Chapter 4
Jane, alone with Elizabeth, praises Mr. Bingley, calling him sensible, good‑humoured, lively, and perfectly bred, and adds that he is handsome, completing his character. Elizabeth replies that she too finds him handsome and comments on his compliments, noting that she is rarely surprised by them. Their conversation drifts to Elizabeth’s propensity to see everyone as good, with Jane admiring Elizabeth’s candidness. They then turn to Bingley’s sisters, acknowledging that the sisters are initially not equal to him, but may be pleasant when conversed with; Elizabeth doubts the sisters’ appeal, recalling their behaviour at the assembly. The narrative describes the Bingley sisters as fine ladies, well‑educated, with a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, prone to spending beyond their means, and inclined to associate with rank, which makes them proud and conceited. It notes their respectable northern English family background and the fact that their brother’s wealth derived from trade. Mr. Bingley is said to have inherited nearly a hundred thousand pounds, intended to buy an estate, and is currently tenant of Netherfield, pondering whether he will remain there. His sisters, especially Miss Bingley, are eager for him to have his own estate, while Mrs. Hurst, married to a fashionable but less wealthy man, shows little attachment to any house. The text recounts Bingley’s youthful decision to view Netherfield, his quick approval of the house, and his steady friendship with Mr. Darcy despite opposite temperaments. Bingley is portrayed as easy‑going and liked by all; Darcy is described as superior in understanding, clever, haughty, reserved, fastidious, and often offensive. Their differing descriptions of the Meryton assembly are given: Bingley declares he has never met more pleasant people or prettier girls, feeling everyone kind and attentive, and finds Miss Bennet (Elizabeth) an angel of beauty. Darcy, conversely, describes the assembly as a collection of unattractive, unfashionable people, expresses no interest, and notes that Miss Bennet is merely pretty but smiles too much. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley acknowledge Elizabeth’s prettiness, calling her sweet and expressing mild admiration, thereby establishing her as a “sweet girl” in their eyes.