We could call him Dr. Evil, and avoid the whole blackmail/extortion thing altogether.

"Evil," eh? Well, selfish, certainly. Misguided, definitely. But Evil? Hmm, we'll just have to see how it all plays out in the next chapter!

Hurray for Darcy! Jane really showed some heroic character here - risking her own reputation to protect her sister's happiness. And I completely understand Elizabeth looking to grab the one moment of love she can - in fact I just wrote a scene where she makes the same decision (except that it's just a kiss). It's a powerful statement of who she is.

Great chapter!

Hugs,
Abigail

I somehow don't think Dr Hampton is wholly evil. I hope for his redemption in the next chapter or two--maybe he can take Anne to Nova Scotia, and STILL do Darcy's surgery. Although I must admit, I don't MIND the idea of Darcy remaining blind as long as he and Elizabeth are happy together.

Neither do I! I hope for a natural recovery actually. The risk of failure of such an operation is so great.

And I agree, eventually he will appear less evil. We're all fools in love, aren't we?

Dear Ellen G.,

I have just read all of the chapters of "Eye of the Beholder" this evening, and I have to say that I am greatly enjoying it. I especially appreciate the balance between angsty scenes and hopeful scenes -- it keeps the reader engaged and not despairing! Looking forward to reading more as soon as it is posted. Keep up the great work!

Yes! Jane did it.
heroes, passion, drama, blackmail and sacrifices. Elisabeth for Darcy and now Darcy for Elisabeth... Maybe someone should *knock* some sense into the doctor! (weapon: Lady Catherine's walking stick for example:)(not that I suggest physical injury, there are already enough severe eye traumas and too many bleeding hearts!) but he behaves like an evil man!
maybe he will understand now how selfish and wrong he was...
ooh, I want to know how this ends. I like this mr. Darcy, he can be so tender. but this story begs for a happy end, don't you think? Mr Darcy has to regain at least some of his sight, so that he can see people from a close distance, find his way around unfamiliar places, maybe even do some horse riding if he knows the way...
I am thinking of the story of 'Jane Eyre', Forrester's sight out of one eye was restored in time, and when their first child was born Forrester saw how much the boy looked like him" I like that thought, I want something simular to happen here ... (very demanding he :)
Dear Ellen, I love it!!

Go find out, my dears, whether the doctor is indeed an evil man... or not! Chapter 21 has just been posted. Enjoy!

Indeed, Darcy IS a man without fault! And I so enjoyed Darcy under the influence of laughing gas and the Colonel's confusion. Please let Darcy's first sight be of Lizzy. Do not send her back to Hertfordshire without them seeing each other. I really couldn't bare that! This is such a captivating story; thanks for sharing it!

Woo Hoo!

Darcy has a working eye!

Hampton redeemed himself!

But oh, Darcy's comments under anesthesia. How mortifying for Lizzy. I think it was lucky for Darcy that Hampton was not in love with Lizzy--his reaction to the revelations might not have been so calm.

Anne was relieved that Hampton relinquished Lizzy. Is Anne old enough & mistress of her own fortune sufficiently to run off with Hampton against her mother's wishes? (Not that he's asked.)

Do we take it that the dread letter about Lydia/Wickham has just arrived at Pemberley?

I look forward to Darcy's first look at Lizzy.

Thanks for posting this very satisfying chapter!

NO! Too short! Bad Express! No! Want more, please, please, please! Gah!!

I'd also like to mention I am so pleased Darcy has his sight for the first time in the story, Lizzy and he have hope for their futures at this moment, and what is going on in Anne's head?

Ellen,
It was another great chapter. Thank you!
I just can’t believe Mr. Darcy is going to have his eyesight that quickly. I thought it’s going to take weeks, if not months. A patch? I must agree with Dr. Hampton, that Darcy is going to cause swooning among the ladies.
Jane is a heroine. And a clever one, I would say.
The description of Darcy’s musings during the operation was really funny.
As to Dr. Hampton – I think he already had all the punishment that was needed. I guess the worst for him is the comprehension and recognition of what has he done. But I sincerely wish him to have his self-respect back. I also believe he deserved to have his name back.
The cliffhanger? Oh, Ellen. I fear when Darcy awakes, Elizabeth won’t be at Pemberley any longer.

Oh no, the express from Longbourn, why did that have to come up? I was already thinking the next chapter would be all lovey-dovey-happy-ending:) But on the other hand I'm glad it's not, because that means we get to enjoy your lovely story a bit longer:)

Why can I not access the chapter????

I was so caught up I did not realize I was at the end of the chapter!!! News from Longbourn? GAH!

HILARIOUS!!! :

"The Colonel had glanced anxiously at the doctor then to see how he bore it. Although Fitzwilliam was a military man and therefore accustomed to hearing language of a much saltier variety, he had never before heard a gentleman thus describe another man's intended in the man's very presence. With said man wielding a wicked-looking knife, no less! Yet Mr. Hampton had somehow managed to ignore his patient's ravings.

But Fitzwilliam's disquiet was not to be soon abated, for Darcy had added, chuckling merrily,

"Her hips, too, beckon me, so perfectly rounded and pressed so wantonly against my own. Make haste, doctor, make haste, so that I might soon return to my Elizabeth's arms!"

Choking out an oath, the Colonel had sought to prevent Mr. Hampton from approaching with his knife, but the doctor had waved him away with an impatient gesture. "At ease, Colonel," he had said. "You need have no fear of me." "

Well, Mr. D has one PEEPER now and that is good enough for me.

STEVIEB

Great Chapter!!

Why can I not access the chapter????

I don't know, Dana, perhaps you have to refresh your page (click on the icon with two green flashes, at least that's the way it looks in Explorer.)

I just can’t believe Mr. Darcy is going to have his eyesight that quickly. I thought it’s going to take weeks, if not months.

Ah, Basia, it has already been months. Any healing that was going to occur in that eye already has. Mr. Hampton has only freed the eyelid.

Important though is that he remains in relative darkness for a while, and gradually get used to the light.

"Her hips, too, beckon me, so perfectly rounded and pressed so wantonly against my own. Make haste, doctor, make haste, so that I might soon return to my Elizabeth's arms!"

Gosh, Ellen, I so adore your sense of humour apart from your very lively imagination!

An express from Longbourn! Oh, my nerves! Ellen, this was such a funny chapter, though I'm really depressed that Lizzy might not be there when Darcy wakes up. I need my smelling salts!

i love your humor Ellen! but poor Lizzy, what embarassment ! With such a letter from her family, i guess she has to make an abrupt leave and oh no!! that will mean Darcy miss the chance to see her again??!!

Ellen,

That was such a satisfying chapter!! I get the same feeling after having hot chocolate and cookies :>).
Mr. Hampton redeemed himself in my eyes and I was almost hoping that Anne would latch herself onto him, but we'll have to see what Lady Catherine has to say about that.

Now,this new mystery! Could it be that Lydia has run off with Mr. Wickham?

Post again soon, please

Girl, that scene made me laugh. I know, I know I've told you already... But I cannot help it! Hilarious!

-----
Aniina said:
Oh no, the express from Longbourn, why did that have to come up? I was already thinking the next chapter would be all lovey-dovey-happy-ending:) But on the other hand I'm glad it's not, because that means we get to enjoy your lovely story a bit longer:)
-----

Amen to that. Everything was so happy, so easy in the end, and then...not the end. Good old naughty Lydia gives us an excuse to linger.

I have loved this story from the very beginning. This last chapter was just perfect too. BUT Oh dear I had forgotten all about Lydia, I gather we are in for some angst, big time and all before Darcy has actually seen Elizabeth.
Can't wait to read more, so pleased that you post so regularly.
Many Thanks
Jo

OMG what a surprise to read this chapter to find out that the doctor had actually performed the surgery on Darcy. BUT where was the rest of the chapter when Darcy opens his eye to see Lizzy?
Oh and the Colonel what a shock it must have been to find out he has been totally clueless about E & D all this time!
Oh and yes Lydia the little twit why oh why does she always have to show up to ruin everything.
But all in all you did a great job once again Ellen

Great chapter, Ellen!

I really liked the part about Darcy under the influence of laughing gas. And I guess I can't call the doc Dr. Evil any more, but he still needs to go far, far away.

I was so cooing at the story, until the last line. Arrrgh! Please say you'll let Darcy see Elizabeth before she has to return home, please! Pretty please, with cream and sugar on top?

Ellen,
Thank you so much for finally allowing Darcy and Elizabeth to have a chance together. I love this story!!!!! I guess the doctor is finally returning to his for status as far as being a gentleman goes. I CAN'T WAIT for Darcy to wake up to see Elizabeth. PLEASE post soon!!! Cindy

Awesome Chapter!!! Had me choking with laughter, but, of course, since you delight in vexing me you had to end on such an angst filled note.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story, but now I need to go color my hair and cover the gray that this story has given me.

Excellent chapter! I guess the title is quite correct since Darcy only has one good eye....you have surprised me more than once during this tale so I won't even venture to guess whether or not Darcy gets to see Lizzy before she hi-tales it back to Longbourn because her idiot stupid sister is a twit!!

I hope the angst is of short duration....Thank you again for a great story.

Frances

Well Ellen,

I never thought it possible to redeem Dr. Hamptom, but you did it. Thank you for this chapter, but I so wanted this to be like a fairy tale and have Darcy wake up when he kissed her! Oh well!

But please tell me that Darcy gets to "see" Elizabeth before they jet off to Longbourn! Is it the whole Lydia and Wickham thing or something totally different? Will Elizabeth hear about Lydia running off w/ Wickham and think that Darcy will want nothing to do with her because of his dislike for Wickham? Oh you cruel authoress! Just when I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, you blindside me!

Please post soon!

The chapter was wonderful and I can't even fault you for the cliffhanger. I would love to have Darcy see Elizabeth before she leaves but I will love whatever you have planned. I am glad Anne knows that the doctor has redeemed himself. Good work, Ellen!

Oh what a cliffhanger! I can't wait until he sees her! Don't tell me the express has to do with Lydia! Grrr!

Love this story, I've been reading it all along, but I've been remiss in my comments, sorry, but I do love it!

Thanks,

Julie

Dang it Lydia! Just when everything was going well you had to run off with Wickham and spoil it! ugh!

Great chapter. Can't wait for Darcy to see her! I suspect he and the colonel will be running off to the rescue---new eye-patch and all! :)

The part I'm most looking forward to read it's when Darcy sees Lizzy. But I think that if it happens now it would waste a chance of Darcy meets Lizzy without being introduced and found out who she is after something happened. It would be very touching.
I imagine Darcy finding Lizzy at Pemberley.Like version 2005 of the movie, but without knowing that she is Lizzy.
This scene has so much feeling, it would be so good.Please Ellen think of it.
Bye, Hanna

Reading along, reading along - all in all, fantastic! Dr. Hampton comes to his senses, performs a service just for his craft and for kindness; Anne de Bourgh puts on a Lady Catherine-type show without her mother's cattiness; Jane saves the day (kind of); we get to laugh at Fitzwilliam's confusion (how DID he become a colonel?!).

I also liked very much the fact that Darcy only regained sight in one eye. We all would love him to carry on as he was before, and finally have the chance to see Elizabeth, but it would have been too perfect for the surgery to have worked that completely. It was a beautiful nod to both our hopes and also to reality.

Blame the laughing gas, but shame on Darcy for his comments He's going to end up ruining Elizabeth's reputation, lol. At least no one else heard all that.


Then I got to the end. Gonna kill Lydia.

I've just been reading your story, it's very well put together. I'm so ready for more! Good job on all of your discriptions, I totally feel like I'm there.

Once again, thanks to all who commented! Chapter 22 has been unavoidably detained, but rest assured, I'm working on it.

Can you tell I can't wait...

Ellen - I'm going to join the chorus for "Please relieve our suffering and post the next chapter soon!" I am anxious to know if Darcy will see Elizabeth before she leaves...

I'm going to add my voice to the chorus here. I am suffering serious withdrawal pains.

Please help us, Ellen!!!

Debra Anne

Ellen, pretty please

I just re-read chapter 21, and that's whetted my appetite for the next one again. Please post soon!

Oh, my, who could resist such pretty requests? I'm working on it, my dears, I'm working on it!!!!

Chapter 22 is up, my dears. Enjoy!

You have no mercy, Ellen. Another cliffhanger. But I have faith in Darcy (you're not going to send to him to Nova Scotia now, are you?). And the Colonel. But Dr. Hampton lost a chance I was willing to give him.

Great chapter, thanks.

Basia

Ellen,

I am thoroughly enjoying this story. Absolutely wonderful!. Very original story line. Terrific suspense!

Thank you.

Roselle

Another fabulous chapter, I could strangle that Doctor with my bare hands, such an opportunist.
Thank you so much I love this story sooooooo much.
Many Thanks
Jo7WY6

Can't that Dr. Hampton just die already? Gosh!
oh by the way Great chapter!

Loving this story, Ellen. At least the doctor was sort of sorry to have to make his offer again. I'm Elizabeth did not even consider it. I was afraid I was going to read that she accepted the doctor's offer and that she would be gone before Darcy to get to her. I'm glad she is steadfast in her love for Darcy. Please post soon!!! I truly love this story. Cindy