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CHAPTER XVIII . TILL Elizabeth entered the drawing - room at Netherfield , and looked in vain for Mr . Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled , a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her . The certainty of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that might not unreasonably have alarmed her . She had dressed with more than usual care , and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart , trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening . But in an instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted , for Mr . Darcy’s pleasure , in the Bingleys ’ invitation to the officers ; and though this was not exactly the case , the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr . Denny , to whom Lydia eagerly applied , and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before , and was not yet returned ; adding , with a significant smile , — “ I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now , if he had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman here . ” This part of his intelligence , though unheard by Lydia , was caught by Elizabeth ; and , as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for Wickham’s absence than if her first surmise had been just , every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate disappointment , that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make . Attention , forbearance , patience with Darcy , was injury to Wickham . She was resolved against any sort of conversation with him , and turned away with a degree of ill - humour which she could not wholly surmount even in speaking to Mr . Bingley , whose blind partiality provoked her . But Elizabeth was not formed for ill - humour ; and though every prospect of her own was destroyed for the evening , it could not dwell long on her spirits ; and , having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas , whom she had not seen for a week , she was soon able to make a voluntary transition to the oddities of her cousin , and to point him out to her particular notice . The two first dances , however , brought a return of distress : they were dances of mortification . Mr . Collins , awkward and solemn , apologizing instead of attending , and often moving wrong without being aware of it , gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give . The moment of her release from him was ecstasy . She danced next with an officer , and had the refreshment of talking of Wickham , and of hearing that he was universally liked . When those dances were over , she returned to Charlotte Lucas , and was in conversation with her , when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr . Darcy , who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand , that , without knowing what she did , she accepted him . He walked away again immediately , and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of mind : Charlotte tried to console her .
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