Part 17 (2/2)

BINGLEY.

I am not in the habit of insisting with Darcy.

MISS BINGLEY.

[_Laughingly._] Very true. [_To_ DARCY, _who has at length succeeded in fastening the bracelet_.] Thank you. [_Looking about her._] It is vastly pretty, Charles, but I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball will be rather a punishment than a pleasure.

BINGLEY.

[_Laughing._] If you mean Darcy, he may go to bed, if he pleases, before it begins.

MISS BINGLEY.

But, Charles, it would certainly be more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of the day.

BINGLEY.

Much more rational, my dear Caroline, but it would not be near so much like a ball.

MARTIN, THE FOOTMAN.

[_Entering, to_ BINGLEY.] Several of the carriages have arrived, sir, and the guests will soon be entering the ball-room.

BINGLEY.

[_To the_ FOOTMAN.] Very well. [_To_ MISS BINGLEY.] Come Caroline, we must be at our post. We will leave Darcy to make up his mind whether he will join us later.

[BINGLEY _and his sister disappear through the archway leading to the ball-room_. DARCY _does not follow them, but walks thoughtfully up and down the room. The sound of a voice is heard announcing_.]

THE VOICE.

Mrs. Long--the Miss Longs. [_A pause._] Colonel Forster and Mr. Denny.

[_A pause._] Mr. and Mrs. Goulding. [_A pause._] Mrs. Bennet--the Miss Bennets. [DARCY _stops in his walk and goes toward the ball-room archway--then he walks once more up and down_.] Mrs. King--Miss King.

[DARCY _again moves toward the ball-room; he lifts the curtain, hesitates--looks in--then disappears_.] Sir William and Lady Lucas--Miss Lucas--Mr. Robinson.

[_The music now begins, the stage is left empty. After a short pause_, ELIZABETH _and_ CHARLOTTE _appear between the curtains of the ball-room archway_.]

CHARLOTTE.

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