chapter 4

When Janaya 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

man-ners!--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 Northfield 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 of age

two years, when he was tempted by an accidental

recommendation to look at Northfield 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 Damon there was a very steady

friendship, in spite of great opposition of character. Bingley

was endeared to Damonyby 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 Damon's regard,

Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the

highest opinion. In understanding, Damon was the superior.

Bingley was by no means deficient, but Damon 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, Damon 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 Robinson, he could not conceive an angel

more beautiful. Damon , 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 Robinson 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 Robinson was therefore established as a sweet girl, and

their brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as he chose.

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