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-hu-
moured, 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 menever. 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! Affecta-
tion 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 neigh-
bour 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 them-
selves 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 spend-
ing 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 cir-
cumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their broth-
er's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.
Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred thou-
sand 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 easi-
ness 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 un-
willing 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 easi-
ness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could of-
fer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never ap-
peared 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 ap-
peared, Darcy was continually giving offense.
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficient-
ly characteristic. Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or pretti-
er 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 beauti-
ful. 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.
