I do not like to boast
of my own child; but to be sure, Jane--one does not often see anybody
better looking
I do not trust my own
partiality
When she was only fifteen there was a gentleman at my
brother Gardiner’s in town so much in love with her, that my
sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away
Perhaps he thought her too young
However, he
wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.”

“And so ended his affection,” said Elizabeth, impatiently
“There has
been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way
I wonder who first
discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!”

“I have been used to consider poetry as the _food_ of love,” said Darcy
“Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may
Everything nourishes what is
strong already
She longed to
speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs
Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr
Bingley for his kindness to
Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy
Bingley was
unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be
civil also, and say what the occasion required
She performed her part,
indeed, without much graciousness, but Mrs
Bennet was satisfied, and
soon afterwards ordered her carriage
Upon this signal, the youngest of
her daughters put herself forward
The two girls had been whispering to
each other during the whole visit; and the result of it was, that the
youngest should tax Mr
Bingley with having promised on his first coming
into the country to give a ball at Netherfield
Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion
and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose
affection had brought her into public at an early age
She was
very equal, therefore, to address Mr
Bingley on the subject of the
ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be
the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it
His answer
to this sudden attack was delightful to her mother’s ear
“I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and, when
your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of
the ball
But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill?”

Lydia declared herself satisfied
“Oh yes--it would be much better to
wait till Jane was well; and by that time, most likely, Captain Carter
would be at Meryton again
And when you have given _your_ ball,” she
added, “I shall insist on their giving one also
I shall tell Colonel
Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.”

Mrs
Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned
instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the
remarks of the two ladies and Mr
Darcy; the latter of whom, however,
could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of _her_, in spite of
all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on _fine eyes_
[Illustration]

The day passed much as the day before had done
Hurst and Miss
Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who
continued, though slowly, to mend; and, in the evening, Elizabeth joined
their party in the drawing-room
The loo table, however, did not appear
Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching
the progress of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by
messages to his sister
Bingley were at piquet, and
Mrs
Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in
attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion
“How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!”

He made no answer
“You write uncommonly fast.”

“You are mistaken
I write rather slowly.”

“How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a
year
I mend
pens remarkably well.”

“Thank you--but I always mend my own.”

“How can you contrive to write so even?”

He was silent
At
present I have not room to do them justice.”

“Oh, it is of no consequence
But do you
always write such charming long letters to her, Mr
He studies too much
for words of four syllables
Do not you, Darcy?”

“My style of writing is very different from yours.”

“Oh,” cried Miss Bingley, “Charles writes in the most careless way
imaginable
Bingley,” said Elizabeth, “must disarm reproof.”

“Nothing is more deceitful,” said Darcy, “than the appearance of
humility
The power of doing anything with
quickness is always much prized by the possessor, and often without any
attention to the imperfection of the performance
And yet, upon my honour, I
believed what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this
moment
Bingley did
not do justice to his own disposition
You have shown him off now much
more than he did himself.”

“I am exceedingly gratified,” said Bingley, “by your converting what my
friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper
Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of
friendship and affection
A regard for the requester would often make
one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason
one into it