Immediately, Readily Charles
Whatever Charles Bingley does, more often than not he does it immediately; however, as the novel develops, Austen describes him as acting less with immediacy and more with readiness.
One of Mr Bingley’s very first actions in the novel is immediately agreeing to take Netherfield Park:
“[Mr Bingley] was so much delighted with it [Netherfield] that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately” - Mrs Bennet. Volume I, Chapter I
We soon learn that Mr Bingley looked at his new home for only half an hour before agreeing to take it:
“He did look at it [Netherfield] and into it for half an hour... and took it immediately.” - Volume I, Chapter IV
Austen reiterates that this action was one performed “immediately”.
When they meet at the Meryton assembly, Mr Bingley’s attraction to Jane Bennet is immediate:
“He seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So, he enquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next [sets of dances]” - Mrs Bennet. Volume I, Chapter III
It is reported that, when Mr Robinson asks Mr Bingley which is the prettiest girl at the Meryton assembly, Mr Bingley answers immediately Jane Bennet:
“Mr Robinson's asking him [Mr Bingley]... whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest? and his answering immediately to the last question - “Oh! The eldest Miss Bennet beyond a doubt, there cannot be two opinions on that point.” - Charlotte Lucas. Volume I, Chapter V
Also at the Meryton assembly, Mr Bingley is quick to acquaint himself with his new neighbours:
“Mr Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room” - Volume I, Chapter III
Some time later, Elizabeth stays at Netherfield to care for an ill Jane. On her first evening there, she joins the company in the drawing room, but instead of joining them at their card game, she says she will read. Mr Bingley replies with an immediate offer to fetch more books for her from his library:
“He immediately offered to fetch her others; all that his library afforded” - Volume I, Chapter VIII
Elizabeth soon checks on Jane and finds she had grown worse. Learning this, Mr Bingley urges for the doctor, Mr Jones, to be sent for immediately:
“Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr Jones's being sent for immediately” - Volume I, Chapter VIII
The next day, Mrs Bennet visits Netherfield to check on Jane. Afterwards she joins the rest of the party in the breakfast parlour. In their conversation, Mr Bingley acknowledges his habit of acting immediately or in a hurry:
“Whatever I do is done in a hurry... and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes.” - Mr Bingley. Volume I, Chapter IX
Mr Bingley and Elizabeth soon begin a conversation about character. Mrs Bennet interrupts, chastising Elizabeth, but Mr Bingley continues the conversation immediately:
“I did not know before,” continued Bingley immediately, “that you were a studier of character.” - Mr Bingley. Volume I, Chapter IX
In another conversation, Mr Bingley admits there are faults to his rapidity:
“My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them - by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents” - Mr Bingley. Volume I, Chapter X
Later his best friend, Mr Darcy, questions Mr Bingley’s immediacy in the earlier proposed case of his leaving Netherfield. He believes Mr Bingley’s actions more dependant on chance or a friend’s advice:
“I am by no means convinced that you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependant on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, “Bingley, you had better stay till next week,” you would probably do it, you would probably not go - and, at another word, might stay a month.” - Mr Darcy. Volume I, Chapter X
Still, even in Mr Darcy’s at that point theoretical situation, Mr Bingley reactions are immediate.
A few weeks later, at the end of the Netherfield Ball, Mrs Bennet invites Mr Bingley to a family dinner at Longbourn. He readily accepts:
“He readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on her [Mrs Bennet], after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next day for a short time.” - Volume I, Chapter XVIII
Mr Bingley will months later repeat this phrase and reveal again his readiness to visit the Bennets:
“He should be particularly happy at any time, &c. &c.; and if she would give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them.” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
Soon Mr Darcy acts upon his earlier theory that Mr Bingley readily takes his friends’ advice: in London, he persuades Mr Bingley not to pursue Jane Bennet. Thus Mr Bingley is absent from the story for above eight months, until Elizabeth meets him on her visit to Derbyshire. She finds him as quick and as ready as ever:
“She [Elizabeth] had barely time to express her satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room.” - Volume III, Chapter II
“Bingley was ready” - Volume III, Chapter II
Mr Bingley returns to Netherfield not long after, again it seems readily following his friend’s advice. Before Mrs Bennet can even send him an invitation, Mr Bingley visits Longbourn:
“She [Mrs Bennet] counted the days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent; hopeless of seeing him [Mr Bingley] before. But on the third morning after his arrival in Hertfordshire, she saw him, from her dressing-room window, enter the paddock and ride towards the house.” - Volume III, Chapter XI
In their conversation, Mrs Bennet states that Mr Bingley has been away a long time. He readily agrees this fact:
“He readily agreed to it.” - Volume III, Chapter XI
The next Tuesday, Mr Bingley joins the Bennet family for a dinner party. There his behaviour persuades Elizabeth that:
“If left wholly to himself, Jane's happiness, and his own, would be speedily secured.” - Volume III, Chapter XII
A few days later, Mrs Bennet again invites Mr Bingley to dine with them. He accepts the invitation with alacrity (a brisk and cheerful readiness):
“Her invitation was accepted with alacrity” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
Soon Mr Bingley and Jane are left alone together in Longbourn’s drawing room. When Elizabeth unexpectedly joins them, there is speed to all of Mr Bingley’s actions:
“They [Jane and Mr Bingley] hastily turned round and moved away from each other... Bingley, who as well as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and whispering a few words to her sister, ran out of the room. - Volume III, Chapter XIII
When he returns to the drawing room, he speaks still with hast:
“Said he hastily” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
So energised by his engagement to Jane, Mr Bingley’s readiness morphs into haste.
Around this time, Mr Bingley makes a habit of hastening to Longbourn:
“He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them dressed.” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
“Bingley was punctual to his appointment” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
“Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; coming frequently before breakfast” - Volume III, Chapter XIII
About a week after Mr Bingley and Jane become engaged, an unexpected visitor arrives at Longbourn. Wishing to avoid the intrusion, Mr Bingley acts with characteristic speed:
“As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery.” - Volume III, Chapter XIV
As once before, Mr Bingley is capable of acting faster than Mrs Bennet. A few days later, when he and Mr Darcy arrive at Netherfield, before she has time to tell them of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s visit, he proposes their all going for a walk:
“Before Mrs Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen his aunt, of which her daughter sat in momentary dread, Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, proposed their all walking out.” - Volume III, Chapter XVI
In a later conversation with Elizabeth, Mr Darcy shares that Mr Bingley, though at first angry when he admitted concealing that Jane had been in London, quickly forgave him:
“He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me now.” - Mr Darcy. Volume III, Chapter XVI
Bingley is also quick to express his pleasure at Mr Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement:
“As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her [Elizabeth] so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information” - Volume III, Chapter XVII
