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The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole

family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much

admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced

with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters.

Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be,

though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure.

Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the

most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine

and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be never without

partners, which was all that they had yet learned to care for

at a ball.

They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn,

the village where they lived, and of which they were

the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up.

With a book, he was regardless of time; and on the present

occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an

evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He

had rather hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger

would be disappointed; but he soon found that he had a very

different story to hear.

'Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet,' as she entered the room, 'we

have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I

wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing

could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and

Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her

twice. Only think of _that,_ my dear; he actually danced with

her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that he

asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I

was so vexed to see him stand up with her; but, however, he

did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know;

and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down

the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced,

and asked her for the two next. Then, the two third he

danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas,

and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with

Lizzy, and the _Boulanger--'_

'If he had had any compassion for _me,'_ cried her husband

impatiently, 'he would not have danced half so much! For

God's sake, say no more of his partners. Oh that he had

sprained his ankle in the first dance!'

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