Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 304 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 304

JANE AUSTEN

society, a persuasion which of course recommended

him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her

own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by

his evident admiration of her, of her former favourite

George Wickham; and though, in comparing them,

she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel

Fitzwilliam’s manners, she believed he might have the

best informed mind.

But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage,

it was more difficult to understand. It could not be for

society, as he frequently sat there ten minutes together

without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it

seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choicea

sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He

seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Collins knew

not what to make of him. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s occa-

sionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was

generally different, which her own knowledge of him

could not have told her; and as she would have liked

to believe this change the effect of love, and the object

of that love her friend Eliza, she set herself seriously

to work to find it out. She watched him whenever they

were at Rosings, and whenever he came to Hunsford;

but without much success. He certainly looked at her

friend a great deal, but the expression of that look was

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