2 Love lost

Chapter 2 Love lost Whenever the Bennets and Mr. Bingley now met, Mr. Bingley always sought out Jane. Lizzy could see that Jane was on her way to falling deeply in love with him. She was surpised to find that Mr. Darcy always seemed to be watching her. "I can't think why," she told her friend, Charlotte. "Unless he means to criticize me, for he never comes near me. But I like him too little to mind what he thinks of me."

Instead, her attention was caught by a new offcer in town - a Mr. Wickham. Lydia was the first to meet him. "Everyone is in love with him," she declared. "He's so handsome. If you come into town with me, I'll introduce you." As soon as Lydia saw Wickham, she rushed over and dragged him back to meet her sisters, looking very pleased with herself. Lizzy was immediately struck by his charm. His manners were so easy and engaging after Mr. Darcy's cold formality.

They fell behind the others and walked a little way together. "Lydia says you often meet with the party at Netherfield," Wickham observed. "Do you know Mr. Darcy well?" "As much as I ever wish to," said Lizzy. "I have known him since I was a child. His father was the best of men and very fond of me. When he died, he left me a job as a clergyman. But when the position came up, Mr. Darcy refused to give it to me."

Lizzy gasped. "This is shocking! I thought him to be a proud, disagreeable man, but not as bad as this. "I think he must have been jealous of me," said Wickham. "But the memory of his father means I wouldn't wish to tell people, and see Darcy disgraced in public." Lizzy thought how good it was of Wickham to say so, and thought him all the handsomer as he said it. When they parted company, her head was full of him. She could think of nothing but Mr. Wickham, and what he had told her.

At home, Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain her excitement. "Mr. Bingley is holding a ball!" she told them. "It's for Jane, I'm sure of it!" Lizzy planned to spend the evening dancing with Mr. Wickham, but when they arrived, he was nowhere to be found. "I see how it is," she thought. "Mr. Darcy has made sure he isn't invited." She turned, and found herself suddenly in front of Mr. Darcy. He asked her for the next dance, and took her so much by surprise that she agreed without knowing what she did. They began the dance without speaking a word. As the silence went on, Lizzy began to suspect it would last the entire dance and was happy to keep it, until she imagined it might be a greater punishment for Mr. Darcy to talk.

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