Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet.
They had several children.
The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.
That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary;
and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate.
— “You began the evening well, Charlotte,”
said Mrs. Bennet with civil self-command to Miss Lucas.
“You were Mr. Bingley's first choice.”
— “Yes; —
but he seemed to like his second better.”
— “Oh!
— you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice.
To be sure that did seem as if he admired her — indeed I rather believe he did —
I heard something about it — but I hardly know what — something about Mr. Robinson.”