I think it might be suitable. But I will wait to see if he
settles. He is just as likely to decide he wants to buy an
estate in Kent, or Cheshire, or Suffolk next week.
He soon suggested we turn back.
‘I thought I might pay the Bennets a visit,’ he said
nonchalantly, as we trotted back to the house.
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‘Eager to see the Misses Bennet?’ I asked him.
He took it in good part.
‘I know you think I fall in and out of love every few
weeks, but it is simply that I feel it would be polite to
return Mr Bennet’s call.’
We parted company, he to ride to Longbourn, and I
to return to Netherfield. He was not gone long.
‘Well, did you see the five beautiful daughters you
have heard so much about?’ I asked when he returned.
‘No,’ he said gloomily.‘I sat in Mr Bennet’s library for
about ten minutes but never had a glimpse of the girls.’
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October
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Tuesday 1st October
Bingley’s spirits were restored by an invitation from Mrs
Bennet, asking him to join the family for dinner.
‘But I cannot go!’ he said, crestfallen.‘They ask me for
tomorrow, and I have to be in town.’
‘My dear Bingley, both they and you will survive.
Besides, you will see them at the Meryton assembly.’
He brightened at this. ‘Yes, I will.’
Wednesday 2nd October
Bingley went to town today. It is as I thought. He will
never settle in the country.Already he is growing restless.
I will not be surprised if he quits Netherfield before
Christmas.
Saturday 12th October
We have been to the Meryton assembly, and it was even
worse than I had expected. We had not been there five
minutes before I heard one woman – I hesitate to call her
a lady – whispering to another that I had ten thousand a
year. It is of all things the one I hate the most, to be
courted for my wealth.The whisper ran round the room,
and I found myself being looked at as though I was a pot
of gold. It did nothing to improve my enjoyment of the
evening. Luckily, I did not need to mix with the local
people.Though we were a small party, Caroline, Mr and
Mrs Hurst and I endeavoured to entertain each other.
Bingley threw himself into the affair as he always
does. He, of course, was well liked. He always is. He has
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an ease of manner which recommends him everywhere
he goes. I heard a number of comments on his fine person and his handsome face. I, too, was described as a
handsome man, until I snubbed Mrs Carlisle. She made a
presumptuous remark and I was irritated into giving her
a set-down: not two minutes before, she had been whispering to her neighbour that she meant to get my ten
thousand a year for her daughter, and then, when she
introduced her daughter, she had the audacity to say to
my face that she thought wealth was immaterial in marriage, and that what mattered was mutual affection.
Bingley danced every dance, much to Caroline’s
amusement.
‘He will be in love again before the evening is out,’
she said.
I agreed. I have never known a man fall in and out of
love so easily. Let him see a pretty face and pretty manners, and he looks no further.
I danced once with Mrs Hurst, but the musicians were
so poor that once was enough. I declined to be introduced to any other young ladies and contented myself
with walking around the room until Bingley should have
danced himself to a standstill. Not that it was easy to
avoid partners. There were several young ladies sitting
around the sides of the room. One of them was a sister
of the lady who had taken Bingley’s fancy, and Bingley
decided he wanted to see me dance with her.
‘Come, Darcy,’ said he, ‘I must have you dance. I hate
to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid
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manner.You had much better dance.’
‘I certainly shall not. Your sisters are engaged, and
there is not another woman in the room, whom it would
not be a punishment to me to stand up with,’ I said, not
in a mood to be pleased with anything.
‘I would not be as fastidious as you are for a kingdom!
Upon my honour, I never met with so many pretty girls
in my life.’
‘You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the
room,’ I reminded him, looking at the eldest Miss
Bennet.
‘Oh! she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!
But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind
you, who is very pretty, and I dare say, very agreeable. Do
let me ask my partner to introduce you.’
‘Which do you mean?’ I asked him, looking round. I
noticed Miss Elizabeth Bennet, then, catching her eye, I
was forced to look away.‘She is tolerable,’ I admitted,‘but
not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no
humour at present to give consequence to young ladies
who are slighted by other men.’
Caroline understood my feelings very well.
‘These people!’ she said to me. ‘They have no style
and no fashion, and yet they are all so pleased with
themselves! Do you know I was forced to smile politely
whilst Mary Bennet was described to me as the most
accomplished girl in the neighbourhood? If she was
half, nay one tenth, as accomplished as Georgiana I
should be very surprised.’
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‘But then that would be difficult,’ I said. ‘Georgiana is
unusually gifted.’
‘Indeed she is. I dote on her,’ said Caroline. ‘I declare,
she is quite like a sister to me.’
Perhaps in time she will really be a sister to Caroline.
Not that I said anything of this to her, but Bingley is a
good-natured man with an adequate fortune, and will
make a good
