Darcy plans to use the ball as opportunity to get a fresh start with Elizabeth. Shortly before the ball, however, Elizabeth becomes acquainted with a childhood friend of Darcy's, George Wickham, who slanders Darcy with gross falsehoods. Because Wickham is a charming scoundrel, and because Darcy has been relatively unpleasant since his first impression on Elizabeth, she chooses to believe the worst about Darcy without any sort of confirmation. Thus, when Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance at the Netherfield ball, she civilly accepts, but then launches into a most disagreeable conversation.