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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
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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。
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 23
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。
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CHAPTER V
ithin a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with
Wwhom 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
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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 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