After dinner, Elizabeth went upstairs to see Jane and found her well enough to join the others in the drawing-room. Before the gentlemen came in, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were very agreeable. They talked pleasantly, told stories, and laughed with spirit.
But when the gentlemen entered, their attention quickly changed. Miss Bingley immediately looked toward Mr. Darcy, while Mr. Bingley showed great kindness to Jane. He was full of joy at seeing her better and carefully made sure she was warm and comfortable. Elizabeth watched his attention with real pleasure.
After tea, Mr. Hurst wished to play cards, but Miss Bingley refused because she knew Mr. Darcy did not want to play. Mr. Hurst soon gave up and fell asleep on the sofa. Darcy took up a book, and Miss Bingley took one too, though she was more interested in watching Darcy than in reading.
At last, tired of pretending to enjoy her book, Miss Bingley declared that there was no pleasure like reading. Soon after, she began talking about the ball Mr. Bingley planned to give at Netherfield. She complained that balls were often tedious, but Bingley was determined to have one.
Miss Bingley then walked about the room, hoping Darcy would notice her. When he did not look up, she asked Elizabeth to walk with her. Elizabeth agreed, and this finally made Darcy close his book. Miss Bingley invited him to join them, but he refused.
Darcy said he could imagine only two reasons for their walking together: either they had secrets to discuss, or they wished to show their figures to advantage. If they had secrets, he would be in the way; if they wanted admiration, he could admire them better from his seat.
Miss Bingley called his speech shocking and asked Elizabeth how they should punish him. Elizabeth answered that they could tease him and laugh at him. But Miss Bingley said Darcy was too calm and sensible to be easily teased.
Elizabeth then playfully said that Darcy’s fault was a tendency to hate everybody. Darcy replied, with a smile, that Elizabeth’s fault was willfully misunderstanding people. Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had little part, called for music, and the conversation ended.
Vocabulary List
- agreeable — pleasant or enjoyable.
- spirit — energy or liveliness.
- attention — care or interest shown to someone.
- comfortable — feeling relaxed and at ease.
- refused — said no.
- pretending — acting as if something is true when it is not.
- tedious — boring because it lasts too long.
- determined — firmly decided.
- admiration — strong liking or approval.
- shocking — surprising or upsetting.
- punish — to make someone suffer for something they did.
- tease — to make fun of someone playfully.
- sensible — reasonable and practical.
- fault — a weakness or mistake.
- willfully — on purpose; intentionally.
True or False
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Jane is well enough to join the others in the drawing-room.
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Mr. Bingley shows great care and kindness toward Jane.
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Miss Bingley is truly interested in reading her book.
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Darcy agrees to walk with Elizabeth and Miss Bingley.
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Elizabeth says Darcy has a tendency to hate everybody.
Fill in the Blanks
- Elizabeth found Jane well enough to join the others in the .
- Mr. Bingley showed great kindness to .
- Mr. Hurst wanted to play .
- Miss Bingley asked Elizabeth to walk about the .
- Darcy says Elizabeth willfully misunderstands .