{{prxprp080.jpg}} || 80 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'Heaven forbid! -- That would be the greatest misfortune of

all! -- To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!

-- Do not wish me such an evil.'

When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy

approached to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help caution^

ing her in a whisper not to be a simpleton and allow her fancy

for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man

of ten times his consequence. Elizabeth made no answer, and

took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she was

arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and

reading in her neighbours' looks, their equal amazement in

beholding it. They stood for some time without speaking a

word; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last

through the two dances, and at first was resolved not to break

it; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment

to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight observa^

tion on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a

pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time with --

'It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. -- I talked about

the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the

size of the room, or the number of couples.'

He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to

say should be said.

'Very well. -- That reply will do for the present. -- Perhaps by

and bye I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than

public ones. But now we may be silent.'

'Do you talk by rule then, while you are dancing?'

'Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would

look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together, and

yet for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so

arranged as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as

possible.'

'Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or

do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?'

'Both,' replied Elizabeth, archly; 'for I have always seen a great

similarity in the turn of our minds. -- We are each of an unsocial,

taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say

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