Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER III.

Not all that Mrs. Bennet (the Bennets of Longbourn: Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters), however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient (enough) to draw from her husband any satisfactory (good enough) description of Mr. Bingley (the amiable rich young man at Netherfield). They attacked him in various ways, with barefaced (barefaced: shameless) questions, ingenious (cleverly inventive) suppositions (an assumed idea), and distant (far off) surmises (a guess); but he eluded (to slip away from) the skill (practiced ability) of them all; and they were at last obliged (to compel; bind by duty) to accept the second-hand (second-hand: got from others) intelligence of their neighbour (one living near), Lady Lucas (the Lucases of Lucas Lodge: Sir William, Lady Lucas, and Charlotte). Her report was highly favourable (helpful; in one's favour). Sir William had been delighted (greatly pleased) with him. He was quite young, wonderfully (with wonder) handsome (fine-looking), extremely agreeable (pleasant), and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful (giving delight)! To be fond (loving) of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively (full of life) hopes of Mr. Bingley’s heart were entertained (to amuse; to host).

“If I can but see one of my daughters happily (with happiness) settled (to fix in place; to bring to rest) at Netherfield (Netherfield Park, the house Mr Bingley takes),” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally (in equal measure) well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained (to amuse; to host) hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate (favored by fortune), for they had the advantage of ascertaining (finding out for certain), from an upper window, that he wore a blue coat (an outer garment) and rode a black horse.

An invitation (a bidding to come) to dinner was soon afterwards (later) despatched (to send off; an official message); and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping (the running of a household), when an answer arrived which deferred (to put off; to yield to another) it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged (to compel; bind by duty) to be in town the following day, and consequently (as a result) unable to accept the honour (honor) of their invitation (a bidding to come), etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted (thrown off balance; unsettled). She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival (a coming) in Hertfordshire (the home county of the Bennets); and she began to fear that he might always be flying about from one place to another, and never settled (to fix in place; to bring to rest) at Netherfield as he ought (should) to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his

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being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve (twelve) ladies and seven gentlemen (a man of good birth and manners) with him to the assembly. The girls grieved (to sorrow deeply) over such a number of ladies; but were comforted (ease; consolation) the day before the ball by hearing that, instead of twelve (twelve), he had brought only six with him from London, his five sisters and a cousin (an uncle's or aunt's child). And when the party entered the assembly-room (the public ballroom), it consisted (to be made of) of only five altogether (wholly): Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest (the eldest), and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking (handsome) and gentlemanlike (like a gentleman): he had a pleasant (pleasing) countenance (the face; composure), and easy, unaffected (natural; untouched) manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law (a sister's husband or wife's brother), Mr. Hurst (Mr and Mrs Hurst, Bingley's brother-in-law and sister), merely (only) looked the gentleman (a man of good birth and manners); but his friend Mr. Darcy (the proud rich master of Pemberley) soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome (fine-looking) features, noble (high-born; morally lofty) mien (bearing; look of the face), and the report, which was in general circulation (passing from hand to hand) within five minutes after his entrance (the way in), of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen (a man of good birth and manners) pronounced (to speak a word; declare) him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer (more handsome) than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration (wondering approval) for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust (sick, strong dislike) which turned the tide (the sea's rise and fall) of his popularity (being widely liked); for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire (Darcy's county) could save him from having a most forbidding (grim and unwelcoming), disagreeable (unpleasant) countenance (the face; composure), and being unworthy (not worthy) to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted (to make known to) with all the principal people in the room: he was lively (full of life) and unreserved (unreserved: open; frank), danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable (friendly and pleasant) qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast (a set difference) between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley (Caroline Bingley, his sister), declined (to refuse; to sink) being introduced (to make known; bring in) to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally (now and then) to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable (unpleasant) man in the world, and everybody hoped (to jump on one foot) that he would never come there again. Amongst (among) the most violent (of raging force) against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike (not to like) of his general behaviour (the way one acts) was sharpened (to make sharp and ready) into particular resentment (bitter feeling at a wrong) by his having slighted (small; to treat as of no account) one of her daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet (the witty second daughter, the heroine) had been obliged (to compel; bind by duty), by the scarcity (shortage) of gentlemen (a man of good birth and manners), to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear (to hear what was not meant for one) a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.

“Come, Darcy (Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, proud, rich, and Elizabeth's match),” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest (to hate deeply) it, unless I am particularly acquainted (to make known to) with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable (unbearable). Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment (suffering imposed for a fault) to me to stand up with.”

“I would not be so fastidious (hard to please) as you are,” cried Bingley (Mr Charles Bingley, the amiable rich young man who takes Netherfield), “for a kingdom! Upon my honour (honor), I never met with so many pleasant (pleasing) girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly (unusually) pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome (fine-looking) girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest (the eldest) Miss Bennet.

“Oh, she is the most beautiful creature (a living being) I ever beheld (to see; look upon)! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare (to have the courage) say very agreeable (pleasant). Do let me ask my partner to introduce (to make known; bring in) you.”

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“Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till, catching her eye, he withdrew (to draw back) his own, and coldly (without warmth) said, “She is tolerable (bearable; fairly good): but not handsome (fine-looking) enough to tempt (to try to lead into wrong) me; and I am in no humour (a mood; a sense of fun) at present to give consequence (what follows) to young ladies who are slighted (small; to treat as of no account) by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial (warmly friendly) feelings towards him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively (full of life), playful (full of play) disposition (temper of mind; battle arrangement), which delighted (greatly pleased) in anything ridiculous (deserving laughter).

The evening altogether (wholly) passed off pleasantly (in a pleasant way) to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest (the eldest) daughter much admired (to look on with wonder) by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished (to tell apart) by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified (to please; satisfy) by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter (more quiet) way. Elizabeth felt Jane’s pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished (polished in skills) girl in the neighbourhood (the surrounding district); and Catherine and Lydia (Lydia Bennet, the youngest, wild for officers) had been fortunate (favored by fortune) enough to be never without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn (Longbourn, the Bennets' house and village), the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants (one who lives in a place). They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book, he was regardless (paying no heed) of time; and on the present occasion (a particular time; cause) he had a good deal of curiosity (eagerness to know) as to the event of an evening which had raised such splendid (grand and shining) expectations (what one looks for). He had rather hoped (to jump on one foot) that all his wife’s views on the stranger (one unknown) would be disappointed (to fail one's hopes); but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear.

“Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most delightful (giving delight) evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired (to look on with wonder), nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Only think of that, my dear: he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature (a living being) in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed (to annoy; trouble) to see him stand up with her; but, however, he did not admire (to look on with wonder) her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So he inquired (to ask) who she was, and got introduced (to make known; bring in), and asked her for the two next. Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth (the 6th) with Lizzy (Lizzy, the family name for Elizabeth Bennet), and the Boulanger----”

“If he had had any compassion (pity for suffering) for me,” cried her husband impatiently (with restless eagerness), “he would not have danced half so much! For God’s sake (for the good of), say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained (a wrenched joint) his ancle (ancles: ankles) in the first dance!”

“Oh, my dear,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “I am quite delighted (greatly pleased) with him. He is so excessively (too much) handsome (fine-looking)! and his sisters are charming (delightfully attractive) women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant (gracefully fine) than their dresses. I dare (to have the courage) say the lace (fine open threadwork) upon Mrs. Hurst’s gown (a woman's long dress)----”

Here she was interrupted (to break in upon) again. Mr. Bennet protested (a spoken objection) against any description of finery (showy dress). She was therefore obliged (to compel; bind by duty) to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness (sharp resentful pain) of spirit, and some exaggeration (blowing up beyond truth), the shocking (causing horror) rudeness (rough bad manners) of Mr. Darcy.

“But I can assure (to promise; make sure) you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy (the imagination; a liking); for he is a most disagreeable (unpleasant), horrid (horrible) man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited (too proud of oneself), that there was no enduring (to bear; to last) him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying (the imagination; a liking) himself so very great! Not handsome (fine-looking) enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs (crushing replies). I quite detest (to hate deeply) the man.”