Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 81 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 81

Pride and Prejudice

slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one

good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”

Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which

ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should

be exposing herself again. She longed to speak, but

could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence

Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley

for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling

him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly

civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to

be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She

performed her part indeed without much graciousness,

but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards

ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of

her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had

been whispering to each other during the whole visit,

and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax

Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming

into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with

a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a

favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought

her into public at an early age. She had high animal

spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which

73