Chapter 12
“What have you done with your hair Lizzy,” Jane asked, her eyes wide. Then after she had looked Elizabeth up and down added, “and your dress? You did not, I hope, join the Bingley party looking as you do?” she beseeched.
“I joined Mr Darcy for breakfast, and we walked to inspect the stream,” Lizzy replied. “My hair got undone and petticoat muddy while carrying out the inspection.” She decided to refrain from telling Jane of the conversation she had overhead. “The stream is quite uncrossable while maintaining any dignity,” she explained. “Tom Powers, has waded across and he will return with clothing for us.”
Jane looked pleased to hear that clothing would be fetched but a slight frown appeared on her gentle face. Lizzy was sure she knew the reason. “I instructed Tom to tell Papa that Mary must pack our clothing for us.”
Jane sighed, “that is good”. They both knew that their mother would have packed the most ostentatious of their clothing. Perhaps even going so far as to pack items from their sisters wardrobes if she felt any item of theirs too plain.
“I have decided not to go to breakfast,” Jane explained. Pointing to her own evening dress. “I feel most uncomfortable to appear in the dress I was wearing yester evening,” she explained.
“You need not concern yourself,” Elizabeth reassured. “The ladies know we have no other clothing after available. Andgentlemen are rather apt at not observing such things.” Lizzy saying this felt sure that Mr Darcy would notice such a thing. But as she was sure his opinions of herself and Jane were quite set it mattered not. Mr Bingley would be unlikely to notice. His eyes were completely for Jane. But she was sure that he would not have noticed if she appeared in sack cloth.
As much as Elizabeth wished to return home to Longbourn, she took great amusement in observing the inhabitants of Netherfield. She took joy from Mr Bingley’s attentions to Jane and felt sure that an attachment was growing on both sides. She took glee in watching Miss Bingley try to engage and enchant an obviously indifferent Mr Darcy. And she took delight in vexing that gentleman. Going so far as to express views contrary to her own, merely to insure she was on the other side of any discussion to Mr Darcy. Mrs Hurst backed up her younger sister but appeared to have few opinions of her own. And Mr Hurst had no opinion nor anything of interest to aid to the company.
Elizabeth’s enjoyment in vexing Mr Darcy was tinted with the belief that he equally took delight in vexing her. And following a discussion on Mr Bingley’s willing to be swayed by a friend, which Elizabeth claimed, as admirable. She observed that Mr Bingley’s yielding to a friend’s desire, when there was no harm to himself was a mark of his amiability. And that other people’s unwillingness to do likely wise, even further highlighted Bingley’s good nature.
Mr Darcy correctly understanding this to be a barb directed at him. Being as he had argued that to yield easily showed a lack of consistence, which he could not like, replied.
“I believe, I may be seen as too little yielding; certainly, too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with everyattempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.”
“Thatis a failing, indeed!” cried Elizabeth. “Implacable resentmentisa shade in a character.”
“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“Andyourdefect is a propensity to hate everybody.”
“And yours,” he replied, with a smile, “is wilfully to misunderstand them.”
Miss Bingley, not disapproving of the argument between the two. But disliked that it drew Mr Darcy’s attention from herself, called for some music. And as was polite called on their guests to play first.
Elizabeth sat down to the pianoforte. Jane stood beside her. Elizabeth played a simple piece by Haydn. With Jane opening the lyrics with “my mother bids me bind my hair.”
After the first verse Elizabeth added her voice. It was a piece they had practice frequently. And often played to the delight of their neighbours. But Elizabeth felt it a good choice as the Netherfield party had never before heard them play and sing.
If Miss Bingley had hoped that by opening the piano, Mr Darcy’s attention would be diverted from Elizabeth, she was to be disappointed. For he sat in rapt attention, staring at Elizabeth and Jane. The completion of the piece was met by boisterous applause from the gentlemen. Even Mr Hurst was stirred to clap.
“Capital, capital,” he said, in admiration. Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy were also lavish in their praise. Much to the delight of Jane and the surprise of Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley then took the pianoforte and played Muzio Clementi’s piano sonata in G minor, Op 34, No 2. Elizabethhad not heard it before she felt she had missed nothing. While the piece was technically highly difficult. And showed Miss Bingley proficiency it was not to Elizabeth’s taste. And nor did it seem to delight her audience. Only her sister proclaimed it to be delightful. Which sentiment Elizabeth did not agree. Miss Bingley’s brother stated that it was well done. And Mr Darcy proclaimed it to be excellent. Which Elizabeth had to agree. It had been excellently played.
Even these manifest entertainments were not sufficient to overrule the joy she experienced when being informed that the stream had died down. Finally she and Jane could return home and away from the superior sisters. A nickname she had given to the Bingley sisters, repeated only to Jane. Who had managed to suppress a laugh on first hearing the epithet. Elizabeth, therefore, took leave of the whole party in the liveliest of spirits.
