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In Darcy's presence she dared not mention Wickham's name: but

Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her

thoughts; and the various recollections connected with him gave

her a moment's distress; but, exerting herself vigorously to

repel the ill-natured attack, she presently answered the question

in a tolerably disengaged tone. While she spoke, an involuntary

glance showed her Darcy with a heightened complexion, earnestly

looking at her, and his sister overcome with confusion, and

unable to lift up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what pain she

was then giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would have

refrained from the hint; but she had merely intended to

discompose Elizabeth, by bringing forward the idea of a man to

whom she believed her partial, to make her betray a sensibility

which might injure her in Darcy's opinion, and, perhaps, to

remind the latter of all the follies and absurdities by which

some part of her family were connected with that corps.