Short History Of... - Introducing: Jane Austen Stories

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

This is a preview of a brand-new audiobook from the Noiser Podcast Network. Join Dame Julie Andrews as she reads Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Step into a world of humour, heartbreak, scandal and romance - all set in the rural landscapes of 19th-century England. You’ll meet Elizabeth Bennet, the quick-witted heroine of the story, described by Austen herself to be “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” Elizabeth will butt heads with Mr Darcy - a rich, handsome but prickly bachelor, with a mysterious past… Search ‘Jane Austen Stories’ in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes - available now. Or listen at noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi listeners, today we're bringing you a preview from a brand new audio book from the Noiser Podcast Network. It's called Jane Austen Stories. Join Dame Julie Andrews as she reads Austin's most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Step into a world of humor, heartbreak, scandal and romance, all set in the rural landscapes of 19th century England. If you enjoy this Taster episode, search for Jane Austen Stories in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. or head to www.noiser.com Welcome to Jane Austen Stories. I'm Julie Andrews.

In this series, we'll journey through the pages of one of the greatest novels ever written, Pride and Prejudice. First begun by Austin when she was just 20 years old and initially rejected by publishers, it has gone on to become the author's best-loved book, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. Join me as we step into a world of humor,

heartbreak, scandal, secrets, lies, and romance, all set in the rural landscape of 19th century England. We'll walk grand estates, take tea with well-dressed gentlewomen and enter ballrooms to dance with the most eligible men in the county. We'll meet Elizabeth or Lizzie Bennett, our quick-witted heroine,

described by the author herself as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print. Lizzie will butt heads with Mr. Darcy, a rich, handsome but prickly bachelor with a mysterious past. There will be comedy, twists, and simmering passions as disgrace threatens to topple the Bennett family and a revealing letter changes everything.

Will pride get in the way of true love? From the Noisab Podcast Network, this is Pride and Prejudice. Chapter 1 It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

My dear Mr. Bennett, said his lady to him one day, have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last? Mr. Bennett replied that he had not. But it is, returned she, for Mrs. Long has just, been here, and she told me all about it. Mr. Bennett made no answer. Do not you want to know who has taken it, cried his wife impatiently. You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it. This was invitation enough.

Why, my dear, you must know. Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England, that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately that he is to take possession before Micklemass and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.

What is his name? Bingley. Is he married or single? Oh, single, my dear, to be sure. A single man of large fortune, four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls. How so? How can it affect them?

Oh, my dear Mr. Bennett, replied his wife. How can you be so tiresome? You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them. Is that his design in settling here? Design? Nonsense. How can you talk so? But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them,

and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes. I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party. Oh, my dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.

When a woman has five grown-up daughters, She ought to give over thinking of her own beauty. In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of. But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood. It is more than I engage for, I assure you. But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know,

they visit no newcomers. Indeed, you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not. You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you, and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls,

though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzie. I desire you will do no such a good word. thing. Lizzie is not a bit better than the others, and I'm sure she's not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good you as Lydia, but you are always giving her the preference. They have none of them much to recommend them, replied he. They are all silly and ignorant like other girls, but Lizzie has something more of quickness than her sisters. Mr. Bennett, how can you abuse your own children in such a way. You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves. You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends.

I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least. Oh, you do not know what I suffer. But I hope you will get over it and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighborhood. It will be no use to us. said Mrs. Bennet, if twenty should come, since you will not visit them. Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all. Mr. Bennett was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop.

She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married. Its solace was visiting and news. Chapter 2 Mr. Bennett was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last, always assuring his wife that he should not go, until the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it.

It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with, I hope Mr Bingley will like it, Lizzie. We are not in a way to know what Mr Bingley likes, said her mother resentfully, since we are not to visit. But you forget, Mama, said Elizabeth, that we shall meet him at the assemblies and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.

I do not believe that Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion. of her. No more have I, said Mr. Bennett, and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you. Mrs. Bennett deigned not to make any reply, but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters. Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake. Have a little compassion for my nerves. You tear them to pieces. Kitty has no discretion in her

cough, said her father. She times them ill. not cough for my own amusement, replied Kitty fretfully. When is your next ball to be, Lizzie? Tomorrow, fortnight, replied Lizzie. I, so it is, cried her mother, and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before. So it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself. Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend and introduce Mr. Bingley to her. impossible, Mr. Bennett, impossible, when I'm not acquainted with him myself.

How can you be so teasing? I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight, but if we do not venture, somebody else will. And after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance. And therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the offer, office, I will take it on myself. The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennett said only nonsense, nonsense. What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation? cried he. Do you consider the forms of introduction and the stress that is laid on them as nonsense? I cannot agree with you

there. What say you, Mary, for you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts. Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how. While Mary is adjusting her ideas, he continued, let us return to Mr. Bingley.

I'm sick of Mr. Bingley, cried his wife. I'm sorry to hear that. But why did you not tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky, but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished, that of Mrs. Bennett perhaps surpassing the rest. Though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while. How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennett, but I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am, and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now.

Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose, said Mr. Bennett, and as he spoke he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. What an excellent father you have, girls, said she, when the door was. shut. I do not know how you'll ever make him amends for his kindness, or me either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day, but for your sakes we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr Bingley will dance with you at the next wall. Oh, said Lydia stoutly, I'm not afraid, for though I am the youngest, I am the tallest. The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon Mr. Bingley would return Mr. Bennet's visit

and determining when they should ask him to dinner. Chapter 3 Not all that Mrs. Bennett, however, with the assistance of her five daughters could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in various ways with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises, but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable, Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and to crown the

whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful. To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love, and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained. If I can see but one of my daughter's happy, happily settled at Netherfield, said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for. In a few days, Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies of whose beauty he had heard much, but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate.

for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse. An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched, and already had Mrs. Bennett planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping. When an answer arrived which deferred it all, Mr Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and consequently unable to be. to accept the honour of their invitation, etc.

Mrs. Bennett was quite disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire, and she began to fear that he might always be flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield, as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London

only to get a large party for the ball. And a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring 12 ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that instead of 12, 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 gentleman-like. 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 gentle. gentleman, but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mean, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance of his having 10,000 a year. The gentleman 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 Mr Bingley. He, 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. Darcy. Hurst, and once was Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to 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. Among the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennett, whose dislike of his general behaviour

was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters. Elizabeth Bennett had been obliged by the scarcity of gentlemen to sit down for two dances. And during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr Bingley,

who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it. Come, Darcy. said he, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance. I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with. I would not be so fastidious as you are, for a

kingdom, cried Bingley. Upon my honour I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening, and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly pretty. You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room, said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennett. Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld, but there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable, do let me ask my partner to introduce you. Which do you mean? And turning around, Mr. Darcy looked for a moment at Elizabeth.

Till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I'm in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me. Mr. Bingley followed his advice.

Mr. Darcy walked off, and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends, for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party.

Mr Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard herself mention to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood, and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be never without partners, which was all that they had yet learned to care for at a ball.

They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennett still up. With a book, he was regardless of time, and on the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed,

but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear. Oh, my dear, Mr. Bennett, as she entered the room, We have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. Oh, I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired. Nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked. And Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful and danced with her twice.

Only think of that, my dear. He actually danced with her twice. And she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. first of all he asked Miss Lucas I was so vexed to see him stand up with her but however he did not admire her at all indeed nobody can you know and he seemed quite struck with Jane

as she was going down the dance so he inquired who she was and got introduced and asked her for the two next then the two-third he danced with Miss King and the two-fourth was Maria Lucas and the two-fifth with Jane again and the two-sixth with Lizzie and the boulanger. If he had had any compassion for me, cried her husband impatiently,

he would not have danced half so much, for God's sake, say no more of his partners. Oh, that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance. Oh, my dear, continued Mrs. Bennet, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome, and his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon me. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hearst's gown. Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennett protested against any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related with much bitterness of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy. But I can assure you, she added, that Lizzie does not lose much by not suiting his fancy, for he is a most disagreeable,

horrid man, not at all worth pleasing, so high and so conceited that there was no enduring him. He walked here and he walked there, fancying himself so very great, not handsome enough to dance with. I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man. When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him. He is just what a young man ought to be, said she. Sensible, good-humoured, lively, and I never saw such happy manners,

so much ease with such perfect good breeding. He is also handsome, replied Elizabeth, which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete. I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment. Did not you? I did for you. That is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that.

Well, he certainly is very agreeable. And I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person. Dear Lizzie. Oh, you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general, said that. Lizzie. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life. I would wish not to be hasty in censuring anyone, replied Jane, but I always speak what I think. I know you do, and it is that

which makes the wonder, with your good sense to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others. Affectation of candor is common enough. One meets with it everywhere, but to be candid without ostentation or design, to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better and say nothing of the bad belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his. Well, certainly not at first, but they are very pleasing women when you converse with them, said Jane. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house, and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her.

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced. Their behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general. and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with the judgment too, honest held by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them. They were, in fact, very fine ladies, not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it,

but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated, one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of 20,000 pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and were, therefore, in every respect, entitled to think well of themselves and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England, a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.

Mr Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly 100,000 pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise and sometimes made choice of his county, but as he was now provided with a good house

and the liberty of a manner, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase. His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own, but though he was now established only as a tenant, his youngest sister, Miss Bingley,

was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was his eldest sister, Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Neverfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

Between him and Darcy, there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting.

In that respect, his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared. Darcy was continually giving offence. The manner in which they spoke of the Meriton Assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life. Everybody had been most kind and attentive to him. There had been no formality, no stiffness. He had soon felt acquainted with all the room, and as to Miss Bennett,

he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none, received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennett, he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much. Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so, but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object. to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as he chose.

Chapter 5 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 Meriton, where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king while he was mayor. 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 Meriton, 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 had made him courteous. Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman. Not too clever to be a valuable neighbor to Mrs. Bennett, they had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman,

about 27, was Elizabeth's intimate friend. That the Miss Lucas's and the Miss Bennet's 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 come. You began the evening well, Charlotte, said Mrs. Bennett 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'd 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 Meriton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were great many pretty women in the room, and which he

thought, the prettiest. And he's answering immediately to the last question. Oh, the eldest Miss Bennett, 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 the, but however, it may all come to nothing, you know. My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Lizzie, said Charlotte. Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he?

Poor Lizzie, to be only just tolerable. I beg you will not put it into Lizzie'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. I, 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 spoken to.

Miss Bingley told me, said Jane, that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them he is remarkably agreeable. I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was. Everybody says that he is eat up with pride,

and I dare say that he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage and had to come to the ball in a hack, chaise. I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long, said Miss Lucas, but I wish he had danced with Lizzie. Another time, Lizzie, said her mother, I would not dance with him if I were you. I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him, replied Lizzie. His pride, said Miss Lucas, does not offend me so much as pride often does. because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man

with family, fortune, everything in his favour should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud. That is very true, replied Elizabeth, and I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine. Pride, observed Mary,

who peaked herself upon, the solidity of her reflections, is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud, without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy, cried a young Lucas who came with his

sisters, I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds and drink a bottle of wine every day. Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought, said Mrs. Bennet, and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle to. directly. The boy protested that she should not. She continued to declare that she would, and the argument ended only with the visit. In the next episode, Elizabeth gets her revenge on the haughty Mr Darcy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennett hatches a plan to force Jane and Mr. Bingley together, and as the social scheming ramps up, one of the Bennett sisters becomes dangerously ill.

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