Chapter 6

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 diued 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 twelve-month.  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 obsevering Mr. Bingleys'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
endered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression
of her dark eyes.  To this discovery succeeded some others
qually 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
"ravely 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
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 deternined; 
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 reflfiections.  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.