Pride and Prejudice / Chapter 4 / Jane Austen

CHAPTER IV.

 

 

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in

her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much

she admired him.

 

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good

humoured, 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

likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

 

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I

did not expect such a compliment."

 

"Did not you? _I_ did for you. But 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 any body. All the world are good and agreeable

in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."

 

"I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one; 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! Affectation of candour is common enough;--one meets it every

where. But to be candid without ostentation or design--to take the good

of every body'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

converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep

his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming

neighbour in her."

 

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour at

the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more

quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and

with a judgment too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very

little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine ladies; not

deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of

being agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited. They were

rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private

seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the

habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people

of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of

themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in

the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their

memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been

acquired by trade.

 

Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred

thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate,

but did not live to do it.--Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and

sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a

good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those

who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the

remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to

purchase.

 

His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but

though he was now established 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 he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to

look at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an

hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied

with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

 

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a

great opposition of character.--Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the

easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could

offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never

appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the

firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. 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

fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In

that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of

being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offence.

 

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently

characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier

girls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him,

there had been no formality, no stiffness, he had soon felt acquainted

with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel

more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people

in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had

felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or

pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too

much.

 

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they admired

her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom

they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore

established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such

commendation to think of her as he chose.