Chapter 8 (Pride and Prejudice (Full Cast))

01CHAPTER VIII.

02At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner.

03To the civil inquiries which then poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr.

04Bingley's, she could not make a very favourable answer.

05Jane was by no means better.

06The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves, and then thought no more of the matter, and their indifference towards Jane, when not immediately before them, restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike.

07Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard with any complacency.

08His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others.

09She had very little notice from any but him.

10Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr.

11Darcy, her sister scarcely less so, and as for Mr.

12Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her.

13When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room.

14Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence.

15She had no conversation, no style, no beauty.

16Mrs.

17Hurst thought the same, and added, she has nothing, in short, to recommend her but being an excellent walker.

18I shall never forget her appearance this morning.

19She really looked almost wild.

20She did indeed, Louisa.

21I could hardly keep my countenance, very nonsensical to come at all.

22Why must she be scampering about the country?

23Because her sister had a cold.

24Her hair so untidy, so blousy.

25Yes, and her petticoat!

26I hope you saw her petticoat.

27Six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain, and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.

28Your picture may be very exact, Louisa, said Bingley, but this was all lost upon me.

29I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came down into the room this morning.

30Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.

31You have served, Mr.

32Darcy, I am sure, said Miss Bingley.

33And I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.

34Certainly not.

35To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles and dead, and alone, quite alone.

36What could she mean by it?

37It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence.

38A most country-town indifference to the quorum.

39It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing, said Bingley.

40I am afraid, Mr.

41Darcy, observed Miss Bingley in a half-whisper, that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.

42Not at all, he replied.

43They were brightened by the exercise.

44A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs.

45Hurst began again.

46I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet.

47She is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled.

48But with such a father and mother and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.

49I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney at Meryton.

50Yes, and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.

51That is capital, added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.

52If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside, cried Bingley, it would not make them one jot less agreeable.

53But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world, replied Darcy.

54To this speech Bingley made no answer, but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar relations.

55With the renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee.

56She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself.

57On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at lieu, and was immediately invited to join them.

58But suspecting them to be playing high, she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below with the book.

59Mr.

60Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

61Do you prefer reading to cards?

62said he.

63That is rather singular.

64Miss Eliza Bennet, said Miss Bingley, despises cards.

65She's a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.

66I deserve neither such praise nor such censure, cried Elizabeth.

67I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.

68In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure, said Bingley, and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well.

69Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table, where a few books were lying.

70He immediately offered to fetch her others, all that his library afforded.

71And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit.

72But I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into.

73Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.

74I am astonished, said Miss Bingley, that my father should have left so small a collection of books.

75What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr.

76Darcy!

77It ought to be good, he replied.

78It has been the work of many generations.

79And then you have added so much to it yourself.

80You are always buying books.

81I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.

82Neglect?

83I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place.

84Charles, when you built your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.

85I wish it may.

86But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model.

87There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.

88With all my heart I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it.

89I am talking of possibilities, Charles.

90Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation.

91Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed as to leave her very little attention for her book, and soon laying it wholly aside she drew near the card-table and stationed herself between Mr.

92Bingley and his eldest sister to observe the game.

93Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?

94said Miss Bingley.

95Will she be as tall as I am?

96I think she will.

97She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or rather taller.

98How I longed to see her again!

99I never met with anybody who delighted me so much.

100Such a countenance, such manners, and so extremely accomplished for her age.

101Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.

102It is amazing to me, said Bingley, how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are.

103All young ladies accomplished?

104My dear Charles, what do you mean?

105Yes, all of them, I think.

106They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses.

107I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time without being informed that she was very accomplished.

108Your list of the common extent of accomplishments, said Darcy, has too much truth.

109The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen.

110But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general.

111I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.

112Nor I, I am sure, said Miss Bingley.

113Then, observed Elizabeth, you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.

114Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it.

115Oh, certainly, cried his faithful assistant.

116No one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with.

117A woman must have a true knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages to deserve the word.

118Elizabeth Bennet, said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own.

119And with many men, I dare say, it succeeds.

120But in my opinion, it is a poultry device, a very mean art.

121The other day, when the door was closed, and the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, the other day, supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

122End of chapter 8