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第100章（第1页）

InDarcyspresenceshedarednotmentionWickhamsname;butElizabethinstantlycomprehendedthathewasuppermostinherthoughts;andthevariousrecollectionsconnectedwithhimgaveheramomentsdistress;butexertingherselfvigorouslytorepeltheill-naturedattack，shepresentlyansweredthequestioninatolerablydetachedtone.Whileshespoke，aninvoluntaryglanceshowedherDarcy，withaheightenedcomplexion，earnestlylookingather，andhissisterovercomewithconfusion，andunabletoliftuphereyes.HadMissBingleyknownwhatpainshewasthengivingherbelovedfriend，sheundoubtedlywouldhaverefrainedfromthehint;butshehadmerelyintendedtodiscomposeElizabethbybringingforwardtheideaofamantowhomshebelievedherpartial，tomakeherbetrayasensibilitywhichmightinjureherinDarcysopinion，and，perhaps，toremindthelatterofallthefolliesandabsurditiesbywhichsomepartofherfamilywereconnectedwiththatcorps.NotasyllablehadeverreachedherofMissDarcysmeditatedelopement.Tonocreaturehaditbeenrevealed，wheresecrecywaspossible，excepttoElizabeth;andfromallBingleysconnectionsherbrotherwasparticularlyanxioustoconcealit，fromtheverywishwhichElizabethhadlongagoattributedtohim，oftheirbecominghereafterherown.Hehadcertainlyformedsuchaplan，andwithoutmeaningthatitshouldeffecthisendeavourtoseparatehimfromMissBennet，itisprobablethatitmightaddsomethingtohislivelyconcernforthewelfareofhisfriend.

Elizabethscollectedbehaviour，however，soonquietedhisemotion;andasMissBingley，vexedanddisappointed，darednotapproachnearertoWickham，Georgianaalsorecoveredintime，thoughnotenoughtobeabletospeakanymore.Herbrother，whoseeyeshefearedtomeet，scarcelyrecollectedherinterestintheaffair，andtheverycircumstancewhichhadbeendesignedtoturnhisthoughtsfromElizabethseemedtohavefixedthemonhermoreandmorecheerfully.

Theirvisitdidnotcontinuelongafterthequestionandanswerabovementioned;andwhileMr.DarcywasattendingthemtotheircarriageMissBingleywasventingherfeelingsincriticismsonElizabethsperson，behaviour，anddress.ButGeorgianawouldnotjoinher.Herbrothersrecommendationwasenoughtoensureherfavour;hisjudgementcouldnoterr，andhehadspokeninsuchtermsofElizabethastoleaveGeorgianawithoutthepoweroffindingherotherwisethanlovelyandamiable.WhenDarcyreturnedtothesaloon，MissBingleycouldnothelprepeatingtohimsomepartofwhatshehadbeensayingtohissister.

“HowveryillMissElizaBennetlooksthismorning，Mr.Darcy，”

shecried;“Ineverinmylifesawanyonesomuchalteredassheissincethewinter.Sheisgrownsobrownandcoarse!LouisaandIwereagreeingthatweshouldnothaveknownheragain.”

HoweverlittleMr.Darcymighthavelikedsuchanaddress，hecontentedhimselfwithcoollyreplyingthatheperceivednootheralterationthanherbeingrathertanned，nomiraculousconsequenceoftravellinginthesummer.

“Formyownpart，”

sherejoined，“ImustconfessthatInevercouldseeanybeautyinher.Herfaceistoothin;hercomplexionhasnobrilliancy;andherfeaturesarenotatallhandsome.Hernosewantscharacter—thereisnothingmarkedinitslines.Herteetharetolerable，butnotoutofthecommonway;andasforhereyes，whichhavesometimesbeencalledsofine，Icouldneverseeanythingextraordinaryinthem.Theyhaveasharp，shrewishlook，whichIdonotlikeatall;andinherairaltogether，thereisaself-sufficiencywithoutfashion，whichisintolerable.”

PersuadedasMissBingleywasthatDarcyadmiredElizabeth，thiswasnotthebestmethodofrecommendingherself;butangrypeoplearenotalwayswise;andinseeinghimatlastlooksomewhatnettled，shehadallthesuccesssheexpected.Hewasresolutelysilent，however，and，fromadeterminationofmakinghimspeak，shecontinued:

“Iremember，whenwefirstknewherinHertfordshire，howamazedweallweretofindthatshewasareputedbeauty;andIparticularlyrecollectyoursayingonenight，aftertheyhadbeendiningatNetherfield，sheabeauty!—Ishouldassooncallhermotherawit.Butafterwardssheseemedtoimproveonyou，andIbelieveyouthoughtherratherprettyatonetime.”

“Yes，”

repliedDarcy，whocouldcontainhimselfnolonger，“butthatwasonlywhenIfirstsawher，foritismanymonthssinceIhaveconsideredherasoneofthehandsomestwomenofmyacquaintance.”

Hethenwentaway，andMissBingleywaslefttoallthesatisfactionofhavingforcedhimtosaywhatgavenooneanypainbutherself.

Mrs.GardinerandElizabethtalkedofallthathadoccurredduringtheirvisit，astheyreturned，exceptwhathadparticularlyinterestedthemboth.Thelookandbehaviourofeverybodytheyhadseenwerediscussed，exceptofthepersonwhohadmostlyengagedtheirattention.Theytalkedofhissister，hisfriends，hishouse，hisfruit—ofeverythingbuthimself;yetElizabethwaslongingtoknowwhatMrs.Gardinerthoughtofhim，andMrs.Gardinerwouldhavebeenhighlygratifiedbyherniecesbeginningthesubject.