdom, provided that a
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Speaker 1: proper humility of behaviour is at the same time maintained.
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Speaker 1: You must, therefore, allow me to follow the dictates of
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Speaker 1: my conscience on this occasion. which lead me to perform
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Speaker 1: what I look on as a point of duty. Pardon
22:34
Speaker 1: me for neglecting to profit by your advice, which on
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Speaker 1: every other subject shall be my constant guide, though in
22:43
Speaker 1: the case before us I consider myself more fitted by
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Speaker 1: education and habitual study to decide on what is right
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Speaker 1: than a young lady like yourself. And with a low bow,
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Speaker 1: He left her to attack Mr Darcy, whose reception of
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Speaker 1: his advances she eagerly watched, and whose astonishment at being
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Speaker 1: so addressed was very evident. Her cousin prefaced his speech
23:12
Speaker 1: with a solemn bow, and though she could not hear
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Speaker 1: a word of it, she felt as if hearing it all,
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Speaker 1: and saw in the motion of his lips the words, Apology, Hunsford.
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Speaker 1: and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. It vexed her to see
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Speaker 1: him expose himself to such a man. Mr Darcy was
23:34
Speaker 1: eyeing him with unrestrained wonder, and when at last Mr
23:38
Speaker 1: Collins allowed him to speak, replied with an air of
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Speaker 1: distant civility. Mr Collins, however, was not discouraged from speaking again,
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Speaker 1: and Mr Darcy's contempt was seemed abundantly increasing with the
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Speaker 1: length of his second speech. And at the end of it,
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Speaker 1: he only made him a slight bow, and moved another way. Mr.
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Speaker 1: Collins then returned to Elizabeth.' I have no reason, I
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Speaker 1: assure you,' said he,' to be dissatisfied with my reception. Mr.
24:14
Speaker 1: Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention.' He answered me
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Speaker 1: with the utmost civility. and even paid me the compliment
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Speaker 1: of saying that he was so well convinced of Lady
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Speaker 1: Catherine's discernment as to be certain she could never bestow
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Speaker 1: a favour unworthily. It was really a very handsome thought.
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Speaker 1: Upon the whole, I am much pleased with him. As
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Speaker 1: Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue,
24:49
Speaker 1: she turned her attention almost entirely on her sister and
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Speaker 1: Maester Bingley. And the train of agreeable reflections which her
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Speaker 1: observations gave birth to made her perhaps almost as happy
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Speaker 1: as Jane. She saw her in idea settled in that
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Speaker 1: very house, in all the felicity which a marriage of
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Speaker 1: true affection could bestow. And she felt capable, under such circumstances...
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Speaker 1: of endeavouring even to like Bingley's two sisters. Her mother's thoughts,
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Speaker 1: she plainly saw, were bent the same way, and she
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Speaker 1: determined not to venture near her, lest she might hear
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Speaker 1: too much. When they sat down to supper, therefore, she
25:36
Speaker 1: considered it a most unlucky perverseness which placed them within
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Speaker 1: one of each other, and deeply was she vexed to
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Speaker 1: find that her mother was talking to that one person,
25:49
Speaker 1: Lady Lucas, freely, openly, and of nothing else but of
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Speaker 1: her expectation that Jane would be soon married to Mr Bingley.
26:01
Speaker 1: It was an animating subject, and Mrs Bennet seemed incapable
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Speaker 1: of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the match. His
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Speaker 1: being such a charming young man, and so rich, and
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Speaker 1: living but three miles from them, were the first points
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Speaker 1: of self-gratulation. And then it was such a comfort to
26:25
Speaker 1: think how fond the two sisters were of Jane, and
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Speaker 1: to be certain that they must desire the connection as
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Speaker 1: much as she could do. It was, moreover, such a
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Speaker 1: promising thing for her younger daughters. as Jane's marrying so
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Speaker 1: greatly must throw them in the way of other rich men.
26:46
Speaker 1: And lastly, it was so pleasant at her time of
26:49
Speaker 1: life to be able to consign her single daughters to
26:53
Speaker 1: the care of their sister, that she might not be
26:57
Speaker 1: obliged to go into company more than she liked. It
27:02
Speaker 1: was necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure,
27:07
Speaker 1: because on such occasions it is the etiquette, but no
27:11
Speaker 1: one was less likely than Mrs. Bennet to find comfort
27:15
Speaker 1: in staying at home at any period of her life.
27:19
Speaker 1: She concluded, with many good wishes, that Lady Lucas might
27:24
Speaker 1: soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there
27:28
Speaker 1: was no chance of it. In vain did Elizabeth endeavour
27:33
Speaker 1: to check the rapidity of her mother's words. or persuade
27:37
Speaker 1: her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper.
27:42
Speaker 1: For to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the
27:46
Speaker 1: chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat
27:51
Speaker 1: opposite to them. Her mother only scolded her for being nonsensical.
27:57
Speaker 1: What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should
28:00
Speaker 1: be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him
28:03
Speaker 1: no such particular civility. as to be obliged to say
28:08
Speaker 1: nothing he may not like to hear. For heaven's sake, madam,
28:13
Speaker 1: speak lower. What advantage can it be to you to
28:17
Speaker 1: offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his
28:21
Speaker 1: friend by so doing. Nothing that she could say, however,
28:28
Speaker 1: had any influence. Her mother would talk of her views
28:32
Speaker 1: in the same intelligible tones. Elizabeth blushed and blushed again
28:37
Speaker 1: with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently glancing
28:41
Speaker 1: her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her
28:46
Speaker 1: of what she dreaded. For though he was not always
28:50
Speaker 1: looking at her mother, she was convinced that his attention
28:54
Speaker 1: was invariably fixed by her. The expression of his face
29:00
Speaker 1: changed gradually from indignant contempt to to a composed and
29:04
Speaker 1: steady gravity. At length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more
29:10
Speaker 1: to say, and Lady Lucas, who had been long yawning
29:14
Speaker 1: at the repetition of delights which she saw no likelihood
29:17
Speaker 1: of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham
29:22
Speaker 1: and chicken. Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long
29:28
Speaker 1: was the interval of tranquillity, for when supper was over,
29:32
Speaker 1: singing was talked of, and she had the mortification of
29:36
Speaker 1: seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, preparing to oblige the company.
29:43
Speaker 1: By many significant looks and silent entreaties did she endeavour
29:48
Speaker 1: to prevent such a proof of complacence. But in vain.
29:53
Speaker 1: Mary would not understand them. Such an opportunity of exhibiting
29:57
Speaker 1: was delightful to her. and she began her song. Elizabeth's
30:03
Speaker 1: eyes were fixed on her, with most painful sensations, and
30:08
Speaker 1: she watched her progress through the several stanzas, with an
30:12
Speaker 1: impatience which was very ill-rewarded at their close. For Mary,
30:18
Speaker 1: on receiving amongst the thanks of the table the hint
30:22
Speaker 1: of a hope that she might be prevailed on to
30:25
Speaker 1: favour them again, after the pause of half a minute,
30:29
Speaker 1: began another. Mary's powers were by no means fitted for
30:34
Speaker 1: such a display. Her voice was weak, and her manner affected.
30:40
Speaker 1: Elizabeth was in agonies. She looked at Jane to see
30:43
Speaker 1: how she bore it, but Jane was very composedly talking
30:47
Speaker 1: to Bingley. She looked at his two sisters, and saw
30:51
Speaker 1: them making signs of derision at each other, and at Darcy,
30:55
Speaker 1: who continued, however. impenetrably grave. She looked at her father,
31:02
Speaker 1: to entreat his interference, lest Mary should be singing all night.
31:07
Speaker 1: He took the hint, and when Mary had finished her
31:10
Speaker 1: second song, said aloud, That will do extremely well, child.
31:17
Speaker 1: You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young
31:20
Speaker 1: ladies have time to exhibit. Mary, though pretending not to hear,
31:27
Speaker 1: was somewhat disconcerted, and Elizabeth, sorry for her, and sorry
31:32
Speaker 1: for her father's speech, was afraid her anxiety had done
31:35
Speaker 1: no good. Others of the party were now applied to.
31:40
Speaker 1: If I, said Mr. Collins, were so fortunate as to
31:45
Speaker 1: be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I
31:49
Speaker 1: am sure, in obliging the company with an air, for
31:53
Speaker 1: I consider music as a very innocent diversion. and perfectly
31:57
Speaker 1: compatible with the profession of a clergyman. I do not mean, however,
32:04
Speaker 1: to assert that we can be justified in devoting too
32:07
Speaker 1: much of our time to music, for there are certainly
32:10
Speaker 1: other things to be attended to. The rector of a
32:14
Speaker 1: parish has much to do. In the first place, he
32:19
Speaker 1: must make such an agreement for tithes as may be
32:22
Speaker 1: beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patrons. He
32:27
Speaker 1: must write his own sermons, and the time that remains
32:32
Speaker 1: will not be too much for his parish duties, and
32:35
Speaker 1: the care and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot
32:39
Speaker 1: be excused from making as comfortable as possible. And I
32:44
Speaker 1: do not think it of light importance that he should
32:47
Speaker 1: have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those
32:54
Speaker 1: to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit him
32:59
Speaker 1: of that duty. Nor could I think well of the
33:02
Speaker 1: man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect
33:06
Speaker 1: towards anybody connected with the family. And with a bow
33:10
Speaker 1: to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had been
33:15
Speaker 1: spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room.
33:19
Speaker 1: Many stared, many smiled, but no one looked more amused
33:25
Speaker 1: than Mr. Bennet himself, while his wife seriously commended Meister
33:30
Speaker 1: Collins for having spoken so sensibly, and observed, in a
33:35
Speaker 1: half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably clever,
33:40
Speaker 1: good kind of young man. To Elizabeth it appeared that
33:45
Speaker 1: had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as
33:49
Speaker 1: much as they could during the evening, it would have
33:52
Speaker 1: been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit.
33:56
Speaker 1: or finer success. And happy did she think it, for
34:01
Speaker 1: Bingley and her sister, that some of the exhibition had
34:05
Speaker 1: escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of
34:09
Speaker 1: a sort to be much distressed by the folly which
34:12
Speaker 1: he must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however,
34:18
Speaker 1: should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations was
34:22
Speaker 1: bad enough, and she could not determine whether whether the
34:27
Speaker 1: silent contempt of the gentlemen or the insolent smiles of
34:31
Speaker 1: the ladies, were more intolerable. The rest of the evening
34:37
Speaker 1: brought her little amusement. She was teased by Mr Collins,
34:42
Speaker 1: who continued most perseveringly by her side, and though he
34:47
Speaker 1: could not prevail with her to dance with him again,
34:50
Speaker 1: put it out of her power to dance with others.
34:54
Speaker 1: In vain. did she entreat him to stand up with
34:57
Speaker 1: somebody else, and offered to introduce him to any young
35:01
Speaker 1: lady in the room. He assured her that as to dancing,
35:06
Speaker 1: he was perfectly indifferent to it, that his chief object was,
35:11
Speaker 1: by delicate attentions, to recommend himself to her, and that
35:15
Speaker 1: he should therefore make a point of remaining close to
35:19
Speaker 1: her the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such
35:25
Speaker 1: a project. She owed her greatest relief to her friend
35:29
Speaker 1: Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and good-naturedly engaged Mr
35:34
Speaker 1: Collins's conversation to herself. She was at least free from
35:39
Speaker 1: the offence of Mr Darcy's further notice, though often standing
35:44
Speaker 1: within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged. He
35:49
Speaker 1: never came near enough to speak. she felt it to
35:52
Speaker 1: be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr Wickham,
35:57
Speaker 1: and rejoiced in it. The Longbourn party were the last
36:02
Speaker 1: of all the company to depart, and by a manoeuvre
36:06
Speaker 1: of Mrs, Bennet had to wait for their carriage a
36:09
Speaker 1: quarter of an hour after everybody else was gone, which
36:14
Speaker 1: gave them time to see how heartily they were wished
36:17
Speaker 1: away by some of the family. Mrs Hurst and her
36:22
Speaker 1: sister scarcely opened their mouths except to complain of fatigue,
36:28
Speaker 1: and were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves.
36:34
Speaker 1: They repulsed every attempt of Mrs Bennet at conversation, and,
36:39
Speaker 1: by so doing, threw a languor over the whole party,
36:43
Speaker 1: which was very little relieved by the long speeches of
36:46
Speaker 1: Mr Collins, who was complimenting Mr Bingley and his sisters,
36:51
Speaker 1: on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and
36:56
Speaker 1: politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy
37:01
Speaker 1: said nothing at all. Mr Bennet, in equal silence, was
37:07
Speaker 1: enjoying the scene. Mr Bingley and Jane were standing together
37:12
Speaker 1: a little detached from the rest, and talked only to
37:15
Speaker 1: each other. Elizabeth preserved a steadier silence, as either Mrs
37:20
Speaker 1: Hurst or Miss Bingley, and even Lydia was too much
37:25
Speaker 1: fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of, Lord,
37:31
Speaker 1: how tired I am, accompanied by a violent yawn. When
37:38
Speaker 1: at length they arose to take leave, Mrs Bennet was
37:42
Speaker 1: most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole
37:46
Speaker 1: family soon at Longbourn, and addressed herself particularly to Mr Bingley,
37:52
Speaker 1: to assure him how happy he would make them, by
37:55
Speaker 1: eating a family dinner with them at any time, without
37:59
Speaker 1: the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure,
38:06
Speaker 1: and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of
38:10
Speaker 1: waiting on her after his return from London, whither he
38:15
Speaker 1: was obliged to go the next day for a short time, Mrs.
38:20
Speaker 1: Bennet was perfectly satisfied and quitted the house under the
38:25
Speaker 1: delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of settlements,
38:31
Speaker 1: new carriages and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly see her
38:36
Speaker 1: daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or
38:41
Speaker 1: four months. Of having another daughter married to Mr. Collins...
38:48
Speaker 1: she thought with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure.
38:56
Speaker 1: Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children,
39:00
Speaker 1: and though the man and the match were quite good
39:03
Speaker 1: enough for her, the worth of each was eclipsed by
39:07
Speaker 1: Mr Bingley and Netherfield.