{{prxprp029.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 29 ||

Chapter VIII

At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half past

six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil inquiries

which then poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure

of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley's,

she could not make a very favourable answer. Jane was by no

means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or

four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to

have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill

themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their

indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them,

restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her original dislike.

Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom

she could regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane

was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing, and

they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she

believed she was considered by the others. She had very little

notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by

Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by

whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only

to eat, drink, and play at cards, who, when he found her prefer

a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her.

When dinner was over she returned directly to Jane, and Miss

Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room.

Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture

of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style,

no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added,

'She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an

excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning.

She really looked almost wild.'

'She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance.

Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering

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