{{prxprp326.jpg}} || 326 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind

it: it is all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion

for talking to him, except just now and then. So do not put

yourself to inconvenience.'

During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bcnnct's consent

should be asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved

to herself the application for her mother's. She could not deter '

mine how her mother would take it; sometimes doubting whether

all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her

abhorrence of the man. But whether she were violently set

against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain

that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her

sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear

the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her

disapprobation.

In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennct withdrew to the library,

she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation

on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition,

but he was going to be made unhappy, and that it should be

through her means that she, his favourite child, should be dis^

tressing him by her choice, should be filling him widi feaxs and

regrets in disposing of her, was a wretched reflection, and she sat

in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, when, looking at him,

she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes he

approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while

pretending to admire her work, said in a whisper, 'Go to your

father, he wants you in the library.' She was gone directly.

Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and

anxious. 'Lizzy,' said he, 'what are you doing? are you out of

your senses to be accepting this man? Have not you always

hated him?'

How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had

been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would

have spared her from explanations and professions which it was

exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and

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