{{prxprp020.jpg}} || 20 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid

of him/

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without

seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied

her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately

provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,

'Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself un^

commonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster

to give us a ball at Meryton?'

'With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a

lady energetic.'

'You are severe on us.'

'It will be her turn soon to be teased,' said Miss Lucas. 'I am

going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.'

'You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! -- always

wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body! -- If

my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been

invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before

those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best per^

formers.' On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added,

'Very well; if it must be so, it must'. And gravely glancing at

Mr. Darcy: 'There is a fine old saying, which every body here is

of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your porridge"

-- and I shall keep mine to swell my song.'

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital.

After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties

of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded

at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence

of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for know

ledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given

her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and

conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of

excellence than she had reached. -- Elizabeth, easy and unaffected,

had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not

playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto,

was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish

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