Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online Page B

‘because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables. Do you not, Darcy?’
    â€˜My style of writing is very different from yours,’ I agreed.
    â€˜My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them, by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents,’ said Bingley.
    â€˜Your humility must disarm reproof,’ said Elizabeth, laying her needlework aside.
    â€˜Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility,’ I said, laughing at Bingley’s comments, but underneath I was conscious of a slight irritation that she was praising him. ‘It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.’
    â€˜And which of the two do you call my little recent piece of modesty?’ asked Bingley.
    â€˜The indirect boast,’ I said with a smile. ‘The power of doing anything with quickness is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of performance. When you told Mrs Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of compliment to yourself, but I am by no means convinced. If, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, “Bingley, you had better stay till nextweek,” you would probably do it.’
    â€˜You have only proved by this that Mr Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much more than he did himself,’ said Elizabeth with a laugh.
    â€˜I am exceedingly gratified by your converting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper,’ said Bingley merrily.
    I smiled, but I was not so gratified, though why this should be I do not know. I am sure I like Bingley very well, and I am always pleased when other people value him, too.
    â€˜But Darcy would think the better of me, if under such a circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I could!’ he added.
    â€˜Would Mr Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?’ asked Elizabeth playfully.
    â€˜Upon my word, I cannot explain the matter. Darcy must speak for himself.’
    I laid down my quill, all thoughts of my letter forgotten.
    â€˜You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged,’ I said with a smile.
    â€˜To yield readily to the persuasion of a friend is no merit with you,’ said Elizabeth.
    Despite myself, I was drawn into her banter.
    â€˜To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either,’ I returned.
    â€˜You appear to me, Mr Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection.’
    I saw Caroline looking horrified at our exchange, but I was enjoying Elizabeth’s stimulating conversation.
    â€˜Will it not be advisable to arrange the degree of intimacy subsisting between the parties before we decide?’ I asked her.
    â€˜By all means,’ cried Bingley. ‘Let us have all the particulars, not forgetting their comparative height and size, for I assure you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do.’
    I smiled, but I was offended nonetheless. I feared there was a grain of truth in what Bingley said, and I did not want Elizabeth to know it.
    Elizabeth looked as though she would like to laugh, but did not. I hope she is not afraid of me. But no. If she was afraid of me, she would not laugh at me so much!
    â€˜I see your design, Bingley,’ I said, turning his remark aside. ‘You dislike an argument, and want to silence this.’
    â€˜Perhaps I do,’ Bingley admitted.
    The