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 will certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye,^[27] and if I do not begin by being impudent myself, I will soon grow afraid of him.”

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Elizabeth turned to him and said:

“Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?”

“With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady energetic.”

“You are severe on us.”

“It will be her turn soon to be teased,” said Miss Lucas. “I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.”

Before she could reply, her sister Mary, who was always impatient for display, started playing on the pianoforte^[28].

Mary had neither genius nor taste; but she had a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have been good for a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. At the end of a long concerto, Mary was glad to purchase praise by Scotch and Irish airs^[29], 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 way of passing the evening, and was too much engrossed by his 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 society.”^[30]

“Certainly, sir; and it is also 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, seeing Bingley join the group; “and I doubt not that you are an adept^[31] 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.”

At that instant Elizabeth was moving towards them, and Sir William called out to her:

“My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not 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 was going to give it to Mr. Darcy who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discontent 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,^[32] requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined.

She looked playfully, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman,^[33] and he was thinking of her with some contentment, when thus approached by Miss Bingley:

“I can guess the subject of your thought.”

“I do not think you can.”

“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 boredom, and yet the noise – the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would I give to hear your criticisms of them!”

“Your supposition 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 give.”

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:

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley. “I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? – and 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.”

“Well, if you are serious about it, I will consider the matter absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; and, of course, she will always be 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^[34].

Chapter 7

Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was inherited, in default of heirs male,^[35] by a distant relation; and their mother's fortune could not supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother, who was in trade and settled in London.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who usually went there three or four times a week, to pay a visit to their aunt and to a milliner's shop^[36] just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent visitors. Their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and provide conversation for the evening. They always learnt some news from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment^[37] in the neighbourhood. It was going to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs. Phillips now added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and soon they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces joy unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers.

After listening one morning to their talk on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed:

“From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.”

Catherine made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.

“I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you are so ready to think your own children silly. All of them are very clever.”

“This is the only point, I flatter myself,^[38] on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.”

“My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. When they get to our age, they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well – and, indeed, so I do still at my heart. If a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, wants one of my girls I will not say no to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very charming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals.”

Mrs. Bennet was interrupted by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,

“Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.”

“It is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane, and then read it aloud.

“MY DEAR FRIEND, —

“If you do not dine to-day with Louisa and me, we will be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tête-à-tête between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are going to dine with the officers. – Yours ever,

“CAROLINE BINGLEY”

“With the officers!” cried Lydia. “I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that.”

“Dining out,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that is very unlucky.”

“Can I have the carriage?” said Jane.

“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.”

“That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth.

“I would prefer to go in the coach,” said Jane.

“But, my dear, the horses are wanted in the farm. Mr. Bennet, are they not?”

“They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.”

“But if you have got them to-day,” said Elizabeth, “my mother will be satisfied.”

So Mr. Bennet said that the horses were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback. Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not come back.

“This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!” said Mrs. Bennet more than once. The next morning, however, a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:

“MY DEAREST LIZZY, —

“I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is caused by my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones – therefore do not be alarmed if you hear of his visiting me – and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me. – Yours, etc.”

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.

“How can you be so silly,” cried her mother, “as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.”

“I will be very fit to see Jane – which is all I want.”

“Is this a hint to me, Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?”

“No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I will be back by dinner.”

“We will go as far as Meryton with you,” said Catherine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.

“If we make haste,” said Lydia, as they walked along, “perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes.”

In Meryton they parted; the two youngest went to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with dirty stockings and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. That she had walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt^[39] for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

Elizabeth was glad to be taken to Jane immediately; and Jane was delighted at her entrance. She was not able, however, to talk much, and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection they showed for Jane. The apothecary^[40] came, and having examined his patient, said that she had caught a violent cold; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts^[41]. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were the other ladies often absent.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, but Jane showed such concern in parting with her sister, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was sent to Longbourn to inform the family about her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.