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CHAPTER VI
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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
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
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 show _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
Jane should
therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his
attention
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
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 beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the
least
You know it is not
sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.”

Occupied in observing Mr
Bingley’s attention to her sister, Elizabeth
was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some
interest in the eyes of his friend
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
To
this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying
Of
this she was perfectly unaware: to her he was only the man who made
himself agreeable nowhere, 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
It was at Sir William Lucas’s, where a large party were
assembled
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
“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 anybody and everybody
There is
nothing like dancing, after all
“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
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
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
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
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
Darcy replied, with great intrepidity,--

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley
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
[Illustration:

     “A note for Miss Bennet”

[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]




CHAPTER VII
Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and
had left her four thousand pounds
She had a sister married to a Mr
Philips, who had been a clerk to their
father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in
London in a respectable line of trade
