Chapter-3
Near Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were very friendly. Sir William Lucas had once had a shop in Meryton, where he had made a small fortune. He had been made a knight when he was mayor of the town. The honour had made him too proud to continue with his shop. He had moved his family out of Meryton to a house which he called Lucas Lodge. Here he could think with pleasure of his own importance. Having no other business, he spent all his time in being polite to everyone. Although he was so proud of his knighthood yet it did not make him haughty. On the contrary, he was friendly to everyone.
Lady Lucas was a good woman, not too intelligent to be a friendly neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, aged about twenty-seven, was a great friend of Elizabeth Bennet.
The morning after the Meryton ball the Miss Lucases came to Longbourn to talk about it with their friends, the Miss Bennets.
“You began the evening well,” Mrs. Bennet said politely to Miss Lucas, “You were Mr. Bingley’s first choice as a partner.”
“Yes, but he seemed to like his second choice better. I heard Mr. Robinson ask him who the prettiest girl was in the room. And he replied immediately—Oh! The eldest Miss Bennet, without a doubt; there could be no argument about it!”
“Well! That was very positive indeed! But it may not mean anything.”
“You did not hear anything so pleasant, did you, Elizabeth?” said Charlotte, “Mr. Darcy does not say such nice things! Poor Elizabeth!”
“Please don’t suggest that Elizabeth should be annoyed by what he said! He is such a disagreeable man that it would be unpleasant if he liked her! He sat by Mrs. Long for half an hour without opening his mouth.”
“Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much, except among close friends. With them he is very agreeable.”
“I do not believe it. If he had been so agreeable, he would have spoken to Mrs. Long. Next time, Elizabeth, you must refuse to dance with him.”
“I think, mother, I can safely promise you never to dance with him.”
“At least he has some excuse for his pride,” said Miss Lucas, “It is not surprising that such a handsome young man, with a good family and a large fortune, should think well of himself. I would almost say he has a right to be proud.”
“That is very true,” said Elizabeth, “And I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not hurt mine.”
The ladies of Longbourn soon visited those of Netherfield. Then the latter came to visit in their turn. Jane Bennet seemed increasingly attractive to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. Although they thought her mother was intolerable, and the younger sisters were uninteresting, testing, they wished to become friendly with the two older sisters. Jane was very pleased to do so. But Elizabeth still thought them haughty, even towards Jane, and she could not like them.
While she was watching Mr. Bingley’s interest in her sister, Elizabeth did not realise that she herself was an object of interest to his friend. At first Mr. Darcy did not even admit she was pretty. The next time they met he only looked for faults in her. But as soon as he had proved to himself, and to his friends, that she did not have a single good feature, he began to notice that the beautiful expression of her dark eyes made it an unusually intelligent face. Then he made other troublesome discoveries. Her figure, for instance, was light and pleasing, although not perfect. Her manners were attractive and amusing, although not fashionable.
She was quite unaware of this interest. She only thought of him as the man who was always disagreeable and who had refused to dance with her.
He began to wish to know her better. Elizabeth noticed him sometimes standing near her, listening to her conversations with other men.
“I shall have to tease him,” she said to Charlotte at an evening party given by Sir William Lucas, “He has a very critical eye and if I do not tease I shall soon grow afraid of him.”
Miss Lucas then asked her friend to sing. She sang in an easy, natural manner which gave great pleasure. Soon all the younger members of the party were dancing at the end of the room.
Mr. Darcy stood near them, silently angry at the waste of the evening. He preferred good conversation. Sir William Lucas spoke to him.
“What a delightful amusement for young people, Mr. Darcy. There is nothing like dancing. I think it is one of the highest achievements of civilized people.”
“Certainly, sir! And it is also popular among less civilized people. Every savage can dance!”
Sir William only smiled, “Your friend dances delightfully,” he continued, as he saw Bingley join the dancers, “I am sure you are an expert too, Mr. Darcy.”
He topped, hoping for an answer; but his companion did not give one. Elizabeth at that moment was walking past them, and Sir William suddenly had a kind idea. He called out to her, “My dear Miss Elizabeth, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, allow me to introduce this young lady to you. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty stands before you!” Taking her hand he gave it to Mr. Darcy who, although very surprised, was quite willing to take it. But Elizabeth instantly drew back and said firmly to Sir William, “Indeed, Sir, I have no wish to dance. I sincerely hope that you do not think that I came this way to ask for a partner!”
Mr. Darcy, with grave politeness, asked for the honour of the dance, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined not to dance. Nor could Sir William’s arguments change her mind.
“You dance so well, Miss Elizabeth. This gentleman does not usually like dancing, but I am sure he would not object to it for half an hour.”
“Mr. Darcy is very polite,” Elizabeth said, smiling.
“He is indeed. But no wonder! Who could object to such a partner?”
