pride and prejudice chapter 6 to 11

8/12/2019 Pride and Prejudice Chapter 6 to 11

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Chapter VI

THE LADIES of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was

returned in due form. Miss Bennets !leasing manners grew on the goodwill of

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingle"# and though the mother was found to be intolerable$and the "ounger sisters not worth s!ea%ing to$ a wish of being better a&'uainted

with themwas e(!ressed towards the two eldest. B" )ane this attention was

re&eived with the greatest !leasure# but Eli*abeth still saw su!er&iliousness in their

treatment of ever"bod"$ hardl" e(&e!ting even her sister$ and &ould not li%e them#

though their %indness to )ane$ su&h as it was$ had a value$ as arising$ in all

!robabilit"$ from the influen&e of their brothers admiration. It was generall"

evident$ whenever the" met$ that he didadmire her# and to herit was e'uall"

evident that )ane was "ielding to the !referen&e whi&h she had begun to entertain

for him from the first$ and was in a wa" to be ver" mu&h in love# but she

&onsidered with !leasure that it was not li%el" to be dis&overed b" the world ingeneral$ sin&e )ane united with great strength of feelings$ a &om!osure of tem!er

and a uniform &heerfulness of manner whi&h would guard her from the sus!i&ions

of the im!ertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lu&as.

+It ma"$ !erha!s$ be !leasant$ re!lied ,harlotte$ +to be able to im!ose on the

!ubli& in su&h a &ase# but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so ver" guarded. If

a woman &on&eals her affe&tion with the same s%ill from the ob-e&t of it$ she ma"

lose the o!!ortunit" of fi(ing him# and it will then be but !oor &onsolation to

believe the world e'uall" in the dar%. There is so mu&h of gratitude or vanit" in

almost ever" atta&hment$ that it is not safe to leave an" to itself. e &an allbeginfreel"/a slight !referen&e is natural enough# but there are ver" few of us

who have heart enough to be reall" in love without en&ouragement.

In nine &ases out of ten$ a woman had better show moreaffe&tion than she

feels. Bingle" li%es "our sister undoubtedl"# but he ma" never do more than

li%e her$ if she does not hel! him on.

+But she does hel! him on$ as mu&h as her nature will allow. IfI&an

!er&eive her regard for him$ he must be a sim!leton indeed not to dis&over it

too.

+0emember$ Eli*a$ that he does not %now )anes dis!osition as "ou do.

+But if a woman is !artial to a man$ and does not endeavour to &on&eal it$ he

must find it out.

+1erha!s he must$ if he sees enough of her. But though Bingle" and )ane meet


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tolerabl" often$ it is never in for man" hours together# and as the" alwa"s see ea&h

other in large mi(ed !arties$ it is im!ossible that ever" moment should be

em!lo"ed in &onversing together. )ane should therefore ma%e the most of ever"

half2hour in whi&h she &an &ommand his attention. hen she is se&ure of him$

there will be leisure for falling in love as mu&h as she &hooses.

+3our !lan is a good one$ re!lied Eli*abeth$ +where nothing is in 'uestion but

the desire of being well married# and if I were determined to get a ri&h husband$ or

an" husband$ I daresa" I should ado!t it. But these are not )anes feelings# she is

not a&ting b" design. As "et she &annot even be &ertain of the degree of her own

regard$ nor of its reasonableness. She has %nown him onl" a fortnight. She dan&ed

four dan&es with him at Mer"ton# she saw him one morning at his own house$ and

has sin&e dined in &om!an" with him four times. This is not 'uite enough to ma%e

her understand his &hara&ter.

+Not as "ou re!resent it. Had she merel" dinedwith him$ she might onl" havedis&overed whether he had a good a!!etite# but "ou must remember that four

evenings have been also s!ent together/and four evenings ma" do a great deal.

+3es4 these four evenings have enabled them to as&ertain that the" both li%e

5ingt2un better than ,ommer&e$ but with res!e&t to an" other leading

&hara&teristi&$ I do not imagine that mu&h has been unfolded.

+ell$ said ,harlotte$ +I wish )ane su&&ess with all m" heart# and if she were

married to him to2morrow$ I should thin% she had as good a &han&e of ha!!iness

as if she were to be stud"ing his &hara&ter for a twelvemonth. Ha!!iness in

marriage is entirel" a matter of &han&e. If the dis!ositions of the !arties are ever

so well %nown to ea&h other$ or ever so similar beforehand$ it does not advan&e

their feli&it" in the least. The" alwa"s &ontinue to grow suffi&ientl" unli%e

afterwards to have their share of ve(ation# and it is better to %now as little as

!ossible of the defe&ts of the !erson with whom "ou are to !ass "our life.

+3ou ma%e me laugh$ ,harlotte# but it is not sound. 3ou %now it is not sound$

and that "ou would never a&t in this wa" "ourself.

6&&u!ied in observing Mr. Bingle"s attentions to her sister$ Eli*abeth was far

from sus!e&ting that she was herself be&oming an ob-e&t of some interest in thee"es of his friend. Mr. Dar&" had at first s&ar&el" allowed her to be !rett"4 he had

loo%ed at her without admiration at the ball# and when the" ne(t met$ he loo%ed at

her onl" to &riti&ise. But no sooner had he made it &lear to himself and his friends

that she had hardl" a good feature in her fa&e$ than he began to find it was rendered

un&ommonl" intelligent b" the beautiful e(!ression of her dar% e"es. To this

dis&over" su&&eeded some others e'uall" mortif"ing. Though he had dete&ted with


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a &riti&al e"e more than one failure of !erfe&t s"mmetr" in her form$ he was for&ed

to a&%nowledge her figure to be light and !leasing# and in s!ite of his asserting that

her manners were not those of the fashionable world$ he was &aught b" their eas"

!la"fulness. 6f this she was !erfe&tl" unaware4 to her he was onl" the man who

made himself agreeable nowhere$ and who had not thought her handsome enough

to dan&e with.

He began to wish to %now more of her# and$ as a ste! towards &onversing with

her himself$ attended to her &onversation with others. His doing so drew her

noti&e. It was at Sir illiam Lu&ass$ where a large !art" were assembled.

+hat does Mr. Dar&" mean$ said she to ,harlotte$ 7 +b" listening to m"

&onversation with ,olonel 8orster9

+That is a 'uestion whi&h Mr. Dar&" onl" &an answer.

+But if he does it an" more$ I shall &ertainl" let him %now that I see what he

is about. He has a ver" satiri&al e"e$ and if I do not begin b" being

im!ertinent m"self$ I shall soon grow afraid of him.

6n his a!!roa&hing them soon afterwards$ though without seeming to have an"

intention of s!ea%ing$ Miss Lu&as defied her friend to mention su&h a sub-e&t to

him$ whi&h immediatel" !rovo%ing Eli*abeth to do it$ she turned to him and said$

/

+Did not "ou thin%$ Mr. Dar&"$ that I e(!ressed m"self un&ommonl" well -ust

now$ when I was teasing ,olonel 8orster to give us a ball at Mer"ton9+ith great energ"# but it is a sub-e&t whi&h alwa"s ma%es a lad" energeti&.

+3ou are severe on us.

+It will be herturn soon to be teased$ said Miss Lu&as.

+I am going to o!en the instrument$ Eli*a$ and "ou %now what follows.

+3ou are a ver" strange &reature b" wa" of a friend:/alwa"s wanting me to

!la" and sing before an"bod" and ever"bod": If m" vanit" had ta%en a musi&al

turn$ "ou would have been invaluable# but as it is$ I would reall" rather not sitdown before those who must be in the habit of hearing the ver" best !erformers.

6n Miss Lu&ass !ersevering$ however$ she added$ +5er" well# if it must be so$ it

must. And gravel" glan&ing at Mr. Dar&"$ +There is a ver" fine old sa"ing$ whi&h

ever"bod" here is of &ourse familiar with/;


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Her !erforman&e was !leasing$ though b" no means &a!ital. After a song or

two$ and before she &ould re!l" to the entreaties of several that she would sing

again$ she was eagerl" su&&eeded at the instrument b" her sister Marr"$ who

having$ in &onse'uen&e of being the onl" !lain one in the famil"$ wor%ed hard

for %nowledge and a&&om!lishments$ was alwa"s im!atient for dis!la".

Mar" had neither genius nor taste# and though vanit" had given her a!!li&ation$ it

had given her li%ewise a !edanti& air and &on&eited manner$ whi&h would have

in-ured a higher degree of e(&ellen&e than she had rea&hed. Eli*abeth$ eas" and

unaffe&ted$ had been listened to with mu&h more !leasure$ though not !la"ing half

so well# and Mar"$ at the end of a long &on&erto$ was glad to !ur&hase !raise and

gratitude b" S&ot&h and Irish airs$ at the re'uest of her "ounger sisters$ who with

some of the Lu&ases$ and two or three offi&ers$ -oined eagerl" in dan&ing at one

end of the room.

Mr. Dar&" stood near them in silent indignation at su&h a mode of !assing theevening$ to the e(&lusion of all &onversation$ and was too mu&h engrossed b" his

own thoughts to !er&eive that Sir illiam Lu&as was his neighbour$ till Sir

illiam thus began4/

+hat a &harming amusement for "oung !eo!le this is$ Mr. Dar&": There is

nothing li%e dan&ing$ after all. I &onsider it as one of the first refinements of

!olished so&ieties.

+,ertainl"$ sir# and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less

!olished so&ieties of the world# ever" savage &an dan&e.

Sir illiam onl" smiled. +3our friend !erforms delightfull"$ he &ontinued$

after a !ause$ on seeing Bingle" -oin the grou!# +and I doubt not that "ou are

an ade!t in the s&ien&e "ourself$ Mr. Dar&".

+3ou saw me dan&e at Mer"ton$ I believe$ sir.

+3es$ indeed$ and re&eived no in&onsiderable !leasure from the sight. Do "ou

often dan&e at St.

)amess9

+Never$ sir.

+Do "ou not thin% it would be a !ro!er &om!liment to the !la&e9

+It is a &om!liment whi&h I never !a" to an" !la&e if I &an avoid it.

+3ou have a house in town$ I &on&lude.


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Mr. Dar&" bowed.

+I had on&e some thoughts of fi(ing in town m"self$ for I am fond of su!erior

so&iet"# but I did not feel

'uite &ertain that the air of London would agree with Lad" Lu&as.

He !aused in ho!es of an answer# but his &om!anion was not dis!osed to ma%e

an"# and Eli*abeth at that instant moving towards them$ he was stru&% with the

notion of doing a ver" gallant thing$ and &alled out to her$/

+M" dear Miss Eli*a$ wh" are not "ou dan&ing9 Mr. Dar&"$ "ou must allow

me to !resent this "oung lad" to "ou as a ver" desirable !artner. 3ou &annot

refuse to dan&e$ I am sure$ when so mu&h beaut" is before "ou. And$ ta%ing her

hand$ he would have given it to Mr. Dar&"$ who$ though e(tremel" sur!rised$

was not unwilling to re&eive it$ when she instantl" drew ba&%$ and said withsome dis&om!osure to Sir illiam$/

+Indeed$ sir$ I have not the least intention of dan&ing. I entreat "ou not to

su!!ose that I moved this wa" in order to beg for a !artner.

Mr. Dar&"$ with grave !ro!riet"$ re'uested to be allowed the honour of her

hand$ but in vain. Eli*abeth was determined# nor did Sir illiam at all sha%e her

!ur!ose b" his attem!t at !ersuasion.

+3ou e(&el so mu&h in the dan&e$ Miss Eli*a$ that it is &ruel to den" me theha!!iness of seeing "ou# and though this gentleman disli%es the amusement in

general$ he &an have no ob-e&tion$ I am sure$ to

oblige us for one halfhour.

+Mr. Dar&" is all !oliteness$ said Eli*abeth$ smiling.

+He is$ indeed4 but &onsidering the indu&ement$ m" dear Miss Eli*a$ we &annot

wonder at his

&om!laisan&e# for who would ob-e&t to su&h a !artner9 Eli*abeth loo%ed ar&hl"$

and turned awa". Her resistan&e had not in-ured her with the gentleman$ and he

was thin%ing of her with some &om!la&en&"$ when thus a&&osted b" Miss Bingle"$

/


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+I &an guess the sub-e&t of "our reverie.

+I should imagine not.

+3ou are &onsidering how insu!!ortable it would be to !ass man" evenings in

this manner$/in su&h so&iet"# and$ indeed$ I am 'uite of "our o!inion. I was

never more anno"ed: The insi!idit"$ and "et the noise/the nothingness$ and "et

the self2im!ortan&e$ of all these !eo!le: hat would I give to hear "our stri&tures

on them:

+3our &on-e&ture is totall" wrong$ I assure "ou. M" mind was more agreeabl"

engaged. I have been meditating on the ver" great !leasure whi&h a !air of fine

e"es in the fa&e of a !rett" woman &an bestow.

Miss Bingle" immediatel" fi(ed her e"es on his fa&e$ and desired he would

tell her what lad" had the &redit of ins!iring su&h refle&tions. Mr. Dar&" re!lied$

with great intre!idit"$/

+Miss Eli*abeth Bennet.

+Miss Eli*abeth Bennet: re!eated Miss Bingle". +I am all astonishment. How

long has she been su&h a favourite9 and !ra" when am I to wish "ou -o"9

+That is e(a&tl" the 'uestion whi&h I e(!e&ted "ou to as%. A lad"s

imagination is ver" ra!id# it -um!s from admiration to love$ from love to

matrimon"$ in a moment. I %new "ou would be wishing me -o".

+Na"$ if "ou are so serious about it$ I shall &onsider the matter as absolutel"

settled. 3ou will have a &harming mother2in2law$ indeed$ and of &ourse she

will be alwa"s at 1emberle" with "ou.

He listened to her with !erfe&t indifferen&e$ while she &hose to entertain herself

in this manner# and as his &om!osure &onvin&ed her that all was safe$ her wit

flowed along.

Chapter VII

M0. BENNETS !ro!ert" &onsisted almost entirel" in an estate of two

thousand a "ear$ whi&h unfortunatel" for his daughters$ was entailed$ in default

of heirs2male$ on a distant relation# and their mothers fortune$ though am!le

for her situation in life$ &ould but ill su!!l" the defi&ien&" of his. Her father

had been an attorne" in Mer"ton$ and had left her four thousand !ounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. 1hili!s$ who had been a &ler% to their father$


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and su&&eeded him in the business$ and a brother settled in London$ in a

res!e&table line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was onl" one mile from f Mer"ton# a most &onvenient

distan&e for the "oung ladies$ who were usuall" tem!ted thither three or four times

a wee%$ to !a" their dut" to their aunt$ and to a milliners sho! -ust over the wa".The two "oungest of the famil"$ ,atherine and L"dia$ were !arti&ularl" fre'uent in

these attentions4 their minds were more va&ant than their sister# and when nothing

better offered$ a wal% to Mer"ton was ne&essar" to amuse their morning hours and

furnish &onversation for the evening# and$ however bare of news the &ountr" in

general might be$ the" alwa"s &ontrived to learn some from their aunt. At !resent$

indeed$ the" were well su!!lied both with news and ha!!iness b" the re&ent arrival

of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood# it was to remain the whole winter$ and

Mer"ton was the head'uarters.

Their visits to Mrs. 1hili!s were now !rodu&tive of the most interestingintelligen&e. Ever" da" added something to their %nowledge of the offi&ers names

and &onne&tions. Their lodgings were not long a se&ret$ and at length the" began to

%now the offi&ers themselves. Mr. 1hili!s visited them all$ and this o!ened to his

nie&es a sour&e of feli&it" un%nown before. The" &ould tal% of nothing but offi&ers#

and Mr. Bingle"s large fortune$ the mention of whi&h gave animation to their

mother$ was worthless in their e"es when o!!osed to the regimentals of an ensign.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this sub-e&t$ Mr. Bennet &ooll"

observed$/

+8rom all that I &an &olle&t b" "our manner of tal%ing$ "ou must be two of the

silliest girls in the &ountr". I have sus!e&ted it some time$ but I am now

&onvin&ed.

,atherine was dis&on&erted$ and made no answer# but L"dia$ with !erfe&t

indifferen&e$ &ontinued to e(!ress her admiration of ,a!tain ,arter$ and her ho!e

of seeing him in the &ourse of the da"$ as he was going the ne(t morning to

London.

+I am astonished$ m" dear$ said Mrs. Bennet$ +that "ou should be so read" tothin% "our own &hildren sill". If I wished to thin% slightingl" of an"bod"s

&hildren$ it should not be of m" own$ however.

+If m" &hildren are sill"$ I must ho!e to be alwa"s sensible of it.

+3es# but as it ha!!ens$ the" are all of them ver" &lever.


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+This is the onl" !oint$ I flatter m"self$ on whi&h we do not agree. I had

ho!ed that our sentiments &oin&ided in ever" !arti&ular$ but I must so far differ

from "ou as to thin% our two "oungest daughters un&ommonl" foolish.

+M" dear Mr. Bennet$ "ou must not e(!e&t su&h girls to have the sense of their

father and mother. hen the" get to our age$ I daresa" the" will not thin% aboutoffi&ers an" more than we do. I remember the time when I li%ed a red &oat m"self

ver" well/and$ indeed$ so I do still at m" heart# and if a smart "oung &olonel$ with

five or si( thousand a "ear$ should want one of m" girls$ I shall not sa" na" to him#

and I thought ,olonel 8orster loo%ed ver" be&oming the other night at Sir

illiams in his regimentals.

+Mamma$ &ried L"dia$ +m" aunt sa"s that ,olonel 8orster and ,a!tain

,arter do not go so often to Miss atsons as the" did when the" first &ame#

she sees them now ver" often standing in ,lar%es librar".

Mrs. Bennet was !revented re!l"ing b" the entran&e of the footman with a note

for Miss Bennet# it &ame from Netherfield$ and the servant waited for an answer.

Mrs. Bennets e"es s!ar%led with !leasure$ and she was eagerl" &alling out$ while

her daughter read$/

+ell$ )ane$ who is it from9 hat is it about9 hat does he sa"9 ell$ )ane$

ma%e haste and tell us# ma%e haste$ m" love.

+It is from Miss Bingle"$ said )ane$ and then

read it aloud.+M3 DEA0 80IEND/If "ou are not so

&om!assionate as to dine to2da" with

Louisa and

me$ we shall be in danger of hating ea&h

other for the rest of our lives# for a whole

da"s

t>te2?2t>te between two women &an never

end without a 'uarrel. ,ome as soon as "ou

&anon the re&ei!t of this. M" brother and the

gentlemen are to dine with the offi&ers.

3ours ever$


9/31

+,A06LI

NE

BIN@LE

3

+ith the offi&ers: &ried L"dia4 +I wonder m" aunt did not tell us of that.

+Dining out$ said Mrs. Bennet# +that is ver" unlu&%".

+,an I have the &arriage9 said )ane.

+No$ m" dear$ "ou had better go on horseba&%$ be&ause it seems li%el" to rain#

and then "ou must sta" all night.

+That would be a good s&heme$ said Eli*abeth$ +if "ou were sure that the"

would not offer to send her home.

+6h$ but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingle"s &haise to go to Mer"ton# and the

Hursts have no horses to theirs.

+I had mu&h rather go in the &oa&h.

+But$ m" dear$ "our father &annot s!are the horses$ I am sure. The" are wanted in

the farm$ Mr. Bennet$ are not the"9

+The" are wanted in the farm mu&h oftener than I &an get them.

+But if "ou have got them to2da"$ said Eli*abeth$ +m" mothers !ur!ose will be

answered.

She did at last e(tort from her father an a&%nowledgment that the horses were

engaged# )ane was therefore obliged to go on horseba&%$ and her mother attended

her to the door with man" &heerful !rognosti&s of a bad da". Her ho!es were

answered# )ane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were

uneas" for her$ but her mother was delighted. The rain &ontinued the whole

evening without intermission# )ane &ertainl" &ould not &ome ba&%.

+This was a lu&%" idea of mine$ indeed: said Mrs. Bennet$ more than on&e$ as ifthe &redit of ma%ing it rain were all her own. Till the ne(t morning$ however$ she

was not aware of all the feli&it" of her &ontrivan&e. Brea%fast was s&ar&el" over

when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Eli*abeth4/

+M3 DEA0EST LI3/I find m"self ver" unwell this morning$

whi&h$ I su!!ose$ is to be im!uted to m" getting wet through


10/31

"esterda". M" %ind friends will not hear of m" returning home till I

am better. The" insist also on m" seeing Mr. )ones/therefore do not

be alarmed if "ou should hear of his having been to me/and$

e(&e!ting a sore throat and a heada&he$ there is not mu&h the matter

with me.

+3o

urs$

et&.

+ell$ m" dear$ said Mr. Bennet$ when Eli*abeth had read the note aloud$ +if

"our daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness/if she should die/it

would be a &omfort to %now that it was all in !ursuit of Mr. Bingle"$ and under

"our orders.

+6h$ I am not at all afraid of her d"ing. 1eo!le do not die of little trifling &olds.

She will be ta%en good &are of. As long as she sta"s there$ it is all ver" well. I

would go and see her if I &ould have the &arriage.

Eli*abeth$ feeling reall" an(ious$ determined to go to her though the &arriage

was not to be had4 and as she was no horsewoman$ wal%ing was her onl"

alternative. She de&lared her resolution.

+How &an "ou be so sill"$ &ried her mother$ +as to thin% of su&h a thing$ in all

this dirt: 3ou will not be fit to be seen when "ou get there.

+I shall be ver" fit to see )ane/whi&h is all I want.

+Is this a hint to me$ Li**"$ said her father$ +to send for the horses9

+No$ indeed. I do not wish to avoid the wal%. The distan&e is nothing$ when one

has a motive# onl" three miles. I shall be ba&% b" dinner.

+I admire the a&tivit" of "our benevolen&e$ observed Mar"$ +but ever"

im!ulse of feeling should be guided b" reason# and$ in m" o!inion$ e(ertion

should alwa"s be in !ro!ortion to what is re'uired.

+e will go as far as Mer"ton with "ou$ said ,atherine and L"dia. Eli*abeth

a&&e!ted their &om!an"$ and the three "oung ladies set off together.

+If we ma%e haste$ said L"dia$ as the" wal%ed along$ 7 +!erha!s we ma"

see something of ,a!tain ,arter$ before he goes.

In Mer"ton the" !arted4 the two "oungest re!aired to the lodgings of one of the

offi&ers wives$ and Eli*abeth &ontinued her wal% alone$ &rossing field after field


11/31

at a 'ui&% !a&e$ -um!ing over stiles and s!ringing over !uddles$ with im!atient

a&tivit"$ and finding herself at last within view of the house$ with wear" an%les$

dirt" sto&%ings$ and a fa&e glowing with the warmth of e(er&ise.

She was shown into the brea%fast !arlour$ where all but )ane were assembled$

and where her a!!earan&e &reated a great deal of sur!rise. That she should havewal%ed three miles so earl" in the da" in su&h dirt" weather$ and b" herself$ was

almost in&redible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingle"# and Eli*abeth was &onvin&ed

that the" held her in &ontem!t for it. She was re&eived$ however$ ver" !olitel" b"

them# and in their brothers manners there was something better than !oliteness/

there was good2humour and %indness. Mr. Dar&" said ver" little$ and Mr. Hurst

nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brillian&" whi&h

e(er&ise had given to her &om!le(ion and doubt as to the o&&asions -ustif"ing her

&oming so far alone. The latter was thin%ing onl" of his brea%fast.

Her in'uiries after her sister were not ver" favourabl" answered. Miss Bennethad sle!t ill$ and$ though u!$ was ver" feverish$ and not well enough to leave her

room. Eli*abeth was glad to be ta%en to her immediatel"# and )ane$ who had onl"

been withheld b" the fear of giving alarm or in&onvenien&e$ from e(!ressing in

her note how mu&h she longed for su&h a visit$ was delighted at her entran&e. She

was not e'ual$ however$ to mu&h &onversation# and when Miss Bingle" left them

together$ &ould attem!t little beside e(!ressions of gratitude for the e(traordinar"

%indness she was treated with. Eli*abeth silentl" attended her.

hen brea%fast was over$ the" were -oined b" the sisters# and Eli*abeth began to

li%e them herself$ when she saw how mu&h affe&tion and soli&itude the" showed

for )ane. The a!othe&ar" &ame# and having e(amined his !atient$ said$ as might be

su!!osed$ that she had &aught a violent &old$ and that the" must endeavour to get

the better of it# advised her to return to bed$ and !romised her some draughts. The

advi&e was followed readil"$ for the feverish s"m!toms in&reased$ and her head

a&hed a&utel". Eli*abeth did not 'uit her room for a moment$ nor were the other

ladies often absent# the gentlemen being out$ the" had in fa&t nothing to do

elsewhere.

hen the &lo&% stru&% three$ Eli*abeth felt that she must go$ and ver"

unwillingl" said so. Miss Bingle" offered her the &arriage$ and she onl" wanted a

little !ressing to a&&e!t it$ when )ane testified su&h &on&ern at !arting with her that

Miss Bingle" was obliged to &onvert the offer of the &haise into an invitation to

remain at Netherfield for the !resent. Eli*abeth most than%full" &onsented$ and a

servant was des!at&hed to Longbourn$ to a&'uaint the famil" with her sta"$ and

bring ba&% a su!!l" of &lothes.


12/31

Chapter VIII

AT five o&lo&% the two ladies retired to dress$ and at half2!ast si( Eli*abeth was

summoned to dinner. To the &ivil in'uiries whi&h then !oured in$ and amongstwhi&h she had the !leasure of distinguishing the mu&h su!erior soli&itude of Mr.

Bingle"$ she &ould not ma%e a ver" favourable answer. )ane was b" no means

better. The sisters$ on hearing this$ re!eated three or four times how mu&h the"

were grieved$ how sho&%ing it was to have a bad &old$ and how e(&essivel" the"

disli%ed being ill themselves# and then thought no more of the matter4 and their

indifferen&e towards )ane$ when not immediatel" before them$ restored Eli*abeth

to the en-o"ment of all her original disli%e.

Their brother$ indeed$ was the onl" one of the !art" whom she &ould regard with

an" &om!la&en&". His an(iet" for )ane was evident$ and his attentions to herselfmost !leasing# and the" !revented her feeling herself so mu&h an intruder as she

believed she was &onsidered b" the others. She had ver" little noti&e from an" but

him. Miss Bingle" was engrossed b" Mr. Dar&"$ her sister s&ar&el" less so# and as

for Mr. Hurst$ b" whom Eli*abeth sat$ he was an indolent man$ who lived onl" to

eat$ drin%$ and !la" at &ards$ who$ when he found her !refer a !lain dish to a

ragout$ had nothing to sa" to her.

hen dinner was over$ she returned dire&tl" to )ane$ and Miss Bingle" began

abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were !ronoun&ed to

be ver" bad indeed$/a mi(ture of !ride and im!ertinen&e4 she had no&onversation$ no st"le$ no taste$ no beaut". Mrs. Hurst thought the same$ and

added$/

+She has nothing$ in short$ to re&ommend her$ but being an e(&ellent wal%er.

I shall never forget her a!!earan&e this morning. She reall" loo%ed almost

wild.

+She did$ indeed$ Louisa. I &ould hardl" %ee! m" &ountenan&e. 5er" nonsensi&al

to &ome at all: h" mustshebe s&am!ering about the &ountr"$ be&ause her sister

had a &old9 Her hair so untid"$ so blows":

+3es$ and her !etti&oat# I ho!e "ou saw her !etti&oat$ si( in&hes dee! in mud$

I am absolutel" &ertain$ and the gown whi&h had been let down to hide it not

doing its offi&e.

+3our !i&ture ma" be ver" e(a&t$ Louisa$ said Bingle"# 7 +but this was all lost

u!on me. I thought Miss Eli*abeth Bennet loo%ed remar%abl" well when she &ame


13/31

into the room this morning. Her dirt" !etti&oat 'uite es&a!ed m" noti&e.

+Youobserved it$ Mr. Dar&"$ I am sure$ said Miss Bingle"# +and I am in&lined

to thin% that "ou would not wish to seeyour sisterma%e su&h an e(hibition.

+,ertainl" not.

+To wal% three miles$ or four miles$ or five miles$ or whatever it is$ above her

an%les in dirt$ and alone$ 'uite alone: what &ould she mean b" it9 It seems to me

to show an abominable sort of &on&eited inde!enden&e$ a most &ountr"town

indifferen&e to de&orum.

+It shows an affe&tion for her sister that is ver" !leasing$ said Bingle".

+I am afraid$ Mr. Dar&"$ observed Miss Bingle"$ in a half whis!er$ +that

this adventure has rather affe&ted "our admiration of her fine e"es.

+Not at all$ he re!lied4 +the" were brightened b" the e(er&ise. A short !ause

followed this s!ee&h$ and Mrs. Hurst began again$/

+I have an e(&essive regard for )ane Bennet$/she is reall" a ver" sweet girl$

/and I wish with all m" heart she were well settled. But with su&h a father and

mother$ and su&h low &onne&tions$ I am afraid there is no &han&e of it.

+I thin% I have heard "ou sa" that their un&le is an attorne" in Mer"ton9

+3es# and the" have another$ who lives somewhere near ,hea!side.

+That is &a!ital$ added her sister# and the" both laughed heartil".

+If the" had un&les enough to fill all,hea!side$ &ried Bingle"$ +it would not

ma%e them one -ot less agreeable.

+But it must ver" materiall" lessen their &han&e of marr"ing men of an"

&onsideration in the world$ re!lied Dar&".

To this s!ee&h Bingle" made no answer# but his sisters gave it their heart"

assent$ and indulged their mirth for some time at the e(!ense of their dear

friends vulgar relations.

ith a renewal of tenderness$ however$ the" re!aired to her room on leaving the

dining2!arlour$ and sat with her till summoned to &offee. She was still ver" !oorl"$

and Eli*abeth would not 'uit her at all$ till late in the evening$ when she had the

&omfort of seeing her aslee!$ and when it a!!eared to her rather right than !leasant

that she should go downstairs herself. 6n entering the drawing2room$ she found the


14/31


15/31

+ith all m" heart4 I will bu" 1emberle" itself$ if Dar&" will sell it.

+I am tal%ing of !ossibilities$ ,harles.

+!on m" word$ ,aroline$ I should thin% it more !ossible to get 1emberle" b"

!ur&hase than b"imitation.

Eli*abeth was so mu&h &aught b" what !assed as to leave her ver" little attention

for her boo%# and soon la"ing it wholl" aside$ she drew near the &ard2table$ and

stationed herself between Mr. Bingle" and his

eldest sister$ to observe the game.

+Is Miss Dar&" mu&h grown sin&e the s!ring9 said Miss Bingle"4 +will she be as

tall as I am9

+I thin% she will. She is now about Miss Eli*abeth Bennets height$ or rather

taller.

+How I long to see her again: I never met with an"bod" who delighted me so

mu&h. Su&h a

&ountenan&e$ su&h manners$ and so e(tremel" a&&om!lished for her age.

Her !erforman&e on the !ianoforte is e('uisite.

+It is ama*ing to me$ said Bingle"$ +how "oung ladies &an have !atien&e to be

so ver" a&&om!lished as the" all are.

+All "oung ladies a&&om!lished: M" dear ,harles$ what do "ou mean9

+3es$ all of them$ I thin%. The" all !aint tables$ &over s&reens$ and net !urses. I

s&ar&el" %now an" one who &annot do all this# and I am sure I never heard a

"oung lad" s!o%en of for the first time$ without being informed that she was ver"

a&&om!lished.

+3our list of the &ommon e(tent of a&&om!lishments$ said Dar&"$ +has too mu&htruth. The word is a!!lied to man" a woman who deserves it no otherwise than b"

netting a !urse or &overing a s&reen# but I am ver" far from agreeing with "ou in

"our estimation of ladies in general. I &annot boast of %nowing more than half a

do*en in the whole range of m" a&'uaintan&e that are reall" a&&om!lished.

+Nor I$ I am sure$ said Miss Bingle".


16/31

+Then$ observed Eli*abeth$ +"ou must &om!rehend a great deal in "our

idea of an a&&om!lished woman.

+3es# I do &om!rehend a great deal in it.

+6h$ &ertainl"$ &ried his faithful assistant$ +no one &an be reall" esteemeda&&om!lished who does not greatl" sur!ass what is usuall" met with. A woman

must have a thorough %nowledge of musi&$ singing$ drawing$ dan&ing$ and the

modern languages$ to deserve the word# and$ besides all this$ she must !ossess a

&ertain something in her air and manner of wal%ing$ the tone of her voi&e$ her

address and e(!ressions$ or the word will be but half deserved.

+All this she must !ossess$ added Dar&"# +and to all she must "et add something

more substantial in the im!rovement of her mind b" e(tensive reading.

+I am no longer sur!rised at "our %nowing onlysi( a&&om!lished women. Irather wonder now at "our %nowing any.

+Are "ou so severe u!on "our own se( as to doubt the !ossibilit" of all this9

+Inever saw su&h a woman.Inever saw su&h &a!a&it"$ and taste$ and

a!!li&ation$ and elegan&e$ as "ou des&ribe$ united.

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingle" both &ried out against the in-usti&e of her

im!lied doubt$ and were both !rotesting that the" %new man" women who

answered this des&ri!tion$ when Mr. Hurst &alled them to order$ with bitter

&om!laints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all &onversationwas thereb" at an end$ Eli*abeth soon afterwards left the room.

+Eli*a Bennet$ said Miss Bingle"$ when the door was &losed on her$ +is one of

those "oung ladies who see% to re&ommend themselves to the other se( b"

undervaluing their own# and with man" men$ I daresa"$ it su&&eeds# but$ in m"

o!inion$ it is a !altr" devi&e$ a ver" mean art.

+ndoubtedl"$ re!lied Dar&"$ to whom this remar% was &hiefl" addressed$

+there is meanness in allthe arts whi&h ladies sometimes &ondes&end to em!lo"

for &a!tivation. hatever bears affinit" to &unning is des!i&able.

Miss Bingle" was not so entirel" satisfied with this re!l" as to &ontinue the

sub-e&t.

Eli*abeth -oined them again onl" to sa" that her sister was worse$ and that she

&ould not leave her. Bingle" urged Mr. )oness being sent for immediatel"# while

his sisters$ &onvin&ed that no &ountr" advi&e &ould be of an" servi&e$ re&ommended


17/31

an e(!ress to town for one of the most eminent !h"si&ians. This she would not hear

of# but she was not so unwilling to &om!l" with their brothers !ro!osal# and it was

settled that Mr. )ones should be sent for earl" in the morning$ if Miss Bennet were

not de&idedl" better. Bingle" was 'uite un&omfortable# his sisters de&lared that

the" were miserable. The" sola&ed their wret&hedness$ however$ b" duets after

su!!er$ while he &ould find no better relief to his feelings than b" giving his

house%ee!er dire&tions that ever" !ossible attention might be !aid to the si&% lad"

and her sister.

Chapter IX

ELIABETH !assed the &hief of the night in her sisters room$ and in the morning

had the !leasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the in'uiries whi&h she

ver" earl" re&eived from Mr. Bingle" b" a housemaid$ and some time afterwards

from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In s!ite of this amendment$however$ she re'uested to have a note sent to Longbourn$ desiring her mother to

visit )ane$ and form her own -udgment of her situation. The note was immediatel"

des!at&hed$ and its &ontents as 'ui&%l" &om!lied with. Mrs. Bennet$ a&&om!anied

b" her two "oungest girls$ rea&hed Netherfield soon after the famil" brea%fast.

Had she found )ane in an" a!!arent danger$ Mrs. Bennet would have been ver"

miserable# but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming$ she

had no wish of her re&overing immediatel"$ as her restoration to health would

!robabl" remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen$ therefore$ to her

daughters !ro!osal of being &arried home# neither did the a!othe&ar"$ who arrivedabout the same time$ thin% it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with )ane$

on Miss Bingle"s a!!earan&e and invitation$ the mother and three daughters all

attended her into the brea%fast !arlour. Bingle" met them with ho!es that Mrs.

Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she e(!e&ted.

+Indeed I have$ sir$ was her answer. +She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr.

)ones sa"s we must not thin% of moving her. e must tres!ass a little longer on

"our %indness.

+0emoved: &ried Bingle". +It must not be thought of M" sister$ I am sure$ willnot hear of her removal.

+3ou ma" de!end u!on it$ madam$ said Miss Bingle"$ with &old &ivilit"$

+that Miss Bennet shall re&eive ever" !ossible attention while she remains

with us.

Mrs. Bennet was !rofuse in her a&%nowledgments.


18/31

+I am sure$ she added$ +if it was not for su&h good friends$ I do not %now what

would be&ome of her$ for she is ver" ill indeed$ and suffers a vast deal$ though with

the greatest !atien&e in the world$ whi&h is alwa"s the wa" with her$ for she has$

without e(&e!tion$ the sweetest tem!er I ever met with. I often tell m" other girls

the" are nothing to her.3ou have a sweet room here$ Mr. Bingle"$ and a &harming

!ros!e&t over that gravel wal%. I do not %now a !la&e in the &ountr" that is e'ual to

Netherfield. 3ou will not thin% of 'uitting it in a hurr"$ I ho!e$ though "ou have

but a short lease.

+hatever I do is done in a hurr"$ re!lied he# +and therefore if I should

resolve to 'uit Netherfield$ I should !robabl" be off in five minutes. At

!resent$ however$ I &onsider m"self as 'uite fi(ed here.

+That is e(a&tl" what I should have su!!osed of "ou$ said Eli*abeth.

+3ou begin to &om!rehend me$ do "ou9 &ried he$ turning towards her.

+6h "es/I understand "ou !erfe&tl".

+I wish I might ta%e this for a &om!liment# but to be so easil" seen through$ I am

afraid$ is !itiful.

+That is as it ha!!ens. It does not ne&essaril" follow that a dee!$ intri&ate

&hara&ter is more or less estimable than su&h a one as "ours.

+Li**"$ &ried her mother$ +remember where "ou are$ and do not run on in the

wild manner that "ou are suffered to do at home.

+I did not %now before$ &ontinued Bingle"$ immediatel"$ 7 +that "ou were a

studier of &hara&ter. It must be an amusing stud".

+3es# but intri&ate &hara&ters are the mostamusing. The" have at least that

advantage.

+The &ountr"$ said Dar&"$ +&an in general su!!l" but few sub-e&ts for

su&h a stud". In a &ountr" neighbourhood "ou move in a ver" &onfined and

unvar"ing so&iet".

+But !eo!le themselves alter so mu&h$ that there is something new to be observedin them for ever.

+3es$ indeed$ &ried Mrs. Bennet$ offended b" his manner of mentioning a

&ountr" neighbourhood. +I assure "ou there is 'uite as mu&h of thatgoing on in

the &ountr" as in town.


19/31

Ever"bod" was sur!rised# and Dar&"$ after loo%ing at her for a moment$

turned silentl" awa". Mrs. Bennet$ who fan&ied she had gained a &om!lete

vi&tor" over him$ &ontinued her trium!h$/

+I &annot see that London has an" great advantage over the &ountr"$ for m"

!art$ e(&e!t the sho!s and !ubli& !la&es. The &ountr" is a vast deal !leasanter$ isnot it$ Mr. Bingle"9

+hen I am in the &ountr"$ he re!lied$ +I never wish to leave it# and when I

am in town$ it is !rett" mu&h the same. The" have ea&h their advantages$ and

I &an be e'uall" ha!!" in either.

+A"$ that is be&ause "ou have the right dis!osition. But that gentleman$

loo%ing at Dar&"$ +seemed to thin% the &ountr" was nothing at all.

+Indeed$ mamma$ "ou are mista%en$ said Eli*abeth$ blushing for her mother.

+3ou 'uite mistoo% Mr. Dar&". He onl" meant that there was not su&h a variet"

of !eo!le to be met with in the &ountr" as in town$ whi&h "ou must

a&%nowledge to be true.

+,ertainl"$ m" dear$ nobod" said there were# but as to not meeting with

man" !eo!le in this neighbourhood$ I believe there are few neighbourhoods

larger. I %now we dine with four2and2twent" families.

Nothing but &on&ern for Eli*abeth &ould enable Bingle" to %ee! his

&ountenan&e. His sister was less deli&ate$ and dire&ted her e"e towards Mr. Dar&"

with a ver" e(!ressive smile. Eli*abeth$ for the sa%e of sa"ing something thatmight turn her mothers thoughts$ now as%ed her if ,harlotte Lu&as had been at

Longbourn sin&e her&oming awa".

+3es$ she &alled "esterda" with her father. hat an agreeable man Sir illiam

is$ Mr. Bingle"/is not he9 so mu&h the man of fashion: so genteel and so eas":

He has alwa"s something to sa" to ever"bod". Thatis m" idea of good2breeding#

and those !ersons who fan&" themselves ver" im!ortant and never o!en their

mouths 'uite mista%e the matter.

+Did ,harlotte dine with "ou9

+No$ she would go home. I fan&" she was wanted about the min&e2!ies. 8or m"

!art$ Mr. Bingle"$I alwa"s %ee! servants that &an do their own wor%# mydaughters

are brought u! differentl". But ever"bod" is to -udge for themselves$ and the

Lu&ases are a ver" good sort of girls$ I assure "ou. It is a !it" the" are not

handsome: Not thatIthin% ,harlotte so very!lain# but then she is our !arti&ular


20/31

friend.

+She seems a ver" !leasant "oung woman$ said Bingle".

+6h dear$ "es# but "ou must own she is ver" !lain. Lad" Lu&as herself has often

said so$ and envied me )anes beaut". I do not li%e to boast of m" own &hild$ butto be sure$ )ane/one does not often see an"bod" better loo%ing. It is what

ever"bod" sa"s. I do not trust m" own !artialit". hen she was onl" fifteen there

was a gentleman at m" brother @ardiners in town so mu&h in love with her$ that

m" sister2in2law was sure he would ma%e her an offer before we &ame awa". But$

however$ he did not. 1erha!s he thought her too "oung. However$ he wrote some

verses on her$ and ver" !rett" the" were.

+And so ended his affe&tion$ said Eli*abeth$ im!atientl". 7 +There has been

man" a one$ I fan&"$ over&ome in the same wa". I wonder who first dis&overed

the effi&a&" of !oetr" in driving awa" love:

+I have been used to &onsider !oetr" as thefoodof love$ said Dar&".

+6f a fine$ stout$ health" love it ma". Ever"thing nourishes what is strong

alread". But if it be onl" a slight$ thin sort of in&lination$ I am &onvin&ed that

one good sonnet will starve it entirel" awa".

Dar&" onl" smiled# and the general !ause whi&h ensued made Eli*abeth tremble

lest her mother should be e(!osing herself again. She longed to s!ea%$ but &ould

thin% of nothing to sa"# and after a short silen&e Mrs. Bennet began re!eating her

than%s to Mr. Bingle" for his %indness to )ane$ with an a!olog" for troubling himalso with Li**". Mr. Bingle" was unaffe&tedl" &ivil in his answer$ and for&ed his

"ounger sister to be &ivil also$ and sa" what the o&&asion re'uired. She !erformed

her !art$ indeed$ without mu&h gra&iousness$ but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied$ and

soon after wards ordered her &arriage. !on this signal$ the "oungest of her

daughters !ut herself forward. The two girls had been whis!ering to ea&h other

during the whole visit# and the result of it was$ that the "oungest should ta( Mr.

Bingle" with having !romised on his first &oming into the &ountr" to give a ball at

Netherfield.

L"dia was a stout$ well2grown girl of fifteen$ with a fine &om!le(ion and good2humoured &ountenan&e# a favourite with her mother$ whose affe&tion had brought

her into !ubli& at an earl" age. She had high animal s!irits$ and a sort of natural

self2&onse'uen&e$ whi&h the attentions of the offi&ers$ to whom her un&les good

dinners and her own eas" manners re&ommended her$ had in&reased into

assuran&e. She was ver" e'ual$ therefore$ to address Mr. Bingle" on the sub-e&t of

the ball$ and abru!tl" reminded him of his !romise# adding$ that it would be the


21/31

most shameful thing in the world if he did not %ee! it. His answer to this sudden

atta&% was delightful to her mothers ear.

+I am !erfe&tl" read"$ I assure "ou$ to %ee! m" engagement# and$ when "our

sister is re&overed$ "ou shall$ if "ou !lease$ name the ver" da" of the ball. But "ou

would not wish to be dan&ing while she is ill9

L"dia de&lared herself satisfied. +6h "es/it would be mu&h better to wait till

)ane was well# and b" that time$ most li%el"$ ,a!tain ,arter would be at Mer"ton

again. And when "ou have givenyourball$ she added$ +I shall insist on their

giving one also. I shall tell ,olonel 8orster it will be 'uite a shame if he does not.

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then de!arted$ and Eli*abeth returned instantl" to

)ane$ leaving her own and her relations behaviour to the remar%s of the two

ladies and Mr. Dar&"# the letter of whom$ however$ &ould not be !revailed on to

-oin in their &ensure of her,in s!ite of all Miss Bingle"s witti&isms onfine eyes.

Chapter X

THE DA3 !assed mu&h as the da" before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingle"

had s!ent some hours of the morning with the invalid$ who &ontinued$ though

slowl"$ to mend# and in the evening$ Eli*abeth -oined their !art" in the drawing2

room. The loo table$ however$ did not a!!ear. Mr. Dar&" was writing$ and Miss

Bingle"$ seated near him$ was wat&hing the !rogress of his letter$ and re!eatedl"

&alling off his attention b" messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingle" were

at !i'uet$ and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.

Eli*abeth too% u! some needlewor%$ and was suffi&ientl" amused in attending to

what !assed between

Dar&" and his &om!anion. The !er!etual &ommendations of the lad" either on his

handwriting$ or on the evenness of his lines$ or on the length of his letter$ with the

!erfe&t un&on&ern with whi&h her !raises were re&eived$ formed a &urious

dialogue$ and were e(a&tl" in unison with her o!inion of ea&h.

+How delighted Miss Dar&" will be to re&eive su&h a letter:

He made no answer.

+3ou write un&ommonl" fast.

+3ou are mista%en. I write rather slowl".

+How man" letters "ou must have o&&asion to write in the &ourse of a "ear:


22/31

Letters of business$ too:

How odious I should thin% them:

+It is fortunate$ then$ that the" fall to m" lot instead of to "ours.

+1ra" tell "our sister that I long to see her.

+I have alread" told her so on&e$ b" "our desire.

+I am afraid "ou do not li%e "our !en. Let me mend it for "ou. I mend !ens

remar%abl" well.

+Than% "ou/but I alwa"s mend m" own.

+How &an "ou &ontrive to write so even9

He was silent.

+Tell "our sister I am delighted to hear of her im!rovement on the har!$ and !ra"

let her %now that I am

'uite in ra!tures with her beautiful little design for a table$ and I thin% it

infinitel" su!erior to Miss @rantle"s.

+ill "ou give me leave to defer "our ra!tures till I write again9 At !resent I

have not room to do them -usti&e.

+6h$ it is of no &onse'uen&e. I shall see her in )anuar". But do "ou alwa"s

write su&h &harming long letters to her$ Mr. Dar&"9

+The" are generall" long# but whether alwa"s &harming$ it is not for me to

determine.

+It is a rule with me$ that a !erson who &an write a long letter with ease &annot

write ill.

+That will not do for a &om!liment to Dar&"$ ,aroline$ &ried her brother$

+be&ause he does notwrite with ease. He studies too mu&h for words of four

s"llables. Do not "ou$ Dar&"9

+M" st"le of writing is ver" different from "ours.

+6h$ &ried Miss Bingle"$ +,harles writes in the most &areless wa" imaginable.

He leaves out half his words$ and blots the rest.


23/31

+M" ideas flow so ra!idl" that I have not time to e(!ress them# b" whi&h means

m" letters sometimes &onve" no ideas at all to m" &orres!ondents.

+3our humilit"$ Mr. Bringle"$ said Eli*abeth$ +must disarm re!roof.

+Nothing is more de&eitful$ said Dar&"$ +than the a!!earan&e of humilit". It isoften onl" &arelessness of o!inion$ and sometimes an indire&t boast.

+And whi&h of the two do "ou &all mylittle re&ent !ie&e of modest"9

+The indire&t boast# for "ou are reall" !roud of "our defe&ts in writing$ be&ause

"ou &onsider them as !ro&eeding from a ra!idit" of thought and &arelessness of

e(e&ution$ whi&h$ if not estimable$ "ou thin% at least highl" interesting. The !ower

of doing an"thing with 'ui&%ness is alwa"s mu&h !ri*ed b" the !ossessor$ and

often without an" attention to the im!erfe&tion of the !erforman&e. hen "ou told

Mrs. Bennet this morning$ that if "ou ever resolved on 'uitting Netherfield "oushould be gone in five minutes$ "ou meant it to be a sort of !aneg"ri&$ of

&om!liment to "ourself# and "et what is there so ver" laudable in a !re&i!itan&e

whi&h must leave ver" ne&essar" business undone$ and &an be of no real advantage

to "ourself or an" one else9

+Na"$ &ried Bingle"$ +this is too mu&h$ to remember at night all the foolish

things that were said in the morning. And "et$ u!on m" honour$ I believed what I

said of m"self to be true$ and I believe it at this moment. At least$ therefore$ I did

not assume the &hara&ter of needless !re&i!itan&e merel" to show off before the

ladies.+I daresa" "ou believed it# but I am b" no means &onvin&ed that "ou would be

gone with su&h &elerit". 3our &ondu&t would be 'uite as de!endent on &han&e as

that of an" man I %now# and if$ as "ou were mounting "our horse$ a friend were

to sa"$ ;Bingle"$ "ou had better sta" till ne(t wee%$= "ou would !robabl" do it/

"ou would !robabl" not go/and$ at another word$ might sta" a month.

+3ou have onl" !roved b" this$ &ried Eli*abeth$ +that Mr. Bingle" did

not do -usti&e to his own dis!osition. 3ou have shown him off now mu&h

more than he did himself.

+I am e(&eedingl" gratified$ said Bingle"$ +b" "our &onverting what m" friend

sa"s into a &om!liment on the sweetness of m" tem!er. But I am afraid "ou are

giving it a turn whi&h that gentleman did b" no means intend# for he would

&ertainl" thin% the better of me if$ under su&h a &ir&umstan&e$ I were to give a flat

denial$ and ride off as fast as I &ould.


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+ould Mr. Dar&" then &onsider the rashness of "our original intention as

atoned for b" "our obstina&" in adhering to it9

+!on m" word$ I &annot e(a&tl" e(!lain the matter/Dar&" must s!ea% for

himself.

+3ou e(!e&t me to a&&ount for o!inions whi&h "ou &hoose to &all mine$ but

whi&h I have never a&%nowledged. Allowing the &ase$ however$ to stand a&&ording

to "our re!resentation$ "ou must remember$ Miss Bennet$ that the friend who is

su!!osed to desire his return to the house$ and the dela" of his !lan$ has merel"

desired it$ as%ed it without offering one argument in favour of its !ro!riet".

+To "ield readil"/easil"/to thepersuasionof a friend is no merit with "ou.

+To "ield without &onvi&tion is no &om!liment to the understanding of either.

+3ou a!!ear to me$ Mr. Dar&"$ to allow nothing for the influen&e to friendshi!and affe&tion. A regard for the re'uester would often ma%e one readil" "ield to a

re'uest$ without waiting for arguments to reason one into it. I am not !arti&ularl"

s!ea%ing of su&h a &ase as "ou have su!!osed about Mr. Bingle". e ma" as

well wait$ !erha!s$ till the &ir&umstan&e o&&urs$ before we dis&uss the dis&retion

of his behaviour thereu!on. But in general and ordinar" &ases$ between friend

and friend$ where one of them is desired b" the other to &hange a resolution of no

ver" great moment$ should "ou thin% ill of that !erson for &om!l"ing with the

desire$ without waiting to be argued into it9

+ill it not be advisable$ before we !ro&eed on this sub-e&t$ to arrange withrather more !re&ision the degree of im!ortan&e whi&h is to a!!ertain to this

re'uest$ as well as the degree of intima&" subsisting between the !arties9

+B" all means$ &ried Bingle"# +let us hear all the !arti&ulars$ not forgetting their

&om!arative height and si*e for that will have more weight in the argument$ Miss

Bennet$ than "ou ma" be aware of. I assure "ou that if Dar&" were not su&h a great

tall fellow$ in &om!arison with m"self$ I should not !a" him half so mu&h

deferen&e. I de&lare I do not %now a more awful ob-e&t than Dar&" on !arti&ular

o&&asions$ and in !arti&ular !la&es# at his own house es!e&iall"$ and of a Sunda"

evening$ when he has nothing to do.

Mr. Dar&" smiled# but Eli*abeth thought she &ould !er&eive that he was rather

offended$ and therefore &he&%ed her laugh. Miss Bingle" warml" resented the

indignit" he had re&eived$ in an e(!ostulation with her brother for tal%ing su&h

nonsense.


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+I see "our design$ Bingle"$ said his friend. +3ou disli%e an argument$ and want

to silen&e this.

+1erha!s I do. Arguments are too mu&h li%e dis!utes. If "ou and Miss Bennet

will defer "ours till I am out of the room$ I shall be ver" than%ful# and then "ou

ma" sa" whatever "ou li%e of me.

+hat "ou as%$ said Eli*abeth$ +is no sa&rifi&e on m" side# and Mr. Dar&"

had mu&h better finish his letter.

Mr. Dar&" too% her advi&e$ and did finish his letter.

hen that business was over$ he a!!lied to Miss Bingle" and Eli*abeth for the

indulgen&e of some musi&. Miss Bingle" moved with ala&rit" to the !ianoforte$ and

after a !olite re'uest that Eli*abeth would lead the wa"$ whi&h the other as !olitel"

and more earnestl" negatived$ she seated herself.

Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister# and while the" were thus em!lo"ed$ Eli*abeth

&ould not hel! observing$ as she turned over some musi&2boo%s that la" on the

instrument$ how fre'uentl" Mr. Dar&"s e"es were fi(ed on her. She hardl" %new

how to su!!ose that she &ould be an ob-e&t of admiration to so great a man$ and "et

that he should loo% at her be&ause he disli%ed her was still more strange. She &ould

onl" imagine$ however$ at last$ that she drew his noti&e be&ause there was a

something about her more wrong and re!rehensible$ a&&ording to his ideas of right$

than in an" other !erson !resent. The su!!osition did not !ain her. She li%ed him

too little to &are for his a!!robation.After !la"ing some Italian songs$ Miss Bingle" varied the &harm b" a

livel" S&ot&h air# and soon afterwards Mr. Dar&"$ drawing near Eli*abeth$

said to her$/

+Do not "ou feel a great in&lination$ Miss Bennet$ to sei*e su&h an o!!ortunit" of

dan&ing a reel9

She smiled$ but made no answer. He re!eated the 'uestion$ with some sur!rise at

her silen&e.

+6h$ said she$ +I heard "ou before# but I &ould not immediatel" determine what

to sa" in re!l". 3ou wanted me$ I %now$ to sa" ;3es$= that "ou might have the

!leasure of des!ising m" taste# but I alwa"s delight in overthrowing those %ind of

s&hemes$ and &heating a !erson of their !remeditated &ontem!t. I have$ therefore$

made u! m" mind to tell "ou that I do not want to dan&e a reel at all# and now

des!ise me if "ou dare.


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+Indeed I do not dare.

Eli*abeth$ having rather e(!e&ted to affront him$ was ama*ed at his gallantr"# but

there was a mi(ture of sweetness and ar&hness in her manner whi&h made it

diffi&ult for her to affront an"bod"$ and Dar&" had never been so bewit&hed b" an"

woman as he was b" her. He reall" believed that$ were it not for the inferiorit" ofher &onne&tions$ he should be in some danger.

Miss Bingle" saw$ or sus!e&ted$ enough to be -ealous# and her great an(iet" for

the re&over" of her dear friend )ane re&eived some assistan&e from her desire of

getting rid of Eli*abeth.

She often tried to !rovo%e Dar&" into disli%ing her guest$ b" tal%ing of their

su!!osed marriage$ and !lanning his ha!!iness in su&h an allian&e.

+I ho!e$ said she$ as the" were wal%ing together in the shrubber" the ne(t

da"$ +"ou will give "our mother2in2law a few hints$ when this desirable event

ta%es !la&e$ as to the advantage of holding her tongue# and if "ou &an &om!ass

it$ to &ure the "ounger girls of running after the offi&ers. And$ if I ma" mention

so deli&ate a sub-e&t$ endeavour to &he&% that little something$ bordering on

&on&eit and im!ertinen&e$ whi&h "our lad" !ossesses.

+Have "ou an"thing else to !ro!ose for m" domesti& feli&it"9

+6h "es. Do let the !ortraits of "our un&le and aunt 1hili!s be !la&ed in the

galler" at 1emberle". 1ut them ne(t to "our great un&le the -udge. The" are in

the same !rofession$ "ou %now$ onl" in different lines. As for "our Eli*abeths!i&ture$ "ou must not attem!t to have it ta%en$ for what !ainter &ould do -usti&e

to those beautiful e"es9

+It would not be eas"$ indeed$ to &at&h their e(!ression# but their &olour and

sha!e$ and the e"elashes$ so remar%abl" fine$ might be &o!ied.

At that moment the" were met from another wal% b" Mrs. Hurst and Eli*abeth

herself.

+I did not %now that "ou intended to wal%$ said Miss Bingle"$ in some&onfusion lest the" had been overheard.

+3ou used us abominabl" ill$ answered Mrs. Hurst +running awa" without

telling us that "ou were &oming out.

Then ta%ing the disengaged arm of Mr. Dar&"$ she left Eli*abeth to wal%

b" herself. The !ath -ust admitted three. Mr. Dar&" felt their rudeness$ and


27/31

immediatel" said$/

+This wal% is not wide enough for our !art". e had better go into the avenue.

But Eli*abeth$ who had not the least in&lination to remain with them$ laughingl"

answered$/

+No$ no# sta" where "ou are. 3ou are &harmingl" grou!ed$ and a!!ear to

un&ommon advantage. The !i&tures'ue would be s!oilt b" admitting a fourth.

@ood2b"e.

She then ran gail" off$ re-oi&ing$ as she rambled about$ in the ho!e of being at

home again in a da" or two. )ane was alread" so mu&h re&overed as to intend

leaving her room for a &ou!le of hours that evening.

Chapter XI

HEN the ladies removed after dinner Eli*abeth ran u! to her sister$ and seeing

her well guarded from &old$ attended her into the drawing2room$ where she was

wel&omed b" her two friends with man" !rofessions of !leasure# and Eli*abeth

had never seen them so agreeable as the" were during the hour whi&h !assed

before the gentlemen a!!eared. Their !owers of &onversation were &onsiderable.

The" &ould des&ribe an entertainment with a&&ura&"$ relate an ane&dote with

humour$ and laugh at their a&'uaintan&e with s!irit.

But when the gentlemen entered$ )ane was no longer the first ob-e&t# Miss

Bingle"s e"es were instantl" turned towards Dar&"$ and she had something to sa"to him before he had advan&ed man" ste!s. He addressed himself dire&tl" to Miss

Bennet with a !olite &ongratulation# Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow$ and said

he was +ver" glad# but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingle"s salutation.

He was full of -o" and attention. The first half2hour was s!ent in !iling u! the fire$

lest she should suffer from the &hange of room# and she removed$ at his desire$ to

the other side of the fire!la&e$ that she might be farther from the door. He then sat

down b" her$ and tal%ed s&ar&el" to an" one else. Eli*abeth$ at wor% in the o!!osite

&orner$ saw it all with great delight.

hen tea was over Mr. Hurst reminded his sister2in2law of the &ard2table/butin vain. She had obtained !rivate intelligen&e that Mr. Dar&" did not wish for

&ards$ and Mr. Hurst soon found even his o!en !etition re-e&ted. She assured him

that no one intended to !la"$ and the silen&e of the whole !art" on the sub-e&t

seemed to -ustif" her. Mr. Hurst had$ therefore$ nothing to do but to stret&h

himself on one of the sofas and go to slee!. Dar&" too% u! a boo%. Miss Bingle"

did the same# and Mrs. Hurst$ !rin&i!all" o&&u!ied in !la"ing with her bra&elets


28/31

and rings$ -oined now and then in her brothers &onversation with Miss Bennet.

Miss Bingle"s attention was 'uite as mu&h engaged in wat&hing Mr. Dar&"s

!rogress through hisboo%$ as in reading her own# and she was !er!etuall" either

ma%ing some in'uir"$ or loo%ing at his !age. She &ould not win him$ however$ to

an" &onversation# he merel" answered her 'uestion and read on. At length$ 'uitee(hausted b" the attem!t to be amused with her own boo%$ whi&h she had onl"

&hosen be&ause it was the se&ond volume of his$ she gave a great "awn and said$

+How !leasant it is to s!end an evening in this wa": I de&lare$ after all$ there is no

en-o"ment li%e reading: How mu&h sooner one tires of an"thing than of a boo%:

hen I have a house of m" own$ I shall be miserable if I have not an e(&ellent

librar":

No one made an" re!l". She then "awned again$ threw aside her boo%$ and &ast

her e"es round the room in 'uest of some amusement# when$ hearing her brother

mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet$ she turned suddenl" towards him and said$/

+B" the b"e$ ,harles$ are "ou reall" serious in meditating a dan&e at Netherfield9

I would advise "ou$ before "ou determine on it$ to &onsult the wishes of the !resent

!art"# I am mu&h mista%en if there are not some among us to whom a ball would

be rather a !unishment than a !leasure.

+If "ou mean Dar&"$ &ried her brother$ +he ma" go to bed$ if he &hooses$ before it

begins# but as for the ball$ it is 'uite a settled thing$ and as soon as Ni&holls has

made white sou! enough I shall send round m" &ards.

+I should li%e balls infinitel" better$ she re!lied$ +if the" were &arried on in a

different manner# but there is something insufferabl" tedious in the usual !ro&ess

of su&h a meeting. It would surel" be mu&h more rational if &onversation instead of

dan&ing made the order of the da".

+Mu&h more rational$ m" dear ,aroline$ I daresa"# but it would not be near so

mu&h li%e a ball.

Miss Bingle" made no answer$ and soon afterwards got u! and wal%ed about

the room. Her figure was elegant$ and the wal%ed well# but Dar&"$ at whom it

was all aimed$ was still infle(ibl" studious. In the des!eration of her feelings she

resolved on one effort more# and$ turning to Eli*abeth$ said$/

+Miss Eli*a Bennet$ let me !ersuade "ou to follow m" e(am!le$ and ta%e a turn

about the room. I assure "ou it is ver" refreshing after sitting so long in one

attitude.


29/31

Eli*abeth was sur!rised$ but agreed to it immediatel". Miss Bingle" su&&eeded

no less in the real ob-e&t of her &ivilit"4 Mr. Dar&" loo%ed u!. He was as mu&h

awa%e to the novelt" of attention in that 'uarter as Eli*abeth herself &ould be$ and

un&ons&iousl" &losed his boo%. He was dire&tl" invited to -oin their !art"$ but he

de&lined it$ observing that he &ould imagine but two motives for their &hoosing to

wal% u! and down the room together$ with either of whi&h motives his -oining

them would interfere. hat &ould he mean9 She was d"ing to %now what &ould be

his meaning/and as%ed Eli*abeth whether she &ould at all understand him.

+Now at all$ was her answer# +but$ de!end u!on it$ he means to be severe on

us$ and our surest wa" of disa!!ointing him will be to as% nothing about it.

Miss Bingle"$ however$ was in&a!able of disa!!ointing Mr. Dar&" in

an"thing$ and !ersevered$ therefore$ in re'uiring an e(!lanation of his two

motives.

+I have not the smallest ob-e&tion to e(!laining them$ said he$ as soon as she

allowed him to s!ea%. +3ou either &hoose this method of !assing the evening

be&ause "ou are in ea&h others &onfiden&e$ and have se&ret affairs to dis&uss$ or

be&ause "ou are &ons&ious that "our figures a!!ear to the greatest advantage in

wal%ing4 if the first$ I should be &om!letel" in "our wa"# and if the se&ond$ I &an

admire "ou mu&h better as I sit b" the fire.

+6h$ sho&%ing: &ried Miss Bingle". +I never heard an"thing so abominable.

How shall we !unish him for su&h a s!ee&h9

+Nothing so eas"$ if "ou have but the in&lination$ said Eli*abeth. +e &an all

!lague and !unish one another. Tease him/laugh at him. Intimate as "ou are$

"ou must %now how it is to be done.

+But u!on m" honour I do not.I do assure "ou that m" intima&" has not "et

taught me that.Tease &almness of tem!er and !resen&e of mind: No$ no# I feel

he ma" def" us there. And as to laughter$ we will not e(!ose ourselves$ if "ou

!lease$ b" attem!ting to laugh without a sub-e&t. Mr. Dar&" ma" hug himself.

+Mr. Dar&" is not to be laughed at: &ried Eli*abeth. 7 +That is an un&ommon

advantage$ and un&ommon I ho!e it will &ontinue$ for it would be a great loss to

meto have man" su&h a&'uaintan&e. I dearl" love a laugh.

+Miss Bingle"$ said he$ +has given me &redit for more than &an be. The wisest

and best of men$/na"$ the wisest and best of their a&tions$/ma" be rendered

ridi&ulous b" a !erson whose first ob-e&t in life is a -o%e.

+,ertainl"$ re!lied Eli*abeth$ +there are su&h !eo!le$ but I ho!e I am not one of


30/31

them.I ho!e I never ridi&ule what is wise or good. 8ollies and nonsense$ whims

and in&onsisten&ies$ dodivert me$ I own$ and I laugh at them whenever I &an. But

these$ I su!!ose$ are !re&isel" what "ou are without.

+1erha!s that is not !ossible for an" one. But it has been the stud" of m" life to

avoid those wea%nesses whi&h often e(!ose a strong understanding to ridi&ule.

+Su&h as vanit" and !ride.

+3es$ vanit" is a wea%ness indeed. But !ride/where there is a real su!eriorit"

of mind/!ride will be alwa"s under good regulation.

Eli*abeth turned awa" to hide a smile.

+3our e(amination of Mr. Dar&" is over$ I !resume$ said Miss Bingle"# +and

!ra" what is the result9

+I am !erfe&tl" &onvin&ed b" it that Mr. Dar&" has no defe&t. He owns it himself

without disguise.

+No$ said Dar&"$ +I have made no su&h !retension. I have faults enough$ but

the" are not$ I ho!e$ of understanding. M" tem!er I dare not vou&h for. It is$ I

believe$ too little "ielding# &ertainl" too little for the &onvenien&e of the world. I

&annot forget the follies and vi&es of others so soon as I ought$ nor their offen&es

against m"self. M" feelings are not !uffed about with ever" attem!t to move

them. M" tem!er would !erha!s be &alled resentful. M" good o!inion on&e lost is

lost for ever.

+Thatis a failing$ indeed: &ried Eli*abeth. +Im!la&able resentment isa shade

in a &hara&ter. But "ou have &hosen "our fault well. I reall" &annot laughat it.

3ou are safe from me.

+There is$ I believe$ in ever" dis!osition a tenden&" to some !arti&ular evil$ a

natural defe&t$ whi&h not even the best edu&ation &an over&ome.

+Andyourdefe&t is a !ro!ensit" to hate ever"bod".

+And "ours$ he re!lied$ with a smile$ +is wilfull" to misunderstand them.

+Do let us have a little musi&$ &ried Miss Bingle"$ tired of a &onversation in

whi&h she had no share. +Louisa$ "ou will not mind m" wa%ing Mr. Hurst.

Her sister made not the smallest ob-e&tion$ and the !ianoforte was o!ened# and

Dar&"$ after a few moments re&olle&tion$ was not sorr" for it. He began to feel

the danger of !a"ing Eli*abeth too mu&h attention.


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pride and prejudice chapter 6 to 11

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