Gay Pride and Prejudice Read Online Free PDF

course familiar with: ‘Keep your breath to cool your porridge’; and I shall keep mine to swell my song.”
    Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.
    Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.
    Mr. Darcy stood near them in morose contemplation of how he would have preferred to pass the evening. His thoughts were so engaged by a subject close to his heart but far from his person that he failed to perceive Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began: “What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society.”
    “Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance.”
    Sir William only smiled. “Your friend performs delightfully,” he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; “and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy. Do you often dance at St. James’s?”
    “Never, sir.”
    “Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?”
    “It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.”
    At that instant Sir William spotted Elizabeth moving towards them, and was struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing. He called out to her: “My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner.”
    And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though surprised, was not altogether unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William: “Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg a partner.”
    “You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza,” said Sir William, “that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half-hour.”
    “Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” said Elizabeth.
    “He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance—for who would object to such a partner?”
    Elizabeth chose to excuse herself without answering Sir William’s question, but had only gone a few paces when Caroline Bingley intercepted her.
    “Miss Bennet,” Caroline said, inclining her head. She was dressed, as ever, in a gown of the latest fashion, trimmed with blue fabric that highlighted the corresponding colour of her eyes.
    “Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said.
    “I wished to compliment you on your performance. You play quite well—not that I am surprised by your accomplishment.”
    “Why, because you are of the belief that we country girls have nothing else to do but work on our pianoforte-playing?”
    “To the contrary. I only meant that it seems natural to me that someone as handsome as you would play well.”
    “And here I believed I was only barely tolerable in your