chapter 5

Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with

whom the Robinson's were particularly intimate. Sir William

Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had

made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of

knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty.

The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had

given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a

small market town; and, in quitting them both, he had

removed with his family to a house about a mile from

Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, where

he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and,

unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil

to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not

render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention

to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging,

his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too

clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Robinson. They had

several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent

young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate

friend.

That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Robinson should meet

to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning

after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear to communicate.

You began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Jackson

with civil self-command to Miss Lucas. "You were Mr.

Bingley's first choice."

"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better."

"Oh! you mean Janaya , I suppose, because he danced with

her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her￾indeed I rather believe he did--I heard something about it-but I

hardly know what--something about Mr. Jackson ."

You began the evening well, Charlotte," said Mrs. Robinson

with civil self-command to Miss Lucas. "You were Mr.

Bingley's first choice."

"Yes; but he seemed to like his second better."

"Oh! you mean Janaya I suppose, because he danced with

her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her￾indeed I rather believe he did--I heard something about it-but I

hardly know what--something about Mr. Robinson."

"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr.

Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking

him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did

not think there were a great many pretty women in the room,

and which he thought the prettiest? and his answering

immediately to the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Robinson,

beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.'"

"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that

does seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you

know."

"My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours,

Eliza," said Charlotte. "Mr. Damon is not so well worth

listening to as his friend, is he?--poor Eliza!--to be only just to tolerate

"I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed

by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it

would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long

told me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour

without once opening his lips."

"Are you quite sure, ma'am?--is not there a little mistake?"

said Janaya "I certainly saw Mr. Damon speaking to her."

"Aye--because she asked him at last how he liked

Northfield, and he could not help answering her; but she said

he seemed quite angry at being spoke to."

"Miss Bingley told me," said Janaya, "that he never speaks

much, unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them he

is remarkably agreeable."

"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so

very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can

guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride,

and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not

keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise."

"I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss

Lucas, "but I wish he had danced with Eliza."

"Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, "I would not dance with him if I was you .

i believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dance

with him."

"His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much

as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One

cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family,

fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of

himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud."

"That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily

forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the

solidity of her reflections, "is a very common failing, I

believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is

very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone

to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a

feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or

other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things,

though the words are often used synonymously. A person may

be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion

of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of

us."

"If I were as rich as Mr. Damon" cried a young Lucas, who

came with his sisters, "I should not care how proud I was. I

would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day .

Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,"

said Mrs. Robinson "and if I were to see you at it, I should take

away your bottle directly."

The boy protested that she should not; she continued to

declare that she would, and the argument ended only with the visit.

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