Darcy smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your

time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can

think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”
Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know

what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again.

Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said

to Darcy,—
“Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and

could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion

of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have

been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, to see how cordially he assented to his

cousin’s praise: but neither at that moment nor at any other could she

discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss

De Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have

been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth’s performance, mixing

with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received

them with all the forbearance of civility; and at the request of the

gentlemen remained at the instrument till her Ladyship’s carriage was

ready to take them all home.{221}

CHAPTER XXXII.

ELIZABETH was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane,

while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village,

when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a

visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be

Lady Catherine; and under that apprehension was putting{222} away her

half-finished letter, that she might escape all impertinent questions,

when the door opened, and to her very great surprise Mr. Darcy, and Mr.

Darcy only, entered the room.