पृष्ठ 360 / 817

When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of

having promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the

instrument. He drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to

half a song, and then talked, as before, to her other nephew;

till the latter walked away from her, and moving with his usual

deliberation towards the pianoforte, stationed himself so as to

command a full view of the fair performer's countenance.

Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient

pause turned to him with an arch smile, and said,--

"You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state

to hear me. But I will not be alarmed, though your sister does

play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can

bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always

rises with every attempt to intimidate me."