In which we listen in on conversations at Lucas Lodge.
A PITY DANCE
He began to wish to know more of her; and, as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were assembled.
"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"
"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."
"But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."
On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,— "Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"
"With great energy; but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic."
"You are severe on us."
"I did not mean to be," he said.
"Do you know that it can be quite unnerving?" she asked. "The way you stalk the walls and hang around on the fringes of conversations. You rarely look a person straight in the eye and never state your own opinion of the matter but I get the feeling that you would have plenty to say, and none of it good."
"On the contrary!" he exclaimed. "I am sorry if I have given you that impression but I have no desire to be critical at all, I assure you. You have an amusing way with words, and I admire your wit, reason, and good humour."
"Those of us who are not handsome have to be hilarious," Elizabeth said.
"Miss Elizabeth, you must know there is nothing wrong with the way you look."
"Indeed, I have been told by a reliable authority that I am tolerable."
"Now you are just fishing for compliments," Mr. Darcy said, smiling. "Very well, consider the source. If the dourest man in Derbyshire tells you that you are tolerable, you can take it to mean that you look very attractive indeed."
Miss Lucas had been planning to ask Elizabeth to play the pianoforte but she was loath to interrupt a conversation with an eligible bachelor, especially if the topic was her friend's beauty.
"You are all politeness, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said.
"Hardly," Mr. Darcy said. "As you well know."
"Right," she said. "No, not really. In all honesty, I feel like I have no idea what you are like."
"That could be remedied," Mr. Darcy said. "You may ask me anything you like."
"Would you answer all my questions?" Elizabeth asked.
"Within reason," he said. "If not now, perhaps when we are better acquainted."
"When we are better acquainted? Not if?"
"It stands to reason that when people are in company for some time they are eventually bound to understand each other better. Would you not agree?"
Although it was against all Elizabeth's natural inclinations to agree with Mr. Darcy about anything, she could not argue that
"So are you planning to stay in Hertfordshire for some time, Mr. Darcy?" Miss Lucas asked.
"At the moment I am at Mr. Bingley's disposal," he said. "Being new to his lease, he requires plenty of advice in estate matters so I feel no remorse in trespassing upon his hospitality for an indefinite amount of time."
"I am sure his sisters would never consider your presence a trespass," Elizabeth said.
"No, they have been quite welcoming," Mr. Darcy said. "Excessively welcoming, even."
"Lucky you!" Elizabeth said.
Miss Lucas saw her mother gesturing at her, indicating the pianoforte with a questioning look, and she remembered her original purpose.
"Lucky you, Eliza," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument now, and you know what follows."
"All the doves and butterflies inside it will be set free, and what a beautiful sight they will be, fluttering their wings in the candlelight."
"Right. I am going to ask you and Mary to play, and perhaps we can manage some dancing before Colonel Forster has his ball," Miss Lucas said.
"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!—always wanting me to play and dance before anybody and everybody!" Elizabeth said.
"Well, that is why you have practiced so diligently on the pianoforte for years, after all," said Miss Lucas. "To avoid any public exhibition so you can never be praised for your skills."
"If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers."
"I for one would love to hear you play," said Mr. Darcy.
"And sing," Miss Lucas said.
"Very well; if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth said, "There is a very fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with—'Keep your breath to cool your porridge,'—and I shall keep mine to swell my song."
She went to the instrument
"Whatever did she mean?" Mr. Darcy asked Miss Lucas.
"I have no idea," she said.
After Elizabeth had sung a song or two Mary was eager to perform a concerto and after the applause faded she kindly agreed to play some Irish and Scottish airs. Elizabeth walked past Sir William Lucas who was speaking with Darcy about the London air.
"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,—
"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."
Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain.
"I would not have you force Mr. Darcy to do something that I know to be a punishment for him.
Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.
"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour."
"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.
"I thought we already settled that I am not," Mr. Darcy said. "But you are labouring under a misconception, Miss Elizabeth. Sir William is not suggesting this pairing for your benefit. He knows that you are not at all likely to be slighted as a dance partner. Rather, Sir William is taking pity on me because he has seen me for the hopeless wallflower that I am, and he wishes to assist me to find a willing partner."
"Indeed," Sir William said, slightly flustered. "No one who saw Mr. Darcy looking at you would imagine him to be at all unwilling to dance with you. It is just the general savagery of the pastime that he is wary of."
"Yes, people might be having fun," Elizabeth said. "It is quite horrifying, Mr. Darcy."
"Indeed," Mr. Darcy said dryly. "We must participate then, for observing the atrocity from the sidelines would be far worse. Come, let us take our places." He held out his hand, and to her surprise, Elizabeth found herself enjoying the set.
Afterwards, Miss Bingley accosted Mr. Darcy.
"I can guess the subject of your reverie."
"I should imagine not."
"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner,—in such society; and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise—the nothingness, and yet the self-importance, of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"
"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. I have spent the evening dancing with a pretty lady, and a good time has been had by all concerned parties."
"I am all astonishment. You, Mr. Darcy, enjoyed dancing in this company? Pray when am I to wish you joy?"
"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from dancing to matrimony in a moment," Mr. Darcy said. "Although I have danced with many other women before, and I am not married yet."
At this, Miss Bingley was reminded of her own dances with Mr. Darcy.
Alas, they had all concluded without the slightest need for anyone to wish them joy.