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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 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 every body。 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。 Bennet。—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 Bennets should meet to talk
over a ball was absolutely necessary； and the morning after the
assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to
communicate。
‘You began the evening well； Charlotte；’ said Mrs。 Bennet with
civil self…command to Miss Lucas。 ‘You were Mr。 Bingley’s first
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choice。’
‘Yes；—but he seemed to like his second better。’
‘Oh！—you mean Jane； 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 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 Bennet beyond a doubt；
there cannot be two opinions on that point。’
‘Upon my word！—Well； that was 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。 Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his
friend； is he？—Poor Eliza！—to be only just tolerable。’
‘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
Jane。—‘I certainly saw Mr。 Darcy speaking to her。’
‘Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield；
and he could not help answering her；—but she said he seemed
very angry at being spoke to。’
‘Miss Bingley told me；’ said Jane； ‘that he never speaks much
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unless among his intimate acquaintance。 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； every body says that he is ate 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 were 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； every
thing 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
synonimously。 A person may be proud without being vain。 Pride
relates more to our opinion of ourselves； vanity to what we would
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have others think of us。’
‘If I were as rich as Mr。 Darcy；’ 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 every day。’
‘Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought；’ said
Mrs。 Bennet； ‘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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CHAPTER VI
he ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of
Netherfield。 The visit was returned in due form。 Miss
T
Bennet’s pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs。
Hurst and Miss Bingley； and though the m