“For my own part,” she rejoined, “I must confess that I never could see

any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no

brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants

character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are

tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which

have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything

extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not

like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency

without fashion, which is intolerable.”
Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not

the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always

wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all{333} the

success she expected. He was resolutely silent, however; and, from a

determination of making him speak, she continued,—
“I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all

were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect

your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, ‘She

a beauty! I should as soon call her mother a wit.’ But afterwards she

seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at

one time.”
“Yes,” replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, “but that

was only when I first knew her; for it is many months since I have

considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”
He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of

having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.
Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their

visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them

both. The looks and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed,

except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked