VOLUME I
¡¡¡¡Chapter I
¡¡¡¡
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 as 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 not you 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 might 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 any thing 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 new
comers. 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 which ever he chuses 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 way?
You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on 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 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 develope. 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 II
¡¡¡¡
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, mama," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet
him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has 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 teazing?"
¡¡¡¡"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 nieces 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 very 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
so 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 our 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 chuse," 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 acquaintance every day; but
for your sakes, we would do any thing. 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 III
¡¡¡¡
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, &c. 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
large number of ladies; but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing
that, instead of twelve, he had 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 oldest, and another young man.
¡¡¡¡Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant
countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. 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 every body 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 overhear 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 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; and 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 towards him. She told the story
however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful
disposition, which delighted in any thing 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 to be
never 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 event
of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather
hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed;
but he soon found that he had a very 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. Every body 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 enquired 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. Oh! that he had sprained his ancle in the first
dance!"
¡¡¡¡"Oh! my dear," continued Mrs. Bennet, "I am quite delighted
with him. He is so excessively handsome! and his sisters are charming women.
I never in my life saw any thing 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 IV
¡¡¡¡
WHEN Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious
in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister 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 women
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 any body. All the world are good and
agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in
my life."
¡¡¡¡"I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one; 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 honestly blind to the follies and nonsense
of others! Affectation of candour is common enough; -- one meets it every
where. But to be candid without ostentation or design -- to take the good
of every body'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 judgment, 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
being agreeable where 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 an 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 very anxious for his having an estate of his
own; but though he was now established only 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 a great opposition of character. -- Bingley was endeared to Darcy by
the easiness, openness, 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 judgment 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 offence.
¡¡¡¡The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was
sufficiently
characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier
girls in his life; every body 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 should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore
established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such
commendation to think of her as he chose.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter V
¡¡¡¡
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 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 every body.
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 was 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 very angry
at being spoke to."
¡¡¡¡"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much
unless among his intimate acquaintance. 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;
every body says that he is ate 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, every thing
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 synonimously. 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 every 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 VI
¡¡¡¡
THE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit
was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the good
will 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 every body,
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 woman had better shew 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 leisure for falling
in love as much as she chuses."
¡¡¡¡"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
in company with him 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 been also 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 contrive 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 had hardly
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 no where, 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 not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly
well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at
Meryton?"
¡¡¡¡"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes
a lady energetic."
¡¡¡¡"You are severe on us."
¡¡¡¡"It will be her turn soon to be teazed," 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 any body and every body! -- 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 every body 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 own 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 societies."
¡¡¡¡"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 some thoughts 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 notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to
her,
¡¡¡¡"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you 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 these 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 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 so serious about it, I shall consider the matter
as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed,
and of course she will be always 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 VII
¡¡¡¡
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 head quarters.
¡¡¡¡Their visits to Mrs. Philips 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. Philips visited them all,
and this opened to his nieces a source 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 any body'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."
¡¡¡¡"Mama," 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 te^te-a`-te^te between two women can never end
without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the 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 not they?"
¡¡¡¡"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 home 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 head-ache, there is not much
the matter with me.
¡¡¡¡Yours, &c."
¡¡¡¡"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 at all afraid of her dying. People do not die of
little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long is 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 horse-woman, 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."
¡¡¡¡"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and
Lydia. -- Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies
set off together.
¡¡¡¡"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps
we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes."
¡¡¡¡In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings
of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone,
crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing
over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within
view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing
with the warmth of exercise.
¡¡¡¡She was shewn into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were
assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. --
That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty
weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley;
and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She
was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners
there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness.
-- Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former
was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given
to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming
so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
¡¡¡¡Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered.
Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well
enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately;
and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or
inconvenience,
from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted
at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and
when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions
of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth
silently attended her.
¡¡¡¡When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters, and
Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and
solicitude they shewed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined
his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent
cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her
to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed
readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely.
Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies
often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.
¡¡¡¡When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go;
and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and
she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such
concern in parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the
offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the
present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched
to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply
of clothes.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter VIII
¡¡¡¡
AT five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half past six
Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil enquiries which then poured
in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior
solicitude of Mr. Bingley's, she could not make a very favourable answer.
Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three
or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a
bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves, and then
thought no more of the matter; and their indifference towards Jane, when
not immediately before them, restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all
her original dislike.
¡¡¡¡Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she
could regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and
his attentions to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling
herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others.
She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed
by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom
Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and
play at cards, who, when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout,
had nothing to say to her.
¡¡¡¡When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss
Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners
were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence;
she had no conversation, no stile, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought
the same, and added,
¡¡¡¡"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent
walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked
almost wild."
¡¡¡¡"She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance.
Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about
the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!"
¡¡¡¡"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches
deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down
to hide it not doing its office."
¡¡¡¡"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but
this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably
well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite
escaped my notice."
¡¡¡¡"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley,
"and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your
sister make such an exhibition."
¡¡¡¡"Certainly not."
¡¡¡¡"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever
it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she
mean by it? It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence,
a most country town indifference to decorum."
¡¡¡¡"It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,"
said Bingley.
¡¡¡¡"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper,
"that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."
¡¡¡¡"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise."
-- A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again.
¡¡¡¡"I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a
very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But
with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there
is no chance of it."
¡¡¡¡"I think I have heard you say, that their uncle is an attorney
in Meryton."
¡¡¡¡"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside."
¡¡¡¡"That is capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.
¡¡¡¡"If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside," cried
Bingley, "it would not make them one jot less agreeable."
¡¡¡¡"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying
men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy.
¡¡¡¡To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it
their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense
of their dear friend's vulgar relations.
¡¡¡¡With a renewal of tenderness, however, they repaired to her room
on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee.
She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all till
late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her asleep, and
when it appeared to her rather right than pleasant that she should go down
stairs herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party
at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to
be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said
she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below with a
book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.
¡¡¡¡"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather
singular."
¡¡¡¡"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She
is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else."
¡¡¡¡"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth;
"I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."
¡¡¡¡"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley;
"and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards
a table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her
others; all that his library afforded.
¡¡¡¡"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my
own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have
more than I ever look into."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with
those in the room.
¡¡¡¡"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should
have left so small a collection of books. -- What a delightful library
you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!"
¡¡¡¡"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of
many generations."
¡¡¡¡"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always
buying books."
¡¡¡¡"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such
days as these,"
¡¡¡¡"Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties
of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish
it may be half as delightful as Pemberley."
¡¡¡¡"I wish it may."
¡¡¡¡"But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that
neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer
county in England than Derbyshire."
¡¡¡¡"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will
sell it."
¡¡¡¡"I am talking of possibilities, Charles."
¡¡¡¡"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get
Pemberley by purchase than by imitation."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed, as to leave her very
little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew
near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his
eldest sister to observe the game.
¡¡¡¡"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley;
"will she be as tall as I am?"
¡¡¡¡"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height,
or rather taller."
¡¡¡¡"How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted
me so much. Such a countenance, such manners, and so extremely accomplished
for her age! Her performance on the piano-forte is exquisite."
¡¡¡¡"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can
have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are."
¡¡¡¡"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you
mean?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover skreens,
and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I am
sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being
informed that she was very accomplished."
¡¡¡¡"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy,
"has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves
it no otherwise than by netting a purse, or covering a skreen. But I am
very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general.
I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of
my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."
¡¡¡¡"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley.
¡¡¡¡"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal
in your idea of an accomplished women."
¡¡¡¡"Yes; I do comprehend a great deal in it."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can
be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually
met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing,
dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all
this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking,
the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be
but half deserved."
¡¡¡¡"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this
she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her
mind by extensive reading."
¡¡¡¡"I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six
accomplished
women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any."
¡¡¡¡"Are you so severe upon your own sex, as to doubt the possibility
of all this?"
¡¡¡¡"I never saw such a woman, I never saw such capacity,
and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice
of her implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew many women
who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with
bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all
conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the
room.
¡¡¡¡"Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed
on her, "is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves
to the other sex by undervaluing their own, and with many men, I dare say,
it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art."
¡¡¡¡"Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly
addressed, "there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes
condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning
is despicable."
¡¡¡¡Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as
to continue the subject.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse,
and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones's being sent
for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could
be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent
physicians. This she would not hear of, but she was not so unwilling to
comply with their brother's proposal; and it was settled that Mr. Jones
should be sent for early in the morning if Miss Bennet were not decidedly
better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they
were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after
supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving
his housekeeper directions that every possible attention might be paid
to the sick lady and her sister.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter IX
¡¡¡¡
ELIZABETH passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in
the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to
the enquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid,
and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his
sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note
sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own
judgment of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its
contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two
youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.
¡¡¡¡Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have
been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her, that her illness
was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her
restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would
not listen therefore to her daughter's proposal of being carried home;
neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at
all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley's
appearance and invitation the mother and three daughters all attended her
into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet
had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.
¡¡¡¡"Indeed I have, Sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal
too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We
must trespass a little longer on your kindness."
¡¡¡¡"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister,
I am sure, will not hear of her removal."
¡¡¡¡"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold
civility, "that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention while
she remains with us."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.
¡¡¡¡"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends
I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and
suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world --
which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest
temper I ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to
her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect
over that gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal
to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry I hope, though
you have but a short lease."
¡¡¡¡"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he; "and therefore
if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five
minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here."
¡¡¡¡"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth.
¡¡¡¡"You begin to comprehend me, do you?" cried he, turning towards
her.
¡¡¡¡"Oh! yes -- I understand you perfectly."
¡¡¡¡"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily
seen through I am afraid is pitiful."
¡¡¡¡"That is as it happens. It does not necessarily follow that a
deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as
yours."
¡¡¡¡"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do
not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."
¡¡¡¡"I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "that
you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."
¡¡¡¡"Yes; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They
have at least that advantage."
¡¡¡¡"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but few subjects
for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined
and unvarying society."
¡¡¡¡"But people themselves alter so much, that there is something
new to be observed in them for ever."
¡¡¡¡"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of
mentioning a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there is quite as much
of that going on in the country as in town."
¡¡¡¡Every body was surprised; and Darcy, after looking at her for
a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained
a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.
¡¡¡¡"I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country
for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast
deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"
¡¡¡¡"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish to leave
it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their
advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."
¡¡¡¡"Aye -- that is because you have the right disposition. But that
gentleman," looking at Darcy, "seemed to think the country was nothing
at all."
¡¡¡¡"Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth, blushing for
her mother. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there were
not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town,
which you must acknowledge to be true."
¡¡¡¡"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting
with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods
larger. I know we dine with four and twenty families."
¡¡¡¡Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep
his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eye towards
Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying
something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte
Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.
¡¡¡¡"Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable
man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley -- is not he? so much the man of fashion!
so genteel and so easy! -- He has always something to say to every body.
-- That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy
themselves very important and never open their mouths, quite mistake the
matter."
¡¡¡¡"Did Charlotte dine with you?"
¡¡¡¡"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince
pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can
do their own work; my daughters are brought up differently. But
every body is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are very good sort
of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I
think Charlotte so very plain -- but then she is our particular
friend."
¡¡¡¡"She seems a very pleasant young woman," said Bingley.
¡¡¡¡"Oh! dear, yes; -- but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas
herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to
boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane -- one does not often see any
body better looking. It is what every body says. I do not trust my own
partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a gentleman at my brother
Gardiner's in town, so much in love with her, that my sister-in-law was
sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But however he did
not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on
her, and very pretty they were."
¡¡¡¡"And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "There
has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first
discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!"
¡¡¡¡"I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,"
said Darcy.
¡¡¡¡"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Every thing nourishes
what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination,
I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away."
¡¡¡¡Darcy only smiled, and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth
tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to
speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs.
Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane
with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly
civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and
say what the occasion required. She performed her part, indeed, without
much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered
her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself
forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole
visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley
with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball
at Netherfield.
¡¡¡¡Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine
complexion
and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection
had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits,
and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attentions of the officers,
to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her,
had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address
Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his
promise; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world
if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful
to their mother's ear.
¡¡¡¡"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement, and
when your sister is recovered, you shall if you please, name the very day
of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill."
¡¡¡¡Lydia declared herself satisfied. "Oh! yes -- it would be much
better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain
Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball,"
she added, "I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel
Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned
instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the
remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, could
not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of all Miss
Bingley's witticisms on fine eyes.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter X
¡¡¡¡
THE day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss
Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who continued,
though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party
in the drawing room. The loo table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy
was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress
of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to
his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was
observing their game.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused
in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual
commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing, or on the evenness
of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern
with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was
exactly in unison with her opinion of each.
¡¡¡¡"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!"
¡¡¡¡He made no answer.
¡¡¡¡"You write uncommonly fast."
¡¡¡¡"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly."
¡¡¡¡"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course
of the year! Letters of business too! How odious I should think them!"
¡¡¡¡"It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to
yours."
¡¡¡¡"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her."
¡¡¡¡"I have already told her so once, by your desire."
¡¡¡¡"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you.
I mend pens remarkably well."
¡¡¡¡"Thank you -- but I always mend my own."
¡¡¡¡"How can you contrive to write so even?"
¡¡¡¡He was silent.
¡¡¡¡"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on
the harp, and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful
little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss
Grantley's."
¡¡¡¡"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again?
-- At present I have not room to do them justice."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But
do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?"
¡¡¡¡"They are generally long; but whether always charming, it is
not for me to determine."
¡¡¡¡"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter,
with ease, cannot write ill."
¡¡¡¡"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried
her brother -- "because he does not write with ease. He studies
too much for words of four syllables. -- Do not you, Darcy?"
¡¡¡¡"My stile of writing is very different from yours."
¡¡¡¡"Oh!" cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless
way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."
¡¡¡¡"My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them
-- by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my
correspondents."
¡¡¡¡"Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, "must disarm
reproof."
¡¡¡¡"Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance
of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an
indirect boast."
¡¡¡¡"And which of the two do you call my little recent piece
of modesty?"
¡¡¡¡"The indirect boast; -- for you are really proud of your defects
in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of
thought and carelessness of execution, which if not estimable, you think
at least highly interesting. The power of doing any thing with quickness
is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any attention
to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this
morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be
gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment
to yourself -- and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance
which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real
advantage to yourself or any one else?"
¡¡¡¡"Nay," cried Bingley, "this is too much, to remember at night
all the foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my
honour, I believed what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at
this moment. At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless
precipitance merely to shew off before the ladies."
¡¡¡¡"I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that
you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependant
on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting your
horse, a friend were to say, "Bingley, you had better stay till next week,"
you would probably do it, you would probably not go -- and, at another
word, might stay a month."
¡¡¡¡"You have only proved by this," cried Elizabeth, "that Mr.
Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition. You have shewn him off
now much more than he did himself."
¡¡¡¡"I am exceedingly gratified," said Bingley, "by your converting
what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But
I am afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means
intend; for he would certainly think the better of me, if under such a
circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I could."
¡¡¡¡"Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original
intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?"
¡¡¡¡"Upon my word I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must
speak for himself."
¡¡¡¡"You expect me to account for opinions which you chuse to call
mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however,
to stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet,
that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and
the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering
one argument in favour of its propriety."
¡¡¡¡"To yield readily -- easily -- to the persuasion of a
friend is no merit with you."
¡¡¡¡"To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding
of either."
¡¡¡¡"You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence
of friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make
one readily yield to a request without waiting for arguments to reason
one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have
supposed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance
occurs, before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour thereupon. But
in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, where one of them
is desired by the other to change a resolution of no very great moment,
should you think ill of that person for complying with the desire, without
waiting to be argued into it?"
¡¡¡¡"Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject,
to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is
to appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting
between the parties?"
¡¡¡¡"By all means," cried Bingley; "Let us hear all the particulars,
not forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more
weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure
you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with
myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not
know a more aweful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular
places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has
nothing to do."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that
he was rather offended; and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly
resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her brother
for talking such nonsense.
¡¡¡¡"I see your design, Bingley," said his friend. -- "You dislike
an argument, and want to silence this."
¡¡¡¡"Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and
Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very
thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me."
¡¡¡¡"What you ask," said Elizabeth, "is no sacrifice on my side;
and Mr. Darcy had much better finish his letter,"
¡¡¡¡Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter.
¡¡¡¡When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and
Elizabeth
for the indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the
piano-forte, and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way,
which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seated herself.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thus employed,
Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music books
that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed
on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration
to so great man; and yet that he should look at her because he disliked
her was still more strange. She could only imagine however, at last, that
she drew his notice because there was a something about her more wrong
and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other person
present. The supposition did not pain her. She liked him too little to
care for his approbation.
¡¡¡¡After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm
by a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth,
said to her --
¡¡¡¡"Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such
an opportunity of dancing a reel?"
¡¡¡¡She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with
some surprise at her silence.
¡¡¡¡"Oh!" said she, "I heard you before; but I could not immediately
determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say "Yes," that
you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight
in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their
premeditated
contempt. I have therefore made up my mind to tell you that I do not want
to dance a reel at all -- and now despise me if you dare."
¡¡¡¡"Indeed I do not dare."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at
his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her
manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had
never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed,
that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in
some danger.
¡¡¡¡Miss Bingley saw, or suspected, enough to be jealous; and her
great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance
from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth.
¡¡¡¡She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by
talking of their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such
an alliance.
¡¡¡¡"I hope," said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery
the next day, "you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this
desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue;
and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after the
officers. -- And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to
check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which
your lady possesses."
¡¡¡¡"Have you any thing else to propose for my domestic felicity?"
¡¡¡¡"Oh! yes. -- Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips
be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great uncle,
the judge. They are in the same profession, you know; only in different
lines. As for your Elizabeth's picture, you must not attempt to have it
taken, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?"
¡¡¡¡"It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but
their colour and shape, and the eye-lashes, so remarkably fine, might be
copied."
¡¡¡¡At that moment they were met from another walk, by Mrs. Hurst
and Elizabeth herself.
¡¡¡¡"I did not know that you intended to walk," said Miss Bingley,
in some confusion, lest they had been overheard.
¡¡¡¡"You used us abominably ill," answered Mrs. Hurst, "in running
away without telling us that you were coming out." Then taking the disengaged
arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by herself. The path just
admitted three.
¡¡¡¡Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness and immediately said, --
¡¡¡¡"This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go
into the avenue."
¡¡¡¡But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with
them, laughingly answered,
¡¡¡¡"No, no; stay where you are. -- You are charmingly group'd, and
appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting
a fourth. Good bye."
¡¡¡¡She then ran gaily off, rejoicing, as she rambled about, in the
hope of being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered
as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XI
¡¡¡¡
WHEN the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her sister,
and, seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room;
where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure;
and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the
hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation
were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy,
relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit.
¡¡¡¡But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object.
Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy, and she had something
to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself directly
to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a
slight bow, and said he was "very glad;" but diffuseness and warmth remained
for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half
hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change
of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fireplace,
that she might be farther from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked
scarcely to any one else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw
it all with great delight.
¡¡¡¡When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the
card-table -- but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr.
Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition
rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence
of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had
therefore nothing to do but to stretch himself on one of the sophas and
go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs.
Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined
now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet.
¡¡¡¡Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching
Mr. Darcy's progress through his book, as in reading her own; and
she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page.
She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered
her question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to
be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the
second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasant it
is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment
like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! --
When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent
library."
¡¡¡¡No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her
book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement; when,
hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly
towards him and said,
¡¡¡¡"By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a
dance at Netherfield? -- I would advise you, before you determine on it,
to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there
are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than
a pleasure."
¡¡¡¡"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed,
if he chuses, before it begins -- but as for the ball, it is quite a settled
thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send
round my cards."
¡¡¡¡"I should like balls infinitely better," she replied, "if they
were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably
tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much
more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the
day."
¡¡¡¡"Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would
not be near so much like a ball."
¡¡¡¡Miss Bingley made no answer; and soon afterwards got up and walked
about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; -- but Darcy,
at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation
of her feelings she resolved on one effort more; and turning to Elizabeth,
said,
¡¡¡¡"Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example,
and take a turn about the room. -- I assure you it is very refreshing after
sitting so long in one attitude."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley
succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked
up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as
Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was directly
invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could
imagine but two motives for their chusing to walk up and down the room
together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere.
"What could he mean? she was dying to know what could be his meaning"
-- and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him?
¡¡¡¡"Not at all," was her answer; "but depend upon it, he means
to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to
ask nothing about it."
¡¡¡¡Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy
in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his
two motives.
¡¡¡¡"I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said
he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. "You either chuse this method
of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and
have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your
figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; -- if the first, I
should be completely in your way; -- and if the second, I can admire you
much better as I sit by the fire."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! shocking!" cried Miss Bingley. "I never heard any thing
so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?"
¡¡¡¡"Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination," said Elizabeth.
"We can all plague and punish one another. Teaze him -- laugh at him.
-- Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done."
¡¡¡¡"But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my
intimacy has not yet taught me that. Teaze calmness of temper and
presence of mind! No, no -- I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter,
we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without
a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself."
¡¡¡¡"Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. "That
is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it
would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance. I dearly
love a laugh."
¡¡¡¡"Miss Bingley," said he, "has given me credit for more than
can be. The wisest and the best of men, nay, the wisest and best of their
actions, may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life
is a joke."
¡¡¡¡"Certainly," replied Elizabeth -- "there are such people, but
I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise
or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert
me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. -- But these, I suppose,
are precisely what you are without."
¡¡¡¡"Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been the
study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong
understanding to ridicule."
¡¡¡¡"Such as vanity and pride."
¡¡¡¡"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride -- where there is
a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
¡¡¡¡"Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss
Bingley; -- "and pray what is the result?"
¡¡¡¡"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect.
He owns it himself without disguise."
¡¡¡¡"No" -- said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have
faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I
dare not vouch for. -- It is I believe too little yielding -- certainly
too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies
and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself.
My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper
would perhaps be called resentful. -- My good opinion once lost is lost
for ever."
¡¡¡¡"That is a failing indeed!" -- cried Elizabeth. "Implacable
resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault
well. -- I really cannot laugh at it; you are safe from me."
¡¡¡¡"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some
particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can
overcome."
¡¡¡¡"And your defect is a propensity to hate every body."
¡¡¡¡"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand
them."
¡¡¡¡"Do let us have a little music," -- cried Miss Bingley, tired
of a conversation in which she had no share. -- "Louisa, you will not
mind my waking Mr. Hurst."
¡¡¡¡Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the piano-forte
was opened, and Darcy, after a few moments recollection, was not sorry
for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XII
¡¡¡¡
IN consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote
the next morning to her mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent
for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated
on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which
would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive hem
with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least
not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet
sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday;
and in her postscript it was added that, if Mr. Bingley and his sister
pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. -- Against
staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved -- nor did she
much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being considered
as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's
carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original
design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the
request made.
¡¡¡¡The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough
was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day, to work
on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was
then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike
of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.
¡¡¡¡The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were
to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would
not be safe for her -- that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was
firm where she felt herself to be right.
¡¡¡¡To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence -- Elizabeth had been
at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked -- and
Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teazing than usual to
himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of
admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her
with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea
had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material
weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely
spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were
at one time left by themselves for half an hour, he adhered most conscientiously
to his book, and would not even look at her.
¡¡¡¡On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable
to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased
at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they
parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give
her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most
tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. -- Elizabeth took leave
of the whole party in the liveliest spirits.
¡¡¡¡They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs.
Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so
much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. -- But their
father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really
glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The
evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its
animation, and almost all its sense, by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.
¡¡¡¡They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough bass
and human nature; and had some new extracts to admire, and some new observations
of thread-bare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information
for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said
in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers
had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had
actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XIII
¡¡¡¡
"I HOPE my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast
the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because
I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
¡¡¡¡"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I
am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my
dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at
home."
¡¡¡¡"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- "A gentleman and a stranger!
It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this;
you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley.
-- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got
to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment."
¡¡¡¡"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a
person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
¡¡¡¡This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of
being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
¡¡¡¡After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus
explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight
ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring
early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead,
may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that
mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest
thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own
children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago
to do something or other about it."
¡¡¡¡Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an
entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which
Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly
against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters,
in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
¡¡¡¡"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet,
"and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn.
But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened
by his manner of expressing himself."
¡¡¡¡"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent
of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false
friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did
before him?"
¡¡¡¡"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on
that head, as you will hear."
¡¡¡¡"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,
¡¡¡¡15th October.
¡¡¡¡DEAR SIR,
¡¡¡¡THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured
father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune
to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time
I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful
to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had
always pleased him to be at variance." -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." -- "My
mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination
at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage
of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de
Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory
of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself
with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform
those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.
As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the
blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and
on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will
are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the
entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and
not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise
than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and
beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness
to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter. If you should
have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the
satisfaction
of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock,
and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight
following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine
is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that
some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear
sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher
and friend,
¡¡¡¡WILLIAM COLLINS."
¡¡¡¡"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking
gentleman,"
said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most
conscientious
and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable
acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to
let him come to us again."
¡¡¡¡"There is some sense in what he says about the girls however;
and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person
to discourage him."
¡¡¡¡"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way
he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly
to his credit."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference
for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and
burying his parishioners whenever it were required.
¡¡¡¡"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him
out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he
mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose
he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?"
¡¡¡¡"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him
quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance
in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."
¡¡¡¡"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not
seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new,
yet I think it is well expressed."
¡¡¡¡To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were
in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin
should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had
received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for
their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will,
and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished
her husband and daughters.
¡¡¡¡Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great
politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the
ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need
of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy
looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and
his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented
Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard
much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short
of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due
time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste
of some of his hearers, but Mrs. Bennet who quarrelled with no compliments,
answered most readily,
¡¡¡¡"You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart
it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled
so oddly."
¡¡¡¡"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate."
¡¡¡¡"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls,
you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such
things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates
will go when once they come to be entailed."
¡¡¡¡"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins,
-- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing
forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come
prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when
we are better acquainted --"
¡¡¡¡He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled
on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration.
The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised;
and his commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart,
but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future
property. The dinner too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged
to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was
owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some
asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her
daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having
displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended;
but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XIV
¡¡¡¡
DURING dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants
were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest,
and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing
that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's
attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very
remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent
in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of
manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never
in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank -- such affability
and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She
had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he
had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked
him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before,
to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned
proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but
affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other
gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society
of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a
week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise
him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and
had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly
approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed
to suggest some herself, -- some shelves in the closets up stairs.
¡¡¡¡"That is all very proper and civil I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet,
"and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great
ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?"
¡¡¡¡"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only
by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."
¡¡¡¡"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"
¡¡¡¡"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very
extensive property."
¡¡¡¡"Ah!" cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better
off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? is she handsome?"
¡¡¡¡"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself
says that in point of true beauty, Miss De Bourgh is far superior to the
handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks
the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly
constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many
accomplishments
which she could not otherwise have failed of; as I am informed by the lady
who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she
is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode
in her little phaeton and ponies."
¡¡¡¡"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the
ladies at court."
¡¡¡¡"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being
in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has
deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemed
pleased with the idea, and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion
to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable
to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine that her charming
daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank,
instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. -- These are
the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of
attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay."
¡¡¡¡"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy
for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I
ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment,
or are the result of previous study?"
¡¡¡¡"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though
I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant
compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give
them as unstudied an air as possible."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was
as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment,
maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance,
and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner
in his pleasure.
¡¡¡¡By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet
was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and when tea was
over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily
assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for every thing
announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging
pardon, protested that he never read novels. -- Kitty stared at him, and
Lydia exclaimed. -- Other books were produced, and after some deliberation
he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume,
and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she
interrupted him with,
¡¡¡¡"Do you know, mama, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away
Richard, and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me
so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more
about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."
¡¡¡¡Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but
Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said,
¡¡¡¡"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested
by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It
amazes me, I confess; -- for certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous
to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."
¡¡¡¡Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist
at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted
very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs.
Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption,
and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book;
but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill
will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself
at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XV
¡¡¡¡
MR. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had
been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of
his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly
father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely
kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance.
The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally
great humility of manner, but it was now a good deal counteracted by the
self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential
feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended
him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant;
and the respect which he felt for her high rank and his veneration for
her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of
his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether
a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
¡¡¡¡Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended
to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he
had a wife in view, as he meant to chuse one of the daughters, if he found
them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report.
This was his plan of amends -- of atonement -- for inheriting their father's
estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness,
and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.
¡¡¡¡His plan did not vary on seeing them. -- Miss Bennet's lovely
face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of
what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled
choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter
of an hour's te^te-a`-te^te with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation
beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal
of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced
from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution
against the very Jane he had fixed on. -- "As to her younger daughters
she could not take upon her to say -- she could not positively answer --
but she did not know of any prepossession; -- her eldest
daughter, she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint,
was likely to be very soon engaged."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it
was soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth,
equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might
soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to
speak of the day before was now high in her good graces.
¡¡¡¡Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every
sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend
them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of
him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed
him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with
one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr.
Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such
doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always
sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth,
to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was
used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt
in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins,
being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely
well pleased to close his large book, and go.
¡¡¡¡In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of
his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention
of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their
eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers,
and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin
in a shop window, could recall them.
¡¡¡¡But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man,
whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking
with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very
Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and
he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered
who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out,
led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an
opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two
gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed
them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham,
who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to
say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should
be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming.
His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty
-- a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The
introduction
was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness
at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party
were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound
of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down
the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen
came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was
the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then,
he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Dar