Classic · Pride and Prejudice · Jane Austen · 1813 · 5:38

Pride and Prejudice · Chapter 5

The morning after the ball, the Lucases call to pick over Mr. Darcy’s pride, and Mary has a lecture ready. Pride and Prejudice Chapter 5, in full.

NarratorMrs. BennetElizabeth BennetJane BennetMary BennetCharlotte LucasA young Lucas

Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction had, perhaps, been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business and to his residence in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge; where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James’s had made him courteous.Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth’s intimate friend.That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate.Mrs. BennetYou began the evening well, Charlotte,said Mrs. Bennet, with civil self-command, to Miss Lucas.Mrs. BennetYou were Mr. Bingley’s first choice.Charlotte LucasYes; but he seemed to like his second better.Mrs. BennetOh, you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her—indeed, I rather believe he did—I heard something about it—but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Robinson.Charlotte LucasPerhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson: did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson’s asking him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest? and his answering immediately to the last question, ‘Oh, the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt: there cannot be two opinions on that point.’Mrs. BennetdelightedUpon my word! Well, that was very decided, indeed—that does seem as if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.Charlotte LucasMy overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,said Charlotte.Charlotte LucasteasingMr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he? Poor Eliza! to be only just tolerable.Mrs. BennetI beg you will not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat close to her for half an hour without once opening his lips.Jane BennetAre you quite sure, ma’am? Is not there a little mistake?said Jane.Jane BennetI certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.Mrs. BennetAy, because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to.Jane BennetMiss Bingley told me,said Jane,Jane Bennetthat he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance. With them he is remarkably agreeable.Mrs. BennetmockingI do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had to come to the ball in a hack chaise.Charlotte LucasI do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,said Miss Lucas,Charlotte Lucasbut I wish he had danced with Eliza.Mrs. BennetAnother time, Lizzy,said her mother,Mrs. BennetI would not dance with him, if I were you.Elizabeth BennetchucklesI believe, ma’am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him.Charlotte LucasHis pride,said Miss Lucas,Charlotte Lucasdoes not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.Elizabeth BennetThat is very true,replied Elizabeth,Elizabeth Bennetand I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.Mary BennetsolemnlyPride,observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections,Mary Bennetis a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.A young LucasexcitedIf I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,cried a young Lucas, who came with his sisters,A young LucasI should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine every day.Mrs. BennetThen you would drink a great deal more than you ought,said Mrs. Bennet;Mrs. Bennetand if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly.The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she would; and the argument ended only with the visit.

0:000:001×