Some time later, when Eleazar and Jane were finally alone, did the latter express her delight in meeting Mr Bingley.

"He's just what a young man ought to be, sensible good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners."

"He's also very handsome," replied Eleazar, "which a young man ought to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

Unlike his friend who only had his looks to speak for him.

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such compliment."

"Did you not?"

Eleazar tried to hide his smile, but utterly failed as he received a shy one back.

"I certainly did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never."

Mostly because there were little people apart from Jane, who made him any.

"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 person in the room."

No thanks to his gallantry for that.

"Well he's very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider man."

Eleazar forced the memory to fade away to the back of his mind, no need to dampen Jane's mood.

"Dear Eli!"

"You're a great deal too apt you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody."

No matter how obvious their true intentions are.

"All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."

Jane gazed away from Eleazar, her eyes still full of wonder and dreams. How little a honest word could lift her spirits.

"I would wish not to be hasty in censoring anyone; but I always speak what I think."

How often she did just that, and seldom in Eleazar's favour. Scathing words that would never see the light of day outside their room.

"I know you do; and it is that which makes me wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others!"

It made Jane's honestly a well kept secret. Though she would speak the brutal truth of her opinions; they were often so distorted by her hope for more, that they were seldom very scathing anymore.

"Affection of candour is common enough; but to be candid without ostentation or design. To take the good of everybody's character and still make it better, and say nothing of the bad; belongs to you alone."

Only you Jane, only ever you.

"And so, you like this man's sisters too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his."

"Certainly not; at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. 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."

Eleazar listened in silence, as it was impossible for him to agree with Jane's optimistic take.

The Misses Bingley were indeed very pretty. Something they knew very well. And if Eleazar would be asked he would say too well.

Their father had left them both with twenty thousand pounds and a fine education. They had every reason to think highly of themselves and little of others. And though Eleazar could agree on their assessment of the characters of the inhabitants of Merryton; their own character wasn't that forthcoming either.

If they wanted to please, they would please. Otherwise they would stay silent with small smirks on their faces; badly hidden behind their fans.

Eleazar sincerely doubted they would act in the best interests of Mr Bingley if they didn't align with their own.

Mr Bingley had inherited a great amount of money from his late father; who had wanted to buy an estate but had died before he could complete the task. One Mr Bingley aspired to complete before his own marriage. Something his sisters encouraged him in, wanting him to have a house of his own they could reside in.

But they were doubtful as his character showed many signs of indecision. Now that he had a house to come home to, one could see his willingness to leave the task for the next generation.

Though he was only a tenant this wouldn't stop his sisters from calling his house their own. But he hadn't come of age long ago, so time was plenty to be spent; Eleazar didn't fear that he was unstable.

His friendship with Mr Darcy spoke for both of them, though it was in compliments or insults Eleazar hadn't decided yet.

The fact remained that Mr Bingley was smart enough to engage someone of Mr Darcy's calibre. Yet in social manners it was clear for anyone to see who was the superior.

If the ball hadn't given enough proof for Eleazar's convictions; the rumours spread by Netherfield's servant's certainly did.

Mr Bingley had spoken about the many pretty people he had met, without a single negative word about anyone. Whereas Mr Darcy hadn't been inclined to give the community the same courtesy.

But they all could agree on the fact that Miss Jane Bennet was a very pretty, kind young woman. A fact Eleazar couldn't agree with more.