Chapter 4 (Pride and Prejudice (Full Cast))

01Chapter 4.

02When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr.

03Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very much she admired him.

04He is just what a young man ought to be, said she, sensible, good-humoured, lively, and I never saw such happy manners, so much ease with such perfect good breeding.

05He is also handsome, replied Elizabeth, which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can.

06His character is thereby complete.

07I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time.

08I did not expect such a compliment.

09Did not you?

10I did for you.

11But that is one great difference between us.

12Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never.

13What could be more natural than his asking you again?

14He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room.

15No thanks to his gallantry for that.

16Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him.

17You have liked many a stupider person.

18Dear Lizzy!

19Oh, you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general.

20You never see a fault in anybody.

21All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes.

22I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.

23I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone, but I always speak what I think.

24I know you do, and it is that which makes the wonder.

25With your good sense to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others.

26Affectation of candour is common enough.

27One meets with it everywhere.

28But 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.

29And so you like this man's sisters too, do you?

30Their manners are not equal to his.

31Certainly not.

32At first.

33But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them.

34Miss 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.

35Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced.

36Their 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 judgment too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them.

37They 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.

38They 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.

39They 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.

40Mr.

41Bingley 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.

42Mr.

43Bingley 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 Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase.

44His 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.

45Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her.

46Mr.

47Bingley had not been of age two years when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House.

48He did look at it, and into it, for half an hour, was pleased with the situation in the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

49Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character.

50Bingley was endeared to Darcy by 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.

51On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion.

52In understanding, Darcy was the superior.

53Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever.

54He was, at the same time, haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting.

55In that respect, his friend had greatly the advantage.

56Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared.

57Darcy was continually giving offence.

58The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton Assembly was sufficiently characteristic.

59Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or prettier girls in his life.

60Everybody had been most kind and attentive to him.

61There had been no formality, no stiffness.

62He had soon felt acquainted with all the room, and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful.

63Darcy, 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.

64Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.

65Mrs.

66Hurst 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.

67Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as he chose.

68End of chapter 4 End of chapter 4 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5 End of chapter 5