been calculated to please in general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of
temper than her sister, and with a judgement 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 making themselves agreeable when 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 a 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.
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His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, though he was now only
established 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 great opposition of
character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and 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 judgement 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 offense.
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic.
Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or prettier girls in his life; everybody 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 would not object to know more of. Miss
Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such
commendation to think of her as he chose.
Chapter 5
Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly
intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a
tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his
mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his
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business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, in 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 everybody. By nature
inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.
Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs.
Bennet. They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman,
about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.
That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely
necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to
communicate.
"YOU began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet with civil self-command to Miss
Lucas. "YOU were Mr. Bingley's first choice."
"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better."
"Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be sure that DID seem as
if he admired her—indeed I rather believe he DID—I heard something about it—but I hardly
know what—something about Mr. Robinson."
"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not I mention it to
you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not
think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and WHICH he thought the prettiest?
and his answering immediately to the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt;
there cannot be two opinions on that point.'"
"Upon my word! Well, that is 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."
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"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a
disagreeable man, that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last
night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips."
"Are you quite sure, ma'am?—is not there a little mistake?" said Jane. "I certainly saw Mr. Darcy
speaking to her."
"Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he could not help answering
her; but she said he seemed quite angry at being spoke to."