Volume 1: Chapter 17 Summary

When Elizabeth recounts her evening to Jane the following morning, Jane is extremely disturbed that Mr. Bingley could possibly have such a close friendship with someone like the picture of Mr. Darcy that Wickham has painted. She sums up in typical Jane fashion that both parties had been deceived, and that the whole problem had occurred through a misunderstanding of sorts. Their conversation is interrupted by the announcement of Mr. Bingley and his sisters, come to personally deliver an invitation to the family to the Netherfield ball the following week.

Soon after they leave, Elizabeth finds herself in conversation with Mr. Collins, who with excessive formality, asks for the honor of dancing the first two dances with her. Having counted on dancing the first dances with Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth is disappointed but cannot refuse her cousin's offer. She then becomes aware...