Chapter 4
When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been
cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her
sister just 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 anybody. All the world
are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of
a human being in your life." "I would not wish to be hasty in
censuring 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! Affectation of candour is common
enough—one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without
ostentation or 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
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
judgement 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 making themselves agreeable when 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 a 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 anxious for his having an estate of his own; but,
though he was now only established 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 or 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 great opposition of character.
Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and
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 judgement 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 offense. The manner in which they spoke of the
Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never
met with more pleasant people or prettier girls in his life;
everybody 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 would not
object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a
sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such commendation
to think of her as he chose.