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 V.

Within a short walk of Longbourn (Longbourn, the Bennets' house and village) lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate (closely familiar). Sir William Lucas (the Lucases of Lucas Lodge: Sir William, Lady Lucas, and Charlotte) had been formerly (in earlier times) in trade in Meryton (Meryton, the market town a mile from Longbourn), where he had made a tolerable (bearable; fairly good) fortune (wealth; luck), and risen to the honour (honor) of knighthood (the rank of knight) by an address to the king during his mayoralty (a mayor's term). The distinction (a difference; an honor) had, perhaps, been felt too strongly (with strength). It had given him a disgust (sick, strong dislike) to his business and to his residence (a dwelling place) in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated (to give a name to; naming) from that period Lucas Lodge (the Lucases' house); where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled (unshackled: freed) by business, occupy (to hold; to fill) himself solely (only) in being civil to all the world. For, though elated (lifted high in spirits) by his rank (a line of soldiers; one's standing), it did not render (to give; to make) him supercilious (proudly looking down on others); on the contrary (opposite), he was all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive (harmless), friendly, and obliging (ready to help), his presentation (a formal showing) at St. James’s had made him courteous (politely gracious).

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever (quick of mind) to be a valuable neighbour (one living near) to Mrs. Bennet (the Bennets of Longbourn: Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters). They had several children. The eldest (the eldest) of them, a sensible (sensible: aware — the old sense here), intelligent (quick of mind) young woman, about twenty-seven (twenty-seven), was Elizabeth’s intimate (closely familiar) 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 (to make known to).

“You began the evening well, Charlotte,” said Mrs. Bennet, with civil self-command (control of oneself), to Miss Lucas. “You were Mr. Bingley (the amiable rich young man at Netherfield)’s first choice.”

“Yes; but he seemed to like his second better.”

“Oh, you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired (to look on with wonder) her--indeed, I rather believe he did--I heard something about it--but I hardly know what--something about Mr. Robinson.”

“Perhaps you mean what I overheard (heard without the speaker knowing) 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 (most pretty)? and his answering immediately to the last question, ‘Oh, the eldest (the eldest) Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt: there cannot be two opinions on that point.’”

“Upon my word! Well, that was very decided, indeed--that does seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.”

“My overhearings (overhearings: things overheard) were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza (Eliza, Elizabeth Bennet as the Lucases and Miss Bingley call her),” said Charlotte. “Mr. Darcy (the proud rich master of Pemberley) is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he? Poor Eliza! to be only just tolerable (bearable; fairly good).”

“I beg (to ask humbly) you will not put it into Lizzy (Lizzy, the family name for Elizabeth Bennet)’s head to be vexed (to annoy; trouble) by his ill-treatment (cruel handling), for he is such a disagreeable (unpleasant) man that it would be quite a misfortune (bad fortune) 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 (the mouth's edge).”

]

“Are you quite sure, ma’am? Is not there a little mistake?” said Jane. “I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.”

“Ay, because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield (Netherfield Park, the house Mr Bingley takes), and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to.”

“Miss Bingley (Caroline Bingley, his sister) told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much unless among his intimate (closely familiar) acquaintance (a person one knows slightly). With them he is remarkably (notably) agreeable (pleasant).”

“I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable (pleasant), he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride (high self-regard), and I dare (to have the courage) say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), and had to come to the ball in a hack (to chop roughly) chaise (a light traveling carriage).”

“I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,” said Miss Lucas, “but I wish he had danced with Eliza.”

“Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not dance with him, if I were you.”

“I believe, ma’am, I may safely (without harm) promise you never to dance with him.”

“His pride (high self-regard),” said Miss Lucas, “does not offend (to hurt feelings; to sin against) me so much as pride (high self-regard) often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune (wealth; luck), everything in his favour (a kind act; to prefer), should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.”

“That is very true,” replied Elizabeth, “and I could easily forgive (to pardon) his pride (high self-regard), if he had not mortified (to wound someone's pride) mine.”

“Pride (high self-regard),” observed (to watch; to remark) Mary, who piqued (piqued: stung with wounded pride) herself upon the solidity (solid strength) of her reflections (a thrown-back image; thought), “is a very common failing (not succeeding), I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced (fully persuaded) that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone (lying flat; inclined to) to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish (to hold dear) a feeling of self-complacency (smug self-satisfaction) on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary (existing only in the mind). Vanity (empty pride) and pride (high self-regard) are different things, though the words are often used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) synonymously (as meaning the same). A person may be proud without being vain (useless; empty-proud). Pride (high self-regard) relates (to tell; to be connected) more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity (empty pride) to what we would have others think of us.”

“If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas, who came with his sisters, “I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds (foxhounds: hounds for fox hunting), and drink a bottle of wine every day.”

“Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought (should),” said Mrs. Bennet; “and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly.”

The boy protested (a spoken objection) that she should not; she continued to declare (to announce formally) that she would; and the argument ended only with the visit.