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 IV.

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious (careful of danger) in her praise (words of approval) of Mr. Bingley (the amiable rich young man at Netherfield) before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired (to look on with wonder) him.

“He is just what a young-man (young-man: a young man) ought (should) to be,” said she, “sensible (sensible: aware — the old sense here), good-humoured (cheerful and kind), lively (full of life); and I never saw such happy manners! so much ease (comfort; freedom from effort), with such perfect good breeding (upbringing and manners)!”

“He is also handsome (fine-looking),” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought (should) likewise (in the same way) to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby (by that means) complete.”

“I was very much flattered (to please with false praise) by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment (praising words).”

“Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments (praising words) always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry (courtly charm to women; bravery) for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable (pleasant), and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider (more stupid) person.”

“Dear Lizzy (Lizzy, the family name for Elizabeth Bennet)!”

“Oh, you are a great deal too apt (fitting; quick to learn), you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable (pleasant) in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.”

“I would wish not to be hasty (hurried) in censuring (blame; disapproval) anyone; but I always speak what I think.”

“I know you do: and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies (foolishness) and nonsense (senseless talk) of others! Affectation (a put-on manner; pretense) of candour (frankness) is common enough; one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid (frank) without ostentation (showy display) or design,--to take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad,--belongs (is the property of) to you alone. And so, you like this man’s sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.”

“Certainly not, at first; but they are very pleasing (giving pleasure) women when you converse (to talk together) with them. Miss Bingley (Caroline Bingley, his sister) is to live with her brother, and keep his house; and I am much mistaken (in error) if we shall not find a very charming (delightfully attractive) neighbour (one living near) in her.”

Elizabeth listened in silence (absence of sound), but was not convinced (to bring to belief): their behaviour (the way one acts) at the assembly had not been calculated (to reckon) to please in general; and with more quickness (speed) of observation (careful watching; a remark) and less pliancy (yielding easiness) of temper (one's disposition; anger) than her sister, and with a judgment (the power of judging; a decision), too, unassailed (not attacked) by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed (inclined toward) to approve (to judge well of) them. They were, in fact, very fine ladies; not deficient (falling short) in good-humour (cheerful good temper) when they were pleased (made glad), nor in the power of being agreeable (pleasant) where they chose it; but proud and conceited (too proud of oneself). They were rather handsome (fine-looking); had been educated (to teach and train) in one of the first private seminaries (a school for priests) in town; had a fortune (wealth; luck) of twenty thousand pounds; were in the habit (a settled way of acting) of spending more than they ought (should), and of associating (to join with; a companion) with people of rank (a line of soldiers; one's standing); and were, therefore, in every respect entitled to think well of themselves and meanly (in a low, small-minded way) of others. They were of a respectable (worthy of respect) family in the north of England; a circumstance (a surrounding fact or condition) more deeply (to a great depth) impressed (stamped in mind) on their memories than that their brother’s fortune (wealth; luck) and their own had been acquired (to get) by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited (to receive from one's fathers) property to the amount of nearly a hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise (in the same way), and sometimes made choice of his county; but, as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty (freedom) of a manor (a lord's landed estate), it was doubtful (full of doubt) to many of those who best knew the easiness (easy-going nature) of his temper (one's disposition; anger), whether he might not spend the remainder (what is left) of his days at Netherfield (Netherfield Park, the house Mr Bingley takes), and leave the next generation to purchase.

His sisters were very anxious (full of worry) for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as a tenant (one who rents a house or land), Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling (not willing) to preside (to sit at the head) at his table; nor was Mrs. Hurst (Mr and Mrs Hurst, Bingley's brother-in-law and sister), who had married a man of more fashion than fortune (wealth; luck), less disposed (inclined toward) to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years when he was tempted (to try to lead into wrong), by an accidental (happening by chance) recommendation (a word in one's favor), to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it, and into it, for half an hour; was pleased (made glad) with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied (content) with what the owner said in its praise (words of approval), and took it immediately.

Between him and Darcy (Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, proud, rich, and Elizabeth's match) there was a very steady (firm and even) friendship (the bond of friends), in spite (ill will) of a great opposition of character. Bingley (Mr Charles Bingley, the amiable rich young man who takes Netherfield) was endeared (to make dear) to Darcy by the easiness (easy-going nature), openness (frankness), and ductility (yielding easiness) of his temper (one's disposition; anger), though no disposition (temper of mind; battle arrangement) could offer a greater contrast (a set difference) to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied (not satisfied). On the strength of Darcy’s regard (to look upon; respect), Bingley had the firmest reliance (trust), and of his judgment (the power of judging; a decision) the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior (higher; one above). Bingley was by no means deficient (falling short); but Darcy was clever (quick of mind). He was at the same time haughty (coldly proud), reserved, and fastidious (hard to please); and his manners, though well bred (to raise stock; a kind), were not inviting (to bid to come). In that respect his friend had greatly (to a great degree) the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever (in whatever place) he appeared; Darcy was continually (over and over without stop) giving offence (a wrong done; hurt feelings).

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton (Meryton, the market town a mile from Longbourn) assembly was sufficiently (enough) characteristic (a marking trait; true to character). Bingley had never met with pleasanter (more pleasant) people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive (paying close attention) to him; there had been no formality (strict formal order), no stiffness (stiff hardness); he had soon felt acquainted (knowing; familiar with) with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet (the Bennets of Longbourn: Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters), he could not conceive (to form in the mind) an angel (a heavenly messenger) more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary (opposite), had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here), and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged (to admit; to answer a greeting) to be pretty; but she smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so; but still they admired (to look on with wonder) her and liked her, and pronounced (to speak a word; declare) her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl; and their brother felt authorized (to give power to) by such commendation (praise) to think of her as he chose.

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