Джейн Остин (Jane Austen )Near Lonsbourn, tne bennets nouse. tnere nved a tammy they were particularly intimate with: Sir William, Lady Lucas and their children, Charlotte and Maria. Charlotte, the eldest, an intelligent young woman of about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth':
friend. The morning after the ball the Lucases visited.
'You began the evening well, Charlotte,' said Mrs Bennet. 'You were Mr Bingley's first choice.
He liked his second better.
'Oh! You mean Jane, because he danced with her twice?'
"When he was asked which woman he thought the prettiest he immediatelv answered • Oh. The eldest Miss Bennet of course.'I
Well that was very decided, but you never know how things end.
'I overheard better things than you, Eliza,' said Charlotte. 'Mr Darcy is less gallant than his friend. Poor Eliza! - to be only tolerable.
'He is a disagreeable man. Mrs Long told me last night that he sat near her for half an hour without speaking once,' said Mrs
Bennet
'Miss Bingley told me that he never speaks much unless among friends,' said Jane. 'With them he is quite agreeable.'
'I do not mind his not talking to Mrs Long,' said Miss Lucas,
'but I wish he had danced with Eliza.'
'Another time. Lizzy.' said her mother. 'I would not danco with nim.
'I think 1 can promise you never to dance with him.'
'His pride,' said Miss Lucas, 'does not offend me so much, because there is an excuse for it. It is natural that a fine young man with family. fortune. everything in his favour will be proud.
'That is very true,' said Elizabeth, 'and I could forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.'
The ladies of Longbourn and Netherfield soon visited each other. Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley liked Janc's pleasing manners They considered her mother insupportable and the younger sisters uninteresting, but wished to see the two oldest again. Jane was pleased to have this attention, but Elizabeth could not lik them. It was evident to all that Mr Bingley admired Jane. Td Elizabeth it was also evident that Jane was falling very much in love.
Elizabeth did not suspect that Mr Darcy was interested in her.