Free Gay Pride and Prejudice by Kate Christie

to the advantage of holding her tongue; and, if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after officers.”
    “Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?”
    “Oh, yes. Do let the portraits of your Uncle and Aunt Phillips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines.”
    “A fine idea. As for Miss Bennet’s picture, I would not have it taken at all, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?”
    At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth herself.
    “I did not know that you intended to walk,” said Miss Bingley, in some confusion, lest they had been overheard.
    “You used us abominably ill,” answered Mrs. Hurst, “running away without telling us that you were coming out.”
    Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by herself. The path just admitted three. Miss Bingley felt her sister’s rudeness, and after a hesitation said: “This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the avenue.”
    But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them, laughingly answered: “No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. Good-bye.”
    She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, in the hope of being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening, which meant that Elizabeth would not again be left alone evading the censorious gaze of Miss Bingley, or struggling to make conversation with Mr. Darcy.

Chapter Eleven
    W HEN THE LADIES REMOVED AFTER DINNER, Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and seeing her well-guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room, where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit. Elizabeth found herself pondering Caroline Bingley’s behavior once again. On the one hand, she could be determinedly arrogant, even, as it were, outright rude; on the other, nearly as insistently delightful. Truly, at her best, she was one of the most appealing women Elizabeth had ever met. If only she would remain this, her most convivial self.
    But when the gentlemen entered, Miss Bingley’s eyes instantly turned toward Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself to Jane with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was “very glad;” but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley’s salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be further from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great delight.
    When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the card-table—but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep. Miss Bingley again took up a book; Darcy commenced to his usual writing; and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in