Chapter 4

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, Jane, who had been careful in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, told her sister how very much she admired him.

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said Jane. "Sensible, good-humored, 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 ought to be, if he possibly can. His character is complete."

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."

"Did you not? I did, for you. That is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person."

"Dear Lizzy!"

"Oh, you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world is good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."

"I would not wish to be hasty in blaming anyone. But I always speak what 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 of others! To pretend to be fair is common enough — one meets with it everywhere. But to be fair without show and without design — to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the 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 you talk with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house. I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbor in her."

Elizabeth listened in silence, but she was not convinced. The behavior of the two women at the ball had not been made to please anyone. Elizabeth had a quicker eye than her sister, and a less yielding temper. Besides, neither of the two had shown her any particular attention. So her judgment was clear, and she had little wish to think well of them. They were in fact very fine ladies. They could be cheerful when they were pleased, and agreeable when they chose to be. But they were proud and conceited. They were rather handsome. They had been educated in one of the best private schools in London, and had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. They were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of mixing with people of rank. So they thought well of themselves and poorly of others in every way. They came from a respectable family in the north of England. And that fact was printed deeper in their memory than this one: that their brother's fortune, and their own, had been made by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited nearly a hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to buy an estate but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes went so far as to choose his county. But now that he had a good house and the freedom of a manor, those who knew his easy temper wondered whether he might not spend the rest of his days at Netherfield, and leave the buying to the next generation.

His sisters were very anxious for him to have an estate of his own. But though he was now settled only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table. Nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years when a chance recommendation led him to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it, inside and out, for half an hour. He was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

Between Bingley and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, though their characters were very different. Bingley was easy, open, and gentle, ready to follow the wishes of others. No disposition could offer a greater contrast to Darcy's own — and it was just that easy temper which endeared Bingley to Darcy, though Darcy never appeared displeased with his own. Bingley relied firmly on Darcy's regard for him, and had the highest opinion of his judgment. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and hard to please. His manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offense.

The way in which they spoke of the Meryton ball showed their characters well. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life. Everybody had been most kind and attentive to him. There had been no formality, no stiffness, and he had soon felt acquainted with all the room. As for Miss Bennet, he could not imagine an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion. He had felt not the smallest interest in any of them, and had received neither attention nor pleasure from anyone. Miss Bennet he admitted to be pretty — but she smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so. Still, they admired her and liked her. They declared her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they would not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl. And Bingley felt authorized by such praise to think of her as he chose.