Chapter 45 256
success she expected . He was resolutely silent , however , and , from a determination of making him speak , she continued :
" I remember , when we first knew her in Hertfordshire , how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty ; and I particularly recollect your saying one night , after they had been dining at Netherfield , ' She a beauty ! --I should as soon call her mother a wit .' But afterwards she seemed to improve on you , and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time ."
" Yes ," replied Darcy , who could contain himself no longer , " but that was only when I first saw her , for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance ."
He then went away , and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself .
Mrs . Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their visit , as they returned , except what had particularly interested them both . The look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed , except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention . They talked of his sister , his friends , his house , his fruit--of everything but himself ; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs . Gardiner thought of him , and Mrs . Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece ' s beginning the subject .