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‘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
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visit； we cannot escape the acquaintance now。’
The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished； that of
Mrs。 Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest； though when the first
tumult of joy was over； she began to declare that it was what she
had expected all the while。
‘How good it was in you； my dear Mr。 Bennet！ But I knew I
should persuade you at last。 I was sure you loved your girls too well
to neglect such an acquaintance。 Well； how pleased I am！ and it is
such a good joke； too； that you should have gone this morning； and
never said a word about it till now。’
‘Now； Kitty； you may cough as much as you 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。
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CHAPTER III
ot all that Mrs。 Bennet； however； with the assistance of
her five daughters； could ask on the subject was
Nsufficient 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
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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 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 eldest； and another young man。
Mr。 Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike； he had a
pleasant countenance； and easy； unaffected manners。 His sisters
were fine women； with an air of decided fashion。 His brother…in…
law； Mr。 Hurst； merely looked the gentleman； but his friend Mr。
Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine； tall person；
handsome features； noble mien； and the report which was in
general circulation within five minutes after his entrance； of his
having ten thousand a year。 The gentlemen pronounced him to be
a fine figure of a man； the ladies declared he was much handsomer
than Mr。 Bingley； and he was looked at with great admiration for
about half the evening； till his manners gave a disgust which
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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。