Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 4

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been

cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister just

how very much she admired him.

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible,

good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!-so

much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man

ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time.

I did not expect such a compliment."

"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between

us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What

could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help

seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman

in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is

very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many

a stupider person."

"Dear Lizzy!"

"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general.

You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and

agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being

in your life."

"I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always

speak what I think."

"I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your

good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others!

Affectation of candour is common enough-one meets with it everywhere.

But to be candid without ostentation or design-to take the

good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing

of the bad-belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters,

too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his."

"Certainly not-at first. But they are very pleasing women when

you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and

keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very

charming neighbour in her."

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour

at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and

with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her

9

sister, and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself,

she was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very

fine ladies; not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor