Chapter 6

Mr Darcy: "Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity --

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

The thing that struck me the most in reading these first chapters is the way in which Darcy handles Miss Bingley. Of course, he sees what she is about and does his best to not encourage her hopes. But I sense that he more than does not like her, he actually seems to despise her. His comments to her about Elizabeth seem to have just enough edge to them to make me think that he is throwing a little dagger. In P&P2, Miss Bingley's expression following his "fine eyes" comment above is priceless. Also in the above passage, I love the word "intrepidity". In my opinion, I interpret his fearlessness as being that Darcy knows exactly what Miss Bingley's reaction will be, knows what her feelings will be, and that his comment is meant to hurt her. Had Bingley approached him at that moment and asked Darcy what he was thinking, I believe that Darcy would have had a completely different answer.