第100章[第1页/共5页]

Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always wise;and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled,she had all the success she expected.He was resolutely silent,however,and,from a determination of making him speak,she continued:

“I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty;and I particularly recollect your saying one night,after they had been dining at Netherfield,'she a beauty!―I should as soon call her mother a wit.'But afterwards she seemed to improve on you,and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time.”

Elizabeth's collected behaviour, however, soon quieted his emotion;and as Miss Bingley,vexed and disappointed,dared not approach nearer to Wickham,Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to be able to speak any more. Her brother, whose eye she feared to meet,scarcely recollected her interest in the affair,and the very circumstance which had been designed to turn his thoughts from Elizabeth seemed to have fixed them on her more and more cheerfully.

“Yes,”replied Darcy,who could contain himself no longer,“but that was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”