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Chapter LX

Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again,

she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever

fallen in love with her. 'How could you begin?' said

she. 'I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when

you had once made a beginning, but what could set you off

in the first place?'

'I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the

words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was

in the middle before I knew that I _had_ begun.'

'My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my man-

ners -- my behaviour to _you_ was at least always bordering on

the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing

to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you ad-

mire me for my impertinence?'

'For the liveliness of your mind I did.'

'You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very

little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of

deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with

the women who were always speaking, and looking, and

thinking for _your_ approbation alone. I roused and interested

you, because I was so unlike _them._ Had you not been

really amiable you would have hated me for it: but in spite

of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings

were always noble and just; and in your heart you thoroughly

despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There

-- I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and

really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly

reasonable. To be sure you know no actual good of me --

but nobody thinks of _that_ when they fall in love.'

'Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to

Jane, while she was ill at Netherfield?'

'Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But

make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are

under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as

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