Pride and Prejudice Volume 3, Chapter 3

Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner visit Miss Darcy. Elizabeth is curious to see how Miss Bingley will treat her. Elizabeth finds that Miss Bingley watches Elizabeth closely whenever she talks to Miss Darcy, who doesn't talk very much. Then Darcy comes in and everyone, especially Miss Bingley, watches him and Elizabeth. Miss Bingley, trying to embarrass Elizabeth, asks about the regiment of soldiers that recently left Meryton to refer to Elizabeth's believed affection for Wickham. The reference to Wickham bothered Elizabeth, but not as much as it embarrassed Miss Darcy and Darcy himself, and Elizabeth quickly dismisses the comment. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner leave soon, and Darcy walks them out. As soon s they have left the room, Miss Bingley begins trashing Elizabeth and her family, and when Darcy comes back she keeps harping on Elizabeth's looks until finally says that he thought her pretty at one time, "but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance." Volume 3, Chapter 3, pg. 185 Miss Bingley knows now that Darcy loves Elizabeth and will never love her.