CHAPTER FIVE

A Young Lady Ashamed

Elizabeth told Jane the next day about theconversation she had with Mr. Wickham. Jane wasvery surprised and concerned.

"Good heavens!" she shouted. "Why would hebehave so cruelly?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "I imagine he was jealous."

"How terrible! I did not think that Mr. Darcywas this bad."

"Why is Bingley such good friends with him?"

"He must not know what kind of man Mr. Darcyis," Jane replied.

Then Elizabeth added, thoughtfully, "Mr. Darcycan be very pleasant when he chooses. "

Jane smiled. "He really wants to be pleasant toyou, Lizzy. I have seen the way he looks at you -- "

"Oh, no, Jane!" said Elizabeth quickly. "You aremistaken -- quite mistaken!"

At this point, Mr. Bingley arrived with his twosisters. They had come to invite the sisters to a danceat Netherfield, set for the following Tuesday.

The idea of going to a dance excited everyone.Mrs. Bennet considered the invitation to be because ofher eldest daughter's popularity; Jane could see herselfspending a happy evening with her friends.Meanwhile, Elizabeth was looking forward to dancing alot with Mr. Wickham. Kitty and Lydia thought Mr.Bingley would invite many officers and soldiers of thearmy. Even Mary seemed willing to attend.

Elizabeth was so happy that she asked Mr. Collinsif he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and ifhe did, if he would think it proper to join in theevening's entertainment.

"Of course I do," he replied, "I hope to behonored by being able to dance with all my fair cousins,and I take this opportunity to ask you, Miss Elizabeth,for the first two dances."

Elizabeth was secretly hoping to be able to spendtime with Mr. Wickham during the dance -- but sheaccepted Mr. Collins' invitation as politely as shecould. After talking with Mr. Collins, it became clearto her that she was Mr. Collins' choice for a futurewife. Soon Elizabeth's mother kept talking about howagreeable a future marriage between them would be.Elizabeth decided to say nothing. Mr. Collins mightnever make such an offer, and, until he did, there wasno point in arguing about it.

On the night of the dance, there was no doubt inElizabeth's mind that Mr. Wickham would not attend.She looked unsuccessfully for him among the army menthat were there. She was quite disappointed, and hadeven paid more attention to her dress than usual. Shehad prepared in the highest spirits to win his heart. Hisfriend, Mr. Denny, whom Lydia had already attachedherself to, told her that Mr. Wickham had to go totown the day before to take care of business.

"I'm sure he would have left his business for awhile," he added, with a knowing smile, "if therewasn't a certain gentleman here tonight."

Elizabeth believed that Mr. Darcy had told Bingleynot to give Wickham an invitation. But Elizabeth'scharacter did not hold ill feeling for long. After havingtold her problem to Charlotte Lucas, she felt muchbetter. However, the first two dances were not veryenjoyable. Mr. Collins was not a very good dancer andwould often make wrong moves. He was a verydisagreeable partner.

She danced the next dance with an officer, andthen stopped to talk to Charlotte. Suddenly, Mr.Darcy appeared and asked her to dance. This took herso much by surprise that she accepted. Charlotte triedto make her feel better.

"Don't worry! I'm sure you will find him veryagreeable."

"Heavens no! I am determined to hate him! Donot wish me such an evil thing."

The dancing began again, and Darcy came to takeElizabeth's hand. They took their places in the danceset. They stood for a while without speaking to eachother. She said something unimportant and he replied.Then they were both silent again.

"It is your turn to say something to me now, Mr.Darcy," she told him. "I've already talked about thedance, and you should make some remark about the sizeof the room, or the number of couples. "

He smiled, and asked her if she and her sistersoften walked to Meryton.

"Yes," she replied, and was not able to stop fromasking the question that had been burning her for days.She added, "When we met you on the way there theother day, we had just mode a new friend -- a Mr.Wickham -- from Pemberley in Derbyshire. He saysthat you know him."

Mr. Darcy's body immediately became tight. "Iwould like to forget that Mr. Wickham and we wereonce friends," he said coldly.

"But is that fair, Mr. Darcy? Can you not forgiveMr. Wickham, even if he has made you angry or donesomething to harm you?"

"I am not the type of person to forgive so easily.My hatred, once created, does not go away."

"You are certain that -- in this case -- it has beencreated?"

"Most certainly, Miss Bennet," replied Darcystrongly.

"And you do not think you can be blinded byfeelings, whether your feelings are right or not?"

"I hope this is not true."

"If you don't change how you feel about somethingor someone, then you have to judge correctly the firsttime you meet someone."

Mr. Darcy noted her words and asked, "Why areyou asking me these questions?"

"So that I can know what type of character youhave," replied Elizabeth. "I am trying to figure youout."

"And do you find my character agreeable?"

She shook her head. "I do not agree with yourcharacter or manners at all"

"I hope, Miss Bennet," he replied seriously, "thatyou not try to understand my character at this presentmoment. I am afraid that you will come to amisunderstanding. "

She said no more. They finished the dance and leftone another in silence. Miss Bingley came towards her.

"So, Miss Elizabeth, your sister tells me that youare quite interested in George Wickham! I'm sure hehas told you that he was the son of old Wickham, thelate Mr. Darcy's personal servant. Before you find himtoo delightful, let me advise you not to believe what hesays. He often tells many lies. As to Mr. Darcy doingwrong to him, it is not true. He was always kind tohim, though Wickham treated him badly many times.Now, I do not know everything that happened, but Iknow that Mr. Darcy isn't the one to blame. The factthat Wickham is again in the countryside is very rudebut this is expected, if you consider his familybackground. "

"From our words I gather that he is guilty becauseof his background," said Elizabeth angrily. "You accusehim of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward. To letyou know, Mr. Wickham has already told me thishimself."

"I beg your pardon," replied Miss Bingley,turning away. "Excuse my interpretation. I meant itkindly and was not trying to be rude. "

"Mean-hearted girl!" thought Elizabeth toherself. "You can never influence me by something asunimportant as someone's background."

The rest of the evening gave Elizabeth littleamusement or happiness. Mr. Collins kept botheringher by keeping to her side. He was not able to getanother dance with her again, but he stopped othersfrom dancing with her, too. She owed Charlotte Lucasa lot of thanks, who often joined them and madeconversation with Mr. Collins. This gave some relief toElizabeth.

Elizabeth kept her attention on her sister and Mr.Bingley. She did not doubt the gentleman's highrespect and deep feeling for Jane.

But Mr. Collins was not her only source of worry.When they sat down to supper, Elizabeth was quiteashamed to hear her mother speaking openly to LadyLucas about her wish that Jane would soon be marriedto Mr. Bingley. Her mother pointed out the goodadvantages of such a match. Mr. Bingley was socharming and rich. This was also promising for heryounger daughters. Jane's marriage to a man of suchgood fortune as Mr. Bingley would make her otherdaughters more attractive, too.

Elizabeth unsuccessfully tried to stop her motherfrom saying so much. She tried to get her to speakmore quietly, She could see, to her shame and horror,that Mr. Darcy could hear what her mother wassaying. However, her mother only scolded her. "Whyshould I be afraid of Mr. Darcy? Must I say nothingthat may offend him?"

"For heaven's sake, Mama, please speak quieter.What advantage do you have in offending Mr. Darcy?You know that he is Bingley's friend and you cannotrecommend yourself by so doing. "

Nothing she could say was of any help. Elizabethturned red with shame and embarrassment. She couldnot help looking at Mr. Darcy. Soon, she saw that theexpression on his face became very serious. Her worstfears had come true.

Even when supper was finished, Elizabeth couldonly relax for a short time. The company wanted tosing, and she had the embarrassment of seeing Maryprepare to sing for everybody. Mary's voice was veryweak, and her manner not true. Elizabeth was trulysuffering.

Above all, Lydia and Kitty were behaving withoutshame by flirting with all the officers. She felt that herentire family, except for Jane, were showingthemselves in a poor light. They could not have tried toact worse than they were doing now.

When they were finally preparing to leave, Mrs.Bennet invited Mr. Bingley to join them for dinner atany time, even without an invitation. She told him thatthis would make her very happy. Bingley thanked herand promised that he would take the opportunity to doso as soon as possible.

Mrs. Bennet left with the delightful idea that shewould soon see Jane married and settled at Netherfieldin a few months. She also thought, but not with equaldelight, that she would very soon have anotherdaughter married to Mr. Collins.