Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards got up and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more; and, turning to Elizabeth, said,--
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To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend’s vulgar relations.
The politician looked at him keenly. “What change do you propose, then?” he asked.
“Whatever I do is done in a hurry,” replied he; “and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.”
“Indeed I do not dare.”
“Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”
“Yes; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage.”
But somehow I dropped off at last, and knew nothing more till break of day; when, looking over the bedside, there squatted Queequeg, as if he had been screwed down to the floor. But as soon as the first glimpse of sun entered the window, up he got, with stiff and grating joints, but with a cheerful look; limped towards me where I lay; pressed his forehead again against mine; and said his Ramadan was over.
Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy’s progress through his book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her question and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
“Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley; “and pray what is the result?”
“Yours, etc.”
“But I like sentimental people.”
“Did Charlotte dine with you?”
Pride and Prejudice — Chapter 13: Chapter X (part 1/2)
“How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!”
“I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.”
“Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.”
“I don’t know how we could manage without him,” answered the elder woman querulously.
“Then,” observed Elizabeth, “you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.”
“What do you mean by that, Captain Peleg?” said I, now jumping on the bulwarks, and leaving my comrade standing on the wharf.