Chapter 17 88
" It is difficult indeed--it is distressing . One does not know what to think ."
" I beg your pardon ; one knows exactly what to think ."
But Jane could think with certainty on only one point--that Mr . Bingley , if he had been imposed on , would have much to suffer when the affair became public .
The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery , where this conversation passed , by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had been speaking ; Mr . Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield , which was fixed for the following Tuesday . The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again , called it an age since they had met , and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation . To the rest of the family they paid little attention ; avoiding Mrs . Bennet as much as possible , saying not much to Elizabeth , and nothing at all to the others . They were soon gone again , rising from their seats with an activity which took their brother by surprise , and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs . Bennet ' s civilities .
The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family . Mrs . Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter , and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr . Bingley himself , instead of a ceremonious card . Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends , and the attentions of her brother ; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr . Wickham , and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr . Darcy ' s look and behavior . The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single event , or any particular person , for though they each , like Elizabeth , meant to dance half the evening with Mr . Wickham , he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them , and a ball was , at any rate , a ball . And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it .