PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 17

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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 knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr.
  Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the
  veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. -- The
  possibility of his having really endured such unkindness, was enough
  to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing therefore remained
  to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of
  each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake, whatever could
  not be otherwise explained.

  "They have both," said she, "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 conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them,
  without actual blame on either side."

"Very true, indeed; -- and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to
  say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned
  in the business? -- Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think
  ill of somebody."

"Laugh as much as you chuse, but you will not laugh me out of my
  opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but 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 in him? oh! no."

"I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than
  that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave
  me last night; names, facts, every thing mentioned without ceremony.
  -- If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was
  truth in his looks."

"It is difficult indeed -- it is distressing. -- One does not know
  what to think."

"I beg your pardon; -- one knows exactly what to think."

But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, -- that Mr.
  Bingley, if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the
  affair became public.

The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this conversation
  passed, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they had
  been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal
  invitation for the long expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed
  for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their
  dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly
  asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To
  the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet
  as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all
  to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with
  an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as
  if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every
  female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment
  to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by receiving
  the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card;
  Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends,
  and the attention of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure
  of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation
  of every thing in Mr. Darcy's looks and behaviour. The happiness anticipated
  by Catherine and Lydia, depended less on any single event, or any particular
  person, for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the
  evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could
  satisfy them, and a ball was at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could
  assure her family that she had no disinclination for it.

"While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, "it is enough.
  -- I think it no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements.
  Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who
  consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for every
  body."

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion that, though she
  did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help
  asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and,
  if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's
  amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained
  no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke
  either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing
  to dance.

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball
  of this kind, given by a young man of character to respectable people,
  can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing
  myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair
  cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of
  soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially,
  -- 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. She had fully proposed
  being engaged by Wickham for those very dances: -- and to have Mr. Collins
  instead! her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help
  for it however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed
  a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a
  grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry
  from the idea it suggested of something more. -- It now first struck
  her that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being
  the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille
  table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea
  soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities
  toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her
  wit and vivacity; and though 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 exceedingly
  agreeable to her. Elizabeth, however, did not chuse to take the hint,
  being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any
  reply. 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 pitiable state at this
  time, for from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there
  was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton
  once. 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 weather which totally suspended
  the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less
  than a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
  and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia.

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1. Ebooks list page : 82
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 58
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 44
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 39
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 38
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 11
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 12
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 57
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 56
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55