Chapter 3

           NotallthatMrs.Bennet,however,withtheassistanceofherfivedaughters,couldaskonthesubject,wassufficienttodrawfromherhusbandanysatisfactorydescriptionofMr.Bingley. Theyattackedhiminvariousways—withbarefacedquestions,ingenioussuppositions,anddistantsurmises; butheeludedtheskillofthemall,andtheywereatlastobligedtoacceptthesecond-handintelligenceoftheirneighbour,LadyLucas. Herreportwashighlyfavourable. SirWilliamhadbeendelightedwithhim. Hewasquiteyoung,wonderfullyhandsome,extremelyagreeable,and,tocrownthewhole,hemeanttobeatthenextassemblywithalargeparty. Nothingcouldbemoredelightful! Tobefondofdancingwasacertainsteptowardsfallinginlove;andverylivelyhopesofMr.Bingley’sheartwereentertained. 

           "IfIcanbutseeoneofmydaughtershappilysettledatNetherfield,"saidMrs.Bennettoherhusband,"andalltheothersequallywellmarried,Ishallhavenothingtowishfor." InafewdaysMr.BingleyreturnedMr.Bennet’svisit,andsatabouttenminuteswithhiminhislibrary. Hehadentertainedhopesofbeingadmittedtoasightoftheyoungladies,ofwhosebeautyhehadheardmuch;buthesawonlythefather. Theladiesweresomewhatmorefortunate,fortheyhadtheadvantageofascertainingfromanupperwindowthatheworeabluecoat,androdeablackhorse. 

           Aninvitationtodinnerwassoonafterwardsdispatched; andalreadyhadMrs.Bennetplannedthecoursesthatweretodocredittoherhousekeeping,whenananswerarrivedwhichdeferreditall. Mr.Bingleywasobligedtobeintownthefollowingday,and,consequently,unabletoacceptthehonouroftheirinvitation,etc. Mrs.Bennetwasquitedisconcerted.