{{prxprp076.jpg}} || 76 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, every thing

mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy

contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks.'

'It is difficult indeed -- it is distressing. -- One does not know

what to think.'

'I beg your pardon; -- one knows exactly what to think.'

But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, -- that

Mr. Bingley, if he bad been imposed on, would have much to

suffer when the affair became public.

The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery

where this conversation passed, by the arrival of some of the very

persons of whom they had been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his

sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long-expected

ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday.

The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again,

called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what

she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the

rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet

as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing

at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their

seats with an activity which took their brother by surprize, and

hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable

to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider

it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter, and was par'

ticularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley

himself, instead of a ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself

a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the atten^

tions of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of

dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a con'

firmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look and behaviour.

The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended

less on any single event, or any particular person, for though

they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with

Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could

satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. And even Mary

could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it.

 [[076]]