Duringtheirwalk,itwasresolvedthatMr.Bennetsconsentshouldbeaskedinthecourseoftheevening.Elizabethreservedtoherselftheapplicationforhermothers.Shecouldnotdeterminehowhermotherwouldtakeit;sometimesdoubtingwhetherallhiswealthandgrandeurwouldbeenoughtoovercomeherabhorrenceoftheman.Butwhethershewereviolentlysetagainstthematch,orviolentlydelightedwithit,itwascertainthathermannerwouldbeequallyilladaptedtodocredittohersense;andshecouldnomorebearthatMr.Darcyshouldhearthefirstrapturesofherjoy,thanthefirstvehemenceofherdisapprobation.
Intheevening,soonafterMr.Bennetwithdrewtothelibrary,shesawMr.Darcyrisealsoandfollowhim,andheragitationonseeingitwasextreme.Shedidnotfearherfathersopposition,buthewasgoingtobemadeunhappy;andthatitshouldbethroughhermeans—thatshe,hisfavouritechild,shouldbedistressinghimbyherchoice,shouldbefillinghimwithfearsandregretsindisposingofher—wasawretchedreflection,andshesatinmiserytillMr.Darcyappearedagain,when,lookingathim,shewasalittlerelievedbyhissmile.InafewminutesheapproachedthetablewhereshewassittingwithKitty;and,whilepretendingtoadmireherwork,saidinawhisper,“Gotoyourfather,hewantsyouinthelibrary.”Shewasgonedirectly.
Herfatherwaswalkingabouttheroom,lookinggraveandanxious.“Lizzy,”saidhe,“whatareyoudoing?Areyououtofyoursenses,tobeacceptingthisman?Havenotyoualwayshatedhim?”
Howearnestlydidshethenwishthatherformeropinionshadbeenmorereasonable,herexpressionsmoremoderate!Itwouldhavesparedherfromexplanationsandprofessionswhichitwasexceedinglyawkwardtogive;buttheywerenownecessary,andsheassuredhim,withsomeconfusion,ofherattachmenttoMr.Darcy.
“Or,inotherwords,youaredeterminedtohavehiHeisrich,tobesure,andyoumayhavemorefineclothesandfinecarriagesthanJane.Butwilltheymakeyouhappy?”
“Haveyouanyotherobjection,”saidElizabeth,“thanyourbeliefofmyindifference?”
“Noneatall.Weallknowhimtobeaproud,unpleasantsortofman;butthiswouldbenothingifyoureallylikedhi”
“Ido,Idolikehim,”shereplied,withtearsinhereyes,“IlovehiIndeedhehasnoimproperpride.Heisperfectlyamiable.Youdonotknowwhathereallyis;thenpraydonotpainmebyspeakingofhiminsuchterms.”
“Lizzy,”saidherfather,“Ihavegivenhimmyconsent.Heisthekindofman,indeed,towhomIshouldneverdarerefuseanything,whichhecondescendedtoask.Inowgiveittoyou,ifyouareresolvedonhavinghiButletmeadviseyoutothinkbetterofit.Iknowyourdisposition,Lizzy.Iknowthatyoucouldbeneitherhappynorrespectable,unlessyoutrulyesteemedyourhusband;unlessyoulookeduptohimasasuperior.Yourlivelytalentswouldplaceyouinthegreatestdangerinanunequalmarriage.Youcouldscarcelyescapediscreditandmisery.Mychild,letmenothavethegriefofseeingyouunabletorespectyourpartnerinlife.Youknownotwhatyouareabout.”
Elizabeth,stillmoreaffected,wasearnestandsolemninherreply;andatlength,byrepeatedassurancesthatMr.Darcywasreallytheobjectofherchoice,byexplainingthegradualchangewhichherestimationofhimhadundergone,relatingherabsolutecertaintythathisaffectionwasnottheworkofaday,buthadstoodthetestofmanymonthssuspense,andenumeratingwithenergyallhisgoodqualities,shedidconquerherfathersincredulity,andreconcilehimtothematch.
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