The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only «Nonsense, nonsense!»
«I cannot quite agree with you there», he said. «Do you consider the forms of introduction as nonsense? What will you say, Mary? You are a young lady of deep thought, I know, and read great books».
Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.
«While Mary is thinking what to say», he continued, «let us return to Mr. Bingley».
«I am sick of Mr. Bingley», exclaimed his wife.
«I'm sorry. If I had known that this morning, I certainly would not have visited him», her husband said. «But I have paid the visit, so we cannot escape the acquaintance now».
The ladies were surprised as much as he wished; Mrs. Bennet most of all; though soon she said that she had expected it all the time.
«My dear Mr. Bennet, I knew you loved your girls so much! Well, how pleased I am!»
«Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you want», said Mr. Bennet. And he left the room, tired of his wife's joyful exclamations.
«You have a wonderful father, girls!» said she, when the door was closed. «I do not know how you will ever repay him for his kindness; or me, either. At our age it is not so pleasant to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I'm sure Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball».
«Oh!» said Lydia confidently, «I am not afraid. Though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest».
How soon Mr. Bingley would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and when they should ask him to dinner were the most important subjects of the ladies' evening conversation.
Chapter 3
In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had heard much of the young ladies' beauty and hoped to meet them, but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate: from an upper window they were able to see that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse.
Soon afterwards, an invitation to dinner was sent to Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet had planned the menu that was to do credit to her housekeeping, but it all had to be put off. Mr. Bingley in his answer wrote that, unfortunately, he was unable to accept the honour of their invitation as he was to be in town the following day. Mrs. Bennet was quite upset. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might never settle at Netherfield, flying about from one place to another. Lady Lucas calmed her a little by saying that Mr. Bingley, perhaps, had gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and, indeed, they soon heard that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The number of ladies upset the girls, but the day before the ball they were comforted by hearing that he had brought only six ladies with him from London: his five sisters and a cousin. And on the assembly day Mr. Bingley's party consisted of only five altogether: Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young
man.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant open face, and natural manners. His sisters were elegant women, and looked very stylish. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, only looked the gentleman. But the attention of the assembly room was soon drawn to his friend Mr. Darcy with his fine, tall figure, handsome face, noble bearing, and the word, spread within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen said he was a fine figure of a man, the ladies decided he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was the object of great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave out that he was proud, above his company, and above being pleased; then even his large estate in Derbyshire could not save him from the general decision that he was a most unpleasant person, unworthy to be compared with his friend.
Mr. Bingley had soon made acquaintance with all the chief people in the room; he was lively and danced every dance, was sorry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving a ball himself at Netherfield. Such contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy mostly walked about the room, speaking from time to time to one of his own party. He danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, and did not wish to be introduced to any other lady. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most unpleasant man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Mrs. Bennet disliked him even more than the others because he had snubbed one of her daughters.
As the number of dancing gentlemen was limited, Elizabeth Bennet had to sit down for two dances. For some time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough, and she heard a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes and invited his friend to join it.
«Come, Darcy», said he, «I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You must dance».