. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more
than like her, if she does not help him on.«
    »But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can
perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it
too.«
    »Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do.«
    »But it a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it,
he must find it out.«
    »Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet
tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see
each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be
employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make the most of every
half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him,
there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses.«
    »Your plan is a good one,« replied Elizabeth, »where nothing is in question
but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined to get a rich
husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's
feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the
degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a
fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning
at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times. This is
not quite enough to make her understand his character.«
    »Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might only have
discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that four
evenings have been also spent together - and four evenings may do a great deal.«
    »Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like
Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading
characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.«
    »Well,« said Charlotte, »I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she
were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of
happiness, as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth.
Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the
parties
