me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had been to be praised for my musical talents, you would have been invaluable. In fact, I would prefer not to sing before those who must be used to hearing the very best performers». As Miss Lucas persisted, she agreed, «Very well, if it must be so, it must». And glancing at Mr. Darcy, she added, «There is a fine old saying, which is well known to everybody here, of course: Keep your breath to cool your porridge; and I shall keep mine to intensify my song».
Her singing was pleasing, though by no means brilliant. Several guests asked her to sing more, but before she could reply, the instrument was eagerly occupied by her sister Mary, who, not being pretty, had worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, and always liked to demonstrate them.
Mary played rather well, but she had neither genius nor taste; her vanity had made her pedantic and conceited, and such manners would have spoilt even a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and natural, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well. At the end of a long concerto, her younger sisters asked her to play some Scotch and Irish melodies, and, with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.
Mr. Darcy was annoyed by this way of passing the evening, just dancing and no conversation. He stood there silently and didn't see Sir William Lucas till he addressed him.
«What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. It is one of the first refinements of polished society».
«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 tried to engage Mr. Darcy in conversation, but wasn't successful. He saw Elizabeth moving towards them, and called out to her:
«My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not 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». Mr. Darcy though very much surprised, was not unwilling to dance with her, but Elizabeth suddenly stepped back and said to Sir William:
«Really, sir, I have not the least desire of dancing. Please, don't think that I moved this way in order to ask for a partner».
Mr. Darcy in a very proper manner asked her for the honour to dance with her.
«Mr. Darcy is all politeness», said Elizabeth, smiling, and turned away.
Her refusal had not offended the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some good nature, when Miss Bingley interrupted his thoughts:
«I can guess what you are thinking of».
«I don't think so».
«You are thinking how unbearable it would be to spend many evenings in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! Such tastelessness, the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! I would gladly hear your critical remarks on them!»
«Your guess is quite wrong, I can assure you. My mind was more pleasingly engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can give».
Miss Bingley looked at him sharply and asked what lady had inspired such thoughts. Mr. Darcy seriously replied:
«Miss Elizabeth Bennet».
«Miss Elizabeth Bennet!» exclaimed Miss Bingley. «I am all astonishment. Well, when am I to wish you happiness?»
«I was absolutely sure you would ask this very question. A lady's imagination runs exactly this way: from admiration to love, from love to marriage».
«Well, if you are serious about it, the matter is absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you».
His indifference to her remarks showed her that all was safe, and she continued to entertain herself in this manner for a long time.
Chapter 7
She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father and continued his business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
Meryton was only one mile from the village of Longbourn, and the young ladies usually walked there three or four times a week, to pay their
duty to their aunt and to a milliner's shop just on the way. Catherine and Lydia, the youngest Bennet girls, visited Meryton most often. They were more vacant minded than their sisters, and their favourite occupation in the morning was to walk to Meryton and to learn some country news from their aunt, thus supplying conversation in the evening. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the arrival in the neighborhood of a militia regiment which was to stay the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, which occupied their mother's mind so much, was worthless in their eyes as compared to the regimentals of an ensign.