Chapter 18 96
" And what is your success ?"
She shook her head . " I do not get on at all . I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly ."
" I can readily believe ," answered he gravely , " that reports may vary greatly with respect to me ; and I could wish , Miss Bennet , that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment , as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either ."
" But if I do not take your likeness now , I may never have another opportunity ."
" I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours ," he coldly replied . She said no more , and they went down the other dance and parted in silence ; and on each side dissatisfied , though not to an equal degree , for in Darcy ' s breast there was a tolerable powerful feeling towards her , which soon procured her pardon , and directed all his anger against another .
They had not long separated , when Miss Bingley came towards her , and with an expression of civil disdain accosted her :
" So , Miss Eliza , I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham ! Your sister has been talking to me about him , and asking me a thousand questions ; and I find that the young man quite forgot to tell you , among his other communication , that he was the son of old Wickham , the late Mr . Darcy ' s steward . Let me recommend you , however , as a friend , not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions ; for as to Mr . Darcy ' s using him ill , it is perfectly false ; for , on the contrary , he has always been remarkably kind to him , though George Wickham has treated Mr . Darcy in a most infamous manner . I do not know the particulars , but I know very well that Mr . Darcy is not in the least to blame , that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned , and that though my brother thought that he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers , he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself out of the way . His coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing , indeed , and I wonder