Pride and Prejudice | Page 8

met, that he DID
admire her and to HER it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to
the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first,
and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with
pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general,
since Jane united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper
and a uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the
suspicions of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss
Lucas.
"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose
on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so
very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill

from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it
will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the
dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every
attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all BEGIN
freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of
us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.
In nine cases out of ten a women had better show MORE affection than
she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do
more than like her, if she does not help him on."
"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can
perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to
discover it too."
"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do."
"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal
it, he must find it out."
"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But, though Bingley and
Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and, as
they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that
every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should
therefore make the most of every half-hour in which she can command
his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for
falling in love as much as she chooses."
"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in
question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined
to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But
these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she
cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its
reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four
dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own
house, and has since dined with him in company four times. This is not
quite enough to make her understand his character."
"Not as you represent it. Had she merely DINED with him, she might

only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must
remember that four evenings have also been spent together--and four
evenings may do a great deal."
"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both
like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other
leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded."
"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if
she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a
chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a
twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If
the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or
ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least.
They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have
their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of
the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not
sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself."
Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth
was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of
some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely
allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the
ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no
sooner had he made