Chapter 17

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 ofthe 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 everything 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 right
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 per force 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.