Chapter 05A

CHAPTER V

 within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family withwhom the Bennets were particularly intimate. SirWilliam Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton,where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honour ofknighthood by an address to the King, during his mayoralty. Thedistinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him adisgust to his business and to his residence in a small markettown; and quitting them both, he had removed with his family to ahouse about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that periodLucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his ownimportance, and unshackled by business, occupy himself solely inbeing civil to all the world. For though elated by his rank, it didnot render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attentionto every body. By nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging, hispresentation at St. James’s had made him courteous.Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to bea valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet.—They had several children.The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, abouttwenty-seven, was Elizabeth’s intimate friend.That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talkover a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after theassembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and tocommunicate.‘You began the evening well, Charlotte,’ said Mrs. Bennet withcivil self-command to Miss Lucas. ‘You were Mr. Bingley’s first choice.’‘Yes;—but he seemed to like his second better.’‘Oh!—you mean Jane, I suppose—because he danced with hertwice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her—indeed Irather believe he did—I heard something about it—but I hardlyknow what—something about Robinson.’‘Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr.Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson’s asking himhow he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did notthink there were a great many pretty women in the room, andwhich he thought the prettiest? and his answering immediately tothe last question—Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet beyond a doubt,there cannot be two opinions on that point.’‘Upon my word!—Well, that was very decided indeed—that doesseem as if—but however, it may all come to nothing you know.’‘My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,’said Charlotte. ‘Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as hisfriend, is he?—Poor Eliza!—to be only just tolerable.’‘I beg you would not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by hisill-treatment; for he is such a disagreeable man that it would bequite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last nightthat he sat close to her for half an hour without once opening hislips.'