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Chapter LX

Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted

Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her.

'How could you begin?' said she. 'I can comprehend your going

on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what

could set you off in the first place?'

'I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words,

which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the

middle before I knew that I bad begun.'

'My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners --

my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil,

and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you

pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you admire me for my

impertinence?'

'For the liveliness of your mind, I did.'

'You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very

little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference,

of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who

were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your appro'

bation alone. I roused and interested you, because I was so

unlike tbetn. Had you not been really amiable you would have

hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise

yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your

heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously-

courted you. There -- I have saved you the trouble of accounting

for it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfecdy

reasonable. To be sure you know no actual good of me -- but

nobody thinks of tbat when they fall in love.'

'Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane,

while she was ill at Netherfield?'

'Dearest Jane! Who could have done less for her? But

make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under

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