Pride and Prejudice (Clandestine Classics) by Jane Austen, Amy Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page A

had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr Darcy, her sister scarcely less so, and as for Mr Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards. When he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, he had nothing to say to her.
    Though Mr Darcy was held in conversation throughout the meal by Miss Bingley, his eyes continued to return to Miss Bennet’s. At times his brow was drawn together as though he were vexed, but there were other instances in which he appeared openly fascinated by her. Elizabeth knew not what to make of it, but found she was not entirely opposed to the attention. Indeed, she rather liked it.
    When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence. She had no conversation, no style, no beauty.
    Mrs Hurst thought the same, and added, “She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”
    “She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!”
    “Yes, and her petticoat. I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain, and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.”
    “Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,” said Bingley, “but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.”
    “ You observed it, Mr Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley, “and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”
    “Certainly not,” replied he, though Miss Bennet’s petticoat had been the furthest from his mind when he had first seen her that morning. He had thought her, in fact, to be quite radiant—a joy to behold. He had excused himself soon thereafter to avoid embarrassment when his body’s response to her had proved a troublesome inconvenience. And throughout dinner he had constantly shifted in his chair, annoyed that her proximity had caused his manhood to harden once again.
    “To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone!” exclaimed Miss Bingley. “What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”
    “It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,” said Bingley.
    “I am afraid, Mr Darcy,” observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, “that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”
    “Not at all,” he replied, “they were brightened by the exercise.” A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs Hurst began again, “I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”
    “I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.”
    “Yes, and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.”
    “That is capital,” added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.
    “If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside,” cried Bingley, “it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”
    “But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy.
    To this speech Bingley made no answer, but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend’s vulgar