Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 46 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 46

JANE AUSTEN

to the entreaties of several that she would sing again,

she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her

sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the

only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowl-

edge and accomplishments, was always impatient for

display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though

vanity had given her application, it had given her

likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which

would have injured a higher degree of excellence than

she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had

been listened to with much more pleasure, though not

playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long

concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by

Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger

sisters, who, with some of the Lucases, and two or

three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of

the room.

Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at

such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion

of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by

his thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his

neighbour, till Sir William thus began:

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