Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 25 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 25

Pride and Prejudice

neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been

fortunate enough never to be without partners, which

was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball.

They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn,

the village where they lived, and of which they were

the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still

up. With a book he was regardless of time; and on

the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity

as to the events of an evening which had raised such

splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his

wife’s views on the stranger would be disappointed; but

he soon found out that he had a different story to hear.

“Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the

room, “we have had a most delightful evening, a most

excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so

admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how

well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite

beautiful, and danced with her twice! Only think of

that, my dear; he actually danced with her twice! and

she was the only creature in the room that he asked a

second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so

vexed to see him stand up with her! But, however, he

did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know;

and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going

down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got

17