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 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 h
er 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.