Sorry this took so long. I've had no motivation to write, plus I've been getting ready for college in the fall. (I finally get to go!! I had to wait a year because college is expensive.) Also, from now onI will be referring to everyone with their first names, (except for the married people), unless they are being talked about or to by another character. Obviously siblings will still call each other by their first names. Anyway, here is the next chapter!

The ladies of Longbourn soon visited those of Netherfield. The visit was soon returned in due time. Sakura's pleasing manners grew on the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Caroline; and though the mother was found to be unbearable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, they did wish to get to know the two elder sisters better. To Sakura, this attention was received with the greatest pleasure, but (Y/N) still saw arrogance in their treatment of everybody, excluding her sister, barely, she and could not like them; though their kindness to Sakura was probably influenced by their brother's admiration for her. It was pretty obvious whenever they met, that he did admire her and to (Y/N) it was equally obvious that Sakura was giving in to the bias which she had begun to have for him from the first, and was on her way to be very much in love. But she knew that it was not likely to be discovered by most people, since Sakura, even with strong feelings, had a composure of temper and a consistent cheerful behavior which would guard her from people thinking that she was being innapropriate. She mentioned this to her friend Elizabeta.

"It might be pleasant," replied Elizabeta, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it's sometimes a disadvantage to be so cautious. If a woman hides her affection from the object of it just as well as she does from the rest of the world, she may lose him; and it will then be a poor consolation to believe the world is equally in the dark. There is so much gratitude or vanity in almost every attraction, that it is not safe to leave it to itself. We can all begin willingly - a slight bias is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have the bravery to be really in love without encouragement. In nine out of ten cases a women had better show more affection than she feels. Mr. Jones definitely likes your sister; but he may not do more than like her, if she does not help him on."

"But she does help him on, as much as her personality will allow. If I can see her feelings for him, he must be stupid if he can't."

"Remember, (N/N), that he doesn't know Sakura's personality as you do."

"But if a woman is partial to a man, and doesn't try to hide it, he has to figure it out."

"Maybe, if he sees enough of her. But, even though Mr. Jones and Sakura meet fairly regularly, it's never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be used talking together. Sakura should then make the most of every half-hour in which she can hold his attention. When she has won him over completely, there will be more time for falling in love as much as she chooses."

"Your plan is a good one," replied (Y/N), "when being well married is the only thing in question, and if I wanted to get a rich husband, or any husband, I would most likely use it. But that's not how Sakura feels; she's not using a plan. Right now, she doesn't even know how much she likes him, or if her feelings are reasonable. She has only known him two weeks. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his house, and has since dined with him at parties four times. That's not quite enough to let her get to know his character."

"Not when you put it that way. If she had only dined with him, she probably would have only found out if he had a good appetite; but you've got remember that they also spent four evenings together—and four evenings may do a great deal."

"Yes; these four evenings have allowed them to find out that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce (3); but in regards to anything of any personal importance, I don't think much has been discovered."

"Well," said Elizabeta, "I wish Sakura success with all my heart; and if she married him tomorrow, I think she would have just as good a chance at happiness as if she knew him for a year. Happiness in marriage is completely a matter of chance. If the personalities of the couple are very well known to each other beforehand, it does not forward their happiness at all. They always become different enough afterwards to have their share of irritation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the imperfections of the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with."

"You make me laugh, Elizabeta; but it's not rational. You know it's not rational, and you would never do that."

Occupied in watching Alfred's interest in her sister, (Y/N) was far from suspecting that she was becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Arthur had at first barely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it looked uncommonly intelligent because of the beautiful expression in her eyes. This discovery was followed by others just as equally annoying. Though he had seen with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her shape, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his claiming that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. She was completely unaware of this; to her he was only the man who was never polite, and who didn't think she was handsome enough to dance with.

He began to wish to know her more, and as a step towards talking with her himself, he listened to her conversation with others. This drew her attention. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party was assembled.

"What is Mr. Kirkland doing," she said to Elizabeta, "listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"

"That is a question which only Mr. Kirkland can answer."

"If he does it any more I will tell him that I know what he is doing. He has a very mocking eye, and if I am not disrespectful first, I will soon grow afraid of him."

He approached them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, and Elizabeta told her friend not to mention the subject to him; which immediately provoked (Y/N) to do it, so she turned to him and said:

"Don't you think Mr. Kirkland, that I expressed myself very well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"

"With great energy; but a ball is always a subject that makes a lady energetic."

"You are to harsh on women."

"It will be her turn to be teased soon," said Elizabeta. "I'm going to open the piano, (N/N), and you know what follows."

"You are a very strange friend—always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If I had been more of a musical person, you would have been priceless; but as it is, I would rather perform before people who must be used to hearing the very best performers." When Elizabeta insisted, however, she added, "Very well, if I must." 

She turned to Mr. Kirkland, and with a serious tone she said, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here obviously knows: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge'; and I will keep mine to swell my song."

Her performance was entertaining, though by no means the best. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the several requests to sing again, she was eagerly replaced at the piano by her sister Lili, who, being plainest one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, and was always impatient to perform.

Lili was neither a genius nor had the best taste; and though her vanity caused her to work hard, it had also given her a bookish air and arrogant manner, which would have hurt someone who was better than she was. (Y/N), easy and straightforward, had been listened to with much more pleasure, even though she did not play half so well; and Lili, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to earn praise and gratitude by playing Scotch and Irish dancing songs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases, and two or three military officers, eagerly started dancing at one end of the room.

Arthur stood nearby in silent annoyance at such a mode of passing the evening, so irritated that he spoke to no one, and was so engrossed by his thoughts that he did not realize Sir William Lucas was standing next to him, till Sir William spoke these words:

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Kirkland! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage of also being popular among the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance."

Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he continued after a pause, on seeing Alfred join the group; "and I don't doubt that you are an expert in the science yourself, Mr. Kirkland."

"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir."

"Yes, indeed, and received no great pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"

"Never, sir."

"Don't you think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"

"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it."

"You have a house in town, I conclude?"

Arthur bowed.

"I had thought of living in town myself—for I am fond of superior society; but I wasn't quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not willing to make any; and since (Y/N) was at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the idea of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her:

"My dear Miss (N/N), why are you not dancing? Mr. Kirkland, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Arthur who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomfort to Sir William:

"Indeed, sir, I have not the smallest intention of dancing. Please do not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

Arthur, with serious politeness, asked to be allowed the honor of dancing with her, but in vain. (Y/N) was determined; and Sir William's attempts at persuasion did not shake her resolve.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss (N/N), that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to doing us this favor for one half-hour."

"Mr. Kirkland is all politeness," said (Y/N), smiling.

"He is, indeed; but, considering the cause, my dear Miss (N/N), we cannot wonder at his willingness to comply—for who would object to such a partner?"

(Y/N) gave a mischievous look, and turned away. Her resistance had not hurt her standing with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some self-satisfaction, when he was then confronted by Caroline:

"I can guess what you were thinking about."

"I think not."

"You are considering how unacceptable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner—in such society; and I agree. I have never been more annoyed! It's so boring, and yet the noise—the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! I would love to hear your criticisms on them!"

"Your guess is completely wrong, I assure you. My thoughts were more pleasantly engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can give."

Caroline immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and asked that he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such thoughts. Arthur replied with great bravery:

"Miss (Y/N) Bennet."

"Miss (Y/N) Bennet!" repeated Caroline. "I am astonished. How long has she been such a favorite? When am I to wish you joy?"

"That is exactly what I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to marriage, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."

"No, if you are serious about it, I will consider the matter absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed; and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you."

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, she continued in this way for a long time.

(3) Popular card games at the time.