austenlndâ:
such is her wit and propensity for challenges that he feels almost beyond understanding her, despite closely following her meaning.  no, of course she would not sink to mock in that way caroline is apt to; at once he has made a misstepââhe who should be superior of mind and tasteââjust as well as he has achieved his goal.  with an enviable lack of exertion she speaks again and at some length, effortlessly passionate so that when she does tease, he is helplessly fixed by her for a moment longer.
for the life of him, he can scarcely remember the subject of their debate.
â ââno, â   returns darcy immediately, momentarily visibly alarmed at the notion of further misconduct on his partââat so false an insinuation he can have given her any idea of.  never one to falter, he feels he has met far beyond his match in miss bennet; all his acquaintance in town might meet with a surprise were they to meet with him nowââfor the thought of such poor behavior has never startled him so as it does these days past.  his manners may have wanted, but he has taken care that his actions have not been untoward where truly important.
â no. â   he repeats; calm and composure restored, darcy may resume.   â forgive me. just as you would not mock, i should not. i only wish to understand. ââyou do not agree and yet, you advocate for company not among us? â
His sudden exclamation and subsequent hesitation both surprises and amuses her, though she maintains her expression as close to indifference as she might even as she notes her victory. So she has flustered him. Good! How complacent he seems in his own attitude and opinions!Â
âIf I do not, then who will? Is there another here who would speak for them?â she questions, one eyebrow rising once more, head canting to one side as she consider him.Â
âI think you too often frighten others into silence or acquiescence with all your importance, and that is why my challenge of your opinion so bemuses and confounds you. How dull a conversation continues and ends if all within the group are of one mind. Have you not found it to be so? And if one cannot be present who is of such an opinion, why should some other within the party not take it up for the sake of earnest debate and discussion?â




















