PRIDE AND PREJUDICE CONT…D

Into the Bennet's lives comes Mr. Collins, who is their cousin and the man their estate is entailed to on the sad event of Mr. Bennet's death. He is a sweaty, crawling type of man who is terribly pompous and just ever so clumsy. To make amends for eventually taking their home away, he tells Mr. and Mrs. Bennet that he wishes to marry one of their daughters so that the estate stays within the immediate family. Mrs. Bennet is overjoyed and Mr. Collins finally chooses Elizabeth, as his first choice, Jane, is practically committed to Bingley.

Lizzie likes Wickham however, and her bad opinions of Darcy are made worse by the fact that Wickham tells her how he and Darcy grew up together and then, when Darcy took over Pemberley on his father's death, he cheated Wickham out of a living he was entitled to.

Bingley decides to hold a Ball at Netherfield and everyone is invited, including the officers of the militia. Lizzie hopes to see Wickham there but is disappointed when she learns that he hasn't attended due to Darcy's presence. Mr. Collins shows himself up to have the social graces of an Ox and, much to Lizzie's dismay, Darcy asks her to dance…and she can't think of any good reason to decline him. 

Lizzie brings up Wickham and their dance turns sour as Darcy withdraws behind a disdainful mask upon hearing the other man's name. They part with even more dislike on Lizzie's side.