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ELIZABETH related to Jane the next day, what had passed between Mr.

Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; --

she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr.

Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the

veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. -- The

possibility of his having really endured such unkindness, was enough

to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing therefore remained

to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of

each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake, whatever could

not be otherwise explained.

"They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way

or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps

misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us

to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them,

without actual blame on either side." .

"Very true, indeed; -- and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to

say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned

in the business? -- Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think

ill of somebody." .

"Laugh as much as you chuse, but you will not laugh me out of my

opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light

it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a

manner, -- one, whom his father had promised to provide for. -- It is

impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for

his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends

be so excessively deceived in him? oh! no." .

"I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than

that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave

me last night; names, facts, every thing mentioned without ceremony.

-- If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was

truth in his looks." .

"It is difficult indeed -- it is distressing. -- One does not know

what to think." .

"I beg your pardon; -- one knows exactly what to think." .

But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, -- that Mr.

Bingley, if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the

affair became public. .

The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this conversation

passed, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they had

been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal

invitation for the long expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed

for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their

dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly

asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To

the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet

as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all

to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with

an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as

if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities. .

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every

female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment

to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by receiving

the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card;

Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends,

and the attention of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure

of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation

of every thing in Mr. Darcy's looks and behaviour. The happiness anticipated

by Catherine and Lydia, depended less on any single event, or any particular

person, for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the

evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could

satisfy them, and a ball was at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could

assure her family that she had no disinclination for it. .

"While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, "it is enough.

-- I think it no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements.

Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who

consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for every

body." .

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion that, though she

did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help

asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and,

if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's

amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained

no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke

either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing

to dance. .

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball

of this kind, given by a young man of character to respectable people,

can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing

myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair

cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of

soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially,

-- a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the left

cause, and not to any disrespect for her." .

Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed

being engaged by Wickham for those very dances: -- and to have Mr. Collins

instead! her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help

for it however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed

a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a

grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry

from the idea it suggested of something more. -- It now first struck

her that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being

the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille

table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea

soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities

toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her

wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself

by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave

her to understand that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly

agreeable to her. Elizabeth, however, did not chuse to take the hint,

being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any

reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was

useless to quarrel about him. .

If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of,

the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a pitiable state at this

time, for from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there

was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton

once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after; -- the very

shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have

found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended

the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less

than a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday,

and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia. .

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