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'Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,' said

Darcy, 'has too much truth. The word is applied to many

a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a

purse or covering a screen; but I am very far from agree-

ing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I

cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen in the

whole range of my acquaintance that are really accomplished.'

'Nor I, I am sure,' said Miss Bingley.

'Then,' observed Elizabeth, 'you must comprehend a great

deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.'

'Yes; I do comprehend a great deal in it.'

'Oh, certainly,' cried his faithful assistant, 'no one can be

really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass

what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough

knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the

modern languages, to deserve the word; and, besides all this,

she must possess a certain something in her air and manner

of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expres-

sions, or the word will be but half deserved.'

'All this she must possess,' added Darcy; 'and to all

she must yet add something more substantial in the improve-

ment of her mind by extensive reading.'

'I am no longer surprised at your knowing _only_ six accom-

plished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing

_any.'_

'Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the

possibility of all this?'

_'I_ never saw such a woman. _I_ never saw such capacity,

and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe,

united.'

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the

injustice of her implied doubt, and were both protesting that

they knew many women who answered this description, when

Mr. Hurst called them to order, with bitter complaints of

their inattention to what was going forward. As all con-

versation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards

left the room.

'Eliza Bennet,' said Miss Bingley, when the door was

closed on her, 'is one of those young ladies who seek to

recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing

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