Chapter 45

CONVINCED as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley’s dislike of her had originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how very unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how much civility on that lady’s side the acquaintance would now be renewed.

Elizabeth was now convinced that Miss Bingley’s dislike of her had begun with jealousy. Knowing this, she could not help feeling how unwelcome her presence at Pemberley must be to Miss Bingley. She was curious to see how politely Miss Bingley would treat her when they met again.

On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows, opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts which were scattered over the intermediate lawn.

When they reached the house, they were led through the hall into the sitting room. The room faced north, making it delightful in summer. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offered a wonderfully refreshing view of the high, wooded hills behind the house. Beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts stood scattered across the lawn between the house and the hills.

In this room they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. Georgiana’s reception of them was very civil, but attended with all that embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice, and pitied her.

Miss Darcy welcomed them into the room, where she sat with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. The woman she lived with in London was also there. Georgiana greeted them very politely, but with all the awkwardness caused by shyness and fear of doing something wrong. Those who felt inferior could easily have mistaken her awkwardness for pride and reserve. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, understood her fairly and felt sorry for her.

By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a courtesy; and on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short sentence, when there was least danger of its being heard.

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley acknowledged them only with a curtsy. Once they were seated, a silence followed for a few moments, as awkward as such silences must always be. Mrs. Annesley was the first to speak. She was a refined woman with a pleasant appearance. Her effort to start a conversation showed that she had better manners than either of the other two women. She and Mrs. Gardiner kept the conversation going, with occasional help from Elizabeth. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished she had enough courage to join in. Sometimes she ventured a short sentence, when there was the least chance of anyone hearing her.

Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an inconvenient distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much: her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room: she wished, she feared, that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour, without hearing Miss Bingley’s voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.

Elizabeth soon noticed that Miss Bingley was watching her closely. She could not say a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without attracting Miss Bingley’s attention. Being watched would not have stopped her from trying to talk to Miss Darcy, but they were seated too far apart. Still, Elizabeth was not sorry to be spared the need to say much. Her own thoughts kept her occupied. She expected some of the gentlemen to enter the room at any moment. She both hoped and feared that the master of the house would be among them. She could hardly tell whether hope or fear was stronger. She sat like this for fifteen minutes without hearing Miss Bingley speak. Then Miss Bingley interrupted her thoughts by coldly asking about her family’s health. Elizabeth answered just as briefly and indifferently, and Miss Bingley said nothing more.

The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole party; for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches, soon collected them round the table.

The next change in their visit came when servants entered with cold meat, cake, and the finest fruits in season. But first, Mrs. Annesley had given Miss Darcy many meaningful looks and smiles to remind her of her duties as hostess. Now everyone had something to do. Although they could not all talk, they could all eat. And the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon drew everyone around the table.

While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the feelings which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to regret that he came.

While occupied in this way, Elizabeth had a good chance to discover her true feelings about Mr. Darcy's arrival. Her reaction when he entered the room would show whether she feared or wanted his appearance more. A moment earlier, she had believed her wish to see him was stronger. But although she had just wanted him to come, she now began to regret his arrival.

He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river; and had left him only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear, than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed;—a resolution the more necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came into the room. In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley’s, in spite of the smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its objects; for jealousy had not yet made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. Miss Darcy, on her brother’s entrance, exerted herself much more to talk; and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted, and forwarded, as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side. Miss Bingley saw all this likewise; and, in the imprudence of anger, took the first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility,—

He had spent some time with Mr. Gardiner, who was down by the river with two or three other gentlemen from the house. He had left Mr. Gardiner only after learning that the ladies of the family planned to visit Georgiana that morning. As soon as he appeared, Elizabeth wisely resolved to be completely relaxed and at ease. Such a resolution was all the more necessary, but perhaps no easier to keep, because everyone seemed suspicious about them. Almost everyone watched his behaviour as he first entered the room. No one showed more intense curiosity than Miss Bingley, despite her smiles whenever she spoke to either of them. Jealousy had not yet driven her to desperation, and she had by no means stopped paying attention to Mr. Darcy. When her brother entered, Miss Darcy made much more effort to talk. Elizabeth saw that he was eager for his sister and herself to get to know each other. He encouraged every attempt at conversation by either of them as much as possible. Miss Bingley noticed all this too. In her anger, she unwisely took the first opportunity to say, with sneering politeness:

“Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the ——shire militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family.”

“Tell me, Miss Eliza, haven’t the _____shire militia left Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family.”

In Darcy’s presence she dared not mention Wickham’s name: but Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts; and the various recollections connected with him gave her a moment’s distress; but, exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she presently answered the question in a tolerably disengaged tone. While she spoke, an involuntary glance showed her Darcy with a heightened complexion, earnestly looking at her, and his sister overcome with confusion, and unable to lift up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would have refrained from the hint; but she had merely intended to discompose Elizabeth, by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed her partial, to make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in Darcy’s opinion, and, perhaps, to remind the latter of all the follies and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected with that corps. Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss Darcy’s meditated elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley’s connections her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from that very wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of their becoming hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a plan; and without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate him from Miss Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend.

Miss Bingley dared not mention Wickham’s name in Darcy’s presence. But Elizabeth immediately understood that he was foremost in her thoughts. The memories connected with him distressed Elizabeth for a moment. But she made a determined effort to resist this spiteful attack and answered the question in a fairly casual tone. As she spoke, she glanced involuntarily at Darcy and saw that he was flushed and watching her intently. His sister was overwhelmed with embarrassment and could not raise her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known how much pain she was causing her dear friend, she would certainly have avoided the hint. But she had only meant to unsettle Elizabeth by mentioning a man she believed Elizabeth liked. She wanted Elizabeth to reveal feelings that might lower her in Darcy’s opinion. Perhaps she also wanted to remind Darcy of all the foolish, ridiculous behavior linking some of Elizabeth’s family to that regiment. Miss Bingley had never heard a word about Miss Darcy’s planned elopement. Wherever secrecy had been possible, no one had been told except Elizabeth. Her brother was especially anxious to hide the matter from all Bingley’s family and friends. His reason was the very wish Elizabeth had long ago suspected: that Bingley’s family and friends might eventually become his sister’s own. Darcy had certainly planned for his sister to marry Bingley. He had not intended that plan to influence his efforts to separate Bingley from Miss Bennet. Still, the plan probably added something to his keen concern for his friend’s welfare.

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.

Elizabeth’s calm behavior, however, soon eased his agitation. Miss Bingley, annoyed and disappointed, dared not say anything more about Wickham. As a result, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to speak again. She feared meeting her brother’s eyes, but he barely remembered her involvement in the matter. The very incident meant to turn his thoughts away from Elizabeth seemed instead to fix them on her with increasing pleasure.

Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer above mentioned; and while Mr. Darcy was attending them to their carriage, Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth’s person, behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother’s recommendation was enough to insure her favour: his judgment could not err; and he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth, as to leave Georgiana without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. When Darcy returned to the saloon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to him some part of what she had been saying to his sister.

Their visit ended soon after the question and answer mentioned above. While Mr. Darcy escorted them to their carriage, Miss Bingley vented her feelings by criticizing Elizabeth’s appearance, behavior, and clothes. But Georgiana would not join in. Her brother’s approval was enough to make her like Elizabeth. In Georgiana’s eyes, his judgment could not be wrong. He had praised Elizabeth so highly that Georgiana could only find her lovely and likable. When Darcy returned to the sitting room, Miss Bingley could not resist repeating some of her criticisms to him. She had already shared them with his sister.

“How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy,” she cried: “I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing that we should not have known her again.”

“How awful Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy,” she exclaimed. “I've never seen anyone change as much as she has since the winter. She's become so tanned and rough-looking! Louisa and I agreed that we wouldn't have recognized her.”

However little Mr. Darcy might have liked such an address, he contented himself with coolly replying, that he perceived no other alteration than her being rather tanned,—no miraculous consequence of travelling in the summer.

However much Mr. Darcy might have disliked the remark, he simply replied coolly that she looked a little more tanned. He saw no other change, and a tan was hardly a miraculous result of traveling in summer.

“For my own part,” she rejoined, “I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable.”

“For my part,” she replied, “I must admit I have never seen any beauty in her. Her face is too thin. Her complexion has no glow, and her features are not at all attractive. Her nose lacks character. There is nothing distinctive about its shape. Her teeth are acceptable, but nothing out of the ordinary. And as for her eyes, which people have sometimes called so beautiful, I have never seen anything extraordinary in them. Her eyes have a sharp, bad-tempered look that I do not like at all. And her whole manner shows a self-importance without elegance that is unbearable.”

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,—

Miss Bingley was convinced that Darcy admired Elizabeth, so this was not the best way to win his approval. But angry people are not always wise. And when she finally saw him look somewhat irritated, she had all the success she expected. He remained firmly silent, however. So, determined to make 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.”

“I remember how amazed we all were when we first met her in Hertfordshire. We were surprised that she had a reputation as a beauty. I especially remember what you said one night after they had dined at Netherfield. ‘She a beauty! I’d just as soon call her mother witty.’ But afterwards she seemed to grow on you. I believe you thought her rather pretty at one point.”

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

“Yes,” replied Darcy, who could no longer hold back, “but that was only when I first knew her. For many months now, I’ve thought of her as one of the most beautiful women I know.”

He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.

Then he left. Miss Bingley was left with all the satisfaction of forcing him to say something that hurt only herself.

Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them both. The looks and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit, of everything but himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece’s beginning the subject.

On their way back, Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked about everything that had happened during their visit. They left out only what had interested them both most. They discussed the looks and behavior of everyone they had seen, except the man who had drawn most of their attention. They talked about his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit, everything but the man himself. Yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him. And Mrs. Gardiner would have been delighted if her niece had brought him up.