In the Library
Elizabeth had sat in the library for fifteen minutes without Mr. Darcy saying a word to her. She wondered if he was upset by their discussion. She still felt rather embarrassed to admit her insult, but it was nice to be plain spoken for once.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said suddenly.
Elizabeth looked up from her book. "Yes?"
"I am sorry to interrupt your book. It is just that, well, I have thought much on what you said to me yesterday. I do wish to improve my manners. I thought I would take your advice and try to find something admirable about each person when I meet them."
"I am glad you are willing to try, Mr. Darcy. It is difficult at first, but I have found I am a better person for it."
"Yes, well, I wish to say something to you, but…"
"You still do not want to raise my expectations?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Darcy. Unless you dropped to your knee and proposed this very minute, nothing you could say would make me feel like you have suddenly changed your mind so dramatically. And, not to be unkind, but even if you were to propose, I would refuse you."
"You would refuse me?"
"Yes, Mr. Darcy. I have seen unhappy marriages, where one partner does not respect the other. I do not wish one for myself. I want a husband that respects me. And finds me more than tolerable." She smiled. "Now, what do you wish to say to me?"
"It is just that, I have something I admire in you, and I wished to tell you, to make up for how rude I have been to you recently."
"Well, I will never turn down a compliment. What do you find so admirable?"
"You are very well-read, and you speak eloquently on the books you have read."
Elizabeth burst out laughing.
"What?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"That is the exact quality I gave my father about you after our conversation at Lucas Lodge."
Mr. Darcy laughed as well. "It seems great minds do think alike."