Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 3 Happy Dance Party

Although Mrs. Bennet, with her five daughters, asked her husband many questions of Mr. Bingley, his answers were not always satisfactory to her.The mother and daughter tried every means to trap him, such as stark questions, ingenious ideas, and guesses that deviate from the topic, etc., but Mr. Bennet did not fall into their trap.In the end, they were forced to go to the neighbor Mrs. Lucas to inquire about the news.

Mrs. Lucas had all the good things to say.Sir William was said to be fond of Mr. Bingley.He was very young, very handsome, very modest, and above all, he planned to entertain a lot of guests to the next ball.

It couldn't be better!The liking to dance was an important part of love, and everyone was eager to be valued by Mr. Bingley.

"As long as I can see one daughter settle happily in Netherfield Manor, and see the other daughters marry well, I have no other expectations in this life." Mrs. Bennet said to her husband.

A few days later, Mr. Bingley paid a return visit to Mr. Bennett and talked with him for about 10 minutes in his study.He had long heard of Mr. Bennet's beautiful young daughters, and wished to see them, but he had only seen their fathers.But these ladies were luckier than he, and they saw him in a blue coat and riding a black horse through the upstairs window.

The Bennets soon invited him to dinner.

Mrs. Bennet had prepared several dishes, each of which would add to her dignity, and thereby show that she was a good housekeeper, but something happened, and Mr. Bingley had to go to town the next day, and Bennet He could not accept the kindness of the family, so he could only write back to them saying that it would be later.

Mrs. Bennet thought very disturbedly: Mr. Bingley has just arrived in Hertfordshire, how can he go into town on business?So she began to worry: Logically speaking, he should live very safely in Netherfield Manor, but looking at the current situation, does he have to wander like this often?

Her scruples were somewhat allayed, however, by Mrs. Lucas's suggestion that Mr. Bingley was probably in London to invite a large party to the ball.It was soon rumored that Mr. Bingley did not bring twelve female guests, but only six, of which five were his own sisters and one was a cousin. This news reassured the ladies.

Later, when the distinguished guests entered the ballroom, it was discovered that there were only five people in all—Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, his brother-in-law, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was very handsome and gentlemanly, and his countenance was pleasant and unaffected.His sisters, too, were graceful and graceful.His brother-in-law Hurst is just an ordinary gentleman, not very conspicuous, but his friend Darcy immediately attracted the attention of the whole audience, because of his tall figure, fine features and elegant manners.

So, within 5 minutes of Darcy's appearance, everyone said that he had an annual income of [-] pounds.The gentlemen praised his good looks, and the ladies said he was much more handsome than Mr. Bingley.People watched him with admiration almost half the night.In the end, people found that he was very proud, looked down on people, and couldn't make friends with him, so they felt disgusted with him, which was more than the degree of admiration and envy before.No amount of wealth in Derbyshire could bring people closer to him, if he was so repulsive and obnoxious, and he was no big deal compared with his friends.

Mr. Bingley soon became acquainted with all the principal persons of the party.He is very energetic and free-spirited, and he is indispensable in almost every dance.To his annoyance, the dance ended a little too early.He said he was going to have another ball at Netherfield.Mr. Bingley's behavior naturally aroused his general affection.What a contrast between him and his friend!

Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst, and once with Miss Bingley, and otherwise paced up and down the room, talking occasionally with his friends, who wanted to introduce him to dances with other ladies, He still refuses to accept.Therefore, people asserted that he was the proudest and most hated person in the world, and hoped that he would not come again.The most distasteful to him was Mrs. Bennet, who was disgusted with all his manners, and grew more and more disgusted, and finally became angry that he had offended one of her daughters.

Due to the lack of male guests, Elizabeth Bennet had to sit for two dances.Mr. Darcy was standing beside her for a time, and Mr. Bingley, after a few minutes' respite from dancing, went up to his friend and asked him to dance, so that she overheard their conversation—

"Come, Darcy," said Bingley, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing here by yourself in such a foolish way. Go and dance."

"I never dance. You know how much I always hated dancing, except with people I knew very well. It's unbearable to dance at a ball like this. Now your sisters are all dancing with somebody else, and if you let Other women in the dance hall dance with me, it's like making me suffer."

"I don't want to be picky and picky like you," cried Bingley, "at any rate. I will tell you, I never saw so many lovely girls to-night. You see, some of them are really nice." It's beautiful, it's beautiful."

"Of course you're dancing with the only pretty girl in the ballroom!" said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest of the Bennets.

"Oh, indeed I have never seen such a beautiful lady! But there is a sister of hers sitting right behind you, and she is also very pretty, and I dare say, very charming. Let me ask my partner to introduce you Let's go."

"Which one are you talking about?" He turned around and looked at Elizabeth for a while, and when she turned to him, he retracted his gaze and said coldly, "She's okay, but not pretty yet It touched my heart, and now I have no interest in those ladies who treat each other coldly. You'd better go back to your dance partner to appreciate her smiling face, there is no need to waste time on me."

Mr. Bingley had to obey Mr. Darcy.After he went away, Mr. Darcy himself went away.

Elizabeth was still sitting there, and she really didn't like Mr. Darcy.However, she recounted this overheard speech to her friends with great interest, because she had such a lively and mischievous personality, and would show a strong interest in anything ridiculous.

The evening was generally a good one for the Bennet family.Missy was invited to dance twice by Mr. Bingley, and all his sisters admired her.Mrs. Bennet was flattered to see how much the Netherfield family loved her eldest daughter.

Jane was as proud as her mother, only not so loudly.Elizabeth is also happy for Jane.Mary had heard herself referred to before Miss Bingley, as the most able girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had always had the good fortune of having a partner at every dance, which was their The only thing you care about every time you have a dance party.

The mother and daughter happily returned to the village of Longburn where they lived, and found that Mr. Bennet was still awake.Mr. Bennet often forgets the time as soon as he reads; but this time he did not sleep because he was very eager to know the process and final situation of this grand event that everyone has been thinking about day and night.

He thought his wife must be disappointed, but he immediately realized that was not the case.

"Oh, darling," she said, as soon as she entered the room, "we had such a wonderful evening, and the ball was wonderful. It's a pity you didn't go! Jane was so welcome that I can't describe it. Everyone loved Said she was very pretty; and Mr. Bingley thought she was, too, and danced with her twice! Just think of that, my dear, and he did dance with her twice! So much in the hall Females, she's the only one who's been invited twice by him. He invited Miss Lucas to the first dance. I was a little annoyed to see him standing next to her! But he didn't like it at all. She, no one really looked at her; when Jane walked off the dance floor, he was fascinated. He immediately asked her name and asked for an introduction, and then invited her to the next dance. His third dance It was with Miss King, the fourth with Maria Lucas, the fifth with Jane, the sixth with Lizzy, and the Boulanger Boulanger: a country dance in France, The dancers lined up and danced in pairs.  …”

"If only he'd been more considerate of me," cried her husband impatiently, "he wouldn't have danced so much, not even half of it! God, don't mention his partners. Oh, but May he get a cramp at the first dance!"

"Oh, my dear," went on Mrs. Bennet, "I am very fond of him. He is so dainty! His sisters are very pleasant, too. I never saw more elegantly dressed and, dare I say, Mrs. Hurst's lace..."

Her words were interrupted again here.Mr. Bennet didn't want to hear about clothes.She was therefore obliged to find another subject, and turned to Mr. Darcy's arrogant insolence.For Mr. Darcy, she had no affection, and her words were sharp and exaggerated.

"I can tell you the truth," she added immediately, "he doesn't care about Lizzy at all, but it's no pity for Lizzy, because he is the most annoying and hateful person. It is worthy of people's praise and flattery. So proud, so arrogant, it is intolerable! He walks here and there for a while, feeling how great he is! He is not beautiful enough to dance with him! If you If you were there, you could give him a good lesson. I'm so sick of that man!"

(End of this chapter)