I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have such an acquaintance. I dearly love to laugh.”
“The wisest and the best of men—nay, the wisest and best of their actions—may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke,” Darcy retorted with a hint of a smile. He knew from Elizabeth’s verbal battles that she enjoyed any opportunity for intelligent argument, even at the expense of his pride.
“Certainly,” replied Elizabeth, “there are such people, but I should hope I am not one of them . I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.”
“Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.”
“Such as vanity and pride. With excessive pride, one may be unable to bear a challenge.”
“Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
“Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley. “Pray what is the result?”
“I am perfectly convinced that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.”
Darcy protested he had made no such pretension. “I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding.”
Elizabeth thought this an absurd show of vanity, and rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to make a sharp rejoinder, but knowing her will to challenge him, Darcy interrupted. “My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever.”
“ That is a failing indeed!” cried Elizabeth. “Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh at it; you are safe from me.”
“There is, I believe, in every disposition, a tendency to some particular shortcoming or flaw—a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.” Elizabeth thought Darcy was once again trying to best her in a quarrel using the argument that his knowledge was superior.
“And your defect is a propensity to argue when your position has no merit,” she replied acerbically but realized she had gone too far when she noticed her father’s stern look and crossed arms.
“And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is to take a position other than your own to wilfully misunderstand everyone for your own amusement.”
“Do let us have a little music,” said Mrs. Bennet, eager to quash the exchange, which had gained the curiosity of all in the room and the disapprobation of several.
Miss Bingley was glad of the diversion from a conversation in which she had no share. She was applied to play the pianoforte and gave acceptance to the request with alacrity. Darcy, after a few moments recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
Miss Bingley played well, if not a little too studied and careful in her expression. Subsequently, Miss Mary Bennet was persuaded to play, and her extensive work with a music master was apparent. Elizabeth and Lydia then joined her: the former singing and the latter playing the violin. Darcy was impressed with the emotion the threesome brought to their performance and the beauty of Miss Elizabeth as she sang.
Later that evening, Mr. Bennet took his daughter aside to chastise her poor conduct in company and especially her ill manners towards Mr. Darcy. Somewhat abashed that her adversarial feelings had been so obvious, Elizabeth owned to making a scene and agreed to behave with the decorum expected of a Bennet. However, in her own mind, she was still determined to show up Mr. Darcy.
Chapter 5:
The lovely and proper Bennet sisters meet the charming and rakish Mr.
“The wisest and the best of men—nay, the wisest and best of their actions—may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke,” Darcy retorted with a hint of a smile. He knew from Elizabeth’s verbal battles that she enjoyed any opportunity for intelligent argument, even at the expense of his pride.
“Certainly,” replied Elizabeth, “there are such people, but I should hope I am not one of them . I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.”
“Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.”
“Such as vanity and pride. With excessive pride, one may be unable to bear a challenge.”
“Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
“Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley. “Pray what is the result?”
“I am perfectly convinced that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.”
Darcy protested he had made no such pretension. “I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding.”
Elizabeth thought this an absurd show of vanity, and rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to make a sharp rejoinder, but knowing her will to challenge him, Darcy interrupted. “My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever.”
“ That is a failing indeed!” cried Elizabeth. “Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh at it; you are safe from me.”
“There is, I believe, in every disposition, a tendency to some particular shortcoming or flaw—a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.” Elizabeth thought Darcy was once again trying to best her in a quarrel using the argument that his knowledge was superior.
“And your defect is a propensity to argue when your position has no merit,” she replied acerbically but realized she had gone too far when she noticed her father’s stern look and crossed arms.
“And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is to take a position other than your own to wilfully misunderstand everyone for your own amusement.”
“Do let us have a little music,” said Mrs. Bennet, eager to quash the exchange, which had gained the curiosity of all in the room and the disapprobation of several.
Miss Bingley was glad of the diversion from a conversation in which she had no share. She was applied to play the pianoforte and gave acceptance to the request with alacrity. Darcy, after a few moments recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
Miss Bingley played well, if not a little too studied and careful in her expression. Subsequently, Miss Mary Bennet was persuaded to play, and her extensive work with a music master was apparent. Elizabeth and Lydia then joined her: the former singing and the latter playing the violin. Darcy was impressed with the emotion the threesome brought to their performance and the beauty of Miss Elizabeth as she sang.
Later that evening, Mr. Bennet took his daughter aside to chastise her poor conduct in company and especially her ill manners towards Mr. Darcy. Somewhat abashed that her adversarial feelings had been so obvious, Elizabeth owned to making a scene and agreed to behave with the decorum expected of a Bennet. However, in her own mind, she was still determined to show up Mr. Darcy.
Chapter 5:
The lovely and proper Bennet sisters meet the charming and rakish Mr.
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