ion 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 th

at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was

herfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the oth

f 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 some

uld have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always 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 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

tures, 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 evenin

trast 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

ring part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation betw

I hate to see you standing about by yourself i

artner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and th

m! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I

ome girl in the room," said Mr. Darc

e of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and

said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies w

y cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her f

eard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough never to be 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 in

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 q

"he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more

e! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything mo

y. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with

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 g