Chapter 5

by Jane Austen

　　Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whomthe Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas hadbeen formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made atolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by anaddress to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction hadperhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust tohis business, and to his residence in a small market town; and,in quitting them both, he had removed with his family to ahouse about a mile from Meryton, denominated from thatperiod Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of hisown importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himselfsolely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by hisrank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he wasall attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, andobliging, his presentation at St. James's had made himcourteous.Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever tobe a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had severalchildren. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent youngwoman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet totalk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning afterthe assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and tocommunicate. "You began the evening well, Charlotte," saidMrs. Bennet with civil self-command to Miss Lucas. "Youwere 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 Ihardly know what-- something about Mr. Robinson.""Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr.Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's askinghim how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he didnot think there were a great many pretty women in the room,and which he thought the prettiest? and his answeringimmediately to the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet,beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.' ""Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed-- that doesseem as if-- but, however, it may all come to nothing, youknow.""My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours,Eliza," said Charlotte. "Mr. Darcy is not so well worthlistening to as his friend, is he?-- poor Eliza!-- to be only justtolerable.""I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed byhis ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that itwould be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Longtold me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hourwithout once opening his lips.""Are you quite sure, ma'am?-- is not there a little mistake?"said Jane. "I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.""Aye-- because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield,and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemedquite angry at being spoke to.""Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much,unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them he isremarkably agreeable.""I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so veryagreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guesshow it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and Idare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keepa carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise.""I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long," said Miss Lucas,"but I wish he had danced with Eliza.""Another time, Lizzy," said her mother, "I would not dancewith him, if I were you.""I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dancewith him.""His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much aspride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannotwonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune,everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If Imay so express it, he has a right to be proud.""That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easilyforgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.""Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidityof her reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. By allthat I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very commonindeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and thatthere are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling ofself-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real orimaginary. Vanity a pride are different things, though thewords are often used synonymously. A person may be proudwithout being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion ofourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.""If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy," cried a young Lucas, whocame with his sisters, "I should not care how proud I was. Iwould keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine aday.""Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," saidMrs. Bennet; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take awayyour bottle directly."The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declarethat she would, and the argument ended only with the visit.