if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.”
“My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,” said

Charlotte. “Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend,

is he? Poor Eliza! to be only just tolerable.”
“I beg you will not put it into Lizzy’s head to be{24} vexed by his

ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite

a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he

sat close to her for half an hour without once opening his lips.”

[Image unavailable.]
“Without once opening his lips”
[Copyright 1894 by George Allen.]

“Are you quite sure, ma’am? Is not there a little mistake?” said Jane.

“I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.”
“Ay, because she asked him at last how he liked{25} Netherfield, and he

could not help answering her; but she said he seemed very angry at being

spoke to.”
“Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much unless

among his intimate acquaintance. With them he is remarkably

agreeable.”
“I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very

agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it

was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had

heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had to come

to the ball in a hack chaise.”
“I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,” said Miss Lucas, “but I

wish he had danced with Eliza.”
“Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not dance with him,

if I were you.”
“I believe, ma’am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him.”
“His pride,” said Miss Lucas, “does not offend me so much as pride

often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so

very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour,

should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right

to be proud.”
“That is very true,” replied Elizabeth, “and I could easily forgive