Chapter 03B

Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had apleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisterswere fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-inlaw, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr.Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person,handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was ingeneral circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of hishaving ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to bea fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomerthan Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration forabout half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to beproud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and notall his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from havinga most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthyto be compared with his friend.Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all theprincipal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, dancedevery dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked ofgiving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities mustspeak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend!Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with MissBingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent therest of the evening in walking about the room, speakingoccasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. Hewas the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst themost violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of hisgeneral behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, byhis having slighted one of her daughters.Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity ofgentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of thattime, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her tooverhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who camefrom the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.‘Come, Darcy,’ said he, ‘I must have you dance. I hate to see youstanding about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had muchbetter dance.’‘I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I amparticularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and thereis not another woman in the room, whom it would not be apunishment to me to stand up with.’