{{prxprp158.jpg}} || 158 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a temptation

from this period of walking thither almost every day. They

called at various times of the morning, sometimes separately,

sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their

aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came

because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of

course recommended him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded

by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his

evident admiration of her, of her former favourite George Wick-'

ham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less

captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners, she

believed he might have the best informed mind.

But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was

more difficult to understand, It could not be for society, as he

frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his

lips; and when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity

rather than of choice -- a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to

himself. He seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Collins

knew not what to make of him. Colonel Fitzwilliam's occa^

sionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was generally

different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told

her; and as she would have liked to believe this change the effect

of love, and the object of that love, her friend Eliza, she set herself

seriously to work to find it out. -- She watched him whenever

they were at Rosings, and whenever he came to Hunsford; but

without much success. He certainly looked at her friend a

great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It

was an earnest, stedfast gaze, but she often doubted whether

there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed

nothing but absence of mind.

She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility

of his being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the

idea; and Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the subject

from the danger of raising expectations which might only end

in disappointment; for in her opinion it admitted not of a doubt,

that all her friend's dislike would vanish, if she could suppose

him to be in her power.

 [[158]]