The Netherfield ball
The whole family is excited at the prospect of the Netherfield Ball, and this includes Collins, much to the others surprise, but he sees this as a means of securing his ties with Elizabeth, and she finds herself maneuvered into agreeing to dance with Collins for the first two dances. Elizabeth had hoped that she would initially dance with Wickham at the Ball, but to her disappointment she discovers Wickham isn�t present.
At the ball there is much gossip concerning the potential engagement between Jane and Bingley, and Mrs. Bennett is at the forefront of this unfounded rumor.
Elizabeth negotiates her two dances with Collins, and then to her surprise Darcy asks her to dance, and she accepts. There is tension between the two, and they at first make polite conversation, then Elizabeth raises the subject of Wickham and their dance ends with dissatisfaction and anger.
Again, certain members of the Bennett family manage to embarrass themselves, and Elizabeth feels humiliated by her mother and her younger sisters who act without restraint. For a change, it is Mary who is the main embarrassment for she believes she can sing, and is not content to inflict her audience with one song, but with two, much to the amusement of the Bingley sisters, who sense Jane and Elizabeth�s embarrassment, and they finally manage to get Mr. Bennett to call a halt to Mary�s performance.
 
 
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