The evening of the ball arrived, and with it a new source of anxiety to Elizabeth. She was not in the habit of being so vexed by Mr. Darcy's impertinence, but Darcy, whom she had at first thought proud, had by his behaviour to Mr. Wickham, and by his attentions to herself, forfeited all her good opinion. She had no longer any idea of admitting him to the same acquaintance with her, as she had with her other neighbours. Her feelings, she could not help acknowledging, were too much in opposition to her own.
She was sitting with Jane, who had taken her usual seat, and was busily employed in looking over her work; and Elizabeth, to whom her sister's happiness was a matter of the utmost importance, was exceedingly anxious to hear her speak of her feelings with all the openness of confidence. But Jane, with her usual gentleness, only said, "I am very glad that you are amused, my dear Elizabeth. I do not know what I should do if I could not be amused."
Elizabeth, however, was not to be so easily satisfied. She was beginning to understand her own feelings, and to see that her happiness depended on the affection of one, and that one was Mr. Darcy. But, oh! how she wished that he had not been so disagreeable, so shocking, so abominable. How she longed to find him, if possible, less disagreeable.
At length, when she had tried every means of enjoyment, she found herself obliged to decline dancing, though Darcy was the only gentleman she could have wished to dance with. She retired to the side of the room, where she might be least observed, and employed herself in watching the progress of the evening.
Mr. Darcy, it must be owned, had been very little in her company since the preceding Saturday, and she had not seen him since the breakfast at Mr. Bingley's. She had not, however, been very much disappointed by his absence, as she had been at all the former balls.
The business of the evening was soon to be commenced. The first dance was announced, and Elizabeth, though she had been determined not to dance, felt a sudden inclination to join the party. She looked round the room, but her eyes fell on Darcy, who was standing at a distance, conversing with Mr. Bingley. He seemed to be in no humour to talk to her, and she was too proud to seek his attention.
She was still more surprised by the appearance of Mr. Wickham, who, with great civility, approached and asked her to dance. Elizabeth was too astonished to refuse him, and they were soon engaged in the dance. Mr. Wickham was so exceedingly pleasant, that Elizabeth could not help but feel a certain degree of admiration for him, and she found herself looking forward to further conversations with him with anticipation.