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“ Your conjecture is totally wrong , I assure you . My mind was more agreeably engaged . I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow . ” Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face , and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections . Mr . Darcy replied , with great intrepidity , — “ Miss Elizabeth Bennet . ” “ Miss Elizabeth Bennet ! ” repeated Miss Bingley . “ I am all astonishment . How long has she been such a favourite ? and pray when am I to wish you joy ? ” “ That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask . A lady’s imagination is very rapid ; it jumps from admiration to love , from love to matrimony , in a moment . I knew you would be wishing me joy . ” “ Nay , if you are so serious about it , I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled . You will have a charming mother - in - law , indeed , and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you . ” He listened to her with perfect indifference , while she chose to entertain herself in this manner ; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe , her wit flowed along . CHAPTER VII . MR . BENNET’S property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year , which , unfortunately for his daughters , was entailed , in default of heirs male , on a distant relation ; and their mother’s fortune , though ample for her situation in life , could but ill supply the deficiency of his . Her father had been an attorney in Meryton , and had left her four thousand pounds . She had a sister married to a Mr . Philips , who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business , and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade . The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton ; a most convenient distance for the young ladies , who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week , to pay their duty to their aunt , and to a milliner’s shop just over the way . The two youngest of the family , Catherine and Lydia , were particularly frequent in these attentions : their minds were more vacant than their sisters ’ , and when nothing better offered , a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening ; and , however bare of news the country in general might be , they always contrived to learn some from their aunt . At present , indeed , they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood ; it was to remain the whole winter , and Meryton was the head - quarters . Their visits to Mrs . Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence . Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers ’ names and connections . Their lodgings were not long a secret , and at length they began to know the officers themselves . Mr . Philips visited them all , and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before . They could talk of nothing but officers ; and Mr . Bingley’s large fortune , the mention of which gave animation to their mother , was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign .
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