Darcy's Passions Read Online Free PDF Page A

fear, in the habit of spending more than they ought.They associate with fine
society and have a right to consider themselves privileged, but they should consider how meanly they treat others.
    Their pride is a common failing and is, unfortunately, found in all circles.We all, I believe, display pride in some real or imaginary quality with some people cherishing these feelings of self-complacency. Maybe what the Bingley sisters display is vanity, but I argue vanity and pride differ.A person may be proud without being vain. Opinions of ourselves define our pride; what we have others think of us is our vanity.
    Thankfully, our family has the benefit of generations of knowing what society expects.With Mrs.Annesley to guide you, my Dearest, I fear no such behavior from you. Georgiana, I must regretfully close. Please do not concern yourself, my girl, with thoughts of my happiness; when it is time for my taking a wife, I will find someone who will give us both affection as the mistress of Pemberley and as a devoted sister. I am anticipating your concert for my benefit. I am sure it will be one I will cherish forever as I do all of our times together. Praying that you too find all the happiness you so rightly deserve, I am your affectionate brother . . .
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    Fitzwilliam
    The evening’s engagement took place at Lucas Lodge; again, Darcy found his thoughts taking on a contradictory form. Over the past few weeks, he developed an interest in learning more about Elizabeth Bennet. He desperately wanted to see more of her although he knew an alliance with such a family insupportable. Darcy convinced himself of late he held no real interest in Elizabeth Bennet; so little entertainment came to a man of the world in Hertfordshire society, and Miss Elizabeth became only a diversion for his hours of boredom; that was all she was to him; that was all she could ever be to a man of his quality, a man of property as vast as Pemberley. Darcy would never take advantage of Elizabeth Bennet as a former friend tried to do with Georgiana; he was a man of honor, a man of scruples; yet, he found his diversion with Elizabeth
Bennet to be an unanticipated pleasure.
    As much as Darcy took pleasure in Elizabeth Bennet’s vitality, her family appeared less than to be desired. Mrs. Bennet’s connections proved poor, having brothers, one a country attorney in Meryton and another who resided in Cheapside in London. Mrs. Bennet, whose manners, openly profusive at best, had one goal: Find her five daughters suitable matches in life; Mr. Bennet, well read and a gentleman with an income of two thousand pounds per year, took very little interest in the activities of his wife and daughters. Jane and Elizabeth Bennet he accepted, but the three youngest were left to their own frivolities; one devoted herself to her studies to the point of being rude, while the other two openly flirted with every available man, especially with those officers of the local militia. Having observed the Bennets over a fortnight, Darcy convinced himself an alliance to such a family intolerable; and he feared Bingley might be choosing poorly if he continued to favor Miss Bennet. Of course, Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth Bennet could never advance to that level: He just found someone in the area with an active mind, a person not of a dole character, whom he could observe from afar.
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    As the evening at Lucas Lodge progressed, Darcy took pleasure in espying on Elizabeth Bennet’s interactions with Charlotte Lucas, various militia officers in attendance, Bingley, and her elder sister. He noted of late little escaped Elizabeth’s attention. He watched as she complimented Maria Lucas on her needlework, causing the girl to blush excessively but out of reinforcing its worth rather than out of shame. He observed Elizabeth trying to reign in her mother’s exuberance. Elizabeth, evidently, took delight in Bingley’s attentions to her sister, but she did not suspect