that, instead of twelve, he had brought only six with him from London,

his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the

assembly-room, it consisted of only five altogether: Mr. Bingley, his

two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike: he had a pleasant

countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women,

with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely

looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention

of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and

the report, which was in general circulation within five minutes after

his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen

pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was

much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great

admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust

which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be

proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his

large estate in Derbyshire could save him from having a most forbidding,

disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his

friend.
Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal

people in the room: he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance,

was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one

himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for

themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced

only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being

introduced to{14} any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in

walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party.

His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in

the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again.