Pride and Prejudice: Gender Swap Edition — Chapter 4

When James and Billy were alone, the former, who had been cautious in his praise of Miss. Bingley before, expressed to his brother just how very much he admired her.

“She is just what a young woman ought to be,” said he, “sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! — so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”

“She is also handsome,” replied Billy, “which a young woman ought likewise to be, if she possibly can. Her character is thereby complete.”

“I was very much flattered by her asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment.”

“Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than her asking you again? She could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other man in the room. No thanks to her gallantry for that. Well, she certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like her. You have liked many a stupider person.”

“Dear Billy!”

“Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.”

“I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak what I think.”