of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you
THERE. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read
great books and make extracts."
Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.
"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley."
4
"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.
"I am sorry to hear THAT; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this
morning I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid
the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now."
The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing
the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she
had expected all the while.
"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was
sure you loved 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 choose," 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 acquaintances every day; but for your
sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you ARE the youngest, I dare say Mr.
Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."
"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I AM the youngest, I'm the tallest."
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit,
and determining when they should ask him to dinner.
Chapter 3
Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the
subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley.
They attacked him in various ways—with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and
distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at last obliged to accept the
second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir
William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely
agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party.
5
Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in
love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.
"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her
husband, "and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for."
In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his
library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose
beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate,
for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat, and
rode a black horse.
An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned
the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it
all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept
the honour of their invitation, etc. 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 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 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
6
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 everybody 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 hear 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."