#prideandprejudice
To attempt an understanding of Muad'Darcy without understanding the amiable qualities of Mr. Bingley, is to attempt seeing Light without knowing Darkness. It cannot be.
Darcy danced only once and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet.
“He stinks to heaven in any closed space,” she said. “It’s from those stillsuits he wears, that reclaim the body’s own water.“
Eliz-atz Haderach had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Maud’Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley.
“Come, Darcy,” said he, “All you have left is poor Bingley who’s fresh out of fight and spoiling for music. I hate to see you standing about by yourself, you had much better dance.”
“I certainly shall not. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”
“Upon my honour,” cried Mr. Bingley, “I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.”
“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Maud’Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”
“Which do you mean?” and turning round he looked for a moment at Eliz-atz, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. My young lady must combine the seductive wiles of a courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a virgin goddess, holding these attributes in tension so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have gone, she will find that the place-between, once occupied by tension, has become a wellspring of cunning and resourcefulness. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”
Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Maud’Darcy walked off; and Eliz-atz remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. Polish comes from the cities; wisdom from the desert.
lmao im dying