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CHAPTER V . WITHIN a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate . Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton , where he had made a tolerable fortune , and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty . The distinction had , perhaps , been felt too strongly . It had given him a disgust to his business and to his residence in a small market town ; and , quitting them both , he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton , denominated from that period Lucas Lodge ; where he could think with pleasure of his own importance , and , unshackled by business , occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world . For , though elated by his rank , it did not render him supercilious ; on the contrary , he was all attention to everybody . By nature inoffensive , friendly , and obliging , his presentation at St . James’s had made him courteous . Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman , not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs . Bennet . They had several children . The eldest of them , a sensible , intelligent young woman , about twenty - seven , was Elizabeth’s intimate 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 . “ You began the evening well , Charlotte , ” said Mrs . Bennet , with civil self - command , to Miss Lucas . “ You were Mr . Bingley’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 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 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 ? and his answering immediately to the last question , ‘ Oh , 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 were more to the purpose than yours , Eliza , ” said Charlotte . “ Mr . Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend , is he ? Poor Eliza ! to be only just tolerable . ” “ I beg you will not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill - treatment , for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune 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 . ” “ 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 , and he could not help answering her ; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to . ” “ Miss Bingley told me , ” said Jane , “ that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance . With them he is remarkably agreeable . ”
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