In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

P&P Chapter 7

"Miss Bennet!"

"Mr. Darcy."

. . . . . .

"I am come to inquire after my sister."

"On foot?"

"As you see! Would you be so kind as to take me to her?"

"Of course! Forgive me. Right this way, please."

"Well, Bingley – the bot walked three miles from Longbourn to check on the companion."

"It's not as if she walked to London! Three miles is barely more than an hour's walk. Hour and a half tops! So, what does that tell you vis-à-vis lady vs. bot?"

"Tells us nada, I'm afraid. An Elizabot could do that carrying your horse, but even your sister could walk three miles if she really had to."

"Hah! What can you imagine would induce her to do such a thing?"

"Afraid that one's beyond me. No freaking idea. Sale on feathers, maybe?"

"How about a chance to entrap a bladerunner?"

"Ugghhhhhh!"

"Haha!"

"See if you can convince the Elizabot to stay – take care of her sister, or some such horseshit. We can get a month's observation in a couple days if the companion stays sick, or at least pretends to."

"Gotcha! Just for reference, should I keep flirting with the companion when um… 'she' um… 'gets better'."

"Your call. They're your cojones at stake."

"Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at! That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a laugh."

"Miss Bingley, has given me more credit than can be. 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."

. . . . . .

"Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume – and pray what is the result?"

"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise."

. . . . . .

"That is a failing indeed! 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 evil–a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."

P&P Chapter 11

"Well, Darce! A whole night of conversation. You any closer to knowing or not?"

"Not really. It's certainly clever, I'll give her that. I'm not sure I even follow half of what she says. I get the feeling a quarter of what it says are digs at your sister that it intends for me to understand; a quarter are digs at me that she lands pretty well; and another quarter digs at me that go over my head."

"Getting under your skin, is she? I see you're starting to get your pronouns all in a twist. Can't say if you need 'she' or 'it', eh?"

"The jury's still out, but I do have to say I'm leaning towards the 'lady' theory."

"Don't burn too many bridges, old man. She is rather pretty, though far too clever for the likes of you."

"She's too clever for any man, so if she's going to chain herself to a lunkhead, it may as well be me. How about you and the companion?"

"She/it's not so obviously clever, but I do like her – presuming it's a 'her'."

"Yeah, well, don't let your guard down too far."

"Did you see how the younger sister backed me into hosting a ball. You sure she's not a replicant?"

"Positive! If Miss Lydia was an Elizabot, you'd still be having the ball, but you'd be completely convinced it was your idea and she tried to talk you out of it. Ditto for the other sisters, and if the mother was an example of bots, we would have wiped them out centuries ago."

"Still not sure about the two eldest though?"

"The ball should be a good chance to put the question to rest. I only have a few more tests – short of vivisection, anyway."

"I'm thinking that's not the ideal diagnostic technique if it does turn out to be a lady."

"Yeah, well, that would not go well. Doesn't work all that well with replicants either when you get right down to it. They're generally disinclined towards the sport and object vigorously."