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 toher 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 cheer-
fulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions of the imper-
tinent. 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 ob-
ject 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 per-
ceive 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 al-
ways see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every mo-
ment 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 ques-
tion 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 cer-
tain 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 before-
hand, 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 acknowl-
edge 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 im-
pertinent 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 appli-
cation, 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 plea-
sure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concer-
to, 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 pass-
ing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much en-
grossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neigh-
bour, 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 contin-
ued 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 al-
low 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 extreme-
ly 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 amuse-
ment 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!"
"Your 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 imagi-
nation is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matri-
mony, 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.
