Chapter XII

IN consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the next morning to her mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish ane!s wee", could not bring herself to recei#e them with $leasure before. %er answer, therefore, was not $ro$itious, at least not to Elizabeth!s wishes, for she was im$atient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not $ossibly ha#e the carriage before Tuesday& and in her $ostscri$t it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister $ressed them to stay longer, she could s$are them #ery well. 'gainst staying longer, howe#er, Elizabeth was $ositi#ely resol#ed(nor did she much ex$ect it would be as"ed& and fearful, on the contrary, of being considered as intruding themsel#es needlessly long, she urged ane to borrow Mr. Bingley!s carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of lea#ing Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made. The communication excited many $rofessions of concern& and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to wor" on ane& and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had $ro$osed the delay& for her )ealousy and disli"e of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other. The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and re$eatedly tried to $ersuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her(that she was not enough reco#ered& but ane was firm where she felt herself to be right. To Mr. *arcy it was welcome intelligence+ Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. ,he attracted him more than he li"ed& and Miss Bingley was unci#il to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. %e wisely resol#ed, to be $articularly careful that no sign of admiration should now esca$e him(nothing that could ele#ate her with the ho$e of influencing his felicity& sensible that, if such an idea had been suggested, his beha#iour during the last day must ha#e material weight in confirming or crushing it. ,teady to his $ur$ose, he scarcely s$o"e ten words to her through the whole of ,aturday& and though they were at one time left by themsel#es for half an hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his boo" and would not e#en loo" at her. -n ,unday, after morning ser#ice, the se$aration, so agreeable to almost all, too" $lace. Miss Bingley!s ci#ility to Elizabeth increased at last #ery ra$idly, as well as her affection for ane& and when they $arted, after assuring the latter of the

$leasure it would always gi#e her to see her either at .ongbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she e#en shoo" hands with the former. Elizabeth too" lea#e of the whole $arty in the li#eliest s$irits. They were not welcomed home #ery cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them #ery wrong to gi#e so much trouble, and was sure ane would ha#e caught cold again. But their father, though #ery laconic in his ex$ressions of $leasure, was really glad to see them& he had felt their im$ortance in the family circle. The e#ening con#ersation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense, by the absence of ane and Elizabeth. They found Mary, as usual, dee$ in the study of thorough bass and human nature& and had some new extracts to admire, and some new obser#ations of threadbare morality to listen to. /atherine and .ydia had information for them of a different sort. Much had been done, and much had been said in the regiment since the $receding 0ednesday& se#eral of the officers had dined lately with their uncle& a $ri#ate had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that /olonel 1orster was going to be married.

Chapter XIII
2I %-3E, my dear,! said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at brea"fast the next morning, 2that you ha#e ordered a good dinner to4day, because I ha#e reason to ex$ect an addition to our family $arty.! 20ho do you mean, my dear5 I "now of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless /harlotte .ucas should ha$$en to call in& and I ho$e my dinners are good enough for her. I do not belie#e she often sees such at home.! 2The $erson of whom I s$ea" is a gentleman and a stranger.! Mrs. Bennet!s eyes s$ar"led. 2' gentleman and a stranger6 It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. 0hy, ane( you ne#er dro$$ed a word of this(you sly thing6 0ell, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. But(good .ord6 how unluc"y6 there is not a bit of fish to be got to4day. .ydia, my lo#e, ring the bell. I must s$ea" to %ill this moment.! 2It is not Mr. Bingley,! said her husband& 2it is a $erson whom I ne#er saw in the whole course of my life.! This roused a general astonishment& and he had the $leasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and fi#e daughters at once.

'fter amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus ex$lained+ (2'bout a month ago I recei#ed this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it& for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. /ollins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he $leases.! 2-h, my dear,! cried his wife, 2I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. 3ray do not tal" of that odious man. I do thin" it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children& and I am sure, if I had been you, I should ha#e tried long ago to do something or other about it.! ane and Elizabeth attem$ted to ex$lain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attem$ted it before+ but it was a sub)ect on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason& and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of fi#e daughters, in fa#our of a man whom nobody cared anything about. 2It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,! said Mr. Bennet& 2and nothing can clear Mr. /ollins from the guilt of inheriting .ongbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may, $erha$s, be a little softened by his manner of ex$ressing himself.! 2No, that I am sure I shall not& and I thin" it was #ery im$ertinent of him to write to you at all, and #ery hy$ocritical. I hate such false friends. 0hy could not he "ee$ on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him5! 20hy, indeed, he does seem to ha#e had some filial scru$les on that head, as you will hear+( 2%unsford, near 0esterham, 7ent, 89th -ctober.

2*E': ,I:(The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always ga#e me much uneasiness& and, since I ha#e had the misfortune to lose him, I ha#e frequently wished to heal the breach+ but, for some time, I was "e$t bac" by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disres$ectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always $leased him to be at #ariance.!(;There, Mrs. Bennet.<(2My mind, howe#er, is now made u$ on the sub)ect& for, ha#ing recei#ed ordination at Easter, I ha#e been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the $atronage of the :ight %onourable .ady /atherine *e Bourgh,

widow of ,ir .ewis *e Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has $referred me to the #aluable rectory of this $arish, where it shall be my earnest endea#our to demean myself with grateful res$ect towards her .adyshi$, and be e#er ready to $erform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the /hurch of England. 's a clergyman, moreo#er, I feel it my duty to $romote and establish the blessing of $eace in all families within the reach of my influence& and on these grounds I flatter myself that my $resent o#ertures of goodwill are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of .ongbourn estate will be "indly o#erloo"ed on your side, and not lead you to re)ect the offered oli#e branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of in)uring your amiable daughters, and beg lea#e to a$ologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to ma"e them e#ery $ossible amends& but of this hereafter. If you should ha#e no ob)ection to recei#e me into your house, I $ro$ose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, No#ember 8=th, by four o!cloc", and shall $robably tres$ass on your hos$itality till the ,aturday se!nnight following, which I can do without any incon#enience, as .ady /atherine is far from ob)ecting to my occasional absence on a ,unday, $ro#ided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with res$ectful com$liments to your lady and daughters, your well4wisher and friend, 20I..I' M /-..IN ,.! 2't four o!cloc", therefore, we may ex$ect this $eacema"ing gentleman,! said Mr. Bennet, as he folded u$ the letter. > 2%e seems to be a most conscientious and $olite young man, u$on my word& and, I doubt not, will $ro#e a #aluable acquaintance, es$ecially if .ady /atherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.! 2There is some sense in what he says about the girls, howe#er& and, if he is dis$osed to ma"e them any amends, I shall not be the $erson to discourage him.! 2Though it is difficult,! said ane, 2to guess in what way he can mean to ma"e us the atonement he

thin"s our due, the wish is certainly to his credit.! Elizabeth was chiefly struc" with his extraordinary deference for .ady /atherine, and his "ind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his $arishioners whene#er it were required. 2%e must be an oddity, I thin",! said she. 2I cannot ma"e him out. There is something #ery $om$ous in his style. 'nd what can he mean by a$ologising for being next in the entail5 0e cannot su$$ose he would hel$ it, if he could. /an he be a sensible man, sir5! 2No, my dear& I thin" not. I ha#e great ho$es of finding him quite the re#erse. There is a mixture of ser#ility and self4im$ortance in his letter which $romises well. I am im$atient to see him.! 2In $oint of com$osition,! said Mary, 2his letter does not seem defecti#e. The idea of the oli#e branch $erha$s is not wholly new, yet I thin" it is well ex$ressed.! To /atherine and .ydia neither the letter nor its writer was in any degree interesting. It was next to im$ossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some wee"s since they had recei#ed $leasure from the society of a man in any other colour. 's for their mother, Mr. /ollins!s letter had done away much of her ill4 will, and she was $re$aring to see him with a degree of com$osure which astonished her husband and daughters. Mr. /ollins was $unctual to his time, and was recei#ed with great $oliteness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little& but the ladies were ready enough to tal", and Mr. /ollins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. %e was a tall, hea#y4loo"ing young man of fi#e4and4twenty. %is air was gra#e and stately, and his manners were #ery formal. %e had not been long seated before he com$limented Mrs. Bennet on ha#ing so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth& and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well dis$osed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers& but Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no com$liments, answered most readily,( 2?ou are #ery "ind, sir, I am sure& and I wish with all my heart it may $ro#e

so& for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.! 2?ou allude, $erha$s, to the entail of this estate.! 2'h, sir I do indeed. It is a grie#ous affair to my $oor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things I "now are all chance in this world. There is no "nowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.! 2I am #ery sensible, madam, of the hardshi$ to my fair cousins, and could say much on the sub)ect, but that I am cautions of a$$earing forward and $reci$itate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come $re$ared to admire them. 't $resent I will not say more, but, $erha$s, when we are better acquainted(! %e was interru$ted by a summons to dinner& and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only ob)ects of Mr. /ollins!s admiration. The hall, the dining4 room, and all its furniture, were examined and $raised& and his commendation of e#erything would ha#e touched Mrs. Bennet!s heart, but for the mortifying su$$osition of his #iewing it all as his own future $ro$erty. The dinner, too, in its turn, was highly admired& and he begged to "now to which of his fair cousins the excellence of its coo"ery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him, with some as$erity, that they were #ery well able to "ee$ a good coo", and that her daughters had nothing to do in the "itchen. %e begged $ardon for ha#ing dis$leased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended& but he continued to a$ologise for about a quarter of an hour.

Chapter XIV
*@:INA dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely s$o"e at all& but when the ser#ants were withdrawn, he thought it time to ha#e some con#ersation with his guest, and therefore started a sub)ect in which he ex$ected him to shine, by obser#ing that he seemed #ery fortunate in his $atroness. .ady /atherine *e Bourgh!s attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, a$$eared #ery remar"able. Mr. Bennet could not ha#e chosen better. Mr. /ollins was eloquent in her $raise. The sub)ect ele#ated him to more than usual solemnity of manner& and with a most im$ortant as$ect he $rotested that 2he had ne#er in his life witnessed such beha#iour in a $erson of ran"(such affability and condescension, as he had himself ex$erienced from .ady /atherine. ,he had been graciously $leased to a$$ro#e of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of $reaching

before her. ,he had also as"ed him twice to dine at :osings, and had sent for him only the ,aturday before, to ma"e u$ her $ool of quadrille in the e#ening. .ady /atherine was rec"oned $roud by many $eo$le, he "new, but he had ne#er seen anything but affability in her. ,he had always s$o"en to him as she would to any other gentleman& she made not the smallest ob)ection to his )oining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his lea#ing his $arish occasionally for a wee" or two to #isit his relations. ,he had e#en condescended to ad#ise him to marry as soon as he could, $ro#ided he chose with discretion& and had once $aid him a #isit in his humble $arsonage, where she had $erfectly a$$ro#ed all the alterations& he had been ma"ing, and had e#en #ouchsafed to suggest some herself,(some shel#es in the closets u$stairs.! 2That is all #ery $ro$er and ci#il, I am sure,! said Mrs. Bennet, 2and I daresay she is a #ery agreeable woman. It is a $ity that great ladies in general are not more li"e her. *oes she li#e near you, sir5! 2The garden in which stands my humble abode is se$arated only by a lane f r o m : o s i n g s 3 a r " , h e r .

a d y s h i $ ! s r e s i d e n c e . 2I thin" you said she was a widow, sir5 has she any family5! 2,he has one only daughter, the heiress of :osings, and of #ery extensi#e $ro$erty.! 2'h,! cried Mrs. Bennet, sha"ing her head, 2then she is better off than many girls. 'nd what sort of young lady is she5 Is she handsome5! 2,he is a most charming young lady, indeed. .ady /atherine herself says that, in $oint of true beauty, Miss *e Bourgh is far su$erior to the handsomest of her sex& because there is that in her features which mar"s the young woman of distinguished birth. ,he is unfortunately of a sic"ly constitution, which has $re#ented her ma"ing that $rogress in many accom$lishments which she could not otherwise ha#e failed of, as I am informed by the lady who su$erintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is $erfectly amiable, and often condescends to dri#e by my humble abode in her little $haeton and $onies.!

2%as she been $resented5 I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.! 2%er indifferent state of health unha$$ily $re#ents her being in town& and by that means, as I told .ady /atherine myself one day, has de$ri#ed the British /ourt of its brightest ornament. %er .adyshi$ seemed $leased with the idea& and you may imagine that I am ha$$y on e#ery occasion to offer those little delicate com$liments which are always acce$table to ladies. I ha#e more than once obser#ed to .ady /atherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess& and that the most ele#ated ran", instead of gi#ing her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the "ind of little things which $lease her .adyshi$, and it is a sort of attention which I concei#e myself $eculiarly bound to $ay.! 2?ou )udge #ery $ro$erly,! said Mr. Bennet& 2and it is ha$$y for you that you $ossess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I as" whether these $leasing attentions $roceed from the im$ulse of the moment, or are the result of $re#ious study5! 2They arise chiefly form what is $assing at the time& and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggestions and arranging such little elegant com$liments as my be ada$ted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to gi#e them as unstudied an air as $ossible.! Mr. Bennet!s ex$ectations were fully answered. %is cousin was a absurd as he had ho$ed& and he listened to him with the "eenest en)oyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute com$osure of countenance, and, exce$t in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no $artner in his $leasure. By tea4time, howe#er, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to ta"e his guest into the drawing4room again, and when tea was o#er, glad to in#ite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. /ollins readily assented, and a boo" was $roduced& but on beholding it Bfor e#erything announced it to be from a circulating libraryC he started bac", and, begging $ardon, $rotested that he ne#er read no#els. 7itty started at him, and .ydia exclaimed. -ther boo"s were $roduced, and after some deliberation he chose 1ordyce!s ,ermons. .ydia ga$ed as he o$ened the #olume& and before he had, with #ery monotonous solemnity, read three $ages, she interru$ted him with,( 2*o you "now, mamma, that my uncle 3hili$s tal"s of turning away :ichard5 and if he does, /olonel 1orster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on ,aturday. I shall wal" to Meryton to4morrow to hear more about it, and to as" when Mr. *enny comes bac" from town.!

ollins, much offended, laid aside his boo", and said,( !I ha#e often obser#ed how little young ladies are interested by boo"s of a serious stam$, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess& for certainly there can be nothing so ad#antageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer im$ortune my young cousin.! Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at bac"gammon. Mr. Bennet acce$ted the challenge, obser#ing that he acted #ery wisely in lea#ing the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters a$ologised most ci#illy for .ydia!s interru$tion, and $romised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his boo"& but Mr. /ollins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill4will, and should ne#er resent her beha#iour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and $re$ared for bac"gammon.

Chapter XV
M:. /-..IN, was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society& the greatest $art of his life ha#ing been s$ent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father& and though he belonged to one of the uni#ersities, he had merely "e$t the necessary terms without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The sub)ection in which his father had brought him u$ had gi#en him originally great humility of manner& but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self4conceit of a wee" head, li#ing in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unex$ected $ros$erity. ' fortunate chance had recommended him to .ady /atherine *e Bourgh when the li#ing of %unsford was #acant& and the res$ect which he felt for her high ran", and his #eneration for her as his $atroness, mingling with a #ery good o$inion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of $ride and obsequiousness, self4im$ortance and humility. %a#ing now a good house and a #ery sufficient income, he intended to marry& and in see"ing a reconciliation with the .ongbourn family he had a wife in #iew, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were re$resented by common re$ort. This was his $lan of amends(of atonementDfor inheriting their father!s estate& and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessi#ely generous and disinterested

on his own $art. %is $lan did not #ary on seeing them. Miss Bennet!s lo#ely face confirmed his #iews, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority& and for the first e#ening she was his settled choice. The next morning, howe#er, made an alteration& for in a quarter of an hour!s tEte4F4tEte with Mrs. Bennet before brea"fast, a con#ersation beginning with his $arsonage4house, and leading naturally to the a#owal of his ho$es that a mistress for it might be found at .ongbourn, $roduced from her, amid #ery com$laisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the #ery ane he had fixed on. 2's to her younger daughters, she could not ta"e u$on her to say (she could not $ositi#ely answer(but she did not know of any $re$ossession&( her eldest daughter she must )ust mention(she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was li"ely to be #ery soon engaged.! Mr. /ollins had only to change from ane to Elizabeth(and it was soon done( done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to ane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. Mrs. Bennet treasured u$ the hint, and trusted that she might soon ha#e two daughters married& and the man whom she could not bear to s$ea" of the day before was now high in her good graces. .ydia!s intention of wal"ing to Meryton was not forgotten+ e#ery sister exce$t Mary agreed to go with her& and Mr. /ollins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him and ha#e his library to himself& for thither Mr. /ollins had followed him after brea"fast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really tal"ing to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at %unsford. ,uch doings discom$osed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity& and though $re$ared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in e#ery other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there+ his ci#ility, therefore, was most $rom$t in in#iting Mr. /ollins to )oin his daughters in their wal"& and Mr. /ollins, being in fact much better fitted for a wal"er than a reader, was extremely well $leased to close his large boo", and go. In $om$ous nothings on his side, and ci#il assents on that of his cousins, their time $assed till entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering u$ the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a #ery smart bonnet indeed,

or a really new muslin in a sho$ window could recall them. But the attention of e#ery lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had ne#er seen before, of most gentlemanli"e a$$earance, wal"ing with an offer on the other side of the way. The officer was the #ery Mr. *enny concerning whose return from .ondon .ydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they $assed. 'll were struc" with the stranger!s air, all wondered who he could be& and 7itty and .ydia, determined if $ossible to find out, led the way across the street, under $retence of wanting something in an o$$osite sho$, and fortunately had )ust gained the $a#ement, when the two gentlemen turning bac", had reached the same s$ot. Mr. *enny addressed them directly, and entreated $ermission to introduce his friend, Mr. 0ic"ham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and, he was ha$$y to say, had acce$ted a commission in their cor$s. This was exactly as it should be& for the young man wanted only regimentals to ma"e him com$letely charming. %is a$$earance was greatly in his fa#our& he had all the best $arts of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and #ery $leasing address. The introduction was followed u$ on his side by a ha$$y readiness of con#ersation(a readiness at the same time $erfectly correct and unassuming& and the whole $arty were still standing and tal"ing together #ery agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and *arcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. -n distinguishing the ladies of the grou$ the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual ci#ilities. Bingley was the $rinci$al s$o"esman, and Miss Bennet the $rinci$al ob)ect. %e was then, he said, on his way to .ongbourn on $ur$ose to inquire after her. Mr. *arcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth ha$$ening to see the countenance of both as they loo"ed at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one loo"ed white, the other red. Mr. 0ic"ham, after a few moments, touched his hat(a salutation which Mr. *arcy )ust deigned to return. 0hat could be the meaning of it5 It was im$ossible to imagine& it was im$ossible not to long to "now.

ed what $assed, too" lea#e and rode on with his friend. Mr. *enny and Mr. 0ic"ham wal"ed with the young ladies to the door Mr. 3hili$s!s house, and then made their bows, in s$ite of Miss .ydia!s $ressing entreaties that they would come in, and e#en in s$ite of Mrs. 3hili$s!s throwing u$ the $arlour window, and loudly seconding the in#itation. Mrs. 3hili$s was always glad to see her nieces& and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were $articularly welcome& and she was eagerly ex$ressing her

sur$rise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should ha#e "nown nothing about if she had not ha$$ened to see Mr. ones!s sho$4boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield, because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her ci#ility was claimed towards Mr. /ollins by ane!s introduction of him. ,he recei#ed him with her #ery best $oliteness, which he returned with as much more, a$ologising for his intrusion without any $re#ious acquaintance with her, which he could not hel$ flattering himself howe#er might be )ustified by his relationshi$ to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. 3hili$s was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding& but her contem$lation of one stranger was soon $ut to an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, howe#er, she could only tell her nieces what they already "new, that Mr. *enny had brought him from .ondon, and that he was to ha#e a lieutenant!s commission in the (( shire. ,he had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he wal"ed u$ and down the street, and had Mr. 0ic"ham a$$eared, 7itty and .ydia would certainly ha#e continued the occu$ation& but unluc"ily no one $assed the windows now exce$t a few of the officers, who, in com$arison with the stranger, were become 2stu$id, disagreeable fellows.! ,ome of them were to dine with the 3hili$ses the next day, and their aunt $romised to ma"e her husband call on Mr. 0ic"ham, and gi#e him an in#itation also, if the family from .ongbourn would come in the e#ening. This was agreed to& and Mrs. 3hili$s $rotested that they would ha#e a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tic"ets, and a little bit of hot su$$er afterwards. The $ros$ect of such delights was #ery cheering, and they $arted in mutual good s$irits. Mr. /ollins re$eated his a$ologies in quitting the room, and assured, with unwearying ci#ility, that they were $ertectly needless. 's they wal"ed home, Elizabeth related to ane what she had seen $ass between the two gentlemen& but though ane would ha#e defended either or both, had they a$$eared to be wrong, she could no more ex$lain such beha#iour than her sister. Mr. /ollins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. 3hili$s!s manners and $oliteness. %e $rotested that, exce$t .ady /atherine and her daughter, he had ne#er seen a more elegant woman& for she had not only recei#ed him with the utmost ci#ility, but had e#en $ointedly included him in her in#itation for the next e#ening, although utterly un"nown to her before. ,omething, he su$$osed might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had ne#er met with so m u c h

at te nt io n in th e w h ol e c o ur se of hi s lif e.

Chapter XVI
', no ob)ection was made the young $eo$le!s engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. /ollins!s scru$les of lea#ing Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single e#ening during his #isit were most steadily resisted, the coach con#eyed him and his fi#e cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton& and the girls had the $leasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing4room, that Mr. 0ic"ham had acce$ted their uncle!s in#itation, and was then in the house. 0hen this information was gi#en, and they had all ta"en their seats, Mr. /ollins was at leisure to loo" around him and admire, and he was so much struc" with the size and furniture of the a$artment, that he declared he might almost ha#e su$$osed himself in the small summer brea"fast $arlour at :osings& a com$arison that did not at first con#ey much gratification& but when Mrs. 3hili$s understood from him what :osings was, and who was its $ro$rietor, when she had listened to the descri$tion of only one of .ady /atherine!s drawing4rooms, and found that the chimney4$iece alone had cost eight hundred $ounds, she felt all the force of the com$liment, and would hardly ha#e resented a com$arison

with the house"ee$er!s room. In describing to her all grandeur of .ady /atherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in $raise of his own humble abode, and the im$ro#ements it was recei#ing, he was ha$$ily em$loyed until the gentlemen )oined them& and he found in Mrs. 3hili$s a #ery attenti#e listener. whose o$inion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resol#ing to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantel$iece, the inter#al of waiting a$$eared #ery long. It was o#er at last, howe#er. The gentlemen did a$$roach+ and when Mr. 0ic"ham wal"ed into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thin"ing of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the ((shire were in general a #ery creditable, gentlemanli"e set, and the best of them were of the $resent $arty& but Mr. 0ic"ham was as far beyond them all in $erson, countenance, air, and wal", as they were su$erior to the broad4faced stuffy uncle 3hili$s, breathing $ort wine, who followed them into the room. Mr. 0ic"ham was the ha$$y man towards whom almost e#ery female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the ha$$y woman by whom he finally seated himself& and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into con#ersation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the $robability of rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare to$ic might be rendered interesting by the s"ill of the s$ea"er. 0ith such ri#als for the notice of the fair as Mr. 0ic"ham and the officers, Mr. /ollins seemed to sin" into insignificance& to the young ladies he certainly was nothing& but he had still at inter#als a "ind listener in Mrs. 3hili$s, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly su$$lied with coffee and muffin.

turn, by sitting down to whist. 2I "now little of the game at $resent,! said he, 2but I shall be glad to im$ro#e myself& for in my situation of life((! Mrs. 3hili$s was #ery than"ful for his com$liance but could not wait for his reason. Mr. 0ic"ham did not $lay at whist, and with ready delight was he recei#ed at the other table between Elizabeth and .ydia. 't first there seemed danger of .ydia!s engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined tal"er& but being li"ewise extremely fond of lottery tic"ets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in ma"ing bets and exclaiming after $rizes, to ha#e attention for any one in $articular. 'llowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. 0ic"ham was

therefore at leisure to tal" to Elizabeth, and she was #ery willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not ho$e to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. *arcy. ,he dared not e#en mention that gentleman. %er curiosity, howe#er, was unex$ectedly relie#ed. Mr. 0ic"ham began the sub)ect himself. %e required how far Netherfield was from Meryton& and , after recei#ing her answer, as"ed in a hesitating manner how long Mr. *arcy had been staying there. 2'bout a month,! said Elizabeth& and then, unwilling to let the sub)ect dro$, added, 2he is a man of #ery large $ro$erty in *erbyshire, I understand.! 2?es,! re$lied 0ic"ham& 2his estate there is a noble one. ' clear ten thousand $er annum. ?ou could not ha#e met with a $erson more ca$able of gi#ing you certain information on that head than myself(for I ha#e been connected with his family, in a $articular manner, from my infancy.! Elizabeth could not but loo" sur$rised. 2?ou may well be sur$rised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you $robably might, the #ery cold manner of our meeting yesterday. 're you much acquainted with Mr. *arcy5! 2's much as I e#er wish to be,! cried Elizabeth, warmly. 2I ha#e s$ent four days in the same house with him, and I thin" him #ery disagreeable.! 2I ha#e no right to gi#e my o$inion,! said 0ic"ham, 2as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I ha#e "nown him too long and too well to be a fair )udge. It is im$ossible for me to be im$artial. But I belie#e your o$inion of him would in general astonish(and, $erha$s, you would not ex$ress it quite so strongly anywhere else. %ere you are in your own family.! 2@$on my word I say no more here I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, exce$t Netherfield. %e is not at all li"ed in %ertfordshire. E#erybody is disgusted with his $ride. ?ou will not find him more fa#ourably s$o"en of by any one.!

2I cannot $retend to be sorry,! said 0ic"ham, after a short interru$tion, 2that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts& but with him I belie#e it does not often ha$$en. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and im$osing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen.!

man.! 0ic"ham only shoo" his head.

be in this country much longer.! 2I do not at all "now& but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I ho$e your $lans in fa#our of the ((shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.! 2-h no(it is not for me to be dri#en away by Mr. *arcy. If he wishes to a#oid seeing me, he must go. 0e are not on friendly terms, and it always gi#es me $ain to meet him, but I ha#e no reason for a#oiding him but what I might $roclaim to all the world(a sense of #ery great ill usage, and most $ainful regrets at his being what he is. %is father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. *arcy, was one of the best men that e#er breathed, and the truest friend I e#er had& and I can ne#er be in com$any with this Mr. *arcy without being grie#ed to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. %is beha#iour to myself has been scandalous& but I #erily belie#e I could forgi#e him anything and e#erything, rather than his disa$$ointing the ho$es and disgracing the memory of his father.! Elizabeth found the interest of the sub)ect increase, and listened with all her hea rt& but the deli cac y of it $re #en ted furt her inq uir

y. Mr. 0ic"ham began to s$ea" on more general to$ics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, a$$earing highly $leased with all that he had yet seen, and s$ea"ing of the latter, es$ecially, with gentle but #ery intelligible gallantry. 2It was the $ros$ect of constant society, and good society,! > he added, 2which was my chief inducement to enter the ((shire. I "now it to be a most res$ectable, agreeable cor$s& and my friend *enny tem$ted me further by his account of their $resent quarters, and the #ery great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had $rocured them. ,ociety, I own, is necessary to me. I ha#e been a disa$$ointed man, and my s$irits will not bear solitude. I must ha#e em$loyment and society. ' military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances ha#e now made it eligible. The church ought to ha#e been my $rofession(I was brought u$ for the church& and I should at this time ha#e been in $ossession of a most #aluable li#ing, had it $leased the gentleman we were s$ea"ing of )ust now.! 2Indeed6! 2?es(the late Mr. *arcy bequeathed me the next $resentation of the best li#ing in his gift. %e was my godfather, and excessi#ely attached to me. I cannot do )ustice to his "indness. %e meant to $ro#ide for me am$ly, and thought he had done it& but when the li#ing fell, it was gi#en elsewhere.! 2Aood hea#ens6! cried Elizabeth& 2but how could that be5 %ow could his will be disre garde d5 0hy did not you see" legal redre ss5! 2There was )ust such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to gi#e me no ho$e from law. ' man of honour could not ha#e doubted the intention, but Mr. *arcy chose to doubt it(or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation,

and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extra#agance, im$rudence, in short, anything or nothing. /ertain it is that the li#ing became #acant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was gi#en to another man& and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of ha#ing really done anything to deser#e to lose it. I ha#e a warm unguarded tem$er, and I may $erha$s ha#e sometimes s$o"en my o$inion of him, and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are #ery different sort of men, and that he hates me.! 2This is quite shoc"ing6 %e deser#es to be $ublicly disgraced.!

is father, I can ne#er defy or ex$ose him.! Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than e#er as he ex$ressed them. 2But what,! said she, after a $ause, 2can ha#e been his moti#e5 what can ha#e induced him to beha#e so cruelly5! 2' thorough, determined disli"e of me(a disli"e which I cannot but attribute in some measure to )ealousy. %ad the late Mr. *arcy li"ed me less, his son might ha#e borne with me better& but his father!s uncommon attachment to me irritated him, I belie#e, #ery early in life. %e had not a tem$er to bear the sort of com$etition in which we stood(the sort of $reference which was often gi#en me.! 2I had not thought Mr. *arcy so bad as this(though I ha#e ne#er li"ed him, I had not thought so #ery ill of him(I had su$$osed him to be des$ising his fellow4 creatures in general, but did not sus$ect him of descending to such malicious re#enge, such in)ustice, such inhumanity as this6! 'fter a few minutes! reflection, howe#er, she continued,(> 2I do remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the im$lacability of his resentments& of his ha#ing an unforgi#ing tem$er. %is dis$osition must be dreadful.! 2I will not trust myself on the sub)ect,! re$lied 0ic"ham+ 2I can hardly be )ust to him.! Elizabeth was again dee$ in thought, and after a time exclaimed, 2To treat in such a manner the godson, the friend, the fa#ourite of his father6! ,he could ha#e added, 2' young man, too, li"e you, whose #ery countenance may #ouch for your being amiable.! But she contented herself with(2'nd one, too, who had $robably been his own com$anion from childhood, connected together, as I thin"

you said, in the closest manner.! 20e were born in the same $arish, within the same $ar"& the greatest $art of our youth was $assed together+ inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, ob)ects of the same $arental care. My father began life in the $rofession which your uncle, Mr. 3hili$s, a$$ears to do so much credit to+ but he ga#e u$ e#erything to be of use to the late Mr. *arcy, and de#oted all his time to the care of the 3emberley $ro$erty. %e was most highly esteemed by Mr. *arcy, a most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. *arcy often ac"nowledged himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father!s acti#e su$erintendence& and when, immediately before my father!s death, Mr. *arcy ga#e him a #oluntary $romise of $ro#iding for me, I am con#inced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him as of affection to myself.! 2%ow strange6! cried Elizabeth. 2%ow abominable6 I wonder that the #ery $ride of this Mr. *arcy has not made him )ust to you. If from no better moti#e, that he should not ha#e been $roud to be dishonest,(for dishonesty I must call it.! 2It is wonderful,! re$lied 0ic"ham& 2for almost all his actions may be traced to $ride& and $ride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with #irtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent& and in his beha#iour to me there were stronger im$ulses e#en than $ride.! 2/an such abominable $ride as his ha#e e#er done him good5! 2?es& it has often led him to be liberal and generous& to gi#e his money freely, to dis$lay hos$itality, to assist his tenants, and relie#e the $oor. 1amily $ride, and filial $ride, for he is #ery $roud of what his father was, ha#e done this. Not to a$$ear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the $o$ular qualities, or lose the influence of the 3emberley %ouse, is a $owerful moti#e. %e has also brotherly $ride, which, with some brotherly affection, ma"es him a #ery "ind and careful guardian of his sister& and you will hear him generally cried u$ as the most attenti#e and best of brothers.! 20hat sort of a girl is Miss *arcy5! %e shoo" his head. 2I wish I could call her amiable. It gi#es me $ain to s$ea" ill of a *arcy& but she is too much li"e her brother,(#ery, #ery $roud. 's a child, she was affectionate and $leasing, and extremely fond of me& and I ha#e de#oted hours and hours to her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. ,he is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accom$lished. ,ince her father!s death her home has been .ondon, where a lady li#es with her,

and su$erintends her education.! 'fter many $auses and many trials of other sub)ects, Elizabeth could not hel$ re#erting once more to the first, and saying,( 2I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley. %ow can Mr. Bingley, who seems good4humour itself, and is, I really belie#e, truly amiable, be in friendshi$ with such a man5 %ow can they suit each other5 *o you "now Mr. Bingley5! 2Not at all.! 2%e is a sweet4tem$ered, amiable, charming man. %e cannot "now what Mr. *arcy is.! 23robably not& but Mr. *arcy can $lease where he chooses. %e does not want abilities. %e can be a con#ersible com$anion if he thin"s it worth his while. 'mong those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a #ery different man from what he is to the less $ros$erous. %is $ride ne#er deserts him& but with the rich he is liberal4minded, )ust, sincere, rational, honourable, and, $erha$s, agreeable,(allowing something for fortune and figure.! The whist $arty soon afterwards brea"ing u$, the $layers gathered round the other table, and Mr. /ollins too" his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. 3hili$s. The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter. It had not been #ery great& he had lost e#ery $oint& but when Mrs. 3hili$s began to ex$ress her concern thereu$on, he assured her, with much earnest gra#ity, that it was not of the least im$ortance& that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged she would not ma"e herself uneasy. 2I "now #ery well, madam,! said he, 2that when $ersons sit down to a card table they must ta"e their chance of these things,(and ha$$ily I am not in such circumstances as to ma"e fi#e shillings any ob)ect. There are, undoubtedly, many who could not say the same& but, than"s to .ady

/atherine de Bourgh, I am remo#ed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters.! Mr. 0ic"ham!s attention was caught& and after obser#ing Mr. /ollins for a few moments, he as"ed Elizabeth in a low #oice whether her relations were #ery intimately acquainted with the family of *e Bourgh. 2.ady /atherine de Bourgh,! she re$lied, 2has #ery lately gi#en him a li#ing. I hardly "now how Mr. /ollins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not "nown her long.! 2?ou "now of course that .ady /atherine de Bourgh and .ady 'nne *arcy were sisters& consequently that she is aunt to the $resent Mr. *arcy.! 2No, indeed, I did not. I "new nothing at all of .ady /atherine!s connections. I ne#er heard of her existence till the day before yesterday.! 2%er daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will ha#e a #ery large fortune, and it is belie#ed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates.! This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of $oor Miss Bingley. Gain indeed must be all her attentions, #ain and useless her affection for his sister and her $raise of himself, if he were already self4destined to another. 2Mr. /ollins,! said she, 2s$ea"s highly both of .ady /atherine and her daughter& but, from some $articulars that he has related of her .adyshi$, I sus$ect his gratitude misleads him& and that, in s$ite of her being his $atroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman.! 2I belie#e her to be both in a great degree,! re$lied 0ic"ham+ 2I ha#e not seen her

for many years& but I #ery well remember that I ne#er li"ed her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. ,he has the re$utation of being remar"ably sensible and cle#er& but I rather belie#e she deri#es $art of her abilities from her ran" and fortune, $art from her authoritati#e manner, and the rest from the $ride of her ne$hew, who chooses that e#ery one connected with him should ha#e an understanding of the first class.! Elizabeth allowed that he had gi#en a #ery rational account of it, and they continued tal"ing together with mutual satisfaction till su$$er $ut an end to cards, and ga#e the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. 0ic"ham!s attentions. There could be no con#ersation in the noise of Mrs. 3hili$s!s su$$er $arty, but his manners, recommended him to e#erybody. 0hate#er he said, was said well& and whate#er he did, done gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. ,he could thin" of nothing but of Mr. 0ic"ham, and of what he had told her, all the way home& but there was not time for her e#en to mention his name as they went, for neither .ydia nor Mr. /ollins was once silent. .ydia tal"ed incessantly of lottery tic"ets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won& and Mr. /ollins, in describing the ci#ility of Mr. and Mrs. 3hili$s, $rotesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist, enumerating all the dishes at su$$er, and re$eatedly fearing that he crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage sto$$ed at .ongbourn %ouse.

Chapter XVII
E.IH'BET% related to ane, the next day, what had $assed between Mr. 0ic"ham and herself. ane listened with astonishment and concern+ she "new not how to belie#e that Mr. *arcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley!s regard& and yet it was not in her nature to question the #eracity of a young man of such amiable a$$earance as 0ic"ham. The $ossibility of his ha#ing really endured such un"indness was enough to interest all her tender feelings& and nothing therefore remained to be done but to thin" well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mista"e whate#er could not be otherwise ex$lained. 2They ha#e both,! said she, 2been decei#ed, I daresay, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested $eo$le ha#e $erha$s misre$resented each to the other. It is, in short, im$ossible for us to con)ecture the causes or circumstances which may ha#e alienated them, without actual blame on either side.! 2Gery true, indeed& and now, my dear ane, what ha#e you got to say in behalf of

the interested $eo$le who ha#e $robably been concerned in the business5 *o clear them, too, or we shall be obliged to thin" ill of somebody.! 2.augh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my o$inion. My dearest .izzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it $laces Mr. *arcy, to be treating his father!s fa#ourite in such a manner,(one whom his father had $romised to $ro#ide for. It is im$ossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any #alue for his character, could be ca$able of it. /an his most intimate friends be so excessi#ely decei#ed in him5 -h no.! 2I can much more easily belie#e Mr. Bingley!s being im$osed on than that Mr. 0ic"ham should in#ent such a history of himself as he ga#e me last night& names, facts, e#erything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. *arcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his loo"s.! 2It is difficult, indeed(it is distressing. -ne does not "now what to thin".! 2I beg your $ardon&(one "nows exactly what to thin".! But ane could thin" with certainty on only one $oint,(that Mr. Bingley, if he had been im$osed on, would ha#e much to suffer when the affair became $ublic. The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this con#ersation $assed, by the arri#al of some of the #ery $ersons of whom they had been s$ea"ing& Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to gi#e their $ersonal in#itation for the long4ex$ected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and re$eatedly as"ed what she had been doing with herself since their se$aration. To the rest of the family they $aid little attention& a#oiding Mrs. Bennet as much as $ossible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an acti#ity which too" their brother by sur$rise, and hurrying off as if eager to esca$e from Mrs. Bennet!s ci#ilities. The $ros$ect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to e#ery female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as gi#en in com$liment to her eldest daughter, and was $articularly flattered by recei#ing the in#itation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card. ane $ictured to herself a ha$$y

e#ening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother& and Elizabeth thought with $leasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. 0ic"ham, and of seeing a confirmation of e#erything in Mr. *arcy!s loo" and beha#iour. The ha$$iness antici$ated by /atherine and .ydia de$ended less on any single e#ent, or any $articular $erson& for though they each, li"e Elizabeth, meant to dance half the e#ening with Mr. 0ic"ham, he was by no means the only $artner who could satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. 'nd e#en Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it. 20hile I can ha#e my mornings to myself,! said she, 2it is enough. I thin" it is no sacrifice to )oin occasionally in e#ening engagements. ,ociety has claims on us all& and I $rofess myself one of those who consider inter#als of recreation and amusement as desirable for e#erybody.! Elizabeth!s s$irits were so high on the occasion, that though she did not often s$ea" unnecessarily to Mr. /ollins, she could not hel$ as"ing him whether he intended to acce$t Mr. Bingley!s in#itation, and if he did, whether he would thin" it $ro$er to )oin in the e#ening!s amusement& and she was rather sur$rised to find that he entertained no scru$le whate#er on that head, and was #ery far from dreading a rebu"e, either from the 'rchbisho$ or .ady /atherine de Bourgh, by #enturing to dance. 2I am by no means of o$inion, I assure you,! said he, 2that a ball of this "ind, gi#en by a young man of character, to res$ectable $eo$le, can ha#e any e#il tendency& and I am so far from ob)ecting to dancing myself, that I shall ho$e to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the e#ening& and I ta"e this o$$ortunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances es$ecially& a $reference which I trust my cousin ane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disres$ect for her.! Elizabeth felt herself com$letely ta"en in. ,he had fully $ro$osed being engaged by 0ic"ham for those #ery dances& and to ha#e Mr. /ollins instead6(her li#eliness had been ne#er worse timed. There was no hel$ for it, howe#er. Mr. 0ic"ham!s ha$$iness and her own was $erforce delayed a little longer, and Mr. /ollins!s $ro$osal acce$ted with as good a grace as she could. ,he was not the better $leased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first struc" her that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of %unsford 3arsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at :osings, in the absence of more eligible #isitors. The idea soon reached to con#iction, as she obser#ed his increasing ci#ilities towards herself, and heard his frequent attem$t at a com$liment on her wit and #i#acity& and though more

astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother ga#e her to understand that the $robability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her. Elizabeth, howe#er, did not choose to ta"e the hint, being well aware that a serious dis$ute must be the consequence of any re$ly. Mr. /ollins might ne#er ma"e the offer, and, till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him. If there had not been a Netherfield ball to $re$are for and tal" of, the younger Miss Bennets would ha#e been in a $itiable state at this time& for from the day of the in#itation to the day of the ball there was such a succession of rain as $re#ented their wal"ing to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after& the #ery shoe4roses for Netherfield were got by $roxy. E#en Elizabeth might ha#e found some trial of her $atience in weather which totally sus$ended the im$ro#ement of her acquaintance with Mr. 0ic"ham& and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday could ha#e made such a 1riday, ,aturday, ,unday, and Monday endurable to 7itty and .ydia