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Elizabeth related to Jane the next day what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself.
Jane listened with astonishment and concern. She could hardly believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard.
"You will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy. To be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, one whom his father had promised to provide for; it is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived? Oh! no."
Elizabeth retorted, "I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than Mr. Wickham invented a history of himself. Last night he gave names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks."
Yet, it was not in Jane's nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham.
The possibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings. Jane concluded to think well of them both and to defend the conduct of each. She argued there must be accident or mistake to account for what could not be otherwise explained.
"They have both been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to know the causes or circumstances which have alienated them."
"Very true, indeed. Now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say on behalf of the interested people who have been concerned in the business?"
"It is difficult indeed—it is distressing. One does not know what to think," Jane said.
Elizabeth remained most firmly set against Darcy. "I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think."
from the shrubbery, where
This conversation passed in the shrubbery. The two young ladies were summoned by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had been speaking.
Mr. Bingley and his sisters had come to give their personal invitation to the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday.
The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again. They called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked Jane what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the rest of the family they paid little attention. They avoided Mrs. Bennet as much as possible and did not say much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others.
The group from Netherfield were soon gone again, hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.
The prospect of the ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter. She was particularly flattered at receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley, instead of a ceremonious card.
Jane discussed a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother.
Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look and behaviour.
The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single event, or any particular person. Though they each meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them. A ball was, at any rate, a ball.
Even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it. "While I can have my mornings to myself, it is enough. It is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society has claims on us all. I profess myself one of those who considers intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for everybody."
Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion that she could not help asking Mr. Collins whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation.
She was rather surprised by his reply. "I am by no means of the opinion that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency. I am so far from objecting to dancing, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening. I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances. A preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her."
Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. Mr. Collins's proposal was accepted with as good a grace as she could.
She had fully proposed being engaged by Mr. Wickham for those very dances. To have Mr. Collins instead, her liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help for it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own were perforce delayed a little longer.
She was not the better pleased with Mr. Collins's gallantry because it suggested something more. It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of Hunsford Parsonage. She may be expected to form a quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors.
What started as an idea soon reached to conviction.
She observed his increasing civilities toward herself and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity. More astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms. It was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to her.
Elizabeth did not choose to take the hint of a future union between herself and Mr. Collins's. She was well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. With luck, Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.
If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a very pitiable state. From the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there was such a succession of rain, which prevented walking to Meryton. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after—the very shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy.
Even Elizabeth might have found some trial of her patience in the weather that suspended the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham.
Nothing less than a dance on Tuesday could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia.