At half-past six, Elizabeth went down to dinner. Jane was not feeling better at all. The Bingley sisters said many times how sorry they were and how much they hated being sick, but as soon as dinner started, they forgot all about Jane. Elizabeth could see that they didn't really care, and she disliked them even more for it.
Mr. Bingley, however, was truly worried. He was very kind to Elizabeth, which made her feel less like an unwanted guest. On the other hand, Mr. Hurst, who sat next to her, was a lazy man who only cared about eating, drinking, and playing cards. When he found out that Elizabeth preferred simple food over expensive dishes, he stopped talking to her completely.
When dinner finished, Elizabeth went back to Jane’s room. As soon as she left, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst began to criticize her. They said she had no style, no beauty, and terrible manners.
“I will never forget how she looked this morning,” Mrs. Hurst said. “She looked almost wild! Her hair was so untidy.”
“And her petticoat!” Miss Bingley added. “It was six inches deep in mud!”
“I didn't notice any mud,” Mr. Bingley said. “I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she arrived. It shows how much she loves her sister.”
“I’m afraid, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bingley whispered, “that this walk in the mud has changed your opinion of her ‘fine eyes.’”
“Not at all,” Darcy replied calmly. “The exercise made them look even brighter.”
Later that evening, Elizabeth joined the group in the drawing-room. They were playing cards, but Elizabeth chose to pick up a book instead.
“Do you prefer reading to cards?” Mr. Hurst asked, surprised. “That is very strange.”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet despises cards,” Miss Bingley said. “She is a great reader and doesn't enjoy anything else.”
“That is not true,” Elizabeth said. “I enjoy many things, but I am happy with a book for now.”
The conversation then turned to Mr. Darcy’s beautiful home, Pemberley, and his large library. Miss Bingley was trying hard to please Mr. Darcy by praising everything he owned. Then, they began to talk about what it meant for a woman to be "accomplished," or highly skilled.
“A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, and dancing,” said Miss Bingley. “And she must speak several modern languages.”
“And she must also improve her mind by reading many books,” Darcy added.
“I am no longer surprised that you only know six talented women,” Elizabeth remarked. “I wonder now if you know any at all. I have never seen a woman who has all those qualities.”
The sisters cried out that they knew many such women, but the conversation ended when Mr. Hurst told them to be quiet so he could focus on his cards. Elizabeth soon left the room to check on Jane.