Chapter 3

NOT all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in various ways, with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all; and they were at last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley’s heart were entertained.

Yet nothing Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters could ask persuaded her husband to give a satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They tried every approach, from bold questions to clever guesses and vague hints. But he evaded all their efforts. In the end, they had to settle for secondhand news from their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted with Mr. Bingley. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, and extremely pleasant. Best of all, he planned to attend the next assembly ball with a large group. Nothing could be more delightful! A love of dancing was a sure step towards falling in love. And there were high hopes of winning Mr. Bingley’s heart.

“If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”

“If I can just see one of my daughters happily married and living at Netherfield,” Mrs. Bennet said to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I’ll have nothing else to wish for.”

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining, from an upper window, that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.

A few days later, Mr. Bingley paid Mr. Bennet a return visit. He sat with Mr. Bennet in the library for about ten minutes. He had hoped to see the young ladies, whose beauty he had heard so much about. But he saw only their father. The ladies were somewhat luckier. From an upstairs window, they had the advantage of discovering that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards despatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and consequently unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. 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 always be flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his

A dinner invitation was sent soon afterwards. Mrs. Bennet had already planned the courses to show off her housekeeping skills when a reply postponed everything. Mr. Bingley had to be in London the next day, so he could not accept their kind invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite upset. She could not imagine what business he could have in London so soon after arriving in Hertfordshire. And she began to fear he might always be rushing from one place to another. He might never settle at Netherfield as he ought to. Lady Lucas eased her fears a little by suggesting that he might be

being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies; but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that, instead of twelve, he had brought only six with him from London, his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly-room, it consisted of only five altogether: Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.

He had gone to London only to gather a large party for the ball. Soon, a report spread that Mr. Bingley would bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen to the ball. The girls were dismayed by so many ladies. But the day before the ball, they were relieved to hear he had brought only six ladies from London, not twelve. These were his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the ballroom, there were only five people altogether: Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the older sister’s husband, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike: he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report, which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanly, with a pleasant face and relaxed, natural manners. His sisters were attractive women with a distinctly fashionable air. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, only looked the part of a gentleman. But his friend Mr. Darcy soon caught the room’s attention with his tall, striking figure, handsome features, and noble bearing. Within five minutes of his arrival, word had also spread that he had an income of ten thousand pounds a year. The men called him a fine-looking man, and the women declared him much handsomer than Mr. Bingley. For about half the evening, everyone looked at him with great admiration. Then his manners caused such disgust that his popularity faded. People found him proud, convinced he was too good for their company, and unwilling to be pleased by anything. Not even his large estate in Derbyshire could keep his face from seeming thoroughly cold and unpleasant. Nor could it make him worthy of comparison with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room: he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.

Mr. Bingley soon got to know all the most important people in the room. He was lively and outgoing, danced every dance, and was annoyed that the ball ended so early. He talked of holding a ball himself at Netherfield. Such charming qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley. He refused to be introduced to any other lady. He spent the rest of the evening walking around the room, occasionally speaking to someone from his own group. Everyone had made up their minds about him. He was the proudest, most unpleasant man in the world, and everybody hoped he would never come there again. Mrs. Bennet was among his fiercest critics. She disliked his behavior in general, but his snub of one of her daughters made her especially resentful.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.

Elizabeth Bennet had been forced to sit out two dances because there were too few gentlemen. For part of that time, Mr. Darcy stood close enough for her to overhear his conversation with Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley had left the dancing for a few minutes to urge his friend to join in.

“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“Come on, Darcy,” he said, “I insist you dance. I hate seeing you stand around by yourself looking so silly. You’d be much better off dancing.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

“I certainly will not. You know how I hate dancing unless I know my partner particularly well. At a gathering like this, dancing would be unbearable. Your sisters already have partners. There is not another woman in the room I could dance with without feeling I was being punished.”

“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Bingley, “for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly pretty.”

“I wouldn’t be as picky as you are,” Bingley exclaimed, “even for a kingdom! Honestly, I’ve never met so many pleasant girls in my life as I have tonight. And several of them, as you can see, are exceptionally pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

“You are dancing with the only beautiful girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the oldest Miss Bennet.

“Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”

“Oh, she is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen! But one of her sisters is sitting just behind you. She’s very pretty, and I’m sure she’s very pleasant company. Do let me ask my dance partner to introduce you.”

“Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till, catching her eye, he withdrew his own, and coldly said, “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

“Who do you mean?” He turned around and looked at Elizabeth for a moment. When she caught his eye, he looked away and said coldly, “She is passable, but not pretty enough to tempt me. And I’m not in the mood to make young ladies feel important when other men have ignored them. You’d better go back to your partner and enjoy her smiles, because you’re wasting your time with me.”

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked away, leaving Elizabeth with no very warm feelings toward him. Still, she told the story to her friends with great energy. Her lively, playful nature made her delight in anything ridiculous.

The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane’s pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be never without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book, he was regardless of time; and on the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife’s views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear.

The whole family enjoyed the evening. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter greatly admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with Jane twice, and his sisters had singled her out for attention. Jane was as pleased by this attention as her mother could be, though she showed it more quietly. Elizabeth shared Jane’s pleasure. Mary had heard someone describe her to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood. Catherine and Lydia had been lucky enough to have partners for every dance. So far, having partners was all they had learned to care about at a ball. So they returned in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived and were the most prominent residents. They found Mr. Bennet still awake. When he had a book, he paid no attention to the time. On this occasion, he was also very curious about how the evening had gone, after such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife’s hopes for the newcomer would come to nothing. But he soon found that he had a very different story to hear.

“Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Only think of that, my dear: he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her; but, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the Boulanger——”

“Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet,” she said as she entered the room, “we have had such a delightful evening. It was an excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was admired more than you can imagine. Everybody said how lovely she looked. And Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful and danced with her twice. Just think of that, my dear: he actually danced with her twice. She was the only person in the room he asked to dance a second time. First, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so annoyed to see him dance with her. But he did not admire her at all. Really, nobody could, you know. And he seemed quite taken with Jane as she moved down the line of dancers. So he asked who she was, was introduced to her, and asked her for the next two dances. Then he danced the third pair of dances with Miss King, and the fourth pair with Maria Lucas. Then came the fifth pair with Jane again, the sixth pair with Lizzy, and the Boulanger...”

“If he had had any compassion for me,” cried her husband impatiently, “he would not have danced half so much! For God’s sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ancle in the first dance!”

“If he had felt any sympathy for me,” her husband exclaimed impatiently, “he would not have danced half as much! For God’s sake, say no more about his dance partners. Oh, I wish he had sprained his ankle during the first dance!”

“Oh, my dear,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! and his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst’s gown——”

“Oh, my dear,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “I am absolutely delighted with him. He is so incredibly handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I have never seen anything more elegant than their dresses. I imagine the lace on Mrs. Hurst’s gown...”

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit, and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet objected to hearing any descriptions of fancy clothes. So she had to turn to another part of the subject. With great bitterness and some exaggeration, she described Mr. Darcy’s shocking rudeness.

“But I can assure you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited, that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man.”

“But I can promise you,” she added, “that Lizzy loses very little by not being to his taste. He is such an unpleasant, horrible man, not at all worth pleasing. So arrogant and so full of himself that he was impossible to stand! He walked here, and he walked there, thinking he was so very important! Not pretty enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to put him in his place. I absolutely hate the man.”