Chapter 6

The ladies of Longbourn soon called on the ladies of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasant manners grew on the good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. They found the mother unbearable. They thought the younger sisters not worth a word. But to the two eldest they showed a wish to be better acquainted. Jane received this attention with great pleasure. Elizabeth saw that they still treated everyone with pride, her sister included. She could not like them. Yet their kindness to Jane had some value, such as it was. Most likely it came from their brother's admiration of her. Whenever they met, it was plain to everybody that Mr. Bingley did admire Jane. And to Elizabeth it was just as plain that Jane was giving way to the liking she had felt from the first, and was falling deeply in love. But the world was not likely to find it out. Elizabeth was glad of that. Jane had strong feeling joined to a calm temper and a manner that was always cheerful. This would guard her from the suspicions of people who push into other people's business. Elizabeth said so to her friend Miss Lucas.

"It may be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to hide it from the world in such a case. But there is a disadvantage in being so guarded. If a woman hides her affection from the man himself, she may lose the chance of fixing him. Then it will be poor comfort to believe that the world is just as much in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment that it is not safe to leave any of it to itself. We can all begin freely. A slight liking is natural enough. But very few of us have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister, beyond a doubt. But he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."

"But she does help him on, as much as her nature allows. If I can see that she cares for him, he must be a simpleton not to see it too."

"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's temper as you do."

"But if a woman likes a man particularly, and does not try to hide it, he is sure to find it out."

"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet often enough, they are never together for many hours at a time. And as they always meet in large mixed parties, they cannot spend every moment talking to each other. So Jane should make the most of every half hour in which she has his attention. When she is sure of him, there will be time enough to fall in love as much as she likes."

"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the wish to be well married. If I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should take it. But these are not Jane's feelings. She is not acting by design. As yet she cannot even be sure how deep her own feeling is, or whether it is right. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton. She saw him one morning at his own house. And she has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite enough to know his character."

"Not as you put it. If she had only dined with him, she might only have found out whether he has a good appetite. But you must remember that four evenings have been spent together as well. And four evenings may do a great deal."

"Yes. These four evenings have let them find out that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce. But as to any other important quality, I do not think much has been shown."

"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart. If she were married to him tomorrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to study his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. However well the two may know each other's tempers beforehand, and however alike they may be, it does not help them at all. They always grow different enough afterwards to have their share of vexation. So it is better to know as little as possible of the faults of the person you are to pass your life with."

"You make me laugh, Charlotte. But it is not sound. You know it is not, and that you would never act in that way yourself."

Busy watching Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth never suspected that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty. He had looked at her without admiration at the ball. When they met next, he looked at her only to find fault. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that her face had hardly one good feature, than he began to find that the beautiful expression of her dark eyes made it uncommonly intelligent. To this discovery others followed, and they were equally hard on his pride. His critical eye had caught more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her figure. Yet he was forced to own that her form was light and pleasing. He had declared that her manners were not those of the fashionable world. Yet he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of all this Elizabeth knew nothing. To her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

He began to wish to know more of her. As a step towards talking with her himself, he listened to her talk with others. This drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party was gathered.

"What does Mr. Darcy mean," she said to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"

"That is a question which only Mr. Darcy can answer."

"If he does it once more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."

Not long after, Darcy came near the two friends. But he seemed to have no wish to speak. Miss Lucas dared her friend to put the matter to him herself. Provoked at once, Elizabeth turned to him and said:

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

"With great energy. But it is a subject which always 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."

"You are a very strange sort of friend! You are always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been of value beyond price. But as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be used to hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, "Very well. If it must be so, it must." And with a grave look at Mr. Darcy she said, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge.' I shall keep mine to swell my song."

Her playing was pleasant to listen to, but it was by no means fine. She had sung a song or two. Several people begged for one more. Before Elizabeth could answer, her sister Mary took her place eagerly at the instrument. Mary was the only plain one in the family. She worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments. And she was always impatient to display them.

Mary had neither genius nor taste. Vanity had made her hardworking. But it had also given her a pedantic air and a conceited manner. Such faults would have spoiled a far higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth did not play half so well as Mary. But her easy and unaffected manner made her much pleasanter to listen to. Mary finished a long concerto. Then, at the request of her younger sisters, she played Scotch and Irish airs, and was glad to earn praise and thanks. The two girls danced merrily at one end of the room with some of the Lucases and two or three officers.

Mr. Darcy stood near them. He was silently angry at an evening spent in this way, which shut out all conversation. He was too deep in his own thoughts to notice that Sir William Lucas was beside him. Sir William spoke first.

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it one of the finest refinements of polished society."

"Certainly, sir. And it has the advantage of being in fashion among the less polished societies of the world as well. Every savage can dance."

Sir William only smiled. After a pause he saw Bingley join the group, and went on. "Your friend dances very well. And I have no doubt that you are a master of the art yourself, Mr. Darcy."

"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir."

"Yes, indeed, and I had no little pleasure in the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"

"Never, sir."

"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"

"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it."

"You have a house in town, I suppose?"

Mr. Darcy bowed.

"I once thought of settling in town myself, for I am fond of superior society. But I was not quite sure that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."

He paused, hoping for an answer. But his companion was in no humour to give one. At that moment Elizabeth was coming towards them, and he was struck with the thought of doing a very gallant thing. He called out to her.

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, 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." Taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it. But Elizabeth drew back at once, and said to Sir William with some confusion:

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I beg you will not suppose that I came this way in order to beg for a partner."

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, asked to be allowed the honour of her hand. But it was in vain. Elizabeth was determined. Nor did Sir William shake her purpose in the least by his attempt at persuasion.

"You dance so well, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you. And though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to obliging us for one half hour."

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is indeed. But considering what drew him to it, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his kindness. For who would object to such a partner?"

Elizabeth looked archly at them and turned away. Her resistance had not hurt her with the gentleman. He was thinking of her with some satisfaction when Miss Bingley spoke to him.

"I can guess what you are thinking of."

"I should imagine not."

"You are thinking 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 dullness, and yet the noise; the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your sharp remarks on them!"

"Your guess is entirely wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been thinking of 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. She asked him to tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such thoughts. Mr. Darcy answered without a moment's hesitation:

"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."

"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed. And of course she will always be at Pemberley with you."

Darcy listened with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this way. And as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed on.