Pride and Prejudice, a play founded on Jane Austen's novel

Jane

Oh, I find them delightful!

Bingley

You are always charitable, Miss Bennet. It seems to me you always manage to see the best side of everything. I never knew you to say an ill word about a person or a place.

Jane

[Smiling.] Oh, I fear that is not quite exact. I only try to see things in their best light, perhaps.

Bingley

That is just it. The rest of us rarely try to see things in that way. So you see I have proved my case. You are too amiable.

Jane

Not for to-night, Mr. Bingley. Everybody is of one mind to-night. There is but one point of view – you are giving nothing but pleasure.

Bingley

[Soberly.] I wish it were so – but – [With impulsive earnestness.] Dear Miss Bennet, I wish to tell you – I must tell you —

[He is interrupted by the people coming in again from the dance. Darcy and Elizabeth enter with Sir William Lucas and others. Bingley and Jane rise from their seats and walk slowly toward the back of the room. Darcy escorts Elizabeth to a seat and stands by her. They are both silent for a moment.]

Elizabeth

It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the rooms, or the number of couples.

Darcy

[Smiling.] I assure you I will say whatever you wish.

Elizabeth

Very well, that reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones.

Darcy

Do you talk by rule then?

Elizabeth

Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know, – and yet for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so arranged that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.

Darcy

Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?

Elizabeth

[Archly.] Both, for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds; we are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.

Darcy

This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure. How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say. You think it a faithful portrait, undoubtedly.

Elizabeth

I shall not decide on my own performance. [There is a short silence; then, as if with an effort, Elizabeth speaks.] I am surprised not to see Mr. Wickham here to-night. I find that he is a great favourite with the officers. He has made many friends among them.

Darcy

[With great hauteur.] Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may insure his making friends; whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain.

Elizabeth

[Excitedly.] He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship, and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life.

[They are both silent.]

Sir William Lucas

[Coming up to them all urbanity and smiles.] What a charming amusement for young people this dancing is, Mr. Darcy! I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.

Darcy

Certainly, sir, and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world: every savage can dance.

Sir William

[Smiling.] Do you often dance at St. James?

Darcy

Never, sir.

Sir William

You have a house in town, I conclude.

[Mr. Darcy bows, but does not speak.]

Sir William

I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself: but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas.

[Mr. Darcy bows in silence again– Elizabeth is amused.]