TheprospectoftheNetherfieldballwasextremelyagreeabletoeveryfemaleofthefamily. Mrs. Bennetchosetoconsideritasgivenincomplimenttohereldestdaughter, andwasparticularlyflatteredbyreceivingtheinvitationfromMr. Bingleyhimself, insteadof a ceremoniouscard. Janepicturedtoherself a happyeveninginthesocietyofhertwofriends, andtheattentionsoftheirbrother; andElizabeththoughtwithpleasureofdancing a greatdealwithMr. Wickham, andofseeing a confirmationofeverythinginMr. Darcy's lookandbehaviour. ThehappinessanticipatedbyCatherineandLydiadependedlessonanysingleevent, oranyparticularperson, forthoughtheyeach, likeElizabeth, meanttodancehalftheeveningwithMr. Wickham, hewasbynomeanstheonlypartnerwhocouldsatisfythem, and a ballwas, atanyrate, a ball. AndevenMarycouldassureherfamilythatshehadnodisinclinationforit.
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"While I canhavemymorningstomyself," saidshe, "itisenough—I thinkitisnosacrificetojoinoccasionallyineveningengagements. Societyhasclaimsonusall; and I professmyselfoneofthosewhoconsiderintervalsofrecreationandamusementasdesirableforeverybody."
"I ambynomeansoftheopinion, I assureyou," saidhe, "that a ballofthiskind, givenby a youngmanofcharacter, torespectablepeople, canhaveanyeviltendency; and I amsofarfromobjectingtodancingmyself, that I shallhopetobehonouredwiththehandsofallmyfaircousinsinthecourseoftheevening; and I takethisopportunityofsolicitingyours, MissElizabeth, forthetwofirstdancesespecially, a preferencewhich I trustmycousinJanewillattributetotherightcause, andnottoanydisrespectforher."
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Elizabethfeltherselfcompletelytakenin. ShehadfullyproposedbeingengagedbyMr. Wickhamforthoseverydances; andtohaveMr. Collinsinstead! herlivelinesshadneverbeenworsetimed. Therewasnohelpforit, however. Mr. Wickham's happinessandherownwereperforcedelayed a littlelonger, andMr. Collins's proposalacceptedwithasgood a graceasshecould. Shewasnotthebetterpleasedwithhisgallantryfromtheideaitsuggestedofsomethingmore. Itnowfirststruckher, thatshewasselectedfromamonghersistersasworthyofbeingmistressofHunsfordParsonage, andofassistingtoform a quadrilletableatRosings, intheabsenceofmoreeligiblevisitors. Theideasoonreachedtoconviction, assheobservedhisincreasingcivilitiestowardherself, andheardhisfrequentattemptat a complimentonherwitandvivacity; andthoughmoreastonishedthangratifiedherselfbythiseffectofhercharms, itwasnotlongbeforehermothergavehertounderstandthattheprobabilityoftheirmarriagewasextremelyagreeabletoher. Elizabeth, however, didnotchoosetotakethehint, beingwellawarethat a seriousdisputemustbetheconsequenceofanyreply. Mr. Collinsmightnevermaketheoffer, andtillhedid, itwasuselesstoquarrelabouthim.