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Darcy considered the passage Mr. Bennet had opened. It concerned the young man’s return to people whose assistance he had once despised. The scene had struck Darcy as a reasonable correction to the character’s earlier pride. Elizabeth had agreed until the narrative began explaining how universally his correction was admired.

“I thought his return to the family well managed,” Darcy said.

“So did Lizzy.”

He looked up.

“Did she not tell you?” Mr. Bennet asked.

“She did. I was not certain she had repeated the favourable part of her judgment in her letters.”

“You need not fear she has represented you as possessing no taste. She merely finds it more entertaining when your tastes differ from hers.”

Darcy could not help smiling.

“Upon that point we agree.”

Mr. Bennet glanced at him over the book, then returned to the page.

“The difficulty is here,” he said, showing Darcy a paragraph near the end. “He has discovered that other people deserve consideration. A useful discovery. But must the whole family then sit listening while he explains what he has learnt about them?”

“Would you prefer that he offer no apology?”

“I should prefer that he allow them an answer.”

Darcy took the book when it was offered. He read the passage more slowly than he had before. The young man’s speech occupied most of the page. The lady who had borne the greatest share of his condescension was permitted a blush, an assurance that he had misunderstood her distress, and no further objection.

“That is inadequate,” Darcy admitted.

“Lizzy would be pleased to hear you say so.”

“I shall tell her.”

“Have a care. She may ask what other inadequate speeches you are prepared to surrender.”

Darcy laughed. He had been obliged to surrender several without the assistance of a novel.

“Miss Bennet has been reading the essays you sent,” he said. “I am not certain she means to return them.”

“She has always supposed them partly hers. I have had possession rather than sole ownership for some years.”

“I should not have understood the distinction before this autumn.”

“Then she has been educating you.”

“In several matters.”

Mr. Bennet looked toward the shelves. “She wrote that you had offered the library and she still wished for books from home. I hope you did not consider her ungrateful.”

“Not at all.”

“Lizzy is attached to old things. She may laugh at them without being willing to part from them.”

“I have observed it.”

Darcy returned the novel. Mr. Bennet rested it upon his knee.

“I owe you thanks for the winter clothes. And for writing to me before my wife had dispatched half the contents of a wardrobe in a parcel no carrier would wish to receive.”