Pride-and-Prejudice ingles.pdf

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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man inpossession o a good ortune, must be in want o a wie.However little known the eelings or views o such a man

may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is

so well fixed in the minds o the surrounding amilies, thathe is considered the rightul property o some one or othero their daughters.

My dear Mr. Bennet, said his lady to him one day, haveyou heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

But it is, returned she; or Mrs. Long has just been here,and she told me all about it.Mr. Bennet made no answer.Do you not want to know who has taken it? cried his

wie impatiently.YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hear-

ing it.

Tis was invitation enough.Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that

Netherfield is taken by a young man o large ortune romthe north o England; that he came down on Monday in achaise and our to see the place, and was so much delightedwith it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; thathe is to take possession beore Michaelmas, and some o his


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servants are to be in the house by the end o next week.What is his name?

Bingley.Is he married or single?Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man o large

ortune; our or five thousand a year. What a fine thing orour girls!

How so? How can it affect them?My dear Mr. Bennet, replied his wie, how can you be

so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking o his mar-rying one o them.

Is that his design in settling here?Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very

likely that he MAY all in love with one o them, and there-ore you must visit him as soon as he comes.

I see no occasion or that. You and the girls may go, oryou may send them by themselves, which perhaps will bestill better, or as you are as handsome as any o them, Mr.Bingley may like you the best o the party.

My dear, you flatter me. I certainly HAVE had my shareo beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordi-nary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she

ought to give over thinking o her own beauty.In such cases, a woman has not ofen much beauty to

think o.But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley

when he comes into the neighbourhood.It is more than I engage or, I assure you.But consider your daughters. Only think what an estab-


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lishment it would be or one o them. Sir William and LadyLucas are determined to go, merely on that account, or in

general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed youmust go, or it will be impossible or US to visit him i youdo not.

You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bing-ley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a ew linesby you to assure him o my hearty consent to his marryingwhichever he chooses o the girls; though I must throw in a

good word or 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 hal so handsomeas Jane, nor hal so good-humoured as Lydia. But you arealways giving HER the preerence.

Tey have none o them much to recommend them, re-

plied he; they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; butLizzy has something more o quickness than her sisters.Mr. Bennet, how CAN you abuse your own children in

such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have nocompassion or my poor nerves.

You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect or yournerves. Tey are my old riends. I have heard you mention

them with consideration these last twenty years at least.Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture o quick parts, sar-

castic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience othree-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make hiswie understand his character. HER mind was less difficultto develop. She was a woman o mean understanding, littleinormation, and uncertain temper. When she was discon-


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tented, she ancied hersel nervous. Te business o her liewas to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and

news.


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Mr. Bennet was among the earliest o those who waitedon Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him,though to the last always assuring his wie that he shouldnot go; and till the evening afer the visit was paid she had

no knowledge o it. It was then disclosed in the ollowingmanner. Observing his second daughter employed in trim-ming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:

I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.We are not in a way to know WHA Mr. Bingley likes,

said her mother resentully, since we are not to visit.

But you orget, mamma, said Elizabeth, that we shallmeet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promisedto introduce him.

I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. Shehas two nieces o her own. She is a selfish, hypocriticalwoman, and I have no opinion o 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 hersel, began scolding one o her daughters.Dont keep coughing so, Kitty, or Heavens sake! Have a

little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.Kitty has no discretion in her coughs, said her ather;

she times them ill.


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I do not cough or my own amusement, replied Kittyretully. When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?

o-morrow ortnight.Aye, so it is, cried her mother, and Mrs. Long does not

come back till the day beore; so it will be impossible or herto introduce him, or she will not know him hersel.

Ten, my dear, you may have the advantage o yourriend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to HER.

Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not ac-

quainted with him mysel; how can you be so teasing?I honour your circumspection. A ortnights acquain-

tance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a manreally is by the end o a ortnight. But i WE do not ven-ture somebody else will; and afer all, Mrs. Long and herdaughters must stand their chance; and, thereore, as she

will think it an act o kindness, i you decline the office, Iwill take it on mysel.Te girls stared at their ather. Mrs. Bennet said only,

Nonsense, nonsense!What can be the meaning o that emphatic exclamation?

cried he. Do you consider the orms o introduction, andthe stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite

agree with you HERE. What say you, Mary? For you are ayoung lady o deep reflection, I know, and read great booksand make extracts.

Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew nothow.

While Mary is adjusting her ideas, he continued, let usreturn to Mr. Bingley.


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I am sick o Mr. Bingley, cried his wie.I am sorry to hear HA; but why did not you tell me

that beore? I I had known as much this morning I certain-ly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as Ihave actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquain-tance now.

Te astonishment o the ladies was just what he wished;that o Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though,when the first tumult o 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 girlstoo well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleasedI am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should havegone this morning and never said a word about it till now.

Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose, saidMr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he lef the room, atigued withthe raptures o his wie.

What an excellent ather you have, girls! said she, whenthe door was shut. I do not know how you will ever makehim amends or his kindness; or me, either, or that matter.At our time o lie it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be

making new acquaintances every day; but or your sakes,we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you ARE theyoungest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at thenext ball.

Oh! said Lydia stoutly, I am not araid; or though I AMthe youngest, Im the tallest.

Te rest o the evening was spent in conjecturing how


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soon he would return Mr. Bennets visit, and determiningwhen they should ask him to dinner.


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Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance oher five daughters, could ask on the subject, was suffi-cient to draw rom her husband any satisactory descriptiono Mr. Bingley. Tey attacked him in various wayswith

bareaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distantsurmises; but he eluded the skill o them all, and they wereat last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence otheir neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly avour-able. Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quiteyoung, wonderully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to

crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with alarge party. Nothing could be more delightul! o be ond odancing was a certain step towards alling in love; and verylively hopes o Mr. Bingleys heart were entertained.

I I can but see one o my daughters happily settled atNetherfield, said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, and all theothers equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish

or.In a ew days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennets visit,

and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He hadentertained hopes o being admitted to a sight o the youngladies, o whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw onlythe ather. Te ladies were somewhat more ortunate, orthey had the advantage o ascertaining rom an upper win-


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dow that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse.An invitation to dinner was soon aferwards dispatched;

and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that wereto do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrivedwhich deerred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in townthe ollowing day, and, consequently, unable to accept thehonour o their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite dis-concerted. She could not imagine what business he couldhave in town so soon afer his arrival in Hertordshire; and

she began to ear that he might be always flying about romone place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as heought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her ears a little by startingthe idea o his being gone to London only to get a large par-ty or the ball; and a report soon ollowed that Mr. Bingleywas to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him

to the assembly. Te girls grieved over such a number o la-dies, but were comorted the day beore the ball by hearing,that instead o twelve he brought only six with him romLondonhis five sisters and a cousin. And when the partyentered the assembly room it consisted o only five altogeth-erMr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband o the eldest,and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; hehad a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected man-ners. His sisters were fine women, with an air o decidedashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked thegentleman; but his riend Mr. Darcy soon drew the atten-tion o the room by his fine, tall person, handsome eatures,noble mien, and the report which was in general circula-


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tion within five minutes afer his entrance, o his havingten thousand a year. Te gentlemen pronounced him to

be a fine figure o a man, the ladies declared he was muchhandsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at withgreat admiration or about hal the evening, till his man-ners gave a disgust which turned the tide o his popularity;or he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company,and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Der-byshire could then save him rom having a most orbidding,

disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be com-pared with his riend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himsel acquainted with allthe principal people in the room; he was lively and unre-served, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closedso early, and talked o giving one himsel at Netherfield.

Such amiable qualities must speak or themselves. Whata contrast between him and his riend! Mr. Darcy dancedonly once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, de-clined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the resto the evening in walking about the room, speaking occa-sionally to one o his own party. His character was decided.He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world,

and everybody hoped that he would never come thereagain. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Ben-net, whose dislike o his general behaviour was sharpenedinto particular resentment by his having slighted one o herdaughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity ogentlemen, to sit down or two dances; and during part o


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that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough or herto hear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who

came rom the dance or a ew minutes, to press his riendto join it.

Come, Darcy, said he, I must have you dance. I hate tosee you standing about by yoursel in this stupid manner.You had much better dance.

I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unlessI am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an

assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters areengaged, and there is not another woman in the room whomit would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.

I would not be so astidious as you are, cried Mr. Bingley,or a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so manypleasant girls in my lie as I have this evening; and there are

several o them you see uncommonly pretty.YOU are dancing with the only handsome girl in theroom, said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

Oh! She is the most beautiul creature I ever beheld! Butthere is one o her sisters sitting down just behind you, whois very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me askmy partner to introduce you.

Which do you mean? and turning round he looked ora moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrewhis own and coldly said: She is tolerable, but not handsomeenough to tempt ME; I am in no humour at present to giveconsequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles,or you are wasting your time with me.


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Mr. Bingley ollowed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off;and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial eelings to-

ward him. She told the story, however, with great spiritamong her riends; or she had a lively, playul disposition,which delighted in anything ridiculous.

Te evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the wholeamily. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much ad-mired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had dancedwith her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sis-

ters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother couldbe, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth elt Janes pleasure.Mary had heard hersel mentioned to Miss Bingley as themost accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Cath-erine and Lydia had been ortunate enough never to bewithout partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to

care or at a ball. Tey returned, thereore, in good spirits toLongbourn, the village where they lived, and o which theywere the principal inhabitants. Tey ound Mr. Bennet stillup. With a book he was regardless o time; and on the pres-ent occasion he had a good deal o curiosity as to the eventso an evening which had raised such splendid expectations.He had rather hoped that his wies views on the stranger

would be disappointed; but he soon ound out that he had adifferent story to hear.

Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet, as she entered the room, wehave had a most delightul evening, a most excellent ball.I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, noth-ing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked;and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiul, and danced


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with her twice! Only think o HA, my dear; he actuallydanced with her twice! and she was the only creature in the

room that he asked a second time. First o all, he asked MissLucas. 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 wasgoing down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and gotintroduced, and asked her or the two next. Ten the twothird he danced with Miss King, and the two ourth with

Maria Lucas, and the two fifh with Jane again, and the twosixth with Lizzy, and the BOULANGER

I he had had any compassion or ME, cried her hus-band impatiently, he would not have danced hal so much!For Gods sake, say no more o his partners. O that he hadsprained his ankle in the first place!

Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is soexcessively handsome! And his sisters are charming wom-en. I never in my lie saw anything more elegant than theirdresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hursts gown

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protestedagainst any description o finery. She was thereore obligedto seek another branch o the subject, and related, with

much bitterness o spirit and some exaggeration, the shock-ing rudeness o Mr. Darcy.

But I can assure you, she added, that Lizzy does not losemuch by not suiting HIS ancy; or he is a most disagree-able, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and soconceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here,and he walked there, ancying himsel so very great! Not


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handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there,my dear, to have given him one o your set-downs. I quite

detest the man.


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When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the ormer, whohad been cautious in her praise o Mr. Bingley beore,expressed to her sister just how very much she admiredhim.

He is just what a young man ought to be, said she, sen-sible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happymanners!so much ease, with such perect good breed-ing!

He is also handsome, replied Elizabeth, which a youngman ought likewise to be, i he possibly can. His character

is thereby complete.I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance asecond time. I did not expect such a compliment.

Did not you? I did or you. But that is one great differencebetween us. Compliments always take YOU by surprise,and ME never. What could be more natural than his ask-ing you again? He could not help seeing that you were about

five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. Nothanks to his gallantry or that. Well, he certainly is veryagreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have likedmany a stupider person.

Dear Lizzy!Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people

in general. You never see a ault in anybody. All the world


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are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speakill o a human being in your lie.

I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but Ialways speak what I think.

I know you do; and it is HA which makes the wonder.With YOUR good sense, to be so honestly blind to the olliesand nonsense o others! Affectation o candour is commonenoughone meets with it everywhere. But to be candidwithout ostentation or designto take the good o every-

bodys character and make it still better, and say nothing othe badbelongs to you alone. And so you like this manssisters, too, do you? Teir manners are not equal to his.

Certainly notat first. But they are very pleasing womenwhen you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live withher brother, and keep his house; and I am much mistaken i

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 calculatedto please in general; and with more quickness o observa-tion and less pliancy o temper than her sister, and with ajudgement too unassailed by any attention to hersel, shewas very little disposed to approve them. Tey were in act

very fine ladies; not deficient in good humour when theywere pleased, nor in the power o making themselves agree-able when they chose it, but proud and conceited. Tey wererather handsome, had been educated in one o the first pri-

vate seminaries in town, had a ortune o twenty thousandpounds, were in the habit o spending more than they ought,and o associating with people o rank, and were thereore


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er contrast to his own, and though with his own he neverappeared dissatisfied. On the strength o Darcys regard,

Bingley had the firmest reliance, and o his judgement thehighest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior.Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. Hewas at the same time haughty, reserved, and astidious, andhis manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In thatrespect his riend had greatly the advantage. Bingley wassure o being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was con-

tinually giving offense.Te manner in which they spoke o the Meryton assem-

bly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never metwith more pleasant people or prettier girls in his lie; every-body had been most kind and attentive to him; there hadbeen no ormality, no stiffness; he had soon elt acquainted

with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not con-ceive an angel more beautiul. Darcy, on the contrary, hadseen a collection o people in whom there was little beautyand no ashion, or none o whom he had elt the smallestinterest, and rom none received either attention or plea-sure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but shesmiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be sobut stillthey admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to bea sweet girl, and one whom they would not object to knowmore o. Miss Bennet was thereore established as a sweetgirl, and their brother elt authorized by such commenda-tion to think o her as he chose.


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Within a short walk o Longbourn lived a amily withwhom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir Wil-liam Lucas had been ormerly in trade in Meryton, wherehe had made a tolerable ortune, and risen to the honour o

knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty.Te distinction had perhaps been elt too strongly. It hadgiven him a disgust to his business, and to his residence ina small market town; and, in quitting them both, he hadremoved with his amily to a house about a mile rom Mery-ton, denominated rom that period Lucas Lodge, where he

could think with pleasure o his own importance, and, un-shackled by business, occupy himsel solely in being civil toall the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not ren-der him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attentionto everybody. By nature inoffensive, riendly, and obliging,his presentation at St. Jamess had made him courteous.

Lady Lucas was a very good kind o woman, not too

clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. Tey hadseveral children. Te eldest o them, a sensible, intelligentyoung woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeths inti-mate riend.

Tat the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meetto talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morn-ing afer the assembly brought the ormer to Longbourn to


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hear and to communicate.YOU began the evening well, Charlotte, said Mrs. Ben-

net with civil sel-command to Miss Lucas. YOU were Mr.Bingleys first choice.

Yes; but he seemed to like his second better.Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with

her twice. o be sure that DID seem as i he admired herindeed I rather believe he DIDI heard something aboutitbut I hardly know whatsomething about Mr. Robin-

son.Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr.

Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinsons ask-ing him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whetherhe did not think there were a great many pretty women inthe room, and WHICH he thought the prettiest? and his

answering immediately to the last question: Oh! the eldestMiss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinionson that point.

Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeedthatdoes seem as ibut, 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 lis-tening to as his riend, is he?poor Eliza!to be only justOLERABLE.

I beg you would not put it into Lizzys head to be vexedby his ill-treatment, or he is such a disagreeable man, thatit would be quite a misortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Longtold me last night that he sat close to her or hal-an-hour


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without once opening his lips.Are you quite sure, maam?is not there a little mistake?

said Jane. I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.Ayebecause she asked him at last how he liked Nether-

field, and he could not help answering her; but she said heseemed quite angry at being spoke to.

Miss Bingley told me, said Jane, that he never speaksmuch, unless among his intimate acquaintances. WithHEM he is remarkably agreeable.

I do not believe a word o it, my dear. I he had been sovery agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But Ican guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up withpride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Longdoes not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hackchaise.

I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long, said MissLucas, but I wish he had danced with Eliza.Another time, Lizzy, said her mother, I would not dance

with HIM, i I were you.I believe, maam, I may saely promise you NEVER to

dance with him.His pride, said Miss Lucas, does not offend ME so much

as pride ofen does, because there is an excuse or it. Onecannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with am-ily, ortune, everything in his avour, should think highlyo himsel. I I may so express it, he has a RIGH to beproud.

Tat is very true, replied Elizabeth, and I could easilyorgive HIS pride, i he had not mortified MINE.


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Pride, observed Mary, who piqued hersel upon the so-lidity o her reflections, is a very common ailing, I believe.

By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is verycommon indeed; that human nature is particularly proneto it, and that there are very ew o us who do not cherisha eeling o sel-complacency on the score o some qualityor other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are differentthings, though the words are ofen used synonymously. Aperson may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more

to our opinion o ourselves, vanity to what we would haveothers think o us.

I I were as rich as Mr. Darcy, cried a young Lucas, whocame with his sisters, I should not care how proud I was. Iwould keep a pack o oxhounds, and drink a bottle o winea day.

Ten you would drink a great deal more than you ought,said Mrs. Bennet; and i I were to see you at it, I should takeaway your bottle directly.

Te boy protested that she should not; she continued todeclare that she would, and the argument ended only withthe visit.


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he ladies o Longbourn soon waited on those o Neth-erfield. Te visit was soon returned in due orm. MissBennets pleasing manners grew on the goodwill o Mrs.Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was ound

to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speak-ing to, a wish o being better acquainted with HEM wasexpressed towards the two eldest. By Jane, this attentionwas received with the greatest pleasure, but Elizabeth stillsaw superciliousness in their treatment o everybody, hard-ly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; though

their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value as arisingin all probability rom the influence o their brothers ad-miration. It was generally evident whenever they met, thathe DID admire her and to HER it was equally evident thatJane was yielding to the preerence which she had begun toentertain or him rom the first, and was in a way to be verymuch in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was

not likely to be discovered by the world in general, sinceJane united, with great strength o eeling, a composure otemper and a uniorm cheerulness o manner which wouldguard her rom the suspicions o the impertinent. She men-tioned this to her riend Miss Lucas.

It may perhaps be pleasant, replied Charlotte, to be ableto impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes


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a disadvantage to be so very guarded. I a woman concealsher affection with the same skill rom the object o it, she

may lose the opportunity o fixing him; and it will then bebut poor consolation to believe the world equally in thedark. Tere is so much o gratitude or vanity in almost ev-ery attachment, that it is not sae to leave any to itsel. Wecan all BEGIN reelya slight preerence is natural enough;but there are very ew o us who have heart enough to be re-ally in love without encouragement. In nine cases out o ten

a women had better show MORE affection than she eels.Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never domore than like her, i she does not help him on.

But she does help him on, as much as her nature willallow. I I can perceive her regard or him, he must be a sim-pleton, indeed, not to discover it too.

Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Janes disposi-tion as you do.But i a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeav-

our to conceal it, he must find it out.Perhaps he must, i he sees enough o her. But, though

Bingley and Jane meet tolerably ofen, it is never or manyhours together; and, as they always see each other in large

mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment shouldbe employed in conversing together. Jane should thereoremake the most o every hal-hour in which she can com-mand his attention. When she is secure o him, there will bemore leisure or alling in love as much as she chooses.

Your plan is a good one, replied Elizabeth, where noth-ing is in question but the desire o being well married, and


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i I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband,I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Janes eel-

ings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even becertain o the degree o her own regard nor o its reason-ableness. She has known him only a ortnight. She dancedour dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morn-ing at his own house, and has since dined with him incompany our times. Tis is not quite enough to make herunderstand his character.

Not as you represent it. Had she merely DINED withhim, she might only have discovered whether he had a goodappetite; but you must remember that our evenings havealso been spent togetherand our evenings may do a greatdeal.

Yes; these our evenings have enabled them to ascertain

that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; butwith respect to any other leading characteristic, I do notimagine that much has been unolded.

Well, said Charlotte, I wish Jane success with all myheart; and i she were married to him to-morrow, I shouldthink she had as good a chance o happiness as i she were tobe studying his character or a twelvemonth. Happiness in

marriage is entirely a matter o chance. I the dispositionso the parties are ever so well known to each other or everso similar beorehand, it does not advance their elicity inthe least. Tey always continue to grow sufficiently unlikeaferwards to have their share o vexation; and it is better toknow as little as possible o the deects o the person withwhom you are to pass your lie.


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You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. Youknow it is not sound, and that you would never act in this

way yoursel.Occupied in observing Mr. Bingleys attentions to her

sister, Elizabeth was ar rom suspecting that she was her-sel becoming an object o some interest in the eyes ohis riend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her tobe pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at theball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criti-

cise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himsel and hisriends that she hardly had a good eature in her ace, thanhe began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligentby the beautiul expression o her dark eyes. o this dis-covery succeeded some others equally mortiying. Toughhe had detected with a critical eye more than one ailure o

perect symmetry in her orm, he was orced to acknowl-edge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite o hisasserting that her manners were not those o the ashion-able world, he was caught by their easy playulness. O thisshe was perectly unaware; to her he was only the man whomade himsel agreeable nowhere, and who had not thoughther handsome enough to dance with.

He began to wish to know more o her, and as a steptowards conversing with her himsel, attended to her con-

versation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It wasat Sir William Lucass, where a large party were assembled.

What does Mr. Darcy mean, said she to Charlotte, bylistening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?

Tat is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer.


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But i he does it any more I shall certainly let him knowthat I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and

i I do not begin by being impertinent mysel, I shall soongrow araid o him.

On his approaching them soon aferwards, though with-out seeming to have any intention o speaking, Miss Lucasdefied her riend to mention such a subject to him; whichimmediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned tohim and said:

Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myseluncommonly well just now, when I was teasing ColonelForster to give us a ball at Meryton?

With great energy; but it is always a subject which makesa lady energetic.

You are severe on us.

It will be HER turn soon to be teased, said Miss Lucas.I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you knowwhat ollows.

You are a very strange creature by way o a riend!al-ways wanting me to play and sing beore anybody andeverybody! I my vanity had taken a musical turn, youwould have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather

not sit down beore those who must be in the habit o hear-ing the very best perormers. On Miss Lucass persevering,however, she added, Very well, i it must be so, it must. Andgravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, Tere is a fine old saying,which everybody here is o course amiliar with: Keep yourbreath to cool your porridge; and I shall keep mine to swellmy song.


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Sir William only smiled. Your riend perorms delight-ully, he continued afer a pause, on seeing Bingley join the

group; and I doubt not that you are an adept in the scienceyoursel, Mr. Darcy.

You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir.Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure

rom the sight. Do you ofen dance at St. Jamess?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 i I can

avoid it.You have a house in town, I conclude?Mr. Darcy bowed.I had once had some thought o fixing in town mysel

or I am ond o superior society; but I did not eel quitecertain that the air o London would agree with Lady Lu-cas.

He paused in hopes o an answer; but his companionwas not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instantmoving towards them, he was struck with the action o do-ing a very gallant thing, and called out to her:

My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Dar-cy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you asa very desirable partner. You cannot reuse to dance, I amsure when so much beauty is beore you. And, taking herhand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though ex-tremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when sheinstantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to


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Sir William:Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention o dancing. I

entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order tobeg or a partner.

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowedthe honour o her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was deter-mined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by hisattempt at persuasion.

You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cru-

el to deny me the happiness o seeing you; and though thisgentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can haveno objection, I am sure, to oblige us or one hal-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 complaisanceor who

would object to such a partner?Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistancehad not injured her with the gentleman, and he was think-ing o her with some complacency, when thus accosted byMiss Bingley:

I can guess the subject o your reverie.I should imagine not.

You are considering how insupportable it would be topass many evenings in this mannerin such society; andindeed I am quite o your opinion. I was never more an-noyed! Te insipidity, and yet the noisethe nothingness,and yet the sel-importance o all those people! What wouldI give to hear your strictures on them!

You conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind


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was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on thevery great pleasure which a pair o fine eyes in the ace o a

pretty woman can bestow.Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his ace,

and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit oinspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great in-trepidity:

Miss Elizabeth Bennet.Miss Elizabeth Bennet! repeated Miss Bingley. I am all

astonishment. How long has she been such a avourite?and pray, when am I to wish you joy?

Tat is exactly the question which I expected you to ask.A ladys imagination is very rapid; it jumps rom admirationto love, rom love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew youwould be wishing me joy.

Nay, i you are serious about it, I shall consider the mat-ter is absolutely settled. You will be having a charmingmother-in-law, indeed; and, o course, she will always be atPemberley with you.

He listened to her with perect indifference while shechose to entertain hersel in this manner; and as his com-posure convinced her that all was sae, her wit flowed long.


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C

Mr. Bennets property consisted almost entirely in anestate o two thousand a year, which, unortunatelyor his daughters, was entailed, in deault o heirs male, ona distant relation; and their mothers ortune, though ample

or her situation in lie, could but ill supply the deficiency ohis. Her ather had been an attorney in Meryton, and hadlef her our thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been aclerk to their ather and succeeded him in the business, anda brother settled in London in a respectable line o trade.

Te village o Longbourn was only one mile rom Mery-ton; a most convenient distance or the young ladies, whowere usually tempted thither three or our times a week,to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliners shop justover the way. Te two youngest o the amily, Catherineand Lydia, were particularly requent in these attentions;their minds were more vacant than their sisters, and when

nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary toamuse their morning hours and urnish conversation orthe evening; and however bare o news the country in gen-eral might be, they always contrived to learn some romtheir aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied bothwith news and happiness by the recent arrival o a militiaregiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole


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winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.Teir visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive o the

most interesting intelligence. Every day added somethingto their knowledge o the officers names and connections.Teir lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they be-gan to know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips visitedthem all, and this opened to his nieces a store o elicity un-known beore. Tey could talk o nothing but officers; andMr. Bingleys large ortune, the mention o which gave ani-

mation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes whenopposed to the regimentals o an ensign.

Afer listening one morning to their effusions on thissubject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed:

From all that I can collect by your manner o talking,you must be two o the silliest girls in the country. I have

suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; butLydia, with perect indifference, continued to express heradmiration o Captain Carter, and her hope o seeing himin the course o the day, as he was going the next morningto London.

I am astonished, my dear, said Mrs. Bennet, that you

should be so ready to think your own children silly. I Iwished to think slightingly o anybodys children, it shouldnot be o my own, however.

I my children are silly, I must hope to be always sen-sible o it.

Yesbut as it happens, they are all o them very clever.Tis is the only point, I flatter mysel, on which we do


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not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in ev-ery particular, but I must so ar differ rom you as to think

our two youngest daughters uncommonly oolish.My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to

have the sense o their ather and mother. When they getto our age, I dare say they will not think about officers anymore than we do. I remember the time when I liked a redcoat mysel very welland, indeed, so I do still at my heart;and i a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a

year, should want one o my girls I shall not say nay to him;and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming theother night at Sir Williams in his regimentals.

Mamma, cried Lydia, my aunt says that Colonel Forsterand Captain Carter do not go so ofen to Miss Watsons asthey did when they first came; she sees them now very ofen

standing in Clarkes library.Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entranceo the ootman with a note or Miss Bennet; it came romNetherfield, and the servant waited or an answer. Mrs.Bennets eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerlycalling out, while her daughter read,

Well, Jane, who is it rom? What is it about? What does

he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, mylove.

It is rom Miss Bingley, said Jane, and then read italoud.

MY DEAR FRIEND,I you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with

Louisa and me, we shall be in danger o hating each other


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or the rest o our lives, or a whole days tete-a-tete betweentwo women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon

as you can on receipt o this. My brother and the gentlemenare to dine with the officers.Yours ever,

CAROLINE BINGLEY.With the officers! cried Lydia. I wonder my aunt did not

tell us o HA.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 itseems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.

Tat would be a good scheme, said Elizabeth, i youwere sure that they would not offer to send her home.

Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingleys chaise togo to Meryton, and the Hursts have no horses to theirs.

I had much rather go in the coach.But, my dear, your ather cannot spare the horses, I amsure. Tey are wanted in the arm, Mr. Bennet, are theynot?

Tey are wanted in the arm much ofener than I canget them.

But i you have got them to-day, said Elizabeth, my

mothers purpose will be answered.She did at last extort rom her ather an acknowledgment

that the horses were engaged. Jane was thereore obliged togo on horseback, and her mother attended her to the doorwith many cheerul prognostics o a bad day. Her hopeswere answered; Jane had not been gone long beore it rainedhard. Her sisters were uneasy or her, but her mother was


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delighted. Te rain continued the whole evening withoutintermission; Jane certainly could not come back.

Tis was a lucky idea o mine, indeed! said Mrs. Bennetmore than once, as i the credit o making it rain were allher own. ill the next morning, however, she was not awareo all the elicity o her contrivance. Breakast was scarcelyover when a servant rom Netherfield brought the ollowingnote or Elizabeth:

MY DEARES LIZZY,

I find mysel very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, isto be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind

riends will not hear o my returning till I am better. Tey

insist also on my seeing Mr. Jonesthereore do not be

alarmed i you should hear o his having been to meand,excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much thematter with me.Yours, etc.

Well, my dear, said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth hadread the note aloud, i your daughter should have a dan-gerous fit o illnessi she should die, it would be a comort

to know that it was all in pursuit o Mr. Bingley, and underyour orders.

Oh! I am not araid o her dying. People do not die olittle trifling colds. She will be taken good care o. As longas she stays there, it is all very well. I would go an see her iI could have the carriage.

Elizabeth, eeling really anxious, was determined to go


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to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she wasno horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She de-

clared her resolution.How can you be so silly, cried her mother, as to think

o such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seenwhen you get there.

I shall be very fit to see Janewhich is all I want.Is this a hint to me, Lizzy, said her ather, to send or

the horses?

No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. Te distanceis nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shallbe back by dinner.

I admire the activity o your benevolence, observedMary, but every impulse o eeling should be guided byreason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in

proportion to what is required.We will go as ar as Meryton with you, said Catherineand Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their company, and the threeyoung ladies set off together.

I we make haste, said Lydia, as they walked along, per-haps we may see something o Captain Carter beore hegoes.

In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired tothe lodgings o one o the officers wives, and Elizabeth con-tinued her walk alone, crossing field afer field at a quickpace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles withimpatient activity, and finding hersel at last within view othe house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a aceglowing with the warmth o exercise.


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She was shown into the breakast-parlour, where all butJane were assembled, and where her appearance created a

great deal o surprise. Tat she should have walked threemiles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by her-sel, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley;and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contemptor it. She was received, however, very politely by them; andin their brothers manners there was something better thanpoliteness; there was good humour and kindness. Mr. Dar-

cy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. Te ormerwas divided between admiration o the brilliancy whichexercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to theoccasions justiying her coming so ar alone. Te latter wasthinking only o his breakast.

Her inquiries afer her sister were not very avourably

answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, wasvery everish, and not well enough to leave her room. Eliz-abeth was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Jane,who had only been withheld by the ear o giving alarm orinconvenience rom expressing in her note how much shelonged or such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. Shewas not equal, however, to much conversation, and when

Miss Bingley lef them together, could attempt little besidesexpressions o gratitude or the extraordinary kindness shewas treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakast was over they were joined by the sisters;and Elizabeth began to like them hersel, when she saw howmuch affection and solicitude they showed or Jane. Teapothecary came, and having examined his patient, said,


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as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold,and that they must endeavour to get the better o it; advised

her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. Teadvice was ollowed readily, or the everish symptoms in-creased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quither room or a moment; nor were the other ladies ofen ab-sent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in act, nothing todo elsewhere.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth elt that she must

go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered herthe carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to acceptit, when Jane testified such concern in parting with her, thatMiss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer o the chaiseto an invitation to remain at Netherfield or the present.Elizabeth most thankully consented, and a servant was

dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the amily with herstay and bring back a supply o clothes.


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Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out othe room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad

indeed, a mixture o pride and impertinence; she had noconversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought thesame, and added:

She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but beingan excellent walker. I shall never orget her appearance thismorning. She really looked almost wild.

She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my coun-

tenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must SHEbe scampering about the country, because her sister had acold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!

Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, sixinches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gownwhich 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 Ben-net looked remarkably well when she came into the roomthis morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.

YOU observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure, said Miss Bing-ley; and I am inclined to think that you would not wish tosee YOUR sister make such an exhibition.

Certainly not.o walk three miles, or our miles, or five miles, or what-

ever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone!What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show anabominable sort o conceited independence, a most coun-try-town indifference to decorum.

It shows an affection or her sister that is very pleasing,


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said Bingley.I am araid, Mr. Darcy, observed Miss Bingley in a hal

whisper, that this adventure has rather affected your admi-ration o her fine eyes.

Not at all, he replied; they were brightened by the ex-ercise. A short pause ollowed this speech, and Mrs. Hurstbegan again:

I have a excessive regard or Miss Jane Bennet, she is re-ally a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were

well settled. But with such a ather and mother, and suchlow connections, I am araid there is no chance o it.

I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attor-ney on Meryton.

Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere nearCheapside.

Tat is capital, added her sister, and they both laughedheartily.I 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 o marry-

ing men o any consideration in the world, replied Darcy.o this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters

gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth orsome time at the expense o their dear riends vulgar rela-tions.

With a renewal o tenderness, however, they returned toher room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with hertill summoned to coffee. She was still very poorly, and Eliz-abeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening, when


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she had the comort o seeing her sleep, and when it seemedto her rather right than pleasant that she should go down-

stairs hersel. On entering the drawing-room she oundthe whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to jointhem; but suspecting them to be playing high she declinedit, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amusehersel or the short time she could stay below, with a book.Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

Do you preer 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 NO a great reader, and I have pleasure inmany things.

In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure, saidBingley; and I hope it will be soon increased by seeing herquite well.

Elizabeth thanked him rom her heart, and then walkedtowards the table where a ew books were lying. He im-mediately offered to etch her othersall that his libraryafforded.

And I wish my collection were larger or your benefit andmy own credit; but I am an idle ellow, and though I havenot many, I have more than I ever looked into.

Elizabeth assured him that she could suit hersel perect-ly with those in the room.

I am astonished, said Miss Bingley, that my athershould have lef so small a collection o books. What a de-


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lightul library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!It ought to be good, he replied, it has been the work o

many generations.And then you have added so much to it yoursel, you are

always buying books.I cannot comprehend the neglect o a amily library in

such days as these.Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to

the beauties o that noble place. Charles, when you build

YOUR house, I wish it may be hal as delightul as Pem-berley.

I wish it may.But I would really advise you to make your purchase in

that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley or a kind o mod-el. Tere is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.

With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itsel i Darcywill sell it.I am talking o 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 with what passed, as to

leave her very little attention or her book; and soon laying

it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table, and stationedhersel between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, to observethe game.

Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring? said MissBingley; will she be as tall as I am?

I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Ben-nets height, or rather taller.


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How I long to see her again! I never met with anybodywho delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such man-

ners! And so extremely accomplished or her age! Herperormance on the pianoorte is exquisite.

It is amazing to me, said Bingley, how young ladies canhave patience to be so very accomplished as they all are.

All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, whatdo you mean?

Yes, all o them, I think. Tey all paint tables, cover

screens, and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannotdo all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spokeno or the first time, without being inormed that she was

very accomplished.Your list o the common extent o accomplishments, said

Darcy, has too much truth. Te word is applied to many

a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting apurse or covering a screen. But I am very ar rom agreeingwith you in your estimation o ladies in general. I cannotboast o knowing more than hal-a-dozen, in the wholerange o my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.

Nor I, I am sure, said Miss Bingley.Ten, observed Elizabeth, you must comprehend a

great deal in your idea o an accomplished woman.Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it.Oh! certainly, cried his aithul assistant, no one can be

really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpasswhat is usually met with. A woman must have a thoroughknowledge o music, singing, drawing, dancing, and themodern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this,


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she must possess a certain something in her air and mannero walking, the tone o her voice, her address and expres-

sions, or the word will be but hal-deserved.All this she must possess, added Darcy, and to all this

she must yet add something more substantial, in the im-provement o her mind by extensive reading.

I am no longer surprised at your knowing ONLY six ac-complished women. I rather wonder now at your knowingANY.

Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the pos-sibility o all this?

I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity,and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describeunited.

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the

injustice o her implied doubt, and were both protestingthat they knew many women who answered this descrip-tion, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with bittercomplaints o their inattention to what was going orward.As all conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soonaferwards lef the room.

Elizabeth Bennet, said Miss Bingley, when the door was

closed on her, is one o those young ladies who seek to rec-ommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing theirown; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in myopinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.

Undoubtedly, replied Darcy, to whom this remark waschiefly addressed, there is a meanness in ALL the artswhich ladies sometimes condescend to employ or captiva-


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tion. 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 urgedMr. Jones being sent or immediately; while his sisters,convinced that no country advice could be o any service,recommended an express to town or one o the most emi-nent physicians. Tis she would not hear o; but she was not

so unwilling to comply with their brothers proposal; andit was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent or early in themorning, i Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingleywas quite uncomortable; his sisters declared that they weremiserable. Tey solaced their wretchedness, however, byduets afer supper, while he could find no better relie to his

eelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that ev-ery attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.


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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 o movingher. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.

Removed! cried Bingley. It must not be thought o. Mysister, I am sure, will not hear o her removal.

You may depend upon it, Madam, said Miss Bingley,with cold civility, that Miss Bennet will receive every pos-sible attention while she remains with us.

Mrs. Bennet was prouse in her acknowledgments.I am sure, she added, i it was not or such good riends

I do not know what would become o her, or she is very illindeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest pa-tience in the world, which is always the way with her, or shehas, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met

with. I ofen tell my other girls they are nothing to HER.You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charmingprospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in thecountry that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think oquitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a shortlease.

Whatever I do is done in a hurry, replied he; and there-

ore i I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probablybe off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myselas quite fixed here.

Tat is exactly what I should have supposed o you, saidElizabeth.

You begin to comprehend me, do you? cried he, turningtowards her.


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Oh! yesI understand you perectly.I wish I might take this or a compliment; but to be so

easily seen through I am araid is pitiul.Tat is as it happens. It does not ollow that a deep, in-

tricate character is more or less estimable than such a oneas yours.

Lizzy, cried her mother, remember where you are, anddo not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered todo at home.

I did not know beore, continued Bingley immediately,that your were a studier o character. It must be an amus-ing study.

Yes, but intricate characters are the MOS amusing.Tey have at least that advantage.

Te country, said Darcy, can in general supply but a ew

subjects or such a study. In a country neighbourhood youmove in a very confined and unvarying society.But people themselves alter so much, that there is some-

thing new to be observed in them or ever.Yes, indeed, cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his man-

ner o mentioning a country neighbourhood. I assure youthere is quite as much o HA going on in the country as

in town.Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, afer looking at her

or a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who an-cied she had gained a complete victory over him, continuedher triumph.

I cannot see that London has any great advantage overthe country, or my part, except the shops and public places.


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matter.Did Charlotte dine with you?

No, she would go home. I ancy she was wanted aboutthe mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep ser-

vants that can do their own work; MY daughters are broughtup very differently. But everybody is to judge or themselves,and the Lucases are a very good sort o girls, I assure you. Itis a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotteso VERY plainbut then she is our particular riend.

She seems a very pleasant young woman.Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady

Lucas hersel has ofen said so, and envied me Janes beauty.I do not like to boast o my own child, but to be sure, Janeone does not ofen see anybody better looking. It is whateverybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she

was only fifeen, there was a man at my brother Gardin-ers in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-lawwas sure he would make her an offer beore we came away.But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young.However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty theywere.

And so ended his affection, said Elizabeth impatiently.

Tere has been many a one, I ancy, overcome in the sameway. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy o poetry indriving away love!

I have been used to consider poetry as the FOOD o love,said Darcy.

O a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourish-es what is strong already. But i it be only a slight, thin sort


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o inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet willstarve it entirely away.

Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensuedmade Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be expos-ing hersel again. She longed to speak, but could think onothing to say; and afer a short silence Mrs. Bennet be-gan repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley or his kindnessto Jane, with an apology or troubling him also with Lizzy.Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and orced

his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occa-sion required. She perormed her part indeed without muchgraciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afer-wards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngesto her daughters put hersel orward. Te two girls had beenwhispering to each other during the whole visit, and the

result o it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingleywith having promised on his first coming into the countryto give a ball at Netherfield.

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl o fifeen, with a finecomplexion and good-humoured countenance; a avouritewith her mother, whose affection had brought her into pub-lic at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort

o natural sel-consequence, which the attention o the o-ficers, to whom her uncles good dinners, and her own easymanners recommended her, had increased into assurance.She was very equal, thereore, to address Mr. Bingley on thesubject o the ball, and abruptly reminded him o his prom-ise; adding, that it would be the most shameul thing in theworld i he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack


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was delightul to their mothers ear:I am perectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engage-

ment; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, i youplease, name the very day o the ball. But you would notwish to be dancing when she is ill.

Lydia declared hersel satisfied. Oh! yesit would bemuch better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time mostlikely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And whenyou have given YOUR ball, she added, I shall insist on their

giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite ashame i he does not.

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Eliz-abeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and herrelations behaviour to the remarks o the two ladies andMr. Darcy; the latter o whom, however, could not be pre-

vailed on to join in their censure o HER, in spite o all MissBingleys witticisms on FINE EYES.


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he day passed much as the day beore had done. Mrs.Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours o themorning with the invalid, who continued, though slowly,to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party in

the drawing-room. Te loo-table, however, did not appear.Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him,was watching the progress o his letter and repeatedly call-ing off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst andMr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observingtheir game.

Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficientlyamused in attending to what passed between Darcy and hiscompanion. Te perpetual commendations o the lady, ei-ther on his handwriting, or on the evenness o his lines, oron the length o his letter, with the perect unconcern withwhich her praises were received, ormed a curious dialogue,and was exactly in union with her opinion o each.

How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a let-ter!

He made no answer.You write uncommonly ast.You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.How many letters you must have occasion to write in

the course o a year! Letters o business, too! How odious I


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should think them!It is ortunate, then, that they all to my lot instead o

yours.Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.I have already told her so once, by your desire.I am araid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it or

you. I mend pens remarkably well.Tank youbut I always mend my own.How can you contrive to write so even?

He was silent.ell your sister I am delighted to hear o her improve-

ment on the harp; and pray let her know that I am quite inraptures with her beautiul little design or a table, and Ithink it infinitely superior to Miss Grantleys.

Will you give me leave to deer your raptures till I write

again? At present I have not room to do them justice.Oh! it is o no consequence. I shall see her in January.But do you always write such charming long letters to her,Mr. Darcy?

Tey are generally long; but whether always charming itis not or me to determine.

It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long

letter with ease, cannot write ill.Tat will not do or a compliment to Darcy, Caroline,

cried her brother, because he does NO write with ease.He studies too much or words o our syllables. Do not you,Darcy?

My style o writing is very different rom yours.Oh! cried Miss Bingley, Charles writes in the most care-


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less way imaginable. He leaves out hal his words, and blotsthe rest.

My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to expressthemby which means my letters sometimes convey noideas at all to my correspondents.

Your humility, Mr. Bingley, said Elizabeth, must dis-arm reproo.

Nothing is more deceitul, said Darcy, than the appear-ance o humility. It is ofen only carelessness o opinion,

and sometimes an indirect boast.And which o the two do you call MY little recent piece

o modesty?Te indirect boast; or you are really proud o your de-

ects in writing, because you consider them as proceedingrom a rapidity o thought and carelessness o execution,

which, i not estimable, you think at least highly interest-ing. Te power o doing anything with quickness is alwaysprized much by the possessor, and ofen without any atten-tion to the imperection o the perormance. When you toldMrs. Bennet this morning that i you ever resolved uponquitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes,you meant it to be a sort o panegyric, o compliment to

yourseland yet what is there so very laudable in a pre-cipitance which must leave very necessary business undone,and can be o no real advantage to yoursel or anyone else?

Nay, cried Bingley, this is too much, to remember atnight all the oolish things that were said in the morning.And yet, upon my honour, I believe what I said o mysel tobe true, and I believe it at this moment. At least, thereore, I


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did not assume the character o needless precipitance mere-ly to show off beore the ladies.

I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means con-vinced that you would be gone with such celerity. Yourconduct would be quite as dependent on chance as that oany man I know; and i, as you were mounting your horse,a riend were to say, Bingley, you had better stay till nextweek, you would probably do it, you would probably notgoand 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 haveshown him off now much more than he did himsel.

I am exceedingly gratified, said Bingley, by your con-verting what my riend says into a compliment on thesweetness o my temper. But I am araid you are giving it

a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend; orhe would certainly think better o me, i under such a cir-cumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as ast asI could.

Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness o youroriginal intentions as atoned or by your obstinacy in ad-hering to it?

Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter;Darcy must speak or himsel.

You expect me to account or opinions which you chooseto call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowingthe case, however, to stand according to your representa-tion, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the riend whois supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay


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o his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offeringone argument in avour o its propriety.

o yield readilyeasilyto the PERSUASION o ariend is no merit with you.

o yield without conviction is no compliment to the un-derstanding o either.

You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing or theinfluence o riendship and affection. A regard or the re-quester would ofen make one readily yield to a request,

without waiting or arguments to reason one into it. I amnot particularly speaking o such a case as you have sup-posed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, tillthe circumstance occurs beore we discuss the discretion ohis behaviour thereupon. But in general and ordinary casesbetween riend and riend, where one o them is desired by

the other to change a resolution o no very great moment,should you think ill o that person or complying with thedesire, without waiting to be argued into it?

Will it not be advisable, beore we proceed on this sub-ject, to arrange with rather more precision the degree oimportance which is to appertain to this request, as well asthe degree o intimacy subsisting between the parties?

By all means, cried Bingley; let us hear all the particu-lars, not orgetting their comparative height and size; orthat will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet,than you may be aware o. I assure you, that i Darcy werenot such a great tall ellow, in comparison with mysel, Ishould not pay him hal so much deerence. I declare I donot know a more awul object than Darcy, on particular


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occasions, and in particular places; at his own house espe-cially, and o a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do.

Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could per-ceive that he was rather offended, and thereore checked herlaugh. Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he hadreceived, in an expostulation with her brother or talkingsuch nonsense.

I see your design, Bingley, said his riend. You dislikean argument, and want to silence this.

Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. Iyou and Miss Bennet will deer yours till I am out o theroom, I shall be very thankul; and then you may say what-ever you like o 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 Bingleyand Elizabeth or an indulgence o some music. Miss Bing-ley moved with some alacrity to the pianoorte; and, afer apolite request that Elizabeth would lead the way which theother as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seatedhersel.

Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thusemployed, Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turnedover some music-books that lay on the instrument, how re-quently Mr. Darcys eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knewhow to suppose that she could be an object o admiration toso great a man; and yet that he should look at her because hedisliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine,


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however, at last that she drew his notice because there wassomething more wrong and reprehensible, according to his

ideas o right, than in any other person present. Te suppo-sition did not pain her. She liked him too little to care orhis approbation.

Afer playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied thecharm by a lively Scotch air; and soon aferwards Mr. Darcy,drawing near Elizabeth, said to her:

Do not you eel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize

such an opportunity o dancing a reel?She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the ques-

tion, with some surprise at her silence.Oh! said she, I heard you beore, but I could not im-

mediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, Iknow, to say Yes, that you might have the pleasure o de-

spising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing thosekind o schemes, and cheating a person o their premedi-tated contempt. I have, thereore, made up my mind to tellyou, that I do not want to dance a reel at alland now de-spise me i you dare.

Indeed I do not dare.Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was

amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture o sweet-ness and archness in her manner which made it difficult orher to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so be-witched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed,that were it not or the ineriority o her connections, heshould be in some danger.

Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and


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her great anxiety or the recovery o her dear riend Janereceived some assistance rom her desire o getting rid o

Elizabeth.She ofen tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest,

by talking o their supposed marriage, and planning hishappiness in such an alliance.

I hope, said she, as they were walking together in theshrubbery the next day, you will give your mother-in-lawa ew hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the

advantage o holding her tongue; and i you can compass it,do sure the younger girls o running afer officers. And, i Imay mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to check thatlittle something, bordering on conceit and impertinence,which your lady possesses.

Have you anything else to propose or my domestic e-

licity?Oh! yes. Do let the portraits o your uncle and aunt Phil-lips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next toyour great-uncle the judge. Tey are in the same proession,you know, only in different lines. As or your Elizabethspicture, you must not have it taken, or what painter coulddo justice to those beautiul eyes?

It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression,but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remark-ably fine, might be copied.

At that moment they were met rom another walk byMrs. Hurst and Elizabeth hersel.

I did not know that you intended to walk, said MissBingley, in some conusion, lest they had been overheard.


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You used us abominably ill, answered Mrs. Hurst, run-ning away without telling us that you were coming out.

Ten taking the disengaged arm o Mr. Darcy, she lefElizabeth to walk by hersel. Te path just admitted three.Mr. Darcy elt their rudeness, and immediately said:

Tis walk is not wide enough or our party. We had bet-ter go into the avenue.

But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to re-main with them, laughingly answered:

No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped,and appear to uncommon advantage. Te picturesquewould be spoilt by admitting a ourth. Good-bye.

She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, inthe hope o being at home again in a day or two. Jane wasalready so much recovered as to intend leaving her room or

a couple o hours that evening.


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When the ladies removed afer dinner, Elizabeth ranup to her sister, and seeing her well guarded romcold, attended her into the drawing-room, where she waswelcomed by her two riends with many proessions o plea-

sure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as theywere during the hour which passed beore the gentlemenappeared. Teir powers o conversation were considerable.Tey could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relatean anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintancewith spirit.

But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer thefirst object; Miss Bingleys eyes were instantly turned to-ward Darcy, and she had something to say to him beorehe had advanced many steps. He addressed himsel to MissBennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also madeher a slight bow, and said he was very glad; but diffusenessand warmth remained or Bingleys salutation. He was ull

o joy and attention. Te first hal-hour was spent in pilingup the fire, lest she should suffer rom the change o room;and she removed at his desire to the other side o the fire-place, that she might be urther rom the door. He then satdown by her, and talked scarcely to anyone 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


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o the card-tablebut in vain. She had obtained private in-telligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish or cards; and Mr.

Hurst soon ound even his open petition rejected. She as-sured him that no one intended to play, and the silence othe whole party on the subject seemed to justiy her. Mr.Hurst had thereore nothing to do, but to stretch himselon one o the soas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book;Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally oc-cupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now

and then in her brothers conversation with Miss Bennet.Miss Bingleys attention was quite as much engaged in

watching Mr. Darcys progress through HIS book, as inreading her own; and she was perpetually either makingsome inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him,however, to any conversation; he merely answered her ques-

tion, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attemptto be amused with her own book, which she had only cho-sen because it was the second volume o his, she gave a greatyawn and said, How pleasant it is to spend an evening inthis way! I declare afer all there is no enjoyment like read-ing! How much sooner one tires o anything than o a book!When I have a house o my own, I shall be miserable i 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 questor some amusement; when hearing her brother mention-ing a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards himand said:

By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating


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a dance at Netherfield? I would advise you, beore you de-termine on it, to consult the wishes o the present party; I

am much mistaken i there are not some among us to whoma ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.

I you mean Darcy, cried her brother, he may go to bed,i he chooses, beore it beginsbut as or the ball, it is quitea settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soupenough, I shall send round my cards.

I should like balls infinitely better, she replied, i they

were carried on in a different manner; but there is some-thing insufferably tedious in the usual process o such ameeting. It would surely be much more rational i conversa-tion instead o dancing were made the order o the day.

Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but itwould not be near so much like a ball.

Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon aferwardsshe got up and walked about the room. Her figure was el-egant, and she walked well; but Darcy, at whom it was allaimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation oher eelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, turningto Elizabeth, said:

Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to ollow my ex-

ample, and take a turn about the room. I assure you it isvery rereshing afer sitting so long in one attitude.

Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediate-ly. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object o hercivility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake tothe novelty o attention in that quarter as Elizabeth her-sel could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was


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directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, ob-serving that he could imagine but two motives or their

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