It was a country assembly like many others: crowded, boisterous, noisy and hot. But still, a jolly dance, where one could meet the neighbourhood, enjoy the company of some pleasant girls, several of them uncommonly pretty, and engage in a bit of harmless flirtation on the dance floor. Bingley entered into the task with his usual optimistic enthusiasm, ready to be pleased by what he saw.
Even his friend Darcy could not put a dampener on his mood. That man could look unhappy at his own birthday party! Bingley tried to cajole him into enjoying himself, but after all, Darcy was old enough to take responsibility for his own mood. Instead, Bingley returned to the person who had caught his eye the moment he entered the hall.
Miss Bennet was an angel. She was the most beautiful woman in the room by far, but beyond that, she was sweet, kind, amiable, genteel, considerate – in fact, delightful in every way.
Was it possible to fall in love at first sight? Charles Bingley had fallen into amiable affection many times, but love? He found himself a sudden and fervent convert to the idea.