Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen,

to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had
been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him
and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press
his friend to join it.

“Come, Darcy,” saide he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see
you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much
better dance; there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said
Mr. Dancy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of
her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare
say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a

moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and
coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I
am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are
slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy
her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth
remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story,
however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful
disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

— CHAPTER 3: ELIZABETH BENNET OVERHEARING

MR. DARCY’S OPINION ON HER
 At length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady
Lucas, who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which
she saw no likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham
and chicken. Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the inter-
val of tranquillity; for, when supper was over, singing was talked of, and
she had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, pre-
paring to oblige the company. By many significant looks and silent
entreaties, did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance,
but in vain; Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of
exhibiting was delightful to her, and she began her song.

—CHAPTER 18: Lady Lucas bored at

a party
 She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings
had each called during her absence; Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes,
to take leave but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at
least an hour, hoping for her return, and almost resolving to walk after
her till she could be found. Elizabeth could but just affect concern in
missing him; she really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no longer
an object; she could think only of her letter.

—CHAPTER 38: Elizabeth thinking

about telling Jane news About Mr. Bingley
 “But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting
wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the
cause of it. I need not explain myself farther; and though we know this
anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels it, it will easily account for
her behaviour to me; and so deservedly dear as he is to his sister,
whatever anxiety she must feel on his behalf is natural and amiable. I
cannot but wonder, however, at her having any such fears now, because,
if he had at all cared about me, we must have met, long ago. He knows of
my being in town, I am certain, from something she said herself; and yet
it would seem, by her manner of talking, as if she wanted to persuade
herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I cannot understand it. If I
were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that
there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour
to banish every painful thought, and think only of what will make me
happy-your affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and
aunt. Let me hear from you very soon. Miss Bingley said something of his
never returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the house, but not with
any certainty. We had better not mention it. I am extremely glad that you
have such pleasant accounts from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to
see them, with Sir William and Maria. I am sure you will be very
comfortable there. Yours, etc."

— cHAPTER 26: eLIZABETH’S LETTER

 “She has been doing everything in her power by thinking
and talking on the subject, to give greater what shall I call it?
susceptibility to her feelings; which are naturally lively enough.
And we all know that Wickham has every charm of person and
address that can captivate a woman."

—cHAPTER 47: ELIZABETH TO HER AUNT ABOUT JANE

 "Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss

Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance for who would object to
such a partner?"

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass

many evenings in this manner-in such society; and indeed I am quite of
your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the
noise- the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people!
What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was

more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great
pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can
bestow:"

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired
he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections.
Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity:

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

—cHAPTER 6: mR. Bingley and Elizabeth,

jesting about Mr. Darcy
 "And my mother-how is she? How are you all?"

"My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are

greatly shaken. She is up stairs and will have been feeling great
satisfaction in seeing you all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room.
Mary and Kitty, thank Heaven, are quite well."

"But you how are you?" cried Elizabeth. "You look pale. How
much you must have gone through!"

Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well; and
their conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
were engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the
approach of the whole party.

—cHAPTER 47: eLIZABETH RETURNS AND REUNITES

WITH HER SISTER
 "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; and, to confess the
truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think
Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and
accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is
heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare
entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever
before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject; but I will not leave
the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them
unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already; he will have
been recieving frequent opportunities now of seeing her on the most
intimate footing; her relations all wish the connection as much as his
own; and a sister's par- tiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call
Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these
circumstances to favour an attachment, and nothing to prevent it, am I
wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will
secure the happiness of so many?"

"What do you think of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?" said Jane

as she finished it.

—cHAPTER 21: eLIZABETH’S JUDGEMENT OF

mR. dARCY
 "I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation,"
replied Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in
town next Saturday."

"Why, at that rate, you will have been staying here only six
weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before
you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet
could certainly spare you for another fortnight."

"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return."

—Chapter 37: Elizabeth’s insistance on

leaving Lady Catherine’s home