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!"

"Your 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.