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During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's con-

sent should be asked in the course of the evening: Elizabeth

reserved to herself the application for her mother's. She

could not determine how her mother would take it; some-

times doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would

be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man; but

whether she were violently set against the match, or violently

delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would

be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense; and she

could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first

raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her dis-

approbation.

In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the

library, she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her

agitation on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear her

father's opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy, and

that it should be through her means; that _she,_ his favourite

child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be

filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her, was

a wretched reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy

appeared again, when, looking at him, she was a little re-

lieved by his smile. In a few minutes he approached the

table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while pre-

tending to admire her work, said in a whisper, 'Go to your

father; he wants you in the library.' She was gone directly.

Her father was walking about the room, looking grave

and anxious. 'Lizzy,' said he, 'what are you doing? Are

you out of your senses to be accepting this man? Have

not you always hated him?'

How earnestly did she then wish that her former opin-

ions had been more reasonable, her expressions more mod-

erate! It would have spared her from explanations and

professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but

they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some

confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.

'Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He

is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and

fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?'

'Have you any other object,' said Elizabeth, 'than your

belief of my indifference?'

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