Chapter 3 Mr. Bingley and his friends meet the neighbours, and Mr. Bingley becomes smitten. #2
“Darcy, please excuse my daughter’s propensity to speak too freely with regard to science.
Lizzy and I have given each other leave to be forthcoming in our opinions when we speak in private.
We each have come to expect the other to challenge ideas and arguments made by others in the pursuit of better understanding of scientific theories. I hope you are not offended.”
“I must admit to astonishment at the nature of our discourse today. It is highly unusual to find these topics perused outside of universities or coffeehouses. I am not offended, but I thank you for your sensibility.” He nodded to Bennet then turned to Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth, my father installed Mr. Watt’s engine at one of Pemberley’s mines, and I have seen it operate. It is a great invention with many potential uses once one’s imagination links the practical applications.”
“But have you ever wondered why Mr. Watt’s engine performs as it does? How do you make it perform better? What makes an improvement over that of Newcomen?” Elizabeth asked in earnest. Mr. Bennet agreed and smiled at his daughter.
“Many have performed experimentation on the various components to make them better. Watt’s engine is just a refinement of Newcomen’s, and even Watt continued to improve his engine based on his simple observations.
” Darcy sounded like he was taking care to explain to one with no knowledge on the subject, which irritated Elizabeth.
“Certainly adjustments can be made to the structure of the engine based on simple observation and the past knowledge of men,” she said.
“But what do we know about the internal workings and the underlying philosophy of the engine? Perhaps Mr. Priestley’s oxygen, Mr. Leslie’s radiation, or Mr. Dalton’s theories about pressure will help us gain a better understanding of the mysteries within the engine.
What chemical changes or elastic fluids cause the engine to move?
Why does Mr. Watt’s engine use less fuel than Mr. Newcomen’s?
What is the secret; is it of alchemy or caloric fluid or vacuum or some other notion? ”
Her energy astounded him, and her questions were beyond what Darcy had ever pondered.
He did not feel up to a more thoughtful response, so he remarked in a somewhat condescending tone, “Your questions make for interesting discourse but are unlikely to have any practical application. What of philosophy could there possibly be in such a machine? Nay, Miss Elizabeth, leave the philosophy to the scholars.” He paused with a smug expression and then continued, “Or perhaps the parlours of bluestockings.” He knew he was goading her but so enjoyed the flash in her eyes when she rose to meet his challenge.
“Ah, there it is: the contradiction. It is said that women have no business discussing science, literature, or philosophy, and if they do, they are bluestockings and destined to be spinsters. However, when a woman challenges a man and he has no intellectual response, the topic is dismissed as a philosophical exchange among bluestockings. Come, sir, you cannot have both arguments!” She indignantly lifted her chin, and her eyes gave him the satisfaction he sought.
“Are you a bluestocking, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy leaned forward and met her gaze with his then gifted her with a rare, mischievous grin.
Elizabeth was caught off guard by the appearance of his smile.
Somewhere in her mind, she realized how much more handsome he appeared when he smiled so broadly; he had dimples she had not seen before, his teeth were white and perfect, his eyes sparkled and crinkled at the corners, and his lips looked so soft…
Heat suffused her body, and all rational thought left her for a moment.
Blushing deeply, she dropped her eyes to her lap.
Her physical reaction confused her as she had never been affected this way.
After a brief moment of silence, she became aware that she must respond.
“I do not think it can be so, Mr. Darcy.” Her words were slow and quiet and she did not raise her eyes to him.
“A lady must have fortune enough to support an independent life if she wishes to spend it pursuing education, literature, and philosophy. I have neither the benefit of my own fortune nor the expectation of one.”
There was a pause in the conversation. Darcy was dismayed at her change in demeanour but was at a loss to understand what had occurred.
Sensing the discomfort in the room, Bennet distracted from the unease between the two young people. “Here is the book I was speaking of, Darcy, by Mr. Neumann. It is in German, so please forgive my poor translation, but the experiments are intriguing.”
He proceeded to relate, somewhat haltingly, a short passage. Darcy and Elizabeth did not attend as well as they should.
Elizabeth continued feeling flustered; she waited for an appropriate pause in her father’s reading then stood abruptly and said, “Please excuse me, Father, Mr. Darcy, I must…I have forgotten…Please excuse me.”
She quickly made her curtsey and rushed from the room.
Darcy, who had risen to make his bow, looked at her father in confusion. Bennet offered the book he was reading to Darcy then politely excused himself to follow her.
“Lizzy, are you ill?” he called to her as she neared the landing of the staircase. She stopped and turned to her father with a face much calmer than she would admit to herself.
“No, Papa, I am well. There is no need for concern on my account. Mr. Darcy has owned he is not accustomed to young ladies speaking plainly about such topics. I thought my absence would help him feel more at ease, and you have suggested I refrain from my impertinent challenges to him.” She smiled at the last.
“Yes, I have, Lizzy, but not to stifle your queries. However, at the moment I must thank you for your sensibilities. Are you to return?”
“No, I thank you, but I shall ponder my philosophies on my own. Please convey my apologies to Mr. Darcy.”
“I shall do as you wish, my dear.” He watched as she turned to continue up the stairs before returning to his guest.
“Is Miss Elizabeth well?” Darcy enquired as Mr. Bennet took his seat in the library.
“Thank you for your concern, Darcy. Lizzy is quite well. She apologises to you for her abrupt departure but she desired a bit of solitude for thoughtful reflection.”
“I feel no need for apologies, sir. May we continue our discussion? I would like to understand this treatise better, and you have had more time to consider it.”
The gentlemen spoke for quite some time on subjects of general interest to both, changing topics occasionally, much as would have occurred with Elizabeth and her father.
Elizabeth closed the door to her bedchamber and sat heavily on her bed.
What happened? Why did I feel I had no choice but to be away from Mr. Darcy?
Was I ashamed of my meagre fortune? Or was I embarrassed that he might think I was suggesting I want a rich husband?
Was I hoping he would not think I am a bluestocking?
Does he think ill of my impertinence? Why am I so concerned about what he thinks of me?
Mr. Bennet was suspicious of Elizabeth’s reaction to Darcy.
She was jealously competitive and disapproving of him at first but lately seemed somewhat less so.
While Elizabeth was still confident and argumentative as their acquaintance continued, Mr. Bennet sensed a conflict in her feelings.
Over a game of chess, he broached the subject with her.
“What do you think of our new neighbours?”
“Mr. Bingley is all easy manners and makes friends effortlessly. He pays Jane a great deal of attention, and she seems to enjoy his company. He is well-liked in the community, and I would be delighted if he decided to stay at Netherfield.” She completed her latest move, quite pleased with her cunning, and continued, “His sisters are another matter. I find their supercilious airs annoying but also amusing. I am glad Mama has taught us better manners.”
When Elizabeth did not elaborate further, Bennet allowed her some time since he was also examining the situation of his pieces on the board. Finally, he made his move and asked, “And the other gentlemen? What are your impressions of them?”
“Mr. Hurst keeps to himself and is somewhat unsocial and taciturn,” she said without looking up. “He does not complain, though, and is very complimentary of the meals he enjoys. Mr. Darcy is also rather quiet. He is clever, but too proud.”
“What do you mean by ‘proud’?”
“He shows a kind of vanity and conceit about himself. He cares not about anyone below his station and has no intention of being agreeable to our Meryton society.”
“He seems to have no qualms about visiting our family. In fact, he is as much a fixture at Longbourn as Mr. Bingley.”
“We are the only family he ever would deign to visit.”
“He is amiable enough to us and also to the Lucas family. He plays chess with all of us. I know you enjoy the intellectual contests you have with him; your arguments are too enthusiastic for me to believe otherwise. You display vigour as you question him on every point, and I think you cannot deny the verbal challenges enhance your own understanding.” There was a long silence as Elizabeth contemplated her next move.
Bennet decided to continue his path to discovery of his second daughter’s odd mix of reactions to Darcy.
“I am under the impression you like him as much as any of our other acquaintances,” Bennet said, further delving into her feelings.
“I cannot say I dislike him. I just wish he were not so smug in his opinions.”
Lydia interrupted them. “Papa, your wish to remain the Longbourn champion is in vain. Your impatience has caused you to move too quickly, and Lizzy is going to win in the next three moves. Come; join us in reading a story. Mary and Kitty have agreed.”
“What is this story? Is it Shakespeare again?” Mr. Bennet asked, suppressing a sigh at his loss of the match.
“It is called Sense and Sensibility, and was written by a lady!” Lydia said with enthusiasm.
She was well aware that she had the most pleasant reading voice with excellent timbre, and her animation and inflection brought the story to life.
She even joked she should become an actress, and her family obliged her by enjoying her performances at home.
Bennet was sorry he had not been successful in understanding why Elizabeth was so affected by Darcy, but he forgot the topic soon enough since his interest was diverted by the lively entertainment.
Note: Although the steam engine had been invented and was in limited use in 1811, the thermodynamic theory behind its operation was not understood; however, it played a critical role in the start of the Industrial Revolution. Caloric theory is an obsolete heat theory.