“I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for

my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal

pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?”
“When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and

when I am in town, it is pretty much the same. They have each their

advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”
“Ay, that is because you have the right disposition. But that

gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing

at all.”
“Indeed, mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her

mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not

such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which

you must acknowledge to be true.”
“Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with

many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few

neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.”
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his

countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eye towards

Mr. Darcy with a{57} very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of

saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if

Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.
“Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir

William is, Mr. Bingley—is not he? so much the man of fashion! so

genteel and so easy! He has always something to say to everybody. That

is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very

important and never open their mouths quite mistake the matter.”
“Did Charlotte dine with you?”
“No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For

my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own

work; my daughters are brought up differently. But everybody is to

judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I