Book123

    Free register and download UseNet downloader, then you can FREE Download from UseNet.

    Download without Limit " PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 6 " from UseNet for FREE!

THE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit

was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the

good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was

found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to,

a wish of being better acquainted with 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 every

body, 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 woman had better shew 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 leisure for

falling in love as much as she chuses." .

"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is

in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined

to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it.

But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet,

she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its

reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four

dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house,

and has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite

enough to make her understand his character." .

"Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might

only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember

that four evenings have been also spent together -- and four 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 before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in

the least. They always contrive 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

had hardly 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 no where, 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 not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly

well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball

at Meryton?" .

"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lady

energetic." .

"You are severe on us." .

"It will be her turn soon to be teazed," 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 any body and every body! -- 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 every body

here is of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your

porridge," -- and I shall keep mine to swell my song." .

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a

song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several

that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument

by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain

one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was

always impatient for display. .

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her

application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited

manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than

she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to

with much more pleasure, though not 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 own 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 societies." .

"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 some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond

of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of

London would agree with Lady Lucas." .

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed

to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was

struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out

to her, .

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? -- Mr. Darcy, you must

allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner.

-- You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before

you." And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who,

though extremely surprised, was not 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 these people! -- What would I give

to hear your strictures on them!" .

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more

agreeably engaged. I have been 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 so serious about it, I shall consider the matter

as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed,

and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you." .

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain

herself in this manner, and as his composure convinced her that all

was safe, her wit flowed long. .

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123