Chapter 3
First assembly: Bingley and Darcy
English edition
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1 Longbourn rests quietly among misty autumn fields before the assembly.
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2 Mrs. Bennet and her daughters press Mr. Bennet for news of Bingley while he calmly turns a page.
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3 Mr. Bennet calmly turns a page while his family's questions press in from the edges.
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4 Lydia rehearses a dance step while Kitty laughs and claps, turning hopes of Mr. Bingley into a game.
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5 Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters crowd an upstairs window, watching Mr. Bingley arrive
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6 Bingley's black horse waits on Longbourn's gravel while he visits Mr. Bennet
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7 Lydia and Mrs. Bennet crowd against the upstairs window, while Kitty strains over their shoulders.
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8 From the upstairs window, Kitty glimpses Bingley preparing to mount his black horse.
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9 Mrs. Bennet opens Bingley's answer while her daughters watch with hopeful curiosity.
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10 Mrs. Bennet’s face falls as she reads Bingley’s refusal, her dinner plans suddenly undone.
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11 Bingley's polite refusal lies open in Mrs. Bennet's lap beside her planned dinner courses
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12 Lydia counts the rumoured London rivals on her fingers while Kitty follows in dismay.
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13 Darcy's tall, composed figure draws the assembly's admiration as Bingley steps forward
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14 Admiring whispers travel along the Meryton benches as every gaze turns toward Darcy.
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15 Bingley laughs as he dances with his partner, while Darcy stands motionless beside the wall.
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16 Mrs. Bennet follows Darcy with a furious look as he passes her bench.
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17 Elizabeth watches Bingley approach Darcy beside the east bench.
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18 Bingley steps out of the dance to coax Darcy onto the floor.
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19 Darcy dismisses the assembly with a still face and a set jaw.
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20 Bingley sweeps his hand toward the glowing line of dancers.
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21 Darcy singles out Jane Bennet with quiet approval.
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22 Elizabeth hears Bingley recommend her to Darcy from a pace away.
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23 Darcy turns toward Elizabeth and meets her steady gaze for a heartbeat.
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24 Elizabeth holds her gaze after Darcy's insult, her eyes tightening slightly
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25 Darcy walks away as Bingley rejoins Jane and the dance resumes.
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26 Elizabeth turns Darcy's slight into a spirited imitation, setting her friends laughing
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27 Mr. Bennet looks up from his book as Mrs. Bennet sweeps into the library
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28 Mrs. Bennet counts Bingley’s partners on her fingers, triumphantly reliving Jane’s success.
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29 Mr. Bennet interrupts his wife's account of the ball with a raised palm and wearily lifted eyes.
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30 Mr. Bennet stops his wife's account of lace with a weary raised palm.
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31 Elizabeth hears Mrs. Bennet defend her against Darcy’s slight and holds back a laugh.
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32 Mrs. Bennet mimics Darcy's conceited walk across the library as Mr. Bennet watches, amused
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33 Mr. Bennet's closed book rests beside spent candles as voices fade upstairs
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