Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 20

The next day Elizabeth told Jane of the conversation which had taken place between herself and Mr. Wickham.Jane listened with interest and amazement;—she could not believe that Mr. Darcy should have failed Mr. Bingley in his respect; Not in her nature. —The possibility that Wickham would be so unfairly treated was enough to excite all her tender feelings; so it was left to her to think for the best of both of them, and for them. Everyone justified their behavior, attributing whatever could not be explained to an accidental misunderstanding.

"Both of them, I daresay, were deceived in one way or another, which we have no way of knowing," she said. "The parties involved may sometimes misunderstand each other. In short, we cannot Speculating about the causes and circumstances that might alienate them without actually accusing a party."

"Very true, indeed so;—then, my dear Jane, what can you say now of the interests of the two parties which may be connected with the matter?—you must cleanse them both. Clear the grievance, otherwise we will have to think that one of the parties is at fault." "You can make fun of me, but you can't make me change my opinion by making fun of me. My dearest Lizzy, put yourself in my place." Consider what disgraceful position we would place Mr. Darcy if we thought he would do so to a man his father loved--a man his father had promised to support.--Impossible That's right. No one with a minimum of morals, no one who has any respect for his own personality, would do it. Would his best friends deceive him into such a thing? To what degree? Ah! Impossible."

"I am rather inclined to believe that Mr. Bingley was deceived than to believe that Mr. Wickham should have concocted for himself last night such a story, in which every name and every fact is utterly inaccurate. Pretentiousness and affectation.—If this is not the case, let Mr. Darcy give his reasons. Besides, there is truth in Wickham's countenance."

"It's really hard--incomprehensible.--I don't know what to think of it."

"No;—we all know exactly how to think."

This, however, Jane could only think with certainty at the moment--if it were true that Mr. Bingley had been deceived by his friends, how much he would suffer when it became known to all.

Whilst the two sisters were thus talking in the undergrowth, the servants came to report that some one had arrived, and among them was the person whom they had just been talking about; and it was Mr. Bingley and his sisters who came to invite them themselves Netherfield attended the long-awaited ball, which was scheduled for the following Tuesday.The Bingley sisters, delighted to see their dear friend again, exclaimed that it seemed a lifetime had elapsed since their last parting, and kept asking her what she had been doing since the last time they had seen each other. .The sisters paid little attention to the rest of the family; they avoided Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, said little to Elizabeth, and still less to anyone else.They soon rose from their chairs, startled even their brother, and, as if eager to avoid Mrs. Bennet's extravagant civility, took their leave in haste.

The ball at Netherfield was to be a most delightful occasion for every woman in the Bennet family.Mrs. Bennet preferred to think that the ball was given for the sake of the young lady of her family, and was especially flattered that it was Mr. Bingley himself who had invited the invitation.Jane imagined for herself a fine evening, in the company of her two friends, and the attentions and favors of their brothers; Elizabeth thought with pleasure that she would be able to dance as much as she could with Mr. Wickham, and that she would never Mr. Darcy's look and manner confirmed all that.The happiness that Catherine and Lydia longed for was not limited to one thing or one specific person, although they, like Elizabeth, wanted to dance with Mr. Wickham for half the night, but He was by no means the only dance partner who could satisfy them; a dance was a dance after all.Even Mary told her family that she had no objection to going to the ball.

"I can keep my morning hours to myself," she said, "and that's enough.—I don't think it's a waste of time to go out and do some evening activities now and then. Each of us is a part of society. members; and I admit that I myself am one of those who, like them, think that occasional amusement and diversion are necessary to every one."

Elizabeth was so happy at the moment, that though she seldom accosted Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him now whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if so, would it be proper for him to do so?She was surprised to find that there were no scruples in his head, that he went to dance without fear of reproach from the Bishop or Madame Catherine de Bourgh. "Frankly, I do not think at all," said he, "that a ball given by such a virtuous young man, and attended by persons of good character, could have any ill intentions; against dancing; and hope my pretty cousins ​​will invite me to dance at this evening, and I take this opportunity to honor you then, Miss Elizabeth, and especially hope you will dance the first two dances with me,—I I don't think I'll be surprised if I invite you to dance Jiying first, and she won't take it as impolite to her."

Elizabeth fully felt that she had been duped.She had thought that these two dances were to be performed with Wickham, but instead Mr. Collins stole the opportunity!Never before had she made so much fun of herself for her pleasant state of mind.Things have been irreparable.Mr. Wickham's and her pleasures were obliged to be postponed, and she accepted Mr. Collins' request as politely as possible.She disapproved of his attentions this time, for she felt that there was something more in it—it occurred to her that she might have been chosen by him from among their sisters to be the vicar of Hansford. The housewife of the family, when the Rosings Manor lacked guests, she went to make up for the three missing ones.Her idea was soon confirmed, she observed his growing intimacy with herself, heard him constantly praise her for being bright, lively and lovely; The effect surprised her rather than pleased her, but her mother was quick to tell her that a possible marriage between them would be very pleasant to her.Elizabeth was not willing to answer her mother's question at the time, because she knew that any answer she had would cause a serious dispute.Mr. Collins would probably never have proposed to her at all, and there was no need for a quarrel about him before he mentioned it.

The little Bennet girls would have looked pitiful at this hour if it had not been for the Netherfield ball to prepare and talk about, for from the invitation to the ball On that day, it rained for several days so that they could not go to Meryton at all.I can't see my aunt, I can't see those officers, and I have no news to inquire about; -- even the roses used on the dancing shoes are bought by others.Even Elizabeth was a little underwhelmed by the weather, for her former friendship with Mr. Wickham was thus prevented; Dee and Lydia thought they could barely get through Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

(End of this chapter)