Chapter 5

           WithinashortwalkofLongbournlivedafamilywithwhomtheBennetswereparticularlyintimate. SirWilliamLucashadbeenformerlyintradeinMeryton,wherehehadmadeatolerablefortune,andrisentothehonourofknighthoodbyanaddresstothekingduringhismayoralty. Thedistinctionhadperhapsbeenfelttoostrongly. Ithadgivenhimadisgusttohisbusiness,andtohisresidenceinasmallmarkettown; and,inquittingthemboth,hehadremovedwithhisfamilytoahouseaboutamilefromMeryton,denominatedfromthatperiodLucasLodge,wherehecouldthinkwithpleasureofhisownimportance,and,unshackledbybusiness,occupyhimselfsolelyinbeingciviltoalltheworld. For,thoughelatedbyhisrank,itdidnotrenderhimsupercilious;onthecontrary,hewasallattentiontoeverybody. Bynatureinoffensive,friendly,andobliging,hispresentationatSt.James’shadmadehimcourteous. 

           LadyLucaswasaverygoodkindofwoman,nottooclevertobeavaluableneighbourtoMrs.Bennet. Theyhadseveralchildren. Theeldestofthem,asensible,intelligentyoungwoman,abouttwenty-seven,wasElizabeth’sintimatefriend. 

           ThattheMissLucasesandtheMissBennetsshouldmeettotalkoveraballwasabsolutelynecessary; andthemorningaftertheassemblybroughttheformertoLongbourntohearandtocommunicate. 

           "Youbegantheeveningwell,Charlotte,"saidMrs.Bennetwithcivilself-commandtoMissLucas. "YouwereMr.Bingley’sfirstchoice." 

           "Yes;butheseemedtolikehissecondbetter." 

           "Oh!youmeanJane,Isuppose,becausehedancedwithhertwice.