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Not all that Mrs. Bennet, 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 but see one of my daughters happily settled at

Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the

others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for."