CHAPTER IV.
When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious inher praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very muchshe admired him.
”He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she, ”sensible, goodhumoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease,with such perfect good breeding!”
”He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, ”which a young man oughtlikewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”
”I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. Idid not expect such a compliment.”
”Did not you? _I_ did for you. But that is one great difference betweenus. Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and _me_ never. Whatcould be more natural than his asking you again? He could not helpseeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman inthe room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly isvery agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many astupider person.”
”Dear Lizzy!”
”Oh! you are a great deal too apt you know, to like people in general.You never see a fault in any body. All the world are good and agreeablein your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.”
”I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one; but I always speakwhat I think.”
”I know you do; and it is _that_ which makes the wonder. With _your_good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense ofothers! Affectation of candour is common enough;--one meets it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design--to take the goodof every body's character and make it still better, and say nothing ofthe bad--belongs to you alone. And so, you like this man's sisters too,do you? Their manners are not equal to his.”
”Certainly not; at first. But they are very pleasing women when youconverse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keephis house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charmingneighbour in her.”
Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour atthe assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with morequickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, andwith a judgment too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was verylittle disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine ladies; notdeficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power ofbeing agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited. They wererather handsome, had been educated in one of the first privateseminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in thehabit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with peopleof rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well ofthemselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family inthe north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on theirmemories than that their brother's fortune and their own had beenacquired by trade.
Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundredthousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate,but did not live to do it.--Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, andsometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with agood house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of thosewho best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend theremainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation topurchase.
His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; butthough he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by nomeans unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who hadmarried a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to considerhis house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been ofage two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation tolook at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half anhour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfiedwith what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.
Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of agreat opposition of character.--Bingley was endeared to Darcy by theeasiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition couldoffer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he neverappeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had thefirmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. Inunderstanding Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient,but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, andfastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. Inthat respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure ofbeing liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offence.
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficientlycharacteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettiergirls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him,there had been no formality, no stiffness, he had soon felt acquaintedwith all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angelmore beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of peoplein whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he hadfelt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention orpleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled toomuch.
Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they admiredher and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whomthey should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was thereforeestablished as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by suchcommendation to think of her as he chose.