{{prxprp048.jpg}} || 48 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough,

I shall send round my cards.'

'I should like balls infinitely better,' she replied, 'i£ they were

carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably

tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely

be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made

the order of the day.'

'Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it

would not be near so much like a ball.'

Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards got up

and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she

walked well; -- but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still

inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, she

resolved on one effort more; and, turning to Elizabeth, said,

'Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example,

and take a turn about the room. -- I assure you it is very refreshing

after sitting so long in one attitude.'

Elizabeth was surprized, but agreed to it immediately. Miss

Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility;

Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty

of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and

unconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to join

their party, but he declined it, observing, that he could imagine

but two motives for dieir chusing to walk up and down the room

together, with either of which motives his joining them would

interfere. 'What could he mean? she was dying to know what

could be his meaning' -- and asked Elizabeth whether she could

at all understand him J

'Not at all,' was her answer; 'but depend upon it, he means

to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will

Le to ask nothing about it.'

Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing

Mr. Darcy in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring

an explanation of his two motives.

'I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,' said he,

as soon as she allowed him to speak. 'You either chusc this

method of passing the evening because you are in each other's

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