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Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter.

When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley

and Elizabeth for the indulgence of some music. Miss

Bingley moved with alacrity to the 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 a something about her 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?'

She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the ques-

tion, with some surprise at her silence.

'Oh,' said she, 'I heard you before; but I could not im-

mediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me,

I know, to say "Yes," that you might have the pleasure of

despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing

those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their pre-

meditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to

tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all; and now

despise me if you dare.'

'Indeed I do not dare.'

Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was

amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweet-

ness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for

her to affront anybody, and Darcy had never been so be-

witched by any woman as he was by her. He really be-

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