Chapter 25B

When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on thesubject. ‘It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane,’said she. ‘I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often!A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls inlove with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accidentseparates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort ofinconstancies are very frequent.’‘An excellent consolation in its way,’ said Elizabeth, ‘but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not oftenhappen that the interference of friends will persuade a young manof independent fortune to think no more of a girl, whom he wasviolently in love with only a few days before.’‘But that expression of “violently in love” is so hackneyed, sodoubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as oftenapplied to feelings which arise from an half-hour’s acquaintance,as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr.Bingley’s love?’‘I never saw a more promising inclination. He was growingquite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her.Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At hisown ball he offended two or three young ladies, by not askingthem to dance, and I spoke to him twice myself, without receivingan answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not generalincivility the very essence of love?’‘Oh, yes!—of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt.Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, shemay not get over it immediately. It had better have happened toyou, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. Butdo you think she would be prevailed on to go back with us?Change of scene might be of service—and perhaps a little relieffrom home, may be as useful as anything.’Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and feltpersuaded of her sister’s ready acquiescence.‘I hope,’ added Mrs. Gardiner, ‘that no consideration withregard to this young man will influence her. We live in so differenta part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you wellknow, we go out so little, that it is very improbable they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her.’‘And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of hisfriend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane insuch a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it?Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place asGracechurch-street, but he would hardly think a month’s ablutionenough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enterit; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him.’‘So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But doesnot Jane correspond with the sister? She will not be able to helpcalling.’‘She will drop the acquaintance entirely.’