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one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he

ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting

the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party

for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was

to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the

assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies;

but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that,

instead of twelve, he had brought only six with him from

London, his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party

entered the assembly-room, it consisted of only five alto-

gether: Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the

eldest, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike: he had

a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His

sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His

brother-in-law, 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 in general circulation within five minutes

after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The

gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the

ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley,

and he was looked at with great admiration for about half

the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the

tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to

be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all

his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from

having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and

being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all

the principal people in the room: he was lively and unre-

served, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so

early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such

amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a con-

trast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only

once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined

being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the

evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to

one of his own party. His character was decided. He was

the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every-

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