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1Elizabeth related to Jane, the next day, what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself. Jane listened with
2astonishment and concern: she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard; and
3yet it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The
4possibility of his having really endured such unkindness was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing
5therefore remained to be done but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account
6of accident or mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained. "They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare
7say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the
8other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them,
9without actual blame on either side." "Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say in behalf of
10the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business? Do clear them, too, or we shall be obliged to
11think ill of somebody." "Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do
12but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a
13manner,--one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had
14any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him? Oh
15no." "I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on than that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history
16of himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy
17contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks." "It is difficult, indeed--it is distressing. One does not know
18what to think." "I beg your pardon;--one knows exactly what to think." But Jane could think with certainty on only one
19point,--that Mr. Bingley, if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair became public. The two
20young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this conversation passed, by the arrival of some of the very
21persons of whom they had been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long
22expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear
23friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their
24separation. To the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, saying not
25much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity
26which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities. The prospect
27of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given
28in compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley
29himself, instead of a ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and
30the attentions of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of
31seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look and behaviour. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia
32depended less on any single event, or any particular person; for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half
33the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a
34ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it. "While I can have my mornings to
35myself," said she, "it is enough. I think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society has
36claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for
37everybody." Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion, that though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr.
38Collins, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he did, whether he
39would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no
40scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke, either from the Archbishop or Lady Catherine de
41Bourgh, by venturing to dance. "I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball of this kind, given by
42a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing
43myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening; and I take
44this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially; a preference which I trust my
45cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her." Elizabeth felt herself completely
46taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very dances; and to have Mr. Collins instead!--her
47liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help for it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was
48perforce delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not the
49better pleased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. It now first struck her, that she was
50selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a
51quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to conviction, as she
52observed his increasing civilities towards herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and
53vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her
54mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her. Elizabeth,
55however, did not choose to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply.
56Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and, till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him. If there had not been a
57Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a pitiable state at this time;
58for, from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there was such a succession of rain as prevented their
59walking to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after; the very shoe-roses for Netherfield were
60got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the
61improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday could have made such a
62Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia. [Illustration] CHAPTER XVIII. [Illustration] Till
63Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats
64there assembled, a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty of meeting him had not been
65checked by any of those recollections that might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than usual
66care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it
67was not more than might be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being
68purposely omitted, for Mr. Darcy's pleasure, in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers; and though this was not
69exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr. Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly
70applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before, and was not yet
71returned; adding, with a significant smile,-- "I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he
72had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman here."
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