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WALT WHITMAN has somewhere a fine and just distinc- tion between "loving by allowance" and ." loving wit It personal love!' This distinction applies to books as well as to men and women ; and in the case of tJie not very numerous authors wJio are the objects of the personal affection, it brings a curious consequence with it. There is much more difference as to their best work than in the case of those others who are loved " by allowance" by conven- tion, and because it is felt to be the right and proper thing to love them. And in the sect — -fairly large and yet unusually choice — of Austenians or fanites, there would probably be found partisans of the claim to primacy of almost every one of the novels. To some tJie delightful freshness and humour of Northanger Abbey, its com- pleteness, finish, and entrain, obscure tJie undoubted critical facts that its scale is small, and its scheme, after all, that of burlesque or parody, a kind in which the first rank is reached with difficulty. Persuasion, relatively faint in tone, and not enthralling in interest, has devotees who exalt above all the otJiers its exquisite delicacy and keeping. TJie catastrophe of Mansfield Park is admittedly theatrical, the hero and heroine are insipid, and the author has almost
X PREFACE.
wiekedly destroyed all romantic in f crest bv express! Y admit- ting tJiat Edmund only took Fanny because Mary sJiocked him, and tJiat Fanny migJit very likely Jiave taken Crawford if he had been a little more assiduous; yet t/ie matchless rehearsal-scenes and tJic characters of JIj-s. Morris and others hare secured, I believe, a considerable party for it. Sense and Sensibility has perhaps the fewest out-and-out admirers ; but it does not want them.
I suppose, however, that the majority of at least competent votes would, all things considered, be divided between Emma and the present book ; and perhaps t/ie vulgar verdict (if indeed a fondness for Miss A listen be not of itself a patent of exemption from any possible charge of vulgarity} would go for Emma. // is the larger, the more varied, the more popular ; the author had by the time of its composition seen rather more of the world, and had improved her general, though not her most peculiar and characteristic dialogue ; such figures as Miss Bates, as the Eltons, cannot but unite the suffrages of everybody. On the. other /land, I, for my part, declare for Pride and Prejudice unhesitatingly. It seems to me the most perfect, the jnost characteristic, the most eminently quintessential of its authors works; and for this contention in such narrow space as is pen/lifted to me, I propose here to show cause.
In t lie first place, the book (it may be barely necessary to
remind the reader] was in its Jirst shape written very early,
somewhere about 1796, when Miss Austen was barely twentv-
one ; though it was revised and finished at Chawton some
fifteen years later, and was not published till 1813, only
four years before her death. I do not know whether, in
PREFACE. xi
this combination of tJie fresJi and vigorous projection of youth) and tJie critical revision of middle life, there may be traced the distinct superiority in point of construction, wJiicJi, as it seems to me, it possesses over all tJie otliers. The plot, though not elaborate, is almost regular enough for Fielding ; hardly a character, hardly an incident could be retrenched without loss to the story. The elopement of Lydia and WickJiam is not, like that of Crawford and Mrs. Rushworth, a coup de theatre ; it connects itself in^ the strictest way with the course of the story earlier, and brings about the denouement with complete propriety. All the minor passages — the loves of Jane and Bingley, the advent of Mr. Collins, the visit to Hunsford, tJie Derby- shire tour— Jit in after the same unostentatious, but masterly fashion. There is no attempt at the hide-and-seek, in-and- out business, which in the transactions between Frank Churchill and Jane Fair-fax contributes no doubt a good deal to the intrigue of Emma, but contributes it in a fashion which I do not think the best feature of that otherwise admirable book. Although Miss Austen always liked something of the misunderstanding kind, wJiiclt afforded her opportunities for the display of the peculiar and incom- parable talent to be noticed presently, she has been satisfied here with the perfectly natural occasions provided by the false account of Darcy's conduct given by WickJiam, and by the awkwardness (arising with equal naturalness] from the gradual transformation of Elizabeths own feelings from positive aversion to actual love. I do not know whether the all-grasping Jiand of tJie playwright has ever been laid upon Pride and Prejudice ; and I dare say that,
xii PREFACE.
if it were, :'v situations :csuld / ve not startling garish enough for the footlights, the cha: -sc/ieme too
:lc ami delicate for pit . \ * I gi :.'lcry. But if the attempt -... . :./t\ it n'oiila7 certainly not be liampe ed by any " those .' ." lesses of construction, u . retimes disga;\ the com :n fences of ichich the : :!ist can a-rail hi ins. tyear it .v on the sta^
I think, h. :. : . ", though t/ie : '. %Jti u ill doubtless seem ' to me : -tan one sclwol of critics > that construction
9
the highest merit, t'.:.'. icest gift, rf tJie * i-elist. It '-' '..v :tJier gifts and graces me si advantageously to the ' eye ; and tlie -n'ant of it i~cill sometimes mar t».
5 :iabh\ though not quite consciously — to eyes no means ultra-critical. But a :. badly-built
•celled in patJietic or Jtumorous character, or I'cJiicJi
• :immate command of dialogue — -pcrluips the
rarest of all faculties — '.could infinitely better thing
than a faultless plot acted and told by puppets with pebbles
in their months. And despite the ability \~cJiicJi Miss Austen
has shoii'n in -icorking out the story, I for one should put
Pride and Prejudice far tower if it did not contain n'/uit
•n to me the rery masterpieces of Miss Aiisteris humour
and of her faculty of character . . ::ion — masterpieces u '.
:v indeed admit John Thorpe, the Eltons, Mrs. Xor and one or tn'o others to tJteir company, but li'ho, in one instance certainly, and pcr/iaps in others, are still superior to them.
The characteristics of Miss Austen's humour are so subtle and delicate that they are, perhaps, at all times easier to apprehend than to express, and at any particular
PREFACE. xiii
time likely to be differently apprehended by different persons. To me this humour seems to possess a greater affinity, on the whole, to tJiat of Addison than to any otJier of the numerous species of this great BritisJi genus. The differences of scheme, of time, of subject, of literary convention, are, of course, obvious enough ; the difference of sex does not, perhaps, count for much, for there was a distinctly feminine element in "Mr. Spectator" and in Jane Austens genius tJiere was, though nothing mannisJi, much that was mascu- line. But the likeness of quality consists in a great num- ber of common subdivisions of quality — demureness, extreme minuteness of touch, avoidance of loud tones and glaring effects. Also there is in both a certain not in Jut man or 21 n amiable cruelty. It is the custom with those who judge grossly to contrast the good nature of Addison with the savagery of Swift, the mildness of Miss Austen with the boisterousness of Fielding and Smollett, even with the ferocious practical jokes that her immediate predecessor, Miss Burney, allowed without very much protest. Yet, both in Mr. Addison and in Miss Austen there is, though a re- strained and well-mannered^ an insatiable and ruthless delight in roasting and cutting up a fool. A man in the early eighteenth century, of course, could pusli t/iis taste further than a lady in the early nineteenth ; and no doubt Miss Austen's principles, as well as her heart, would have shrunk from such things as the letter from the unfortunate husband in the Spectator, who describes, with all the gusto and all the innocence in the world, how his wife and his friend induce him to play at blind-man s-buff. But another Spectator letter — that of the damsel of fourteen who
xiv PREFACE.
wishes to marry Mr. Shapely, and assures Jicr selected Mentor that " he admires your Spectators mightily " — might have been written by a rather more ladylike and intelligent Lydia Bennet in the days of Lydids great- grandmother ; while, on the other hand, some (I think unreasonably) have found " cynicism ' in toucJies of Miss Austens own, such as her satire of Mrs. Musgroves self- deceiving regrets over Jier son. But this word " cynical ''' is one of the most misused in the English language, especially vvJien, by a glaring and gratuitous falsification of its original sense, it is applied, not to rough and snarl- ing invective, but to gentle and oblique satire. If cynicism means the perception of " the other side," the sense of " the accepted hells beneath" the consciousness that motives are nearly always mixed, and that to seem is not identical wit Ji to be — if this be cynicism, then every man and woman who is not a fool, who does not care to live in a fool's paradise, who has knowledge of nature and the world and life, is a cynic. And in that sense Miss Austen certainly was one. She may even have been one in the further sense that, like her own Mr. Bennet, she took an epicurean delight in dis- secting, in displaying, in setting at work her fools and her mean persons. I think she did take this delight, and I do not think at all the worse of her for it as a woman, while she was immensely the better for it as an artist.
In respect of her art generally, Mr. Goldwin Smith has truly observed that " metaphor has been exhausted in de- picting the perfection of it, combined with the narrowness of her field ; " and lie has justly added that we need not go beyond her own comparison to the art of a miniature
PREFACE. XV
painter. To make this latter observation quite exact we must not use tJie term miniature in its restricted sense, and must think rather of Memling at one end of the history of painting and Meissonier at the other, than ofCosway or any of his kind. A nd I am not so certain that I should myself use the word " narrow " in connection with her. If her world is a microcosm, the cosmic quality of it is at least as eminent as the littleness. She does not touch what she did not feel herself called to paint ; I am not so sure that she could not have painted what she did not feel herself called to touch. It is at least remarkable that in two very sJiort periods of writing — one of about tJiree years, and another of not much more than five — she executed six capital works, and has not left a single failure. It is possible that the romantic paste in her composition zvas defective : we must always remember that hardly anybody born in her decode- that of the eighteenth-century seventies — independently ex- hibited the full romantic quality. Even Scott required hill and mountain and ballad, even Coleridge metaphysics and German to enable them to chip the classical shell. Miss Austen was an English girl, brought up in a country retirement, at the time when ladies went back into t/ie house if there was a white frost which might pierce their kid shoes, when a sudden cold was the subject of the gravest fears, when their studies, their ways, tJieir conduct were subject to all those fantastic limits and restrictions against which Mary Wollstonecraft protested with better general sense than particular taste or judgment. Miss Austen, too, drew back when the white frost touched her shoes ; but I think she would have made a pretty good journey even in a black one.
xvi PREFACE.
For if her knowledge was not very extended, she knew two tilings which only genius knows. The one was Jiumamty, and the ot/ier was art. On the first head she could not make a mistake ; her men, tJiougJi limited, are true, and Jier women are, in the old sense, " absolute'' As to art, if she has never tried idealism, Jier realism is real to a degree which makes the false realism of our own day look merely dead-alive. Take almost any Frenchman, except the late M. de Maupassant, and watch him laboriously piling up strokes in the hope of giving a complete impression. You get none; you are lucky if, discarding two-thirds of what he gives, you can shape a real impression out of the rest. But with Miss Austen the myriad, trivial, unforced strokes build up the picture like magic. NotJiing is false ; nothing is super- fluous. When (to take the present book only} Mr. Collins changed his mind from Jane to Elizabeth " while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire " (and we know how Mrs. Bennet would have stirred the fire], when Mr. Darcy " brought his coffee-cup back himself," the touch in each case is like that of Swift — " taller by the breadth of my nail" -which impressed the half-reluctant Thackeray with just and outspoken admiration. Indeed, fantastic as it may seem, I should put Miss Austen as near to Swift in some ways, as I have put her to Addison in others.
This Swiftian quality appears in the present novel as it appears nowhere else in the character of the immortal, the ineffable J\Ir. Collins. Mr. Collins is really great ; far greater than anything Addison ever did, almost great enough for Fielding or for Swift himself. It has been said that no one ever was like him. But in the first
PREFACE. xvii
place, he was like him ; Jie is tJiere — alive, imperishable, more real than hundreds of prime ministers and archbishops, of " metals, semi-metals, and distinguished philosophers? In the second place, it is rash, I tJtink, to conclude that an actual Mr. Collins was impossible or non-existent at the end of the eighteenth century. It is very interesting that we possess, in this same gallery, what may be called a spoiled first draught, or an unsuccessful study of him, in JoJm DasJiwood. The formality, the under-breeding, the meanness, are there ; but the portrait is only half alive, and is felt to be even a little unnatural. Mr. Collins is perfectly natural, and perfectly alive. In fact, for all the "miniature" tJiere is something gigantic in the way in which a certain side, and more than one, of Jmmanity, and especially eighteenth-century humanity, its Philistinism, its well-meaning but hide-bound morality, its formal pettiness, its grovelling respect for rank, its materialism, its selfishness, receives exhibition. I will not admit that one speech or one action of this inestimable man is incapable of being reconciled with reality, and I sJwuld not wonder if many of these words and actions are historically true.
But the greatness of Mr. Collins could not have been so satisfactorily exhibited if his creatress had not adjusted so artfully to him the figures of Mr. Bennet and of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The latter, like Mr. Collins him- self, has been charged with exaggeration. There is,perJiaps, a very faint shade of colour for the charge ; but it seems to me very faint indeed. Even now I do not think that it would be impossible to find persons, especially female persons, not necessarily of noble birth, as overbearing, as
b
xviii PREFACE.
self-centred, as neglectful of good manners, as Lady Cathe- rine. A hundred years ago, an earl's daughter, the Lady Powerful (if not exactly Bountiful) of an out-of-the-way country parish, rich, long out of marital authority, and so forth, had opportunities of developing these agreeable characteristics which seldom present themselves now. As for Mr. Ben net, Miss Austen, and Mr. Darcy, and even Miss Elizabeth herself, were, I am inclined to think, rather hard on him for the " impropriety " of his conduct. His wife was evidently, and must always have been, a quite irreclaimable fool ; and unless he had shot her or himself there was no way out of it for a man of sense and spirit but the ironic. From no other point of view is he open to any reproach, except for an ex- cusable and not unnatural helplessness at the crisis of the elopement, and Ids utterances are the most acutely delightful in the consciously humorous kind — in the kind that we laugh with, not at — that even Miss Austen has put into the mouth of any of her characters. It is difficult to know whether he is most agreeable when talking to his wife, or when putting Mr. Collins through his paces ; but the general sense of the world has probably been right in preferring to the first rank his consolation to the former when she maunders over the entail, "My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the sur- vivor ; " and Ids inquiry to his colossal cousin as to the compliments which Mr. Collins has just related as made by himself to Lady Catherine, " May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment,
PREFACE xix
or are the result of previous study ? " These are the things which give Miss Austen's readers the pleasant shocks, the delightful thrills, which are felt by the readers of Swift, of Fielding, and we may here add, of Thackeray, as they are felt by the readers of no other English author of fiction outside of these four.
The goodness of the minor characters in Pride and Prejudice has been already alluded to, and it makes a detailed dwelling on their beauties difficult in any space, and impossible in this. Mrs. Bennet we have glanced at, and it is not easy to say whether she is more exquisitely amusing or more horribly true. Much the same may be said of Kitty and Lydia ; but it is not every author, even of genius, who would have differentiated with such unerring skill the effects of folly and vulgarity of intellect and disposition working upon the common weaknesses of woman at such different ages. With Mary, Miss Austen has taken rather less pains, though she has been even more unkind to her; not merely in the text, but, as we learn from those interesting traditional appendices which Mr. Austen Leigh has given us, in dooming her privately to marry " one of Mr. Philips s clerks" The habits of first
•
copying and then retailing moral sentiments, of playing and singing too long in public, are, no doubt, grievous and criminal ; but perhaps poor Mary zvas rather the scapegoat of the sins of blue stockings in that Fordyce-belectured generation. It is at any rate difficult not to extend to Jier a share of the respect and affection (affection and respect of a peculiar kind; doubtless], with which one regards Mr. Collins, when she draws the moral of Lydia' s fall. I
XX PREFACE.
sometimes wish tJiat the exigencies of the story had permitted Miss Austen to unite these personages, and ttms at once achieve a notable mating" and soothe poor Mrs. Bennefs anguish over the entail.
The Binglcys and the Gardiner s and the Lucases, Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgli, Jane, WickJiam, and the rest, must pass without special comment, further than the remark that Charlotte Lucas (her egregious papa, though delightful, is just a little on the thither side of the line between comedy and farce] is a wonderfully clever study in drab of one kind, and that WickJiam (though something of Miss Austen's hesitation of touch in dealing with young men appears] is a not nmcJi less notable sketch in drab of another. Only genius could have made Charlotte what she is, yet not disagreeable ; WickJiam what he is, without investing him either with a cheap Don fuanish attractive- ness or a disgusting rascality. But the hero and the heroine are not tints to be dismissed.
Darcy lias always seemed to me by far the best and most interesting of Miss Austen's heroes ; the only possible com- petitor being Henry Tilney, whose part is so slight and simple that it hardly enters into comparison. It has sometimes, I believe, been urged that his pride is unnatural at first in its expression and later in its yielding, while his falling in love at all is not extremely probable. Here again I cannot go with the objectors. Darcy 's own account of the way in which his pride had been pampered, is perfectly rational and sufficient ; and nothing could be, psychologically speaking, a causa verier for its sudden restoration to healthy conditions than the shock of Elizabeth's scornful refusal acting on a nature
PREFACE. xxi
ex hypothesi generous. Nothing in even our author is finer and more delicately toucJied than the change of his de- meanour at the sudden meeting in the grounds of P ember ley. Had he been a bad prig or a bad coxcomb, Jie migJit have been still smarting under his rejection, or suspicious that the girl had come husband-hunting. His being neither is exactly consistent with the probable feelings of a man spoilt in the common sense, but not really injured in disposition, and thoroughly in love. As for his being in love, Elisabeth has given as just an exposition of the causes of that phenomenon as Darcy lias of the conditions of his imregenerate state, only she has of course not counted in what was diie to her own personal charm.
The secret of that charm many men and not a few women, from Miss Austen herself downwards, Jiave felt, and like most charms it is a thing rather to be felt than to be explained. ElizabetJi of course belongs to the allegro or allegra division of the army of Venus. Miss Austen was always provokingly chary of description in regard to her beauties ; and except the fine eyes, and a hint or two that she had at any rate sometimes a bright complexion, and was not very tall, we hear nothing about her looks. But her chief difference from other heroines of the lively type seems to lie first in Jier being distinctly clever — almost strong- minded, in the better sense of that objectionable word — and secondly in Jier being entirely destitute of ill-nature for all her propensity to tease and the sharpness of her tongue. ElizabetJi can give at least as good as she gets when sJie is attacked ; but she never "scratches" and she never attacks first. Some of the merest obsoletenesses of phrase and
XXll PREFACE.
manner give one or two of her early speeches a sligJii pert ness, but that is notliing, and when she comes to serious business, as in tlie great proposal scene with Dairy (which is, as it should be, the climax of the interest of the book), and in the final ladies' battle witJi Lady Catherine, she is unexceptionable. Then too she is a perfectly natural girl. She does not disguise from herself or anybody that she resents Darcys first ill-mannered personality with as per- sonal a feeling. (By the -way, the reproach that the ill- manners of this speech are overdone is certainly unjust ; for things of the same kind, expressed no doubt less stiltedly but more coarsely, might have been heard in more than one ball-room during this very year from persons w/io ought to have been no worse bred than Darcy^} And she lets the injury done to Jane and the contempt shown to the rest of her family aggravate this resentment in the healthiest war in the world.
Still, all this does not explain her charm, wJiicJi, taking beauty as a common form of all heroines^ may perhaps consist in the addition to her playfulness, Jierwit, lie r affectionate and natural disposition, of a certain fearlessness very uncommon in heroines of her type and age. Nearly all of them would have been in speechless awe of the magnificent Darcy ; nearly all of them would have palpitated and fluttered at the idea of proposals, even naughty ones, from the fascinat- ing WickJiam. Elizabeth, witJi nothing offensive, nothing viraginous, nothing of the "New Woman" about her, has by nature what the best modern (not " new ") women have by education and experience, a perfect freedom from the idea that all men may bully her if they choose, and that most will
PREFACE. XX111
away with Jier if tJiey can. Though not in the least 41 impudent and mannish grown" she lias no mere sensi- bility, no nasty niceness about her. The form of passion common and likely to seem natural in Miss Austen's day was so invariably connected with the display of one or the other, or both of these qualities, that she has not made Elisa- beth outwardly passionate. But I, at least, have not the slightest do2ibt that she would have married Darcy just as willingly without Pemberley as with it, and anybody who can read between lines will not find the lovers' conversations in the final chapters so frigid as they might have looked to the Delia Cruscans of their own day, and perhaps do look to the Delia Cruscans of this.
A nd, after all, what is the good of seeking for the reason of charm ? — it is there. There were better sense in the sad mechanic exercise of determining the reason of its absence where it is not. In the novels of the last hundred years tJiere are vast numbers of young ladies with whom it migJit be a pleasure to fall in love ; there are at least five with whom, as it seems to me, no man of taste and spirit can help doing so. Their names are, in chronological order, Elizabeth Bennet, Diana Vernon, Argemone Lavington, Beatrix Esmond, and Barbara Grant. I shoidd have been most in love with Beatrix and Argemone ; I should, I think, for mere occasional companionship, have preferred Diana and Barbara. But to live with and to marry, I do not know that any one of the four can come into competition
with ElizabetJi.
GEORGE SAINTSBUKY.
&**•
lustration^.
Frontispiece .
Title-page .
Dedication .
Heading to Preface
Heading to List of Illustrations
Heading to Chapter I. .
" He came down to see the place "
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet .
" I hope Mr. Bingley will like it" .
"I'm the tallest" . . . . . . .
"He rode a black horse"
" When the party entered " .
" She is tolerable "
Heading to Chapter IV.
Heading to Chapter V. .
" Without once opening his lips " .
Tailpiece to Chapter V.
Heading to Chapter VI.
" The entreaties of several " .
" A note for Miss Bennet " .
" Cheerful prognostics "
" The apothecary came "
" Covering a screen "
PAGE
iv v
vii
ix
xxv
I
2
5 6
9 10
12 15
18
22 24 26 27
31 36 40
43 45
XXVI
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
' ' Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest girls " .
Heading to Chapter X. .
" No, no ; stay where you are :' . .
" Piling up the fire" ........
Heading to Chapter XII. .......
Heading to Chapter XIII. .......
Heading to Chapter XIV. .......
' ' Protested that he never read novels " .
Heading to Chapter XV. ......
Heading to Chapter XVI. .......
" The officers of the shire5' ......
" Delighted to see their dear friend again " .
Heading to Chapter XVIII
" Such very superior dancing is not often seen "...
" To assure you in the most animated language " .
Heading to Chapter XX. . . ...
" They entered the breakfast-room ".....
Heading to Chapter XXI. ......
" Walked back with them "
Heading to Chapter XXII. .......
' ' So much love and eloquence "......
" Protested he must be entirely mistaken " ' ' Whenever she spoke in a low voice " .
Heading to Chapter XXIV. .
Heading to Chapter XXV. .......
" Offended two or three young ladies " .
" Will you come and see me ?" ......
' ' On the stairs "
"At the door"
" In conversation with the ladies " .
" Lady Catherine," said she, " you have given me a treasure "
Heading to Chapter XXX. .......
" He never failed to inform them " .....
" The gentlemen accompanied him " .
Heading to Chapter XXXI
Heading to Chapter XXXII.
"Accompanied by their aunt " ......
" On looking up ". ........
Heading to Chapter XXXIV
" Hearing herself called " .......
Heading to Chapter XXXVI
" Meeting accidentally in town "......
" His parting obeisance " .......
PAGE
53 60
67 69
75 78 84
87 89
95
97
1 08
"3
118
132 139
146
148
154 156 161 1 66
1 68
175 177 181 189 194 198 200 209
211 213
215 221
225 228 235 243 253 256
26l
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xxvii
PAGE
"Dawson" ... . . 263
" The elevation of his feelings ;' . ..... 267
" They had forgotten to leave any message :: ..... 270
" How nicely we are crammed in !" ...... 272
Heading to Chapter XL. ... .... 278
" I am determined never to speak of it again " 283
" When Colonel Miller's regiment went away '' .... 285
" Tenderly flirting " ..... ... 290
The arrival of the Gardiners ........ 294
" Conjecturing as to the date " ..... 301
Heading to Chapter XLIV . 318
" To make herself agreeable to all " . . 321
" Engaged by the river " ........ 327
Heading to Chapter XLVI. ..... . 334
" I have not an instant to lose" .... . . 339
" The first pleasing earnest of their welcome " .... 345
The Post 359
"To whom I have related the affair" ...... 363
Heading to Chapter XLIX . . 368
" But perhaps you would like to read it " . . . . . 370
" The spiteful old ladies " . 377
" With an affectionate smile " .... . 385
' ' I am sure she did not listen " . . . . . . 393
" Mr. Darcy with him " ........ 404
" Jane happened to look round " ... . . 415
"Mrs. Long and her nieces " ....... 420
" Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak to you "..... 422
Heading to Chapter LVI . .431
"After a short survey " . 434
" But now it comes out ;' . . . . . . . . 442
" The efforts of his aunt " .... . - 44§
" Unable to utter a syllable " ...*... 457
" The obsequious civility " ........ 466
Heading to Chapter LXI 472
The End ........... 476
L
•
mi > i ;
:P '* III
:
is a truth uni- versal Iv acknow-
j
ledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first enter- ing a neighbourhood, this
^j ^j
truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, l% have you heard that Xetherfield Park is let at last?"
B
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
" But it is," returned she ; " for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
" Do not you want to know who has taken it ? " cried his wife, impatiently.
" You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
3& Came dowr> *fo Jep TV}? />/ace [Copyright 1894 by George Allen.']
This was invitation enough.
o
" Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England ; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately ; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 3
" What is his name ? "
" Bingley."
" Is he married or single ? "
" Oh, single, my dear, to be sure ! A single man of large fortune ; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls ! "
" How so ? how can it affect them ? "
" My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, " how can you be so tiresome ? You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
" Is that his design in settling here ? "
" Design ? nonsense, how can you talk so ! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."
" I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go — or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better ; for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party."
" My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
" But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."
" It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
" But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account ; for in general, you know, they visit no new
4 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not."
" You are over scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you ; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls — though I must throw in a good word for 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 half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference."
" They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he : " they are all silly and ignorant like other girls ; but Lizzy has something more of 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 no compassion on my poor nerves."
" You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least."
" Ah, you do not know what I suffer."
" But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
" It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."
" Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all."
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
5
make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develope. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married : its solace was visiting and news.
- —
I
{Copyright 1891 by George Allen.]
Jf Acre JW £<-n#rey cuifT fi£e
\Copyright 1894 by George Allen.\
CHAPTER II.
. BENNET was among the ear- liest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go ; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no know- ledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with, — " I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy." " We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother, resentfully, " since we are not to visit."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 7
" But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, " that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."
" I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypo- critical woman, and I have no opinion of 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 herself, began scolding one of her daughters.
" Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake ! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."
" Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father ; " she times them ill."
" I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty, fretfully. " When is your next ball to be, Lizzy ? "
" To-morrow fortnight."
" Ay, so it is," cried her mother, " and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before ; so, it will be impos- sible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."
" Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to lier"
" Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing ? "
" I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaint- ance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will ; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance ; and, therefore,
8 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."
The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, " Nonsense, nonsense ! "
" What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclama- tion ? " cried he. " Do you consider the forms of intro- duction, 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 very sensible, but knew not how.
"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, t( let us return to Mr. Bingley."
" I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.
" I am sorry to hear that; but why did you not tell me so 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.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 9
" 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.
' ;< V?
^ / .
'•& YC& a 6(a.ik ficrje'
CHAPTER III.
OT all that Mrs. Bennet, how- ever, 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
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. II
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. Nothing could be more delightful ! To be fond of dancing wras a cer- tain 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 ascertain- ing, from an upper window, that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.
An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards despatched ; 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 always be 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
12
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball ; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was
[Copyright 1894. by George AU
to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 13
ladies ; but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that, instead of twelve, he had 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 even- ing, 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 estate in Derbyshire could 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
14 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
an}' other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walk- ing 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 every- body 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 overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley. who came from the dance for a few minutes to
o J '
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."
" I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."
" I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Bingley, " for a kingdom ! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this even- ing ; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly pretty."
" You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
" Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld !
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I 5
But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."
" Which do you mean ? " and turning round, he looked
"JXe <s \Copyright 1894 by George Allen.}
for a moment at Elizabeth, till, catching her eye, he with- drew his own, and coldly said, " She is tolerable : but not handsome enough to tempt me ; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your
16 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends ; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.
The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neigh- bourhood ; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be never without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabi- tants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book, he was regardless of time ; and on the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an even- ing which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed ; but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear.
" Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, " we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked ; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Only think of tliat, my dear : he
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I/
actually danced with her twice ; and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. 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 was going down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two
sixth with Lizzy, and the Boulanger "
"If he had had any compassion for me" cried her husband impatiently, " he would not have danced half so much ! For God's sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ancle in the first dance ! ):
" Oh, my dear," continued Mrs. Bennet, " I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome ! and his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown- Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit, and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.
" But I can assure you," she added, u that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy ; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited, that there was no enduring him ! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great ! Not handsome enough to dance with ! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man."
c
CHAITKk [V.
HEN Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.
" He is just what a young- man ought to be," said she, " sensible, good-humoured, lively ; and I never saw such happy manners ! so much ease, with such perfect good breeding ! "
" He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, " which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."
" I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."
" Did not you ? / did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again ? He could not help seeing that you
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 19
were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person."
" Dear Lizzy ! "
" Oh, you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."
" I would wish not to be hasty in censuring anyone ; but I always speak what I think."
" I know you do : and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others ! Affectation of can- dour is common enough ; one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design, — to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad, — belongs to you alone. And so, you like this man's sisters, too, do you ? Their man- ners arc not equal to his."
" Certainly not, at first ; but they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep his house ; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neigh- bour in her."
Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced : their behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general ; and with more quickness of obser- vation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with a judgment, too, unassailcd 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 wrhen they were pleased, nor in the power
20 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
of being agreeable where they chose it ; but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome ; had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town ; had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds ; were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank ; and were, therefore, in every respect entitled to think well of themselves and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England ; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.
Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly 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.
His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own ; but though he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to pre- side at his table ; nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to con- sider 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
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 21
friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, open- ness, 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 judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient ; but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious ; and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. 'Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life ; 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 should 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.
{Copyright 1894 £y Geoi-ge Allen.}
CHAPTER V.
Longbourn
iITHIN a short walk of lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir Wil- liam Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction had, perhaps, been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business and to his residence in a small market town ; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge ; where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious ; on the contrary, he was all attention to 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
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 23
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 Eliza- beth'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 was very decided, indeed — that does seem as if— but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know."
"My overheatings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza," said Charlotte. " Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he ? Poor Eliza ! to be only just tolerable''
" I beg you will not put it into Lizzy's head to be
PRIDE AND PREJUDICK.
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."
i - f*
,
'/iff/out or.ce ofiencnp /HJ ft fa /
\Copyright 1894 by George Alle>i.\
"Are you quite sure, ma'am? Is not there a little mistake?" said Jane. "I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her."
" Ay, because she asked him at last how he liked
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 25
Netherfield, and he could not help answering her ; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to."
" Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, " that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance. With tJiem he is remarkably agreeable."
" I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was ; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had to come to the ball in a hack chaise."
" I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss Lucas, " but I wish he had danced with Eliza."
" Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, " I would not dance with him, if I were you."
" I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him."
" His pride," said Miss Lucas, " does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud."
" That is very true," replied Elizabeth, " and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine'.'
" Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, " is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed ; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often
26
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of our- selves ; vanity to what we would have others think of us."
" If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy," cried a young Lucas, who came with his sisters, " I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine everv day."
* *
" Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said Airs. Bennet ; " and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly."
The boy protested that she should not ; she continued to declare that she would ; and the argument ended only with the visit.
CHAPTER VI.
HE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was re- turned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the good- will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley ; and though the mother was found to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with tlieui was expressed towards the two eldest. By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure ; but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them ; though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value, as arising, in all probability, from the influence of their brother's admiration. It was generally evident, whenever they met, that he did admire her ; and to her it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a wav to be verv much in love ;
• *
but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and an uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard
28 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
her from the suspicions of the impertinent. She men- tioned this to her friend, Miss Lucas.
" It may, perhaps, be pleasant," replied Charlotte, " to be able to impose on the public in such a case ; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him ; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely- a slight preference is natural enough ; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly ; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."
" But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If /can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too."
" Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do."
" But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out."
" Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together ; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 29
" Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, " where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married ; and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings ; she is not acting by design. As yet she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton ; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character."
" Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite ; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together — and four even- ings may do a great deal."
" Yes : these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce, but with respect to any other leading charac- teristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded."
"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart ; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in th^ least They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation ; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
3O PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" You make me laugh, Charlotte ; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself."
Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attention to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty : he had looked at her without admira- tion at the ball ; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful ex- pression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing ; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashion- able world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware : to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.
He began to wish to know more of her ; and, as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were assembled.
" What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, " by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster ? "
" That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."
" But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 31
satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."
On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to
e tvf r«--''f t j of SQVera\ " \.^*>pjriglit < i,i\i>\^e Allen.
him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,-
' Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"
( With great energy ; but it is a subject which always makes a ladv energetic."
-• <j
32 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" You are severe on us."
"It will be Jicr turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. " I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you knew what follows."
" You are a very stransre creature bv wav of a friend !
*• <_> * *
— always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and every bod\* ! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable ; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, " Very well ; if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, " There is a very fine old saying, which even-body here is of course familiar with — ' Keep your breath to cool your porridge,'- -and I shall keep mine to swell my song."
Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.
Mary had neither genius nor taste ; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not piaying half so well ; and Mar}-, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 33
Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all convers ation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was hi;> neighbour, till Sir William thus began : —
" What a charming amusement for young people thi> is, Mr. Darcy ! There is nothing like dancing, after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies."
" Certainly, sir ; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world : even* savage can dance."
Sir William" only smiled. " Your friend performs delightfully," he continued, after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group ; " and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy."
" You saw me dance at Mervton. I believe, sir."
J
'' Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's ? "
" 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 if I can avoid it."
" You have a house in town, I conclude ? "
Mr. Darcv bowed.
j
'• I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself, for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."
He paused in hopes of an answer : but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the
D
34 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her, —
" My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing ? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not un- willing to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William, —
" Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."
Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined ; nor -did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.
" You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you ; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half 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 complaisance ; for who would object to such a partner ? "
Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley, —
" I can guess the subject of your reverie."
" I should imagine not."
" You are considering how insupportable it would be
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 35
to pass many evenings in this manner, — in such society ; and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed ! The insipidity, and yet the noise — the nothingness, and yet the self-importance, of all these people ! What would I give to hear your strictures on them ! "
" Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been medi- tating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied, with great intrepidity ,—
" Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
" Miss Elizabeth Bennet ! " repeated Miss Bingley. " I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite ? and pray when am I to wish you joy ? "
" That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid ; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."
" Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charm- ing mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you."
He listened to her with perfect indifference, while she chose to entertain herself in this manner ; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed along.
I
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ifjSe
m
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[Cofyright i&i.
CHAPTER VII.
R. BEXXET'S propert\* con- sisted almost entirely in an
j
estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in de- fault of heirs male, on a distant relation ; and their mother's
fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 37
attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.
She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton ; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions : their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening ; and, however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood ; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head-quarters.
Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added some- thing to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers ; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.
38 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed, —
" From all that I can collect by your manner of talk- ing, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced."
Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer ; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.
" I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, " that you should be so read}- to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of anybody's children, it should not be of my own, however."
''If my children are sill};, I must hope to be always sensible of it."
" Yes ; but as it happens, the}' are all of them very clever."
" This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish."
" My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. \Yhen the}- get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers an}- more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well — and, indeed, so I do still at my heart ; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him ; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 39
" Mamma," cried Lydia, " my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came ; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library."
Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet ; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read, —
" Well, Jane, who is it from ? What is it about ? What does he say ? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us ; make haste, my love."
" It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.
" My dear friend,
" If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives ; for a whole day's tcte-a-tcte between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. Yours ever,
" CAROLINE BINGLEY."
" With the officers ! " cried Lydia : " I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that''
" 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 it seems likely to rain ; and then you must stay all night."
" That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, " if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home."
40
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton ; and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."
" I had much rather go in the coach."
" But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I
am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are not they ? "
' They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."
" But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, " my mother's purpose will be answered."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 41
She did at last extort from her father an acknowledg- ment that the horses were engaged ; Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered ; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission ; Jane certainly could not come back.
" This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed ! ' said Mrs. Bennet, more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Nether- field brought the following note for Elizabeth :—
" My dearest 'Lizzie,
" I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I sup- pose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yester- day. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones — therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me — and, excepting a sore throat and a headache, there is not much the matter with me.
" Yours, etc."
" Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, " if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness — if she should die — it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."
44 Oh. I am not at all afraid of her dying. People do
42 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage."
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had : and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.
" How can you be so silly," cried her mother, " as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt ! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."
" I shall be very fit to see Jane — which is all I want."
" Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, " to send for the horses ? ':
" No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing, when one has a motive ; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."
" I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, " but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason ; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."
"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.
" If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along. " perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter, before he goes."
In Meryton they parted : the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles, with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 43
She was shown into the breakfast parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. That she should have walked three miles so early in the day in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley ; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them ; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness — there was good- humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately ; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conver- sation ; and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.
When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters ; and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary came ; and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to
44
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
get the better of it ; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed
readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent ; the gentle- men being out, they had in fact nothing to do else- where.
When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern at parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully con- sented, and a servant was despatched to Longbourn, to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.
'couerin9 a. screen'
CHAPTER VIII.
T five o'clock the two ladies re- tired to dress, and at half-past six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil inquiries which then poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley, she could not make a very favourable answer.
46 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves ; and then thought no more of the matter : and their indiffe- rence towards Jane, when not immediately before them, restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her original dislike.
Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing ; and they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so ; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Eliza- beth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who, when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her.
When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, — a mixture of pride and impertinence : she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added, —
" She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."
"She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all ! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold ? Her hair so untidy, so blowzy ! "
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 47
" Yes, and her petticoat ; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain, and the gown which 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 Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."
" You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley ; " and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."
" Certainly not."
" To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone ! what could she mean by it ? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum."
"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley.
" I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley, in a half whisper, " that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."
" Not at all," he replied : " they were brightened by the exercise." A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again, —
" I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, — she is really a very sweet girl, — and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it."
" I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton ?
48 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" Yes ; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside."
" That is capital," added her sister ; and they both laughed heartily.
" If 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 of marrying men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy.
To this speech Bingley made no answer ; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar relations.
\Yith a renewal of tenderness, however, they repaired to her room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her asleep, and when it appeared to her rather right than pleasant that she should go down stairs herself. On entering the draw- ing-room, she found the whole party at loo, and was imme- diately invited to join them ; but suspecting them to be playing high, she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself, for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.
" Do you prefer 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
PKi'DE AXD PREJUDICE. 49
Elizabeth ; " I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in man)T things."
" In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley ; " and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well."
Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards a table where a few books were Ivinsf. He
j o
immediately offered to fetch her others ; all that his library afforded.
" And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow; and though I have not man}*, I have more than I ever looked into."
Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.
" I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, " that my father should have left so small a collection of books. "What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy !"
"It ought to be good," he replied: "it has been the \vork of many generations."
" And then you have added so much to it yourself — you are always buying books."
" I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these."
" Neglect ! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley."
" I wish it mav."
j
" But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than 'Derbyshire."
E
5O PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
"With all my heart: I will buy Pemberley itself, if Darcy will sell it."
" I am talking of possibilities, Charles."
" Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imita- tion."
Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed, as to leave her very little attention for her book ; and, soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, to observe the game.
" Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley: " will she be as tall as I am ?"
" I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or rather taller."
" How I long to see her again ! I never met with any- body who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners, and so extremely accomplished for her age ! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite."
" It is amazing to me," said Bingley, " how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are."
" All young ladies accomplished ! My dear Charles, what do you mean ? "
" Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this ; and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished."
" Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy, " has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen ; but I am very far"
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 51
from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half-a- dozen in the whole range of my acquaintance that are really accomplished."
" Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley.
" Then," observed Elizabeth, " you must compre- hend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished
woman.'
" Yes ; I do comprehend a great deal in it."
" Oh, certainly," cried his faithful assistant, " no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, draw- ing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word ; and, besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved."
" All this she must possess," added Darcy ; " and to all she must yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."
" I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing a)iy"
" Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this ? "
" / never saw such a woman. / never saw such capa- city, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united."
Mrs. I hirst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her implied doubt, and were both pro- testing that the\- knew man}' women who answered this "description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with
52 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.
" Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, " is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own ; and with many men, I daresay, it succeeds ; but, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art."
" Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, " there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. 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 urged Mr. Jones's being sent for immediately ; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal ; and it was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable ; his sisters declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper ; while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that even- possible attention might be paid to the sick ladv and her sister.
[Copyright 1894 by George Allen.}
CHAPTER IX.
'LIZABETH passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, and some time after- ^ wards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this amendment,
: [ FRIPE AND rRETUPICE.
however, she requested to have a note sent to Long- bourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgment of her situation. The note was immedi- ately despatched, and i;s c ^.itents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bonnet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.
Had she found Jane in any apparent danger. Mrs. Bonnet would have been very miserable; but be:"_ satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her res; ration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried home ; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingiey's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast
.lour. Binglcy met them with hopes that Mrs. Bonnet had not found Miss Bonnet worse than 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 of moving her. \Ye must trespass a little longer n votir kindness."
m
11 Removed ! " cried Binqlev. " It must not be thought
*z» - *j
of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal."
" You may depend upon it, madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, " that Miss Bennet shall receive even- possible attention while she remains with us."
Mrs. Bonnet was profuse in her acknowledgments.
" I am sure." she added. 'v if it was not for such good
friends. I do not know what would become of her. for
she is very ill indeed, and sutlers a vast deal, though
with the greatest patience in the world, which is always
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 55
the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over that gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease."
" Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he ; " and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here."
" That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth.
" You begin to comprehend me, do you ? " cried he, turning towards her.
" Oh yes — I understand you perfectly."
" I wish I might take this for a compliment ; but to be so easily seen through, I am afraid, is pitiful."
" That is as it happens. It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."
" Lizzy," cried her mother, " remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."
" I did not know before," continued Bingley, immedi- ately, " that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."
" Yes ; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage."
" The country," said Darcy, " can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neigh- bourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."
:•; PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever."
o
" Ye?, indeed." cried Mrs. Bennet. offended by his manner of mentioning a count:-.- neighbourhood. %- I
-
- — are you there is quite as much of tJiat going on in the countrv as in town."
d
Even-body was surprised : and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph, —
• I cannot see that London has any great advantage
:r the country, for my part, except the shops and : places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"
" When I am in the country," he replied, " I never
. -h to leave it; and when I am in town, it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."
•• Ay, that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman," looking at Darcy, " seemed to think the country was nothing at all."
•• Indeed, mamma, you are mistaken/' said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. " You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which you must a : knowledge to be true.''
Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were : but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know
o o
we dine with four-and-twenty famil:
Xothir.j but concern for Elizabeth could enable B::t;;'ey t keep his countenance. His sister was I
delicate, and directed her eye towards Mr. Darcy with a
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 57
very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that mi^ht turn her mothers thoughts, now
o o o
asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.
" Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley — is not he? so much the man of fashion ! so genteel and so easy !
He has alwavs something to sav to evervbodv. That is
. -
my idea of good breeding : and those persons who fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths quite mistake the matter."
" Did Charlotte dine with you ? "
" Xo, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, / always keep sen-ants that can do their own work : my daughters are brought up differently. But even-body is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Xot that /think Charlotte so :. _ plain; but then she is our particular friend."
" She seems a very pleasant young woman," said Bingley.
" Oh dear, yes ; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beaut}-. I do not like to boast of my own chi. I but to be sure. Jane — one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what evervbodv savs. I do not
<J f -r «•
trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen there was a crentlemen at mv brother Gardiner's in town
o
so much in love with her, that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an otter before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty thev were."
58 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth, impa- tiently. " There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love ! "
" I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love," said Darcy.
" Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away."
Darcy only smiled ; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say ; and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with "Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part, indeed, without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit ; and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.
Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance ; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attentions of the officers, to whom her uncle's good
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 59
dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, there- fore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise ; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to her mother's ear.
" I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement ; and, when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill ? "
Lydia declared herself satisfied. " Oh yes — it would be much better to wait till Jane was well ; and by that time, most likely, Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball," she added, " I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not."
Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy ; the latter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of all Miss Bingley's witticisms on fine eyes.
ing-room.
CHAPTER X.
HE day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who continued, though slowly, to mend ; and, in the evening, Elizabeth joined their party in the draw- The loo table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.
Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 6l
" How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive bach a letter ! "
He made no answer.
" You write uncommonly fast."
" You are mistaken. I write rather slowly."
" How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a year ! Letters of business, too ! How odious I should think them ! "
" It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to yours."
" Pray tell your sister that I long to see her."
" I have already told her so once, by your desire."
" I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well."
" Thank you — but I always mend my own."
" How can you contrive to write so even ? "
He was silent.
"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp, and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley's."
" Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again ? At present I have not room to do them justice."
" Oh, it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy ? "
" They are generally long ; but whether always charming, it is not for me to determine."
"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill."
" That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her brother, " because he does not write with ease.
62 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
He studies too much for words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy ? "
" My style of writing is very different from yours."
41 Oh," cried Miss Bingley, " Charles writes in the most careless way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."
" My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them ; by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents."
" Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, " must disarm reproof."
" Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, " than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast."
"And which of the two do you call tny little recent piece of modesty ? "
"The indirect boast ; for you are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceed- ing from a rapidity of thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you think at least highly interesting. The power of doing anything with quickness is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning, that if you ever resolved on quitting Xetherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself; and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else ? "
" Xay," cried Bingley, " this is too much, to remember at night all the foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my honour, I believed what I
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 63
said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this moment. At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless precipitance merely to show off before the ladies."
" I daresay you believed it ; but I am by no means convinced that you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependent on chance as that of any man I know ; and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, ' Bingley, you had better stay till next week,' you would probably do it- you would probably not go — and, 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 have shown him off now much more than he did himself."
" I am exceedingly gratified," said Bingley, " by your converting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am afraid you arc giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend ; for he would certainly think the better of me if, under such a circumstance, I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I could."
" Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it ? "
" Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter — Darcy must speak for himself."
" You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house,
64 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
and the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in favour of its propriety."
" To yield readily — easily — to the persuasion of a friend is no merit with you."
" To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either."
" You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as • you have supposed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance occurs, before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases, between friend and friend, where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it ? "
"Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject, to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting between the parties ? "
" By all means," cried Bingley ; " let us hear all the particulars, not forgetting their comparative height and size, for that will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy on particular occasions, and in
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 65
particular places ; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do."
Mr. Darcy smiled ; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her brother for talking such nonsense.
" I see your design, Bingley," said his friend. " You dislike an argument, and want to silence this."
" Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very thankful ; and then you may say whatever you like of 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 Bingley and Elizabeth for the indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the pianoforte, and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way, which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seated herself.
Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister ; and while they were thus employed, Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy 's eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man, and yet that he should look at her because he disliked her was still more strange. She could only imagine, however, at last, that she drew his notice because there was some- thing about her more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other person present.
F
66 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
The supposition did not pain her. She liked him too little to care for his approbation.
After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a lively Scotch air ; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her, —
" Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel ? "
She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some surprise at her silence.
" Oh," said she, " I heard you before ; but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say ' Yes,' that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste ; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all ; and now despise me if you dare."
" Indeed I do not dare."
Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry ; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody, and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.
Miss Bingley saw, or suspected, enough to be jealous ; and her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth.
She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of their supposed marriage, and plan- ning his happiness in such an alliance.
" I hope," said she, as they were walking together in
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
the shrubbery the next day, " you will give your mother- in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue ; and if you can compass it, to cure the younger girls of running after
[/
{Copyright 1894 £_y G^ ^e Allen.']
the officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your lady possesses.''
" Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity ? "
68 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" Oh yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for your Elizabeth's picture, you must not attempt to have it taken, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes ? "
" It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression ; but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied."
At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth herself.
" I did not know that you intended to walk," said Miss Bingley, in some confusion, lest they had been overheard.
"You used us abominably ill," answered Mrs. Hurst, " running away without telling us that you were coming out."
Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by herself. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness, and immediately said,-
" This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the avenue."
But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them, laughingly answered,—
" No, no ; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. Good-bye."
She then ran gaily off, rejoicing, as she rambled about, in the hope of being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening.
\Copyi-ight 1894 by George Allen.}
CHAPTER XL
HEX the ladies removed after din- ner Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing- room, where she was welcomed by her two friends with many pro- fessions of pleasure ; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaint- ance with spirit.
But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer
70 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
the first object ; Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed him- self directly to Miss Bennet with a polite congratulation ; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was " very glad ; " but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room ; and she removed, at his desire, to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be farther from the door. He then sat down 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 of the card- table — but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards, and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had, therefore, nothing to do but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book. Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet.
Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy's progress through his book, as in reading her own ; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation ; he merely answered her question and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 71
had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, " How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way ! I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading ! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book ! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if 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 quest of some amusement ; when, hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said, —
" By the bye Charles, are you really serious in medi- tating a dance at Netherfield ? I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party ; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punish- ment than a pleasure."
"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins ; but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing, and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send round my cards."
" I should like balls infinitely better," she replied, " if they were carried on in a different manner ; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day."
" Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say ; but it would not be near so much like a ball."
Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards got up and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well ; but Darcy, at whom it was
72 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the despera- tion of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more ; and, turning to Elizabeth, said,—
" Miss Eliza Ben net, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude."
Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility : Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. What could he mean ? She was dying to know what could be his meaning — and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him.
" Not at all," was her answer ; " but, depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of dis- appointing him will be to ask nothing about it."
Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in anything, and persevered, therefore, in requiring an explanation of his two motives.
" I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. " You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking : if the first, I should be completely in your way ; and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire."
" Oh, shocking ! " cried Miss Bingley. " I never heard
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 73
anything so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech ? "
" Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination," said Elizabeth. " We can all plague and punish one another. Tease him — laugh at him. Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done."
" But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Tease calm- ness of temper and presence of mind ! No, no ; I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not ex- pose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself."
" Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at ! " cried Elizabeth. " That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance. I dearly love a laugh."
" Miss Bingley," said he, " has given me credit for more than can be. The wisest and best of men, — nay, the wisest and best of their actions, — may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke."
" Certainly," replied Elizabeth, " there are such people, but I hope I am not one of tJicin. I hope I never ridicule what is \vise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without."
" Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule."
" Such as vanity and pride."
" Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride — where there is a real superiority of mind — pride will be always under good regulation."
74 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
" Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss Bingley ; " and pray what is the result ? "
" I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise."
" No," said Darcy, " I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of under- standing. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding ; certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost for ever."
" That is a failing, indeed ! " cried Elizabeth. " Implac- able resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me."
" There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
" And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied, with a smile, " is wilfully to misunderstand them."
" Do let us have a little music," cried Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no share. " Louisa, you will not mind my waking Mr. Hurst."
Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte was opened ; and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
CHAPTER XII.
N consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the next morning to her mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring ^^ herself to receive them with pleasure before.
Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carnage before Tuesday ; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively
76 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
resolved — nor did she much expect it would be asked ; and fearful, on the contrary, of being considered as in- truding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving X ether- field that morning should be mentioned, and the request made.
The communication excited many professions of con- cern ; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work on Jane ; and till the morrow their Coiner was deferred. Miss Bindley was
O O ,^> J
then sorry that she had proposed the delay ; for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.
The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her — that she was not enough recovered ; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right.
To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence : Elizabeth had been at X'etherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked ; and Miss Bingley was uncivil to hci\ and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely re- solved to be particularly careful that no sign of admira- tion should noi'c escape him — nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity ; sensible that, if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last dav must have material weight in con-
O » O
firming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday : and though they were at one time left by themselves for half an hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 77
On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane ; and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Xetherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest spirits.
They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and
O "
thought them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them ; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense, by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.
They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough bass and human nature ; and had some new extracts to admire and some new observations of thread- bare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Much had been done, and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday ; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle ; a private had been flogged ; and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.
M&
CHAPTER XIII
HOPE, my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at break- fast the next morning, " that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in ; and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home."
" The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger."
Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. " A gentleman and a stranger ! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why, Jane- you never dropped a word of this — you sly thing ! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. But — good Lord ! how unlucky ! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill this moment."
" It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband ; " it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
This roused a general astonishment ; and he had the
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 79
pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained : — " About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it ; for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
" Oh, my dear," cried his wife, " I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children ; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before : but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason ; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
" It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet ; " and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the
o
guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may, perhaps, be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
" No, that I am sure I shall not : and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypo- critical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him ? "
" Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear."
SO PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15/7^ October.
" Dear Sir,
" The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasi- ness ; and, since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach : but, for some time, I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance."- — There, Mrs. Bennet.' — " My mind, however, is now made up on the subject ; for, having received ordination at Easter, I have been so for- tunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence ; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologize for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends ; but of this here- after. If you should have no objection to receive me into
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 8 1
your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November iSth, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospi- tality till the Saturday se'n-night following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful com- pliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend, " WILLIAM COLLINS."
" At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace- making gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. " He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word ; and, I doubt not, will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."
" There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however ; and, if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."
"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."
Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.
" He must be an oddity, I think," said she. " I cannot make him out There is something very pompous in his style. And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail ? We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. Can he be a sensible man, sir? "
" No, my dear ; I think not. I have great hopes of
G
82 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of ser- vility and self-importance in his letter which promises well. I am impatient to see him."
"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed."
To Catherine and Lydia neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.
Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little ; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of en- couragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he com- plimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth ; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers ; but Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily, —
" You are very kind, sir, I am sure ; and I wish with all
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 83
my heart it may prove so ; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly."
" You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate." " Ah, sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed."
" I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted- He was interrupted by a summons to dinner ; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised ; and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future pro- perty. The dinner, too, in its turn, was highly admired ; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him, with some asperity, that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended ; but he continued to apologize for about a quarter of an hour.
CHA¥ ER-XIV
IURING dinner, Mr.
Bennet scarcely spoke at all ; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner ; and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank — such affability and condescension, as he had himself expe- rienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people, he knew, but he had never seen any- thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman ; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 85
for a week or two to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion ; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, — some shelves in the closets upstairs.
" That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, " and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir ? "
" The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her Lady- ship's residence."
" I think you said she was a widow, sir ? has she any family ? "
" She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
" Ah," cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, " then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she ? Is she handsome ? "
" She is a most charming young lady, indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex ; because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of, as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies."
86 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" Has she been presented ? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court."
" Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town ; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British Court of its brightest ornament. Her Ladyship seemed pleased with the idea ; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess ; and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her Ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay."
" You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet ; "and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing atten- tions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study ? "
" They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time ; and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."
Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped ; and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.
By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing- room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him
r\?r\ever reacC
to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced ; but on beholding it (for everything announced it to be from a circulating library)
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
he started back, and, begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose " Fordyce's Sermons." Lydia gaped as he opened the volume ; and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with, —
" Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard ? and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."
Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue ; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said, —
" I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess ; for certainly there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."
Then, turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologized most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book ; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.
CHAPTER XV.
. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father ; and though he belonged to one of the uni- versities, he had merely kept the necessary terms without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner ; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant ; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry ; and in seeking a . reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he
90 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends — of atonement — for inheriting their father's estate ; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitable- ness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.
His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority ; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration ; for in a quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. " As to her younger daughters, she could not take upon her to say — she could not positively answer — but she did not knoiv of any prepossession ;- her eldest daughter she must just mention — she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged."
Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -and it was soon done — done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.
Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married ; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before, was now high in her good graces.
Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not for-
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 9 1
gotten : every sister except Mary agreed to go with her ; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Huns- ford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity ; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there : his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk ; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and go.
In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were imme- diately wandering up the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet, indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them.
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be ; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible
92 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement, when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and, he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be ; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charm- ing. His appearance was greatly in his favour : he had all the best parts of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation — a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming ; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger ; and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat — a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it ?
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
It was impossible to imagine ; it was impossible not to long to know.
In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips's throwing up the parlour window, and loudly seconding the invitation.
Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces ; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome ; and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop- boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield, because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologizing for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding ; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's com-
94 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
mission in the shire. She had been watching him
the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, — and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation ; but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become " stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to ; and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured, with unwearying civility, that they were perfectly needless.
As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen ; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they ap- peared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.
Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman ; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.
CHAPTER XVI.
no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach con- veyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton ; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had
96 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house.
When this information was given, and they had all I ..:en their seats. Air. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed hiir.-v.r~ in the small summer bre:. :: .~t parlour at Rosings ; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification ; but when Mrs. Philips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she had listened to the description of
onlv one of Ladv Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found
. »
that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred
pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and
would hardly have resented a comparison with the
. :>usekeepers room.
In describing to her all the grandeur of Ladv Catherine
J
and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them ; and he found in Mrs. Philips a very atten- tive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased :h what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it . among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantel- piece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach: and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room. Elizabeth :-.-. that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thir. '.-:::-. :~ of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the shire
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
97
were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set and the best of them were of the present party ; but Mr, Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, counte- nance, air, and walk, as tJicy were superior to the broad-
. --
V".]
faced stuffs- uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost ever\- female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was
n
98 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the probability of a rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.
With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignificance ; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing ; but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Philips, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin.
When the card tables were placed, he had an oppor- tunity of obliging her, in return, by sitting down to wrhist.
" I know little of the game at present," said he, " but I shall be glad to improve myself; for in my situation of
life " Mrs. Philips was very thankful for his
compliance, but could not wait for his reason.
Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker ; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes, to have attention for anyone in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, how-
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 99
ever, was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton ; and, after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.
" About a month," said Elizabeth ; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, " he is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand."
" Yes," replied Wickham ; " his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself — for I have been connected with his family, in a particular manner, from my infancy."
Elizabeth could not but look surprised.
" You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy ? "
" As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth, warmly. " I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."
" I have no right to give my opinion," said Wickham, " as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish — and, perhaps, you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. Here you are in your own family."
" Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is
IOO PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by anyone."
" I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short interruption, " that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts ; but with ///;;/ I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen."
" I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man."
Wickham only shook his head.
" I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, " whether he is likely to be in this country much longer."
" I do not at all know ; but I Jieard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your
plans in favour of the shire will not be affected by
his being in the neighbourhood."
" Oh no — it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding liiui but what I might proclaim to all the world — a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had ; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been scandalous ; but I verily believe I could for- give him anything and everything, rather than his dis- appointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. IOI
Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart ; but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry.
Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speak- ing of the latter, especially, with gentle but very intelli- gible gallantry.
"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, " which was my chief inducement to enter the shire. I know it to be a most respect- able, agreeable corps ; and my friend Denny tempted me further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circum- stances have now made it eligible. The church ought to have been my profession — I was brought up for the church; and I should at this time have been in posses- sion of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentle- man we were speaking of just now."
"Indeed!"
" Yes — the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it ; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere."
" Good heavens ! '; cried Elizabeth ; " but how could that be ? How could his will be disregarded ? Why did not you seek legal redress ? "
IO2 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
" There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it — or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short, anything or nothing. Certain it is that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man ; and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm unguarded temper, and I may perhaps have some- times spoken my opinion of him, and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me."
" This is quite shocking ! He deserves to be publicly disgraced."
" Some time or other he will be — but it shall not be by me. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose /«';//."
Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them.
" But what," said she, after a pause, " can have been his motive? what can have induced him to behave so cruelly ? "
" A thorough, determined dislike of me — a dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better ; but his father's uncommon attach- ment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood — the sort of preference which was often given me."
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 103
" I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this — though I have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him — I had supposed him to be despising his fellow- creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descend- ing to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such in- humanity as this ! "
After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, " I do remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition must be dreadful."
" I will not trust myself on the subject," replied Wick- ham ; " / can hardly be just to him."
Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, " To treat in such a manner the godson, the friend, the favourite of his father ! ' She could have added, " A young man, too, like you, whose very coun- tenance may vouch for your being amiable." But she contented herself with — " And one, too, who had pro- bably been his own companion from childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner."
" We were born in the same parish, within the same park ; the greatest part of our youth was passed together: inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. My father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Philips, appears to do so much credit to ; but he gave up everything to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence ; and when, immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise
104 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him as of affection to myself."
"How strange!" cried Elizabeth. " How abominable! I wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you. If from no better motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest, — for dishonesty I must call it."
"It is wonderful," replied Wickham ; "for almost all his actions may be traced to pride ; and pride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent ; and in his behaviour to me there were stronger impulses even than pride."
" Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good ? '
u Yes; it has often led him to be liberal and generous; to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride, for he is very proud of what his father was, have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brother/}' pride, which, with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister ; and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers."
" What sort of a girl is Miss Darcy ? "
He shook his head. " I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy ; but she is too much like her brother, — very, very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond of me ; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amuse-
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 105
ment. But she is nothing to me now. She is a hand- some girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death her home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and super- intends her education."
After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the first, and saying,-
' I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley. How can Mr. Bingley, who seems good-humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? Do you know Mr. Bingley ? "
" Not at all."
' He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. Darcy is."
" Probably not ; but Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not want abilities. He can be a con- versible companion if he thinks it worth his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His pride never deserts him ; but with the rich he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honourable, and, perhaps, agreeable, — allowing something for fortune and figure."
The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round the other table, and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. Philips. The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter. It had not been very great ; he had lost every point ; but when Mrs. Philips began to express her concern thereupon, he assured her, with much earnest gravity, that it was not of the least importance ; that he
106 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged she would not make herself uneasy.
" I know very well, madam," said he, " that when persons sit down to a card table they must take their chance of these things, — and happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There are, undoubtedly, many who could not say the same ; but, thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters."
Mr. Wickham's attention was caught ; and after observ- ing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relations were very intimately acquainted with the family of De Bourgh.
"Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she replied, "has very lately given him a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long."
" You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters ; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy."
" No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday."
" Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates."
This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already self-destined to another.
" Mr. Collins," said she, " speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her daughter ; but, from some particulars
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. IO/
that he has related of her Ladyship, I suspect his grati- tude misleads him; and that, in spite of her being his patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman."
" I believe her to be both in a great degree," replied Wickham ; " I have not seen her for many years ; but I very well remember that I never liked her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever ; but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride of her nephew, who chooses that everyone connected with him should have an understanding of the first class."
Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till supper put an end to cards, and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. Wickham's attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs. Philips's supper party, but his manners recom- mended him to everybody. Whatever he said, was said well ; and whatever he did, clone gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home ; but there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia talked inces- santly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won ; and Mr. Collins, in describing the civility of Mr. and Mrs. Philips, protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist, enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing that he crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House.
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-
To /ee Tneiv C/PQ>- jriencfaoai'-n'
CHAPTER XVII.
LIZABETH related to Jane, the next day, what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern : she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard ; and yet it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The possibility of his having really endured such unkindness was enough to interest all her tender feelings ; and nothing therefore remained to be done but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained.
TRIBE AND PREJUDICE.
" They have both," said she, " been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side."
"Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business ? Do clear them, too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody."
" Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner,- one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him ? Oh no."
" I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on than that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night ; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks."
" It is difficult, indeed — it is distressing. One does not know what to think."
" I beg your pardon ; — one knows exactly what to think."
But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, — that Mr. Bingley, if he had been imposed on,
I 10 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
would have much to suffer when the affair became public.
The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this conversation passed, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they had been speaking ; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long expected ball at Nether- field, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separa- tion. To the rest of the family they paid little attention ; avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.
The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by re- ceiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the atten- tions of their brother ; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look and behaviour. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single event, or any particular person ; for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. YVickham, he was by no means the only partner who
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Ill
could satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it.
" While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, " it is enough. I think it is no sacrifice to join occasion- ally in evening engagements. Society has claims on us all ; and I profess myself one of those who consider in- tervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for everybody."
Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion, that though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement ; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke, either from the Archbishop or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance.
" I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, " that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency ; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially ; a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her."
Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very dances ; and to have Mr. Collins instead ! — her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no
112 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
help for it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities towards herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity ; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her. Elizabeth, however, did not choose to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and, till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.
If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a pitiable state at this time ; for, from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there was such a succes- sion of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after ; the very shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham ; and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia.
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CO -Lr,' ^-
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CHAPTER XVIII.
ILL Elizabeth entered the drawing- room at Netherfield, and looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled, a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained un- subdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening. But in an
I
114 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted, for Mr. Darcy's pleasure, in the Bingleys' invita- tion to the officers ; and though this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr. Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before, and was not yet returned ; adding, with a significant smile,—
" I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman here."
This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by Elizabeth ; and, as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just, every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make. Attention, for- bearance, patience with Darcy, was injury to Wickham. She was resolved against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality provoked her.
But Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour ; and though every prospect of her own was destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on her spirits ; and, hav- ing told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a volun- tary transition to the oddities of her cousin, and to point him out to her particular notice. The two first dances, however, brought a return of -distress : they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn,
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. 115
apologizing instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy.
She danced next with an officer, and had the refresh- ment of talking of Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy, who took her so much by surprise in his applica- tion for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again immediately, and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of mind : Charlotte tried to console her.
" I dare say you will find him very agreeable."
" Heaven forbid ! That would be the greatest misfortune of all ! To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate ! Do not wish me such an evil."
When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her, in a whisper, not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear un- pleasant in the eyes of a man often times his consequence. Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in her neighbours' looks their equal amazement in beholding it. They stood for some time without speaking a word ; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and, at first, was resolved not to break it ; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk,
Il6 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
she made some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time, with —
" It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. / talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."
He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said.
"Very well ; that reply will do for the present. Perhaps, by-and-by, I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones ; but now we may be silent."
" Do