Pride and Prejudice Volume 2, Chapter 11

Elizabeth sits reading Jane's letters and finding a lack of Jane's typical cheer in each line when Darcy rushes in. He tells her that he's concerned about her health, and Elizabeth is surprised by his worry. But she's even more surprised when he says, "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Volume 2, Chapter 11, pg. 130 He goes on to tell her that he loves her despite her lack of wealth or connections to important people. He says that he's tried to ignore his feelings for her because it would be beneath him to marry anyone like her, but he can't fight it anymore. He asks her to marry him. Despite the flattery of someone as wealthy and sought-after as Darcy proposing to her, Elizabeth is outraged at his assumption that she'll say yes because it's such a great offer for someone like her. She tells him no and tells him of her dislike for his personality and his behavior towards her as well as his role in Jane's unhappiness and Wickham's misfortune. Darcy doesn't deny his part in either Jane or Wickham's situation, but he seems absolutely shocked that Elizabeth has disliked him from the beginning of their acquaintance because of his own personality. When he leaves, Elizabeth is so shocked and upset that she cries although she feels no remorse for refusing him.