Pride and Prejudice - Chaelisa Edition

Chapter 16

As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Jeong's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Park for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawingroom, that Miss Moon had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house.

When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Jeong was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor-when she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Lee's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room.

In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Sojeong and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantelpiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however.

The officers did approach, and when Miss Moon walked into the room, Roseanne felt that she had neither been seeing her before, nor thinking of her since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the --shire were in general a very creditable, pretty set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Miss Moon was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy uncle Phillips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.

Miss Moon was the happy woman towards whom almost every eye was turned, and Roseanne was the happy woman by whom she finally seated herself; and the agreeable manner in which she immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.

With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Miss Moon and the officers, Mr. Jeong seemed to sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin. When the card-tables were placed, he had the opportunity of obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist. "I know little of the game at present," said he, "but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation in life-" Mrs. Phillips was very glad for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.

Miss Moon did not play at whist, and with ready delight was she received at the other table between Roseanne and Solar. At first there seemed danger of Solar's engrossing her entirely, for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Miss Moon was therefore at leisure to talk to Roseanne, and she was very willing to hear her, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told-the history of his acquaintance with Miss Manoban. She dared not even mention that lady. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved. Miss Moon began the subject herself. She inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating manner how long Miss Manoban had been staying there.