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Chapter V

Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom

the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had

been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable

fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to

the King, during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps

been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business

and to his residence in a small market town; and quitting them

both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile

from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge,

where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and

unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to

all the world. For though elated by his rank, it did not render

him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to every

body. By nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging, his

presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever

to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several

children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman,

about twenty'seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.

That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to

talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after

the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and

to communicate.

'You began the evening well, Charlotte,' said Mrs. Bennet with

civil self-command to Miss Lucas. 'You were Mr. Bingley's

fust choice.'

'y es._but he seemed to like his second better.'

'Oh! -- you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her

twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her -- indeed

1 rather believe he did -- I heard something about it -- but I hardly

know what -- something about Mr. Robinson.'

14

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