Chapter 11 58
" Miss Eliza Bennet , let me persuade you to follow my example , and take a turn about the room . I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude ."
Elizabeth was surprised , but agreed to it immediately . Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility ; Mr . Darcy looked up . He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be , and unconsciously closed his book . He was directly invited to join their party , but he declined it , observing that he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together , with either of which motives his joining them would interfere . " What could he mean ? She was dying to know what could be his meaning ?" --and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him ?
" Not at all ," was her answer ; " but depend upon it , he means to be severe on us , and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it ."
Miss Bingley , however , was incapable of disappointing Mr . Darcy in anything , and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives .
" I have not the smallest objection to explaining them ," said he , as soon as she allowed him to speak . " You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other ' s confidence , and have secret affairs to discuss , or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking ; if the first , I would be completely in your way , and if the second , I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire ."
" Oh ! shocking !" cried Miss Bingley . " I never heard anything so abominable . How shall we punish him for such a speech ?"
" Nothing so easy , if you have but the inclination ," said Elizabeth . " We can all plague and punish one another . Tease him--laugh at him . Intimate as you are , you must know how it is to be done ."