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Chapter　XI　of　Volume　II　（Chap。　34）
　WHEN　they　were　gone；　Elizabeth；　as　if　intending　to　exasperate　herself　as　much　as　possible　against　Mr。　Darcy；　chose　for　her　employment　the　examination　of　all　the　letters　which　Jane　had　written　to　her　since　her　being　in　Kent。　They　contained　no　actual　complaint；　nor　was　there　any　revival　of　past　occurrences；　or　any　communication　of　present　suffering。　But　in　all；　and　in　almost　every　line　of　each；　there　was　a　want　of　that　cheerfulness　which　had　been　used　to　characterize　her　style；　and　which；　proceeding　from　the　serenity　of　a　mind　at　ease　with　itself；　and　kindly　disposed　towards　every　one；　had　been　scarcely　ever　clouded。　Elizabeth　noticed　every　sentence　conveying　the　idea　of　uneasiness　with　an　attention　which　it　had　hardly　received　on　the　first　perusal。　Mr。　Darcy's　shameful　boast　of　what　misery　he　had　been　able　to　inflict　gave　her　a　keener　sense　of　her　sister's　sufferings。　It　was　some　consolation　to　think　that　his　visit　to　Rosings　was　to　end　on　the　day　after　the　next；　and　a　still　greater　that　in　less　than　a　fortnight　she　should　herself　be　with　Jane　again；　and　enabled　to　contribute　to　the　recovery　of　her　spirits　by　all　that　affection　could　do。
She　could　not　think　of　Darcy's　leaving　Kent　without　remembering　that　his　cousin　was　to　go　with　him；　but　Colonel　Fitzwilliam　had　made　it　clear　that　he　had　no　intentions　at　all；　and　agreeable　as　he　was；　she　did　not　mean　to　be　unhappy　about　him。
While　settling　this　point；　she　was　suddenly　roused　by　the　sound　of　the　door　bell；　and　her　spirits　were　a　little　fluttered　by　the　idea　of　its　being　Colonel　Fitzwilliam　himself；　who　had　once　before　called　late　in　the　evening；　and　might　now　come　to　enquire　particularly　after　her。　But　this　idea　was　soon　banished；　and　her　spirits　were　very　differently　affected；　when；　to　her　utter　amazement；　she　saw　Mr。　Darcy　walk　into　the　room。　In　an　hurried　manner　he　immediately　began　an　enquiry　after　her　health；　imputing　his　visit　to　a　wish　of　hearing　that　she　were　better。　She　answered　him　with　cold　civility。　He　sat　down　for　a　few　moments；　and　then　getting　up；　walked　about　the　room。　Elizabeth　was　surprised；　but　said　not　a　word。　After　a　silence　of　several　minutes；　he　came　towards　her　in　an　agitated　manner；　and　thus　began；
‘‘In　vain　have　I　struggled。　It　will　not　do。　My　feelings　will　not　be　repressed。　You　must　allow　me　to　tell　you　how　ardently　I　admire　and　love　you。''
Elizabeth's　astonishment　was　beyond　expression。　She　stared；　coloured；　doubted；　and　was　silent。　This　he　considered　sufficient　encouragement；　and　the　avowal　of　all　that　he　felt　and　had　long　felt　for　her　immediately　followed。　He　spoke　well；　but　there　were　feelings　besides　those　of　the　heart　to　be　detailed；　and　he　was　not　more　eloquent　on　the　subject　of　tenderness　than　of　pride。　His　sense　of　her　inferiority　　of　its　being　a　degradation　　of　the　family　obstacles　which　judgment　had　always　opposed　to　inclination；　were　dwelt　on　with　a　warmth　which　seemed　due　to　the　consequence　he　was　wounding；　but　was　very　unlikely　to　recommend　his　suit。
In　spite　of　her　deeply…rooted　dislike；　she　could　not　be　insensible　to　the　compliment　of　such　a　man's　affection；　and　though　her　intentions　did　not　vary　for　an　instant；　she　was　at　first　sorry　for　the　pain　he　was　to　receive；　till；　roused　to　resentment　by　his　subsequent　language；　she　lost　all　compassion　in　anger。　She　tried；　however；　to　compose　herself　to　answer　him　with　patience；　when　he　should　have　done。　He　concluded　with　representing　to　her　the　strength　of　that　attachment　which；　in　spite　of　all　his　endeavours；　he　had　found　impossible　to　conquer；　and　with　expressing　his　hope　that　it　would　now　be　rewarded　by　her　acceptance　of　his　hand。　As　he　said　this；　she　could　easily　see　that　he　had　no　doubt　of　a　favourable　answer。　He　spoke　of　apprehension　and　anxiety；　but　his　countenance　expressed　real　security。　Such　a　circumstance　could　only　exasperate　farther；　and　when　he　ceased；　the　colour　rose　into　her　cheeks；　and　she　said；
‘‘In　such　cases　as　this；　it　is；　I　believe；　the　established　mode　to　express　a　sense　of　obligation　for　the　sentiments　avowed；　however　unequally　they　may　be　returned。　It　is　natural　that　obligation　should　be　felt；　and　if　I　could　feel　gratitude；　I　would　now　thank　you。　But　I　cannot　　I　have　never　desired　your　good　opinion；　and　you　have　certainly　bestowed　it　most　unwillingly。　I　am　sorry　to　have　occasioned　pain　to　any　one。　It　has　been　most　unconsciously　done；　however；　and　I　hope　will　be　of　short　duration。　The　feelings　which；　you　tell　me；　have　long　prevented　the　acknowledgment　of　your　regard；　can　have　little　difficulty　in　overcoming　it　after　this　explanation。''
Mr。　Darcy；　who　was　leaning　against　the　mantle…piece　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　her　face；　seemed　to　catch　her　words　with　no　less　resentment　than　surprise。　His　complexion　became　pale　with　anger；　and　the　disturbance　of　his　mind　was　visible　in　every　feature。　He　was　struggling　for　the　appearance　of　composure；　and　would　not　open　his　lips；　till　he　believed　himself　to　have　attained　it。　The　pause　was　to　Elizabeth's　feelings　dreadful。　At　length；　in　a　voice　of　forced　calmness；　he　said；
‘‘And　this　is　all　the　reply　which　I　am　to　have　the　honour　of　expecting！　I　might；　perhaps；　wish　to　be　informed　why；　with　so　little　endeavour　at　civility；　I　am　thus　rejected。　But　it　is　of　small　importance。''
‘‘I　might　as　well　enquire；''　replied　she；　‘‘why；　with　so　evident　a　design　of　offending　and　insulting　me；　you　chose　to　tell　me　that　you　liked　me　against　your　will；　against　your　reason；　and　even　against　your　character？　Was　not　this　some　excuse　for　incivility；　if　I　was　uncivil？　But　I　have　other　provocations。　You　know　I　have。　Had　not　my　own　feelings　decided　against　you；　had　they　been　indifferent；　or　had　they　even　been　favourable；　do　you　think　that　any　consideration　would　tempt　me　to　accept　the　man；　who　has　been　the　means　of　ruining；　perhaps　for　ever；　the　happiness　of　a　most　beloved　sister？''
As　she　pronounced　these　words；　Mr。　Darcy　changed　colour；　but　the　emotion　was　short；　and　he　listened　without　attempting　to　interrupt　her　while　she　continued。
‘‘I　have　every　reason　in　the　world　to　think　ill　of　you。　No　motive　can　excuse　the　unjust　and　ungenerous　part　you　acted　there。　You　dare　not；　you　cannot　deny　that　you　have　been　the　principal；　if　not　the　only　means　of　dividing　them　from　each　other；　of　exposing　one　to　the　censure　of　the　world　for　caprice　and　instability；　the　other　to　its　derision　for　disappointed　hopes；　and　involving　them　both　in　misery　of　the　acutest　kind。''
She　paused；　and　saw　with　no　slight　indignation　that　he　was　listening　with　an　air　which　proved　him　wholly　unmoved　by　any　feeling　of　remorse。　He　even　looked　at　her　with　a　smile　of　affected　incredulity。
‘‘Can　you　deny　that　you　have　done　it？''　she　repeated。
With　assumed　tranquillity　he　then　replied；　‘‘I　have　no　wish　of　denying　that　I　did　every　thing　in　my　power　to　separate　my　friend　from　your　sister；　or　that　I　rejoice　in　my　success。　Towards　him　I　have　been　kinder　than　towards　myself。''
Elizabeth　disdained　the　appearance　of　noticing　this　civil　reflection；　but　its　meaning　did　not　escape；　nor　was　it　likely　to　conciliate；　her。
‘‘But　it　is　not　merely　this　affair；''　she　continued；　‘‘on　which　my　dislike　is　founded。　Long　before　it　had　taken　place；　my　opinion　of　you　was　decided。　Your　character　was　unfolded　in　the　recital　which　I　received　many　months　ago　from　Mr。　Wickham。　On　this　subject；　what　can　you　have　to　say？　In　what　imaginary　act　of　friendship　can　you　here　defend　yourself？　or　under　what　misrepresentation；　can　you　here　impose　upon　others？''
‘‘You　take　an　eager　interest　in　that　gentleman's　concerns；''　said　Darcy　in　a　less　tranquil　tone；　and　with　a　heightened　colour。
‘‘Who　that　knows　what　his　misfortunes　have　been；　can　help　feeling　an　interest　in　him？''
‘‘His　misfortunes！''　repeated　Darcy　contemptuously；　‘‘yes；　his　misfortunes　have　been　great　indeed。''
‘‘And　of　your　infliction；''　cried　Elizabeth　with　energy。　‘‘You　have　reduced　him　to　his　present　state　of　poverty；　comparative　poverty。　You　have　withheld　the　advantages；　which　you　must　know　to　have　been　designed　for　him。　You　have　deprived　the　best　years　of　his　life；　of　that　independence　which　was　no　less　his　due　than　his　desert。　You　have　done　all　this！　and　yet　you　can　treat　the　mention　of　his　misfortunes　with　contempt　and　ridicule。''
‘‘And　this；''　cried　Darcy；　as　he　walked　with　quick　steps　across　the　room；　‘‘is　your　opinion　of　me！　This　is　the　estimation　in　which　you　hold　me！　I　thank　you　for　explaining　it　so　fully。　My　faults；　according　to　this　calculation；　are　heavy　indeed！　But　perhaps；''　added　he；　stopping　in　his　walk；　and　turning　towards　her；　‘‘these　offences　might　have　been　overlooked；　had　not　your　pride　been　hurt　by　my　honest　confession　of　the　scruples　that　had　long　prevented　my　forming　any　serious　design。　These　bitter　accusations　might　have　been　suppressed；　had　I　with　greater　policy　concealed　my　struggles；　and　flattered　you　into　the　belief　of　my　being　impelled　by　unqualified；　unalloyed　inclination　　by　reason；　by　reflection；　by　every　thing。　But　disguise　of　every　sort　is　my　abhorrence。　Nor　am　I　ashamed　of　the　feelings　I　related。　They　were　natural　and　just。　Could　you　expect　me　to　rejoice　in　the　inferiority　of　your　connections？　To　congratulate　myself　on　the　hope　of　relations；　whose　condition　in　life　is　so　decidedly　beneath　my　own？''
Elizabeth　felt　herself　growing　more　angry　every　moment；　yet　she　tried　to　the　utmost　to　speak　with　composure　when　she　said；
‘‘You　are　mistaken；　Mr。　Darcy；　if　you　suppose　that　the　mode　of　your　declaration　affected　me　in　any　other　way；　than　as　it　spared　me　the　concern　which　I　might　have　felt　in　refusing　you；　had　you　behaved　in　a　more　gentleman…like　manner。''
She　saw　him　start　at　this；　but　he　said　nothing；　and　she　continued；
‘‘You　could　not　have　made　me　the　offer　of　your　hand　in　any　possible　way　that　would　have　tempted　me　to　accept　it。''
Again　his　astonishment　was　obvious；　and　he　looked　at　her　with　an　expression　of　mingled　incredulity　and　mortification。　She　went　on。
‘‘From　the　very　beginning；　from　the　first　moment　I　may　almost　say；　of　my　acquaintance　with　you；　your　manners；　impressing　me　with　the　fullest　belief　of　your　arrogance；　your　conceit；　and　your　selfish　disdain　of　the　feelings　of　others；　were　such　as　to　form　that　ground…work　of　disapprobation；　on　which　succeeding　events　have　built　so　immoveable　a　dislike；　and　I　had　not　known　you　a　month　before　I　felt　that　you　were　the　last　man　in　the　world　whom　I　could　ever　be　prevailed　on　to　marry。''
‘‘You　have　said　quite　enough；　madam。　I　perfectly　comprehend　your　feelings；　and　have　now　only　to　be　ashamed　of　what　my　own　have　been。　Forgive　me　for　having　taken　up　so　much　of　your　time；　and　accept　my　best　wishes　for　your　health　and　happiness。''
And　with　these　words　he　hastily　left　the　room；　and　Elizabeth　heard　him　the　next　moment　open　the　front　door　and　quit　the　house。
The　tumult　of　her　mind　was　now　painfully　great。　She　knew　not　how　to　support　herself；　and　from　actual　weakness　sat　down　and　cried　for　half　an　hour。　Her　astonishment；　as　she　reflected　on　what　had　passed；　was　increased　by　every　review　of　it。　That　she　should　receive　an　offer　of　marriage　from　Mr。　Darcy！　that　he　should　have　been　in　love　with　her　for　so　many　months！　so　much　in　love　as　to　wish　to　marry　her　in　spite　of　all　the　objections　which　had　made　him　prevent　his　friend's　marrying　her　sister；　and　which　must　appe