Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may

be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well

fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered

the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you

heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and

she told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife

impatiently.

"_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield

is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of

England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to

see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed

with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession

before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the

house by the end of next week."

"What is his name?"

"Bingley."

"Is he married or single?"

"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large

fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our

girls!"

"How so? How can it affect them?"

"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so

tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying

one of them."

"Is that his design in settling here?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely

that he _may_ fall in love with one of them, and therefore you

must visit him as soon as he comes."

"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you

may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still

better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley

may like you the best of the party."

"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly _have_ had my share of

beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.

When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give

over thinking of her own beauty."

"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."

"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when

he comes into the neighbourhood."

"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."

"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment

it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are

determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you

know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will

be impossible for _us_ to visit him if you do not."

"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will

be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to

assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he

chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for

my little Lizzy."

"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better

than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as

Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always

giving _her_ the preference."

"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he;

"they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy

has something more of quickness than her sisters."

"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children in such a

way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion

for my poor nerves."

"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your

nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention

them with consideration these last twenty years at least."

"Ah, you do not know what I suffer."

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young

men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."

"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since

you will not visit them."

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will

visit them all."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour,

reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty

years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his

character. _Her_ mind was less difficult to develop. She was a

woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain

temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.

The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its

solace was visiting and news.

Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr.

Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last

always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the

evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it.

It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his

second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly

addressed her with:

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy."

"We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes," said

her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."

"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet

him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce

him."

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two

nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I

have no opinion of her."

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that

you do not depend on her serving you."

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to

contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little

compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she

times them ill."

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.

"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

"To-morrow fortnight."

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come

back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to

introduce him, for she will not know him herself."

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and

introduce Mr. Bingley to _her_."

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted

with him myself; how can you be so teasing?"

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is

certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by

the end of a fortnight. But if _we_ do not venture somebody else

will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their

chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness,

if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only,

"Nonsense, nonsense!"

"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried

he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress

that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with

you _there_. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of

deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts."

Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.

"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return

to Mr. Bingley."

"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.

"I am sorry to hear _that_; but why did not you tell me that

before? If I had known as much this morning I certainly would

not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have

actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now."

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of

Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first

tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she

had expected all the while.

"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should

persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well

to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it

is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning

and never said a word about it till now."

"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr.

Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the

raptures of his wife.

"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the

door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him

amends for his kindness; or me, either, for that matter. At our

time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making

new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do

anything. Lydia, my love, though you _are_ the youngest, I dare

say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I _am_ the

youngest, I'm the tallest."

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he

would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they

should ask him to dinner.

Chapter 3

Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her

five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw

from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley.

They attacked him in various ways--with barefaced questions,

ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the

skill of them all, and they were at last obliged to accept the

second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her

report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted

with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely

agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next

assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful!

To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love;

and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.

"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at

Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the

others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for."

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat

about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained

hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of

whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father.

The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the

advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore

a blue coat, and rode a black horse.

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and

already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do

credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which

deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the

following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour

of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted.

She could not imagine what business he could have in town so

soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear

that he might be always flying about from one place to another,

and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas

quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone

to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report

soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and

seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved

over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day

before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought

only six with him from London--his five sisters and a cousin.

And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of

only five altogether--Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband

of the eldest, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant

countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine

women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr.

Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon

drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome

features, noble mien, and the report which was in general

circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having

ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine

figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than

Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about

half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned

the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud;

to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his

large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most

forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be

compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the

principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved,

danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early,

and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable

qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between

him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst

and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any

other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about

the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His

character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable

man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come

there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs.

Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened

into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her

daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen,

to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time,

Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a

conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the

dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.

"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see

you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had

much better dance."

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am

particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as

this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and

there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a

punishment to me to stand up with."

"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley,

"for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many

pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are

several of them you see uncommonly pretty."

"_You_ are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,"

said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But

there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is

very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my

partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a

moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own

and coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to

tempt _me_; I am in no humour at present to give consequence

to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better

return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting

your time with me."

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and

Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him.

She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends;

for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in

anything ridiculous.

The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole

family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much

admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with

her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane

was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in

a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard

herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished

girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been

fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all

that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned,

therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they

lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They

found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book he was regardless of

time; and on the present occasion he had a good deal of

curiosity as to the events of an evening which had raised such

splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's

views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon

found out that he had a different story to hear.

"Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have

had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you

had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it.

Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought

her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice! Only think of

_that_, my dear; he actually danced with her twice! and she was

the only creature in the room that he asked a second time.

First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him

stand up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all;

indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with

Jane as she was going down the dance. So he inquired who she

was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then

the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with

Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two

sixth with Lizzy, and the _Boulanger_--"

"If he had had any compassion for _me_," cried her husband

impatiently, "he would not have danced half so much! For God's

sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained

his ankle in the first place!"

"Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so

excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women.

I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses.

I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown--"

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against

any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek

another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness

of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr.

Darcy.

"But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose

much by not suiting _his_ fancy; for he is a most disagreeable,

horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited

that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked

there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to

dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given

him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man."

Chapter 4

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been

cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her

sister just how very much she admired him.

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible,

good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so

much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man

ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby

complete."

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second

time. I did not expect such a compliment."

"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference

between us. Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and

_me_ never. What could be more natural than his asking you

again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times

as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his

gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I

give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider

person."

"Dear Lizzy!"

"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in

general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are

good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of

a human being in your life."

"I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always

speak what I think."

"I know you do; and it is _that_ which makes the wonder. With _your_

good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense

of others! Affectation of candour is common enough--one meets

with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or

design--to take the good of everybody's character and make it

still better, and say nothing of the bad--belongs to you alone.

And so you like this man's sisters, too, do you? Their manners

are not equal to his."

"Certainly not--at first. But they are very pleasing women when

you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her

brother, and keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall

not find a very charming neighbour in her."

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their

behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please in

general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy

of temper than her sister, and with a judgement too unassailed by

any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve

them. They were in fact very fine ladies; not deficient in good

humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of making

themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and

conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in

one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of

twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more

than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and

were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of

themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable

family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply

impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune

and their own had been acquired by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a

hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to

purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley

intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his county;

but as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of

a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the

easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the

remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next

generation to purchase.

His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but,

though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley

was by no means unwilling to preside at his table--nor was Mrs.

Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less

disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her.

Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted

by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House.

He did look at it, and into it for half-an-hour--was pleased with

the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the

owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in

spite of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to

Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper,

though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own,

and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the

strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and

of his judgement the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy

was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy

was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and

fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting.

In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was

sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually

giving offense.

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was

sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with more

pleasant people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been

most kind and attentive to him; there had been no formality, no

stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and, as

to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful.

Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom

there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had

felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention

or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she

smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they

admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet

girl, and one whom they would not object to know more of.

Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their

brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as

he chose.

Chapter 5

Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom

the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas

had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a

tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an

address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction had

perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust

to his business, and to his residence in a small market town;

and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family

to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that

period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his

own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself

solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his

rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was

all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and

obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to

be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several

children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young

woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.

That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to

talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after

the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to

communicate.

"_You_ began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet with

civil self-command to Miss Lucas. "_You_ were Mr. Bingley's

first choice."

"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better."

"Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her

twice. To be sure that _did_ seem as if he admired her--indeed

I rather believe he _did_--I heard something about it--but I

hardly know what--something about Mr. Robinson."

"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson;

did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he

liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there

were a great many pretty women in the room, and _which_ he thought

the prettiest? and his answering immediately to the last

question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there

cannot be two opinions on that point.'"

"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that does

seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know."

"_My_ overhearings were more to the purpose than _yours_, Eliza,"

said Charlotte. "Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to

as his friend, is he?--poor Eliza!--to be only just _tolerable_."

"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by

his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it

would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long

told me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour

without once opening his lips."

"Are you quite sure, ma'am?--is not there a little mistake?"

said Jane. "I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her."

"Aye--because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield,

and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed

quite angry at being spoke to."

"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much,

unless among his intimate acquaintances. With _them_ he is

remarkably agreeable."

"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very

agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess

how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I

dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep

a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise."

"I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss Lucas,

"but I wish he had danced with Eliza."

"Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, "I would not dance

with _him_, if I were you."

"I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you _never_ to dance

with him."

"His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend _me_ so much as

pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot

wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune,

everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I

may so express it, he has a _right_ to be proud."

"That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily

forgive _his_ pride, if he had not mortified _mine_."

"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity

of her reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. By

all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common

indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and

that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of

self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real

or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though

the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud

without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of

ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us."

"If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy," cried a young Lucas, who

came with his sisters, "I should not care how proud I was. I

would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a

day."

"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said

Mrs. Bennet; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away

your bottle directly."

The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare

that she would, and the argument ended only with the visit.

Chapter 6

The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield.

The visit was soon returned in due form. Miss Bennet's

pleasing manners grew on the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss

Bingley; and though the mother was found to be intolerable,

and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of

being better acquainted with _them_ was expressed towards

the two eldest. By Jane, this attention was received with the

greatest pleasure, but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in

their treatment of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister,

and could not like them; though their kindness to Jane, such as it

was, had a value as arising in all probability from the influence

of their brother's admiration. It was generally evident

whenever they met, that he _did_ admire her and to _her_ it was

equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which

she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a

way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure

that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general,

since Jane united, with great strength of feeling, a composure

of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner which would

guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent. She

mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas.

"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to

impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a

disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her

affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose

the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor

consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is

so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that

it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all _begin_ freely--a

slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us

who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

In nine cases out of ten a women had better show _more_ affection

than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he

may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."

"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow.

If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton,

indeed, not to discover it too."

"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as

you do."

"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to

conceal it, he must find it out."

"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But, though

Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many

hours together; and, as they always see each other in large

mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be

employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make

the most of every half-hour in which she can command his

attention. When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure

for falling in love as much as she chooses."

"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is

in question but the desire of being well married, and if I were

determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I

should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not

acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the

degree of her own regard nor of its reasonableness. She has

known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him

at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and

has since dined with him in company four times. This is not

quite enough to make her understand his character."

"Not as you represent it. Had she merely _dined_ with him, she

might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but

you must remember that four evenings have also been spent

together--and four evenings may do a great deal."

"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that

they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect

to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much

has been unfolded."

"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart;

and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she

had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying

his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is

entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties

are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand,

it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always

continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their

share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible

of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."

"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know

it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way

yourself."

Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister,

Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming

an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy

had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at

her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he

looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it

clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature

in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly

intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this

discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he

had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect

symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure

to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her

manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught

by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware;

to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere,

and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards

conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with

others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William

Lucas's, where a large party were assembled.

"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by

listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"

"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."

"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I

see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not

begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of

him."

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without

seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied

her friend to mention such a subject to him; which immediately

provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said:

"Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself

uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster

to give us a ball at Meryton?"

"With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady

energetic."

"You are severe on us."

"It will be _her_ turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I

am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what

follows."

"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!--always

wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody!

If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been

invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down

before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best

performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added,

"Very well, if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at

Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of

course familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge';

and I shall keep mine to swell my song."

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital.

After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties

of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded

at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence

of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for

knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for

display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given

her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and

conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of

excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected,

had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not

playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto,

was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish

airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the

Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at

one end of the room.

Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode

of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and

was too much engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir

William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began:

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy!

There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one

of the first refinements of polished society."

"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue

amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage

can dance."

Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he

continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; "and I

doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr.

Darcy."

"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir."

"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the

sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"

"Never, sir."

"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the

place?"

"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can

avoid it."

"You have a house in town, I conclude?"

Mr. Darcy bowed.

"I had once had some thought of fixing in town myself--for I am

fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the

air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not

disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving

towards them, he was struck with the action of doing a very

gallant thing, and called out to her:

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you

must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very

desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when

so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would

have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though extremely surprised,

was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back,

and said with some discomposure to Sir William:

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat

you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a

partner."

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the

honour of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor

did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at

persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to

deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman

dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I

am sure, to oblige us for one half-hour."

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss

Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance--for who would

object to such a partner?"

Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had

not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her

with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley:

"I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many

evenings in this manner--in such society; and indeed I am quite

of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and

yet the noise--the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all

those people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

"You conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was

more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very

great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty

woman can bestow."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired

he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such

reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity:

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all

astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite?--and

pray, when am I to wish you joy?"

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A

lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to

love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would

be wishing me joy."

"Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter is

absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law,

indeed; and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you."

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to

entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced

her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.

Chapter 7

Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of

two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was

entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their

mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could

but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an

attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk

to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother

settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a

most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually

tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to

their aunt and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two

youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly

frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than

their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to

Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and

furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news

the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn

some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well

supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of

a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the

whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most

interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their

knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their

lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to

know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips visited them all, and

this opened to his nieces a store of felicity unknown before.

They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large

fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother,

was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of

an ensign.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr.

Bennet coolly observed:

"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must

be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it

some time, but I am now convinced."

Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia,

with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of

Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the

day, as he was going the next morning to London.

"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should

be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think

slightingly of anybody's children, it should not be of my own,

however."

"If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it."

"Yes--but as it happens, they are all of them very clever."

"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not

agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every

particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two

youngest daughters uncommonly foolish."

"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have

the sense of their father and mother. When they get to our age, I

dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do.

I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well--and,

indeed, so I do still at my heart; and if a smart young colonel,

with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls I

shall not say nay to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked

very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals."

"Mamma," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and

Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did

when they first came; she sees them now very often standing in

Clarke's library."

Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the

footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield,

and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes

sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while

her daughter read,

"Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he

say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love."

"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,--

"If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa

and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest

of our lives, for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women

can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on

receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with

the officers.--Yours ever,

"CAROLINE BINGLEY"

"With the officers!" cried Lydia. "I wonder my aunt did not tell

us of _that_."

"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky."

"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane.

"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems

likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."

"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were

sure that they would not offer to send her home."

"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to

Meryton, and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."

"I had much rather go in the coach."

"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure.

They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?"

"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."

"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's

purpose will be answered."

She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that

the horses were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on

horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many

cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered;

Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters

were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain

continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly

could not come back.

"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet more

than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till

the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity

of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant

from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:

"MY DEAREST LIZZY,--

"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to

be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends

will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also

on my seeing Mr. Jones--therefore do not be alarmed if you should

hear of his having been to me--and, excepting a sore throat and

headache, there is not much the matter with me.--Yours, etc."

"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the

note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of

illness--if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it

was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."

"Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little

trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she

stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could

have the carriage."

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her,

though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no

horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her

resolution.

"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such

a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you

get there."

"I shall be very fit to see Jane--which is all I want."

"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for

the horses?"

"No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is

nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back

by dinner."

"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but

every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my

opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is

required."

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