each other during the whole visit; and the result of it was, that the

youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming

into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.
Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion

and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose

affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high

animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the

attentions of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good{59} dinners and her

own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was

very equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the

ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be

the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer

to this sudden attack was delightful to her mother’s ear.
“I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and, when

your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of

the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill?”
Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh yes—it would be much better to

wait till Jane was well; and by that time, most likely, Captain Carter

would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball,” she

added, “I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel

Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.”
Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned

instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the

remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however,

could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of

all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes.{60}

CHAPTER X.

THE day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss

Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who

continued, though slowly, to mend; and, in the evening, Elizabeth joined