While Mrs. Bennet wins the prize for most embarrassing personality in Chapter 9, Bingley shines with nobility and charity.
1. He will not hear of having Jane being removed from Netherfield (pt 2). Though the apothecary does not advise Jane's relocation, her condition certainly has improved to a point where one might consider it. Jane's mother wants Jane to stay put in Bingley's home so that Bingley might grow attached to her. More than most present at Netherfield in Chapter 9, Bingley has an actual concern for Jane's health, and hoping for her further recovery, will not hear of having her moved.
2. He forces the members of the Bingley household to display civility toward Mrs. Bennet. More than once (pt 2 and pt 8), Bingley puts his sister on the spot for a polite response to Mrs. Bennet, though one may debate the worthiness of the latter woman for the reception of such a display.
3. He graciously covers over Elizabeth's "wild manners" (pt 3). Already in a previous chapter, Bingley countered the harsh condemnation of others for Elizabeth, who abandoned the conventions of society by walking alone several miles to come to the aid of her sister. Bingley put forth a very positive comment about the deep affection that Elizabeth's action displayed for her sister. We see Bingley in Chapter 9 once again graciously covering Elizabeth's "wild manners", when she makes several rather impetuous statements: ""That is exactly what I should have supposed of you"; "Oh! yes - I understand you perfectly"; "It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours". When Mrs. Bennet challenges her daughter's "wild manners" (perhaps rightly so, although without care for her daughter's embarrassment,) Bingley comes to Elizabeth's rescue by continuing the conversation in a positive manner, inquiring after her hobby of "studying characters" (pt 4).
4. He graciously covers over Mrs. Bennet's "wild manners" about country life (pt 4 and pt 5). When Mrs. Bennet makes her wild assertion that town-life (such as might be found in London) does not have any great advantage over the country, and that "the country is a great deal pleasanter", everyone is astonished. Then she turns to Bingley and puts him on the spot: "Don't you agree, Mr. Bingley?" Graciously, Bingley does not speak his mind in disagreement; instead he offers that when he is in the country, he "never wish(es) to leave it" and that when he is in town "it is pretty much the same". "They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either." Bingley further "keeps his countenance" for the sake of Elizabeth (pt 6) when her mother continues on with her wild assertions about the equality (superiority?) of country life to town life.
5. He graciously attempts to cover over Mrs. Bennet's unbecoming statements about Charlotte Lucas. Whether she truly is as beautiful as Mrs. Bennet claims or not, one might forgive Mrs. Bennet for carrying on about her daughter's good looks. What is less forgivable is Mrs. Bennet's defamation of the Lucas family and Charlotte Lucas in particular. "It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very plain - but then she is our particular friend" (pt 6). (With such as friends, enemies are hardly needed.) Bingley interrupts by stating that Charlotte "seems a very pleasant young woman," though it is of no use. Mrs. Bennet continues, "(B)ut you must own she is very plain" and invokes Charlotte's own mother as an authority on that subject.
6. He graciously covers over Lydia Bennet's "wild manners" and maintains his promise for a ball (pt 9). Having decided to "tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield," Lydia reminds him "that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it." He agrees to keep his promise, though he reminds the youngest Bennet that her eldest sister lies very ill in the next room, and that "you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill." He could very appropriately have reminded her that she should not wish to be thinking about planning such a party when she should much rather be considering the gravity of her sister's medical condition.
