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very gentleness which had first delighted her, an affectation

and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present be-

haviour to herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of

displeasure; for the inclination he soon testified of renewing

those attentions which had marked the early part of their

acquaintance could only serve, after what had since passed, to

provoke her. She lost all concern for him in finding herself

thus selected as the object of such idle and frivolous gal-

lantry; and while she steadily repressed it, could not but

feel the reproof contained in his believing that, however long

and for whatever cause his attentions had been withdrawn,

her vanity would be gratified, and her preference secured

at any time, by their renewal.

On the very last day of the regiment's remaining in Mery-

ton, he dined, with others of the officers, at Longbourn; and

so little was Elizabeth disposed to part from him in good-~

humour, that, on his making some inquiry as to the manner

in which her time had passed at Hunsford, she mentioned

Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent

three weeks at Rosings, and asked him if he were acquainted

with the former.

He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but, with a

moment's recollection, and a returning smile, replied that he

had formerly seen him often; and, after observing that he

was a very gentlemanlike man, asked her how she had liked

him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. With an air of

indifference, he soon afterwards added, 'How long did you

say that he was at Rosings?'

'Nearly three weeks.'

'And you saw him frequently?'

'Yes, almost every day.'

'His manners are very different from his cousin's.'

'Yes, very different; but I think Mr. Darcy improves on

acquaintance.'

'Indeed!' cried Wickham, with a look which did not escape

her. 'And pray may I ask--' but checking himself, he

added, in a gayer tone. 'Is it in address that he improves?

Has he deigned to add aught of civility to his ordinary

style? for I dare not hope,' he continued, in a lower and

more serious tone, 'that he is improved in essentials.'

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