THE astonishment of Elizabeth was not to be dissolved by such partial explanations. It was evident that the praise of Mr. Bingley was no more than the common civility of course, and that she had not been sent for to the particular attention of his family. She began to fear that she might not be pleased with the acquaintance of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and to consider that her visit to Netherfield would be rather a sacrifice than a pleasure. She could not be persuaded that her company was at all desired, and she resolved to return home before she was invited to stay.
She had not been at Netherfield more than a week, when she received a letter from her mother, and of course, an invitation to the ball at Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet, in her haste, had forgot to send her to Netherfield, in order to ask her to the ball. Elizabeth was not sorry to receive this invitation, and she resolved to go, but not to be persuaded to stay. The very next day, she was to be removed to a new house, at the distance of a few miles, but she could not bear to think of being separated from her family. She had no doubt that her mother would then have been greatly disappointed, if she had not been sent for to the particular attention of his family.
The truth of the situation was, that Bingley had been persuaded by his sisters, that Jane Bennet was a very disagreeable young woman, and that her family was in every respect unworthy of his notice. Miss Bingley was particularly anxious to prevent any attachment between her brother and Jane, and she spared no pains to impress him with her opinions. She represented Jane as being indifferent to him, and as having no regard for him, and she painted her character in the most odifying colours. She even insinuated that Jane was not in love with him, and that she had no particular attachment to him.
Elizabeth was very much pleased with Mr. Darcy. She had never met with a gentleman who possessed such a remarkable sweetness of temper, such an amiable disposition, such a perfect knowledge of his own talents, and such a modest opinion of himself. She had never seen any thing so amiable, so charming, so delightful, as Mr. Darcy. She had never met with any thing so pleasing, so agreeable, so enchanting, as Mr. Darcy. She had never met with any thing so captivating, so interesting, so astonishing, as Mr. Darcy. She had never met with any thing so bewitching, so bewildering, so entrancing, as Mr. Darcy.
She could not help being astonished at his behaviour. She had never seen any thing so improper, so unbecoming, so disagreeable, as his behaviour. She had never seen any thing so uncivil, so ill-bred, so insolent, as his behaviour. She had never seen any thing so rude, so contemptuous, so offensive, as his behaviour. She had never seen any thing so improper, so ungentlemanly, so odious, as his behaviour.