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He shook his head. "I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me

pain to speak ill of a Darcy; but she is too much like her

brother,--very, very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and

pleasing, and extremely fond of me; and I have devoted hours and

hours to her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. She is a

handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand,

highly accomplished. Since her father's death her home has been

London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her

education."

After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth

could not help reverting once more to the first, and saying,--

"I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley. How can Mr.

Bingley, who seems good-humour itself, and is, I really believe,

truly amiable, be in friendship with such a man? How can they

suit each other? Do you know Mr. Bingley?"

"Not at all."

"He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know

what Mr. Darcy is."