Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 91 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 91

Pride and Prejudice

pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth

would lead the way which the other as politely and

more earnestly negatived, she seated herself.

Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were

thus employed, Elizabeth could not help observing, as

she turned over some music-books that lay on the

instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes were fixed

on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could

be an object of admiration to so great a man; and yet

that he should look at her because he disliked her, was

still more strange. She could only imagine, however,

at last that she drew his notice because there was

something more wrong and reprehensible, according to

his ideas of right, than in any other person present. The

supposition did not pain her. She liked him too little to

care for his approbation.

After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley

varied the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon

afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to

her:

“Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to

seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”