THE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted（熟识的） with them was expressed towards the two eldest¹. By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure; but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness²（傲慢） in their treatment of every body, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value, as arising in all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration³. It was generally evident whenever they met, that he did admire her; and to her it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent（不恰当的，无礼的） . She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas.

"It may perhaps be pleasant,'' replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals⁵ her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation⁶ to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude⁷ or vanity in almost every attachment⁸, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely -- a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better shew more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly⁹; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.''

"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton（傻子，笨蛋） indeed not to discover it too.''

"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition¹⁰ as you do.''

"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal⁴ it, he must find it out.''

"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing¹¹ together. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses（选择） .''

"Your plan is a good one,'' replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined¹² to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting¹³ by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character.''

"Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together -- and four evenings may do a great deal.''

"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain¹⁴ that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.''

"Well,'' said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely¹⁵ a matter of chance. If the dispositions¹⁶ of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive¹⁷ to grow sufficiently¹⁸ unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.''