diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'test/Lwp/austin.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | test/Lwp/austin.txt | 1979 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 1979 deletions
diff --git a/test/Lwp/austin.txt b/test/Lwp/austin.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 580827306..000000000 --- a/test/Lwp/austin.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1979 +0,0 @@ -Pride and Prejudice - -by Jane Austen - - - - -Chapter 1 - - -It is a truth universally acknowledged, 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 entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well -fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered -the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. - -"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you -heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" - -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 you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife -impatiently. - -"YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it." - -This was invitation enough. - -"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." - -"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 -may 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 newcomers. 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 -for 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 last twenty years at least." - -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 make his wife understand his -character. HER mind was less difficult to develop. 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. - - - -Chapter 2 - - -Mr. Bennet was among the earliest 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 knowledge 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." - -"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet -him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long 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, hypocritical 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." - -"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come -back till the day before; so it will be impossible 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 HER." - -"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 acquaintance 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 daughters must stand their -chance; and, therefore, 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 exclamation?" cried -he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress -that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with -you THERE. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of -deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts." - -Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. - -"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return -to Mr. Bingley." - -"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife. - -"I am sorry to hear THAT; but why did not you tell me that -before? If I had known as much this morning I certainly would -not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have -actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now." - -The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of -Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first -tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she -had expected all the while. - -"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should -persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well -to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it -is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning -and never said a word about it till now." - -"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. -Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the -raptures of his wife. - -"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the -door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him -amends for his kindness; or me, either, for that matter. At our -time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making -new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do -anything. Lydia, my love, though you ARE the youngest, I dare -say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball." - -"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I AM the -youngest, I'm the tallest." - -The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he -would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they -should ask him to dinner. - - - -Chapter 3 - - -Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her -five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw -from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. -They attacked him in various ways--with barefaced questions, -ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the -skill of them all, and they were at last obliged to accept the -second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her -report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted -with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely -agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next -assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! -To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; -and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained. - -"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at -Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the -others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for." - -In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat -about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained -hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of -whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. -The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the -advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore -a blue coat, and rode a black horse. - -An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and -already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do -credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which -deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the -following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour -of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. -She could not imagine what business he could have in town so -soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear -that he might be always flying about from one place to another, -and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas -quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone -to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report -soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and -seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved -over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day -before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought -only six with him from London--his five sisters and a cousin. -And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of -only five altogether--Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband -of the eldest, and another young man. - -Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant -countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine -women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. -Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon -drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome -features, noble mien, and the report which was in general -circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having -ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine -figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than -Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about -half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned -the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; -to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his -large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most -forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be -compared with his friend. - -Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the -principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, -danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, -and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable -qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between -him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst -and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any -other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about -the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His -character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable -man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come -there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. -Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened -into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her -daughters. - -Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, -to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, -Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a -conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the -dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it. - -"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see -you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had -much better dance." - -"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 Mr. Bingley, -"for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many -pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; 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! 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 for a -moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own -and coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to -tempt ME; 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 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 toward 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 neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been -fortunate enough never to be 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 inhabitants. 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 events of an evening which had raised such -splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's -views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon -found out that he had a 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 -THAT, my dear; he 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 ankle in the first place!" - -"Oh! my dear, 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, "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." - - - -Chapter 4 - - -When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been -cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her -sister just 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? I 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 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 your life." - -"I would not wish 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 candour 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 manners -are 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 neighbour 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 observation and less pliancy -of temper than her sister, and with a judgement too unassailed by -any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve -them. They were in fact very fine ladies; not deficient in good -humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of making -themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and -conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in -one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of -twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more -than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and -were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of -themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable -family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply -impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune -and their own had been acquired by trade. - -Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a -hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to -purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley -intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his county; -but as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of -a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the -easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the -remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next -generation to purchase. - -His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, -though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley -was by no means unwilling to preside at his table--nor was Mrs. -Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less -disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. -Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted -by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House. -He did look at it, and into it for half-an-hour--was pleased with -the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the -owner said in its praise, and took it immediately. - -Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in -spite of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to -Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, -though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, -and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the -strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and -of his judgement the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy -was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy -was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and -fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. -In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was -sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually -giving offense. - -The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was -sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with more -pleasant people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been -most kind and attentive to him; there had been no formality, no -stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and, as -to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. -Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom -there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had -felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention -or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she -smiled too much. - -Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they -admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet -girl, and one whom they would not object to know more of. -Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their -brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as -he chose. - - - -Chapter 5 - - -Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom -the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas -had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a -tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an -address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction had -perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust -to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; -and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family -to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that -period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his -own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself -solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his -rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was -all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and -obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous. - -Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to -be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several -children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young -woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend. - -That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to -talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after -the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to -communicate. - -"YOU began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet with -civil self-command to Miss Lucas. "YOU were Mr. Bingley's -first choice." - -"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better." - -"Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her -twice. To be sure that DID seem as if he admired her--indeed -I rather believe he DID--I heard something about it--but I -hardly know what--something about Mr. Robinson." - -"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; -did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he -liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there -were a great many pretty women in the room, and WHICH he thought -the prettiest? and his answering immediately to the last -question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there -cannot be two opinions on that point.'" - -"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that does -seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know." - -"MY overhearings were more to the purpose than YOURS, Eliza," -said Charlotte. "Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to -as his friend, is he?--poor Eliza!--to be only just TOLERABLE." - -"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by -his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it -would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long -told me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour -without once opening his lips." - -"Are you quite sure, ma'am?--is not there a little mistake?" -said Jane. "I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her." - -"Aye--because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, -and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed -quite angry at being spoke to." - -"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much, -unless among his intimate acquaintances. With THEM 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 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 used synonymously. A person may be proud -without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of -ourselves, 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 a -day." - -"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said -Mrs. 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 6 - - -The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. -The visit was soon returned in due form. Miss Bennet's -pleasing manners grew on the goodwill 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 THEM 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 -way to be very 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 a uniform cheerfulness of manner which would -guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent. She -mentioned 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 women 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 I 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 more leisure -for falling in love as much as she chooses." - -"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 with him in company 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 also been spent -together--and four evenings 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 characteristic, 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 the 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." - -"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 attentions 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 admiration 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 hardly had a good feature -in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly -intelligent by the beautiful expression 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 fashionable 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 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 him; which immediately -provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said: - -"Did you not 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 always a subject which makes a lady -energetic." - -"You are severe on us." - -"It will be HER turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I -am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what -follows." - -"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!--always -wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! -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 fine old saying, which everybody 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 -playing half so well; and Mary, 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. - -Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode -of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and -was too much engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir -William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began: - -"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! -There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one -of the first refinements of polished society." - -"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue -amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every 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 Meryton, I believe, sir." - -"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. Darcy bowed. - -"I had once had some thought 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 action of doing a very -gallant thing, and called out to her: - -"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not 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 unwilling 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 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 -those people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!" - -"You conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was -more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating 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 serious about it, I shall consider the matter is -absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, -indeed; and, of course, she will always be 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 long. - - - -Chapter 7 - - -Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of -two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was -entailed, in default 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 -attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds. - -She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, 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 headquarters. - -Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most -interesting intelligence. Every day added something 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. Phillips visited them all, and -this opened to his nieces a store 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. - -After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. -Bennet coolly observed: - -"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, 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 ready 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 silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it." - -"Yes--but as it happens, they 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. When they get to our age, I -dare say they will not think about officers any 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." - -"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 tete-a-tete between two women -can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on -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." - -"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 they not?" - -"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." - -She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment 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 Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth: - -"MY DEAREST LIZZY,-- - -"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to -be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends -will not hear of my returning 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 -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." - -"Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do 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 an see her if I could -have the carriage." - -Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was 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 ankles, dirty -stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise. - -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 conversation, -and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little -besides 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 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 gentlemen being out, they had, -in fact, nothing to do elsewhere. - -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 in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was -obliged to convert the offer of the chaise to an invitation to -remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully -consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to -acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of -clothes. - - - -Chapter 8 - - -At five o'clock the two ladies retired 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's, -she could not make a very favourable answer. 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 -indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them -restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former 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 Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to -eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to 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 -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 blowsy!" - -"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 ankles 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 a excessive regard for Miss 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 on -Meryton." - -"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. - -With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned 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 sleep, and when it seemed to her rather -right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself. On -entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and -was immediately 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 Elizabeth; -"I am NOT a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things." - -"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; -"and I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well." - -Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards -the table where a few books were lying. He 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 many, -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 work 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 may." - -"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." - -"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 imitation." - -Elizabeth was so much caught with 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 anybody 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 anyone 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 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 comprehend 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, drawing, 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 this 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 ANY." - -"Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility -of all this?" - -"I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and -taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe united." - -Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice -of her implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew -many women who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst -called them to order, with bitter complaints of their inattention -to what was going forward. As all conversation was thereby at -an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room. - -"Elizabeth 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 dare say, 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 a 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 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 every -attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister. - - - -Chapter 9 - - -Elizabeth 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 afterwards from the two -elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this -amendment, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, -desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgement of -her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its -contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by -her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family -breakfast. - -Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would -have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that -her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering -immediately, as her restoration 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 -Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three -daughter all attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met -them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet -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. -We must trespass a little longer on your kindness." - -"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought 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 will receive every possible attention -while she remains with us." - -Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments. - -"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do -not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, -and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the -world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without -exception, the sweetest temper I have 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 the 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 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 immediately, "that -your 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 a few -subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move -in a very confined and unvarying society." - -"But people themselves alter so much, that there is something -new to be observed in them for ever." - -"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of -mentioning a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there is -quite as much of THAT going on in the country as in town." - -Everybody 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 over the -country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The -country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?" - -"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish 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." - -"Aye--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 the town, which you must acknowledge 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 we dine with -four-and-twenty families." - -Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep -his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her -eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, -for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother's -thoughts, now 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 easy! He had always something to say -to everybody. 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?" - -"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the -mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants -that can do their own work; MY daughters are brought up very -differently. But everybody 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! Not that I think Charlotte so VERY -plain--but then she is our particular friend." - -"She seems a very pleasant young woman." - -"Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas -herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not -like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane--one does -not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. -I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, -there was a man at my brother Gardiner's in town so much in -love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her -an offer 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 they were." - -"And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "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 attention of the officers, to whom -her uncle's good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended -her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, -therefore, 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 their 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 -when 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. - - - -Chapter 10 - - -The 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 drawing-room. 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 handwriting, 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 -union with her opinion of each. - -"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such 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 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. He studies -too much for words of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?" - -"My style of writing is very different from yours." - -"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 MY little recent piece of -modesty?" - -"The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in -writing, because you consider them as proceeding 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 prized much 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 upon quitting Netherfield 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?" - -"Nay," 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 believe what I 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 dare say 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 are giving it a turn which that -gentleman did by no means intend; for he would certainly think -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 -intentions 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, 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 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 an indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved -with some 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 something more wrong -and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any -other person present. 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 not you 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 planning his happiness in -such an alliance. - -"I hope," said she, as they were walking together in 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, do sure the -younger girls of running after 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?" - -"Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips 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 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. - |