Theses chapters depict a series of triumphs. One of the great joys in chapter forty-four is witnessing the Gardiners great astonishment at the great Mr. Darcy's obvious affection for their niece, an effect compounded by Bingley's surprise appearance.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage
than to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party
before them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which
had just arisen, of Mr. Darcy and their niece, directed their
observation towards each with an earnest, though guarded, enquiry; and
they soon drew from those enquiries the full conviction that one of them
at least knew what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they
remained a little in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with
admiration was evident enough.
Following such attention, Elizabeth can no longer avoid analysis of her feelings, and she cautiously begins to allow herself to care for Mr. Darcy:
As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than
the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not
long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that
mansion; and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them
out. She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago,
and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike
against him that could be so called. The respect created by the
conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly
admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and
it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the
testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition
in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all,
above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will
which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude, not
merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough
to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting
him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who,
she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed,
on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and
without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner,
where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good
opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister.
Such a change in a man of so much pride excited not only astonishment
but gratitude -- for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as
such, its impression on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no
means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. She
respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him; she felt a real
interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished
that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the
happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy
told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his
addresses.
Chapter forty-five bears witness to a different kind of triumph, though it is no less complete:
"For my own part," she rejoined, "I must confess that I never could
see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no
brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants
character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are
tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which
have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive any thing
extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not
like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency
without fashion which is intolerable."
Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was
not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not
always wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had
all the success she expected. He was resolutely silent however; and,
from a determination of making him speak she continued,
"I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we
all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly
recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at
Netherfield, "She a beauty! -- I should as soon call her mother
a wit." But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you
thought her rather pretty at one time."
"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but that
was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have
considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."
He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction
of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.
Is that not just perfect? Such unalloyed joy cannot reign unchecked, and the next chapter puts an end to this spree.
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