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Mr. Darcy, who was leaning against the mantel-piece with his eyes

fixed on her face, seemed to catch her words with no less

resentment than surprise. His complexion became pale with anger,

and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. He

was struggling for the appearance of composure, and would not

open his lips till he believed himself to have attained it. The

pause was to Elizabeth's feelings dreadful. At length, in a voice

of forced calmness, he said,--

"And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of

expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so

little endeavour at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of

small importance."