Chapter 18
The Netherfield ball
English edition
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1 Netherfield blazes with golden windows above the rain-soaked November park.
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2 Elizabeth searches the scarlet-coated officers for Wickham, her confidence faltering
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3 Denny meets Elizabeth’s eyes with a knowing smile, turning Wickham’s absence into an insinuation.
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4 Elizabeth turns her shoulder on Darcy and answers Bingley with strained civility
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5 Elizabeth, opposite Mr. Collins in the dance set, shares an amused look with Charlotte
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6 Collins interrupts the dance with a solemn apology while Elizabeth holds her composure.
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7 Collins’s misplaced step interrupts the orderly dance at Netherfield.
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8 Elizabeth regains her lightness as she dances with an officer and hears Wickham praised.
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9 Darcy bows before Elizabeth at the Netherfield ball, catching her mid-conversation with Charlotte.
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10 Elizabeth makes a theatrical protest at the prospect of finding Darcy agreeable.
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11 Charlotte quietly cautions Elizabeth as she rises to meet Darcy.
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12 Elizabeth takes her place opposite Darcy, catching a neighbour’s astonished glance.
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13 Elizabeth’s teasing elicits an unexpected smile from Darcy.
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14 Elizabeth meets Darcy’s question with a lifted chin and a restrained, knowing smile.
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15 Elizabeth offers a mocking, modest disclaimer as she and Darcy join hands to turn
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16 Elizabeth and Darcy pause at the southern end of the dancing set.
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17 Darcy’s face closes at Elizabeth’s allusion to Wickham.
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18 Darcy delivers his measured warning about Wickham while Elizabeth listens with guarded attention.
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19 Elizabeth challenges Darcy over Wickham in the middle of the Netherfield dance.
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20 Sir William Lucas interrupts Elizabeth and Darcy with an expansive bow and lavish praise
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21 Darcy stops in the dance, struck by Sir William’s hint, and looks gravely toward Bingley and Jane.
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22 Darcy smiles as he offers books as a fresh subject.
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23 Elizabeth answers Darcy, her eyes wandering to the dancers beyond his shoulder
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24 Elizabeth and Darcy lightly join their right hands as they turn through the dance.
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25 Darcy firmly answers Elizabeth's scrutiny, his steady gaze holding hers across the set
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26 Elizabeth’s slight smile barely conceals her distrust as she questions Darcy across the dance floor.
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27 Elizabeth answers Darcy’s warning with undiminished resolve.
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28 Elizabeth walks toward Charlotte while Darcy moves toward the fireplace, turning his head after her.
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29 Caroline Bingley delivers her patronising warning beside the ballroom chairs.
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30 Elizabeth holds her ground after exposing Caroline’s class contempt.
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31 Elizabeth contains her indignation after Miss Bingley’s patronising warning.
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32 Jane welcomes Elizabeth with glowing contentment.
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33 Jane gently admits that Bingley has only just met Wickham.
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34 Elizabeth answers Jane with affectionate warmth and a small, deliberate shake of her head.
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35 Collins announces his discovery with solemn delight to Elizabeth and Charlotte.
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36 Collins bows solemnly as he dismisses Elizabeth’s advice and begins turning away.
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37 Elizabeth watches as Collins bows and addresses Darcy with solemn self-importance
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38 Darcy ends Collins’s prolonged address with a slight bow and a decisive turn.
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39 Collins returns from Darcy beaming with self-satisfaction.
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40 Lady Lucas alone separates Elizabeth from Mrs. Bennet, whose triumphant talk reaches Darcy
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41 Darcy’s arrested attention reveals that he has overheard Mrs. Bennet.
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42 Mrs. Bennet answers Elizabeth’s whispered warning with an indignantly public declaration.
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43 Darcy listens to Mrs. Bennet across the supper table with composed, steady gravity
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44 Mrs. Bennet’s satisfied silence lets Lady Lucas return to her supper.
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45 Mary arranges her music at the pianoforte while Elizabeth silently appeals to her
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46 Caroline and Louisa trade mocking glances during Mary's performance, inviting Darcy in
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47 Mr. Bennet’s casual raised hand ends Mary’s performance as she begins to rise from the pianoforte.
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48 Collins concludes his booming speech with an elaborate bow to Darcy.
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49 Mr. Bennet savours Mr. Collins's absurd speech while Mrs. Bennet praises it to Lady Lucas
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50 Elizabeth goes still as Caroline and Louisa smirk and Darcy receives Collins in silence
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51 Elizabeth watches the Netherfield dancers while Collins remains planted at her elbow.
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52 Collins's firmly planted feet keep Elizabeth stranded beside him as the dancers pass
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53 Charlotte Lucas draws Mr. Collins into talk, giving Elizabeth a brief respite
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54 Elizabeth welcomes Darcy’s silence as they stand only a few steps apart.
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55 Lydia sinks into a violent yawn as Elizabeth sits upright beside her, silently watching.
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56 Jane and Bingley share a quiet smile by the pianoforte as the evening ends
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57 Mrs. Bennet eagerly invites Bingley to Longbourn, and he receives it with pleasure
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58 Mrs. Bennet leaves Netherfield sure of Jane's future and Elizabeth's marriage to Collins
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59 Netherfield’s drawing-room settles into silence after the last departure.
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