Chapter 11

\'If you mean Darcy,\' cried her brother, \'he may go to bed, if he chuses, before it begins -- but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send round my cards.\'

\'I should like balls infinitely better,\' she replied, \'if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day.\'

\'Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.\'

Miss Bingley made no answer; and soon afterwards got up and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; -- but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings she resolved on one effort more; and turning to Elizabeth, said,

\'Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. -- I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.\'

Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could imagine but two motives for their chusing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. \'What could he mean? she was dying to know what could be his meaning\' -- and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him?

\'Not at all,\' was her answer; \'but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.\'

Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives.

\'I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,\' said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. \'You either chuse this method of passing the evening because you are in each other\'s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; -- if the first, I should be completely in your way; -- and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.\'

\'Oh! shocking!\' cried Miss Bingley. \'I never heard any thing so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?\'

\'Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination,\' said Elizabeth. \'We can all plague and punish one another. Teaze him -- laugh at him. -- Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.\'

\'But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Teaze calmness of temper and presence of mind! No, no -- I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself.\'