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| <h1>Pride and Prejudice</h1> |
| <div> |
| by Jane Austen |
| </div> |
| <pre> |
| The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen |
| |
| This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with |
| almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or |
| re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included |
| with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org |
| |
| Title: Pride and Prejudice |
| |
| Author: Jane Austen |
| |
| Release Date: August 26, 2008 [EBook #1342] |
| Last Updated: March 10, 2018 |
| |
| Language: English |
| |
| Character set encoding: UTF-8 |
| |
| *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIDE AND PREJUDICE *** |
| |
| Produced by Anonymous Volunteers, and David Widger |
| </pre> |
| </header> |
| |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 1 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of |
| a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his |
| first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds |
| of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property |
| of some one or other of their daughters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that |
| Netherfield Park is let at last?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told |
| me all about it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet made no answer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>You</i> want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was invitation enough. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by |
| a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down |
| on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted |
| with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take |
| possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the |
| house by the end of next week.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is his name?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Bingley.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is he married or single?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or |
| five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How so? How can it affect them?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You |
| must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is that his design in settling here?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he <i>may</i> |
| fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as |
| he comes.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send |
| them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as |
| handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear, you flatter me. I certainly <i>have</i> had my share of beauty, |
| but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has |
| five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own |
| beauty.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into |
| the neighbourhood.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is more than I engage for, I assure you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be |
| for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely |
| on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed |
| you must go, for it will be impossible for <i>us</i> to visit him if you |
| do not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad |
| to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty |
| consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must |
| throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the |
| others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so |
| good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving <i>her</i> the |
| preference.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he; “they are all |
| silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of |
| quickness than her sisters.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Bennet, how <i>can</i> you abuse your own children in such a way? You |
| take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are |
| my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these |
| last twenty years at least.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Ah, you do not know what I suffer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four |
| thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not |
| visit them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them |
| all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, |
| and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been |
| insufficient to make his wife understand his character. <i>Her</i> mind |
| was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, |
| little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she |
| fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters |
| married; its solace was visiting and news. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 2 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He |
| had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his |
| wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid |
| she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. |
| Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly |
| addressed her with: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We are not in a way to know <i>what</i> Mr. Bingley likes,” said her |
| mother resentfully, “since we are not to visit.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him at the |
| assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of |
| her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of |
| her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that you do not |
| depend on her serving you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, |
| began scolding one of her daughters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little |
| compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them |
| ill.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty fretfully. “When is |
| your next ball to be, Lizzy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To-morrow fortnight.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does not come back till |
| the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she |
| will not know him herself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce |
| Mr. Bingley to <i>her</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him |
| myself; how can you be so teasing?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly |
| very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a |
| fortnight. But if <i>we</i> do not venture somebody else will; and after |
| all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and, therefore, |
| as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will |
| take it on myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, “Nonsense, |
| nonsense!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?” cried he. “Do you |
| consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, |
| as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you <i>there</i>. What say you, |
| Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great |
| books and make extracts.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “While Mary is adjusting her ideas,” he continued, “let us return to Mr. |
| Bingley.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sick of Mr. Bingley,” cried his wife. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sorry to hear <i>that</i>; but why did not you tell me that before? |
| If I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called on |
| him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot |
| escape the acquaintance now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. |
| Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy |
| was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the |
| while. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade |
| you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an |
| acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, |
| that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till |
| now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,” said Mr. Bennet; and, |
| as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What an excellent father you have, girls!” said she, when the door was |
| shut. “I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; |
| or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so pleasant, |
| I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your |
| sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you <i>are</i> the |
| youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh!” said Lydia stoutly, “I am not afraid; for though I <i>am</i> the |
| youngest, I'm the tallest.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return |
| Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 3 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five |
| daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her |
| husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in |
| various ways—with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and |
| distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at |
| last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, |
| Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been |
| delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely |
| agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly |
| with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of |
| dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes |
| of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” |
| said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, |
| I shall have nothing to wish for.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten |
| minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being |
| admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard |
| much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, |
| for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he |
| wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had |
| Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her |
| housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley |
| was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to |
| accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite |
| disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so |
| soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he |
| might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled |
| at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by |
| starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party |
| for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring |
| twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls |
| grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before |
| the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him |
| from London—his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party |
| entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether—Mr. |
| Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young |
| man. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant |
| countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, |
| with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely |
| looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of |
| the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the |
| report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his |
| entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him |
| to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer |
| than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about |
| half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of |
| his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his |
| company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in |
| Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable |
| countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people |
| in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry |
| that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at |
| Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a |
| contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. |
| Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other |
| lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, |
| speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. |
| He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody |
| hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent |
| against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was |
| sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her |
| daughters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit |
| down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been |
| standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. |
| Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to |
| join it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing |
| about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly |
| acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be |
| insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in |
| the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Mr. Bingley, “for a |
| kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my |
| life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see |
| uncommonly pretty.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>You</i> are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. |
| Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of |
| her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare |
| say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Which do you mean?” and turning round he looked for a moment at |
| Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: |
| “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt <i>me</i>; I am in no |
| humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by |
| other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for |
| you are wasting your time with me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth |
| remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, |
| however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, |
| playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. |
| Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. |
| Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by |
| his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, |
| though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard |
| herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the |
| neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough never to |
| be without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at |
| a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the |
| village where they lived, and of which they were the principal |
| inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book he was regardless |
| of time; and on the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to |
| the event of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He |
| had rather hoped that his wife's views on the stranger would be |
| disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a different story to hear. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most |
| delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane |
| was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she |
| looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her |
| twice! Only think of <i>that</i>, my dear; he actually danced with her |
| twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second |
| time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand |
| up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody |
| can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down |
| the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her |
| for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two |
| fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two |
| sixth with Lizzy, and the <i>Boulanger</i>—” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If he had had any compassion for <i>me</i>,” cried her husband |
| impatiently, “he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say |
| no more of his partners. Oh that he had sprained his ankle in the first |
| dance!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively |
| handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw |
| anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. |
| Hurst's gown—” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any |
| description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of |
| the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and some |
| exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I can assure you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not |
| suiting <i>his</i> fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not |
| at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring |
| him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! |
| Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to |
| have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 4 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in |
| her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very |
| much she admired him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she, “sensible, |
| good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!—so much |
| ease, with such perfect good breeding!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought |
| likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did |
| not expect such a compliment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. |
| Compliments always take <i>you</i> by surprise, and <i>me</i> never. What |
| could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing |
| that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. |
| No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, |
| and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dear Lizzy!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “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.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak what |
| I think.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I know you do; and it is <i>that</i> which makes the wonder. With <i>your</i> |
| good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! |
| Affectation of candour is common enough—one meets with it |
| everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take |
| the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say |
| nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's |
| sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly not—at first. But they are very pleasing women when you |
| converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep his |
| house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming |
| neighbour in her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour at |
| the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more |
| quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and |
| with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very |
| little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine ladies; not |
| deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of |
| making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and conceited. |
| They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private |
| seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the |
| habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of |
| rank, and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of |
| themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the |
| north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories |
| than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by |
| trade. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred thousand |
| pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did |
| not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made |
| choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a good house and the |
| liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the |
| easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his |
| days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, though |
| he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means |
| unwilling to preside at his table—nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had |
| married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his |
| house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two |
| years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at |
| Netherfield House. He did look at it, and into it for half-an-hour—was |
| pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what |
| the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of |
| great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the |
| easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition |
| could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he |
| never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley |
| had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. In |
| understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, |
| but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and |
| fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that |
| respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being |
| liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently |
| characteristic. Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or |
| prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive to |
| him; there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt |
| acquainted with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not |
| conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a |
| collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for |
| none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received |
| either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, |
| but she smiled too much. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so—but still they admired |
| her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom |
| they would not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore |
| established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such |
| commendation to think of her as he chose. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 5 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were |
| particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in |
| Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of |
| knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction |
| had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his |
| business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, in quitting |
| them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from |
| Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, where he could think |
| with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy |
| himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his |
| rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all |
| attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his |
| presentation at St. James's had made him courteous. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable |
| neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest of them, a |
| sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's |
| intimate friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball |
| was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the |
| former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>You</i> began the evening well, Charlotte,” said Mrs. Bennet with |
| civil self-command to Miss Lucas. “<i>You</i> were Mr. Bingley's first |
| choice.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; but he seemed to like his second better.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be |
| sure that <i>did</i> seem as if he admired her—indeed I rather |
| believe he <i>did</i>—I heard something about it—but I hardly |
| know what—something about Mr. Robinson.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not I |
| mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he liked our Meryton |
| assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty |
| women in the room, and <i>which</i> 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.'” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed—that does seem as |
| if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>My</i> overhearings were more to the purpose than <i>yours</i>, |
| Eliza,” said Charlotte. “Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as |
| his friend, is he?—poor Eliza!—to be only just <i>tolerable</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by his |
| ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it would be quite a |
| misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat |
| close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you quite sure, ma'am?—is not there a little mistake?” said |
| Jane. “I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he |
| could not help answering her; but she said he seemed quite angry at being |
| spoke to.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much, unless |
| among his intimate acquaintances. With <i>them</i> he is remarkably |
| agreeable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, |
| he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody |
| says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow |
| that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a |
| hack chaise.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,” said Miss Lucas, “but I wish |
| he had danced with Eliza.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not dance with <i>him</i>, |
| if I were you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you <i>never</i> to dance with |
| him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His pride,” said Miss Lucas, “does not offend <i>me</i> so much as pride |
| often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so |
| very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, |
| should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a <i>right</i> |
| to be proud.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is very true,” replied Elizabeth, “and I could easily forgive <i>his</i> |
| pride, if he had not mortified <i>mine</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pride,” observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her |
| reflections, “is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever |
| read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is |
| particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not |
| cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or |
| other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though |
| the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being |
| vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we |
| would have others think of us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas, who came with his |
| sisters, “I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of |
| foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,” said Mrs. Bennet; |
| “and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she |
| would, and the argument ended only with the visit. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 6 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was |
| soon returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the |
| goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was found |
| to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish |
| of being better acquainted with <i>them</i> was expressed towards the two |
| eldest. By Jane, this attention was received with the greatest pleasure, |
| but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of everybody, |
| hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; though their |
| kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value as arising in all |
| probability from the influence of their brother's admiration. It was |
| generally evident whenever they met, that he <i>did</i> admire her and to |
| <i>her</i> it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference |
| which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way |
| to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not |
| likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united, with |
| great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a uniform |
| cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions of the |
| impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It may perhaps be pleasant,” replied Charlotte, “to be able to impose on |
| the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so |
| very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from |
| the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will |
| then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. |
| There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that |
| it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all <i>begin</i> freely—a |
| slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have |
| heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out |
| of ten a women had better show <i>more</i> affection than she feels. |
| Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like |
| her, if she does not help him on.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can |
| perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to |
| discover it too.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, |
| he must find it out.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But, though Bingley and Jane |
| meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and, as they |
| always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every |
| moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore |
| make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his attention. |
| When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for falling in love |
| as much as she chooses.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your plan is a good one,” replied Elizabeth, “where nothing is in |
| question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined to |
| get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But |
| these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she |
| cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its |
| reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances |
| with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has |
| since dined with him in company four times. This is not quite enough to |
| make her understand his character.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not as you represent it. Had she merely <i>dined</i> with him, she might |
| only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember |
| that four evenings have also been spent together—and four evenings |
| may do a great deal.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both |
| like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading |
| characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well,” said Charlotte, “I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she |
| were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of |
| happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. |
| Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions |
| of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar |
| beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always |
| continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of |
| vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of |
| the person with whom you are to pass your life.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not |
| sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth |
| was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some |
| interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely |
| allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the |
| ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no |
| sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had |
| a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered |
| uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To |
| this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had |
| detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in |
| her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and |
| pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of |
| the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this |
| she was perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who made himself |
| agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance |
| with. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing |
| with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so |
| drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were |
| assembled. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What does Mr. Darcy mean,” said she to Charlotte, “by listening to my |
| conversation with Colonel Forster?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what |
| he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being |
| impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have |
| any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a |
| subject to him; which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned |
| to him and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well |
| just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at |
| Meryton?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady |
| energetic.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are severe on us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It will be <i>her</i> turn soon to be teased,” said Miss Lucas. “I am |
| going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!—always wanting |
| me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a |
| musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really |
| rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the |
| very best performers.” On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, |
| “Very well, if it must be so, it must.” And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, |
| “There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar |
| with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge'; and I shall keep mine to |
| swell my song.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or |
| two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she |
| would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her |
| sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the |
| family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always |
| impatient for display. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her |
| application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited |
| manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she |
| had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with |
| much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end |
| of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch |
| and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of |
| the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one |
| end of the room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing |
| the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much |
| engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his |
| neighbour, till Sir William thus began: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is |
| nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first |
| refinements of polished society.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst |
| the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Sir William only smiled. “Your friend performs delightfully,” he continued |
| after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; “and I doubt not that you |
| are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do |
| you often dance at St. James's?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Never, sir.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have a house in town, I conclude?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy bowed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I had once had some thought of fixing in town myself—for I am fond |
| of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of |
| London would agree with Lady Lucas.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to |
| make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck |
| with the action of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me |
| to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot |
| refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you.” And, taking |
| her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though extremely |
| surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, |
| and said with some discomposure to Sir William: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not |
| to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her |
| hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all |
| shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me |
| the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the |
| amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us |
| for one half-hour.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” said Elizabeth, smiling. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we |
| cannot wonder at his complaisance—for who would object to such a |
| partner?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured |
| her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, |
| when thus accosted by Miss Bingley: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I can guess the subject of your reverie.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should imagine not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings |
| in this manner—in such society; and indeed I am quite of your |
| opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise—the |
| nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would I |
| give to hear your strictures on them!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more |
| agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which |
| a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would |
| tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy |
| replied with great intrepidity: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley. “I am all astonishment. |
| How long has she been such a favourite?—and pray, when am I to wish |
| you joy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's |
| imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to |
| matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter is |
| absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; |
| and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain |
| herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was |
| safe, her wit flowed long. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 7 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two |
| thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in |
| default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, |
| though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the |
| deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had |
| left her four thousand pounds. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their |
| father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London |
| in a respectable line of trade. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient |
| distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or |
| four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliner's |
| shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and |
| Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were |
| more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk |
| to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish |
| conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in |
| general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At |
| present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by |
| the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to |
| remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most interesting |
| intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the |
| officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, |
| and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips |
| visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of felicity |
| unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's |
| large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was |
| worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet |
| coolly observed: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of |
| the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am |
| now convinced.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect |
| indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and |
| her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next |
| morning to London. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you should be so ready |
| to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of |
| anybody's children, it should not be of my own, however.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes—but as it happens, they are all of them very clever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had |
| hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far |
| differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly |
| foolish.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of |
| their father and mother. When they get to our age, I dare say they will |
| not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I |
| liked a red coat myself very well—and, indeed, so I do still at my |
| heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, |
| should want one of my girls I shall not say nay to him; and I thought |
| Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in |
| his regimentals.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mamma,” cried Lydia, “my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain |
| Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first |
| came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a |
| note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for |
| an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly |
| calling out, while her daughter read, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, |
| Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane, and then read it aloud. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR FRIEND,— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we |
| shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a |
| whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel. |
| Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen |
| are to dine with the officers.—Yours ever, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “CAROLINE BINGLEY” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With the officers!” cried Lydia. “I wonder my aunt did not tell us of <i>that</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dining out,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that is very unlucky.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Can I have the carriage?” said Jane. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to |
| rain; and then you must stay all night.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, “if you were sure that they |
| would not offer to send her home.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton, |
| and the Hursts have no horses to theirs.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I had much rather go in the coach.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are |
| wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if you have got them to-day,” said Elizabeth, “my mother's purpose |
| will be answered.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses |
| were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her |
| mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad |
| day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained |
| hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The |
| rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly |
| could not come back. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!” said Mrs. Bennet more than once, |
| as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next |
| morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her |
| contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield |
| brought the following note for Elizabeth: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAREST LIZZY,— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be |
| imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear |
| of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones—therefore |
| do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me—and, |
| excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with |
| me.—Yours, etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, |
| “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she |
| should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of |
| Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling |
| colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is |
| all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the |
| carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her |
| only alternative. She declared her resolution. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How can you be so silly,” cried her mother, “as to think of such a thing, |
| in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I shall be very fit to see Jane—which is all I want.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is this a hint to me, Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when |
| one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I admire the activity of your benevolence,” observed Mary, “but every |
| impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, |
| exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We will go as far as Meryton with you,” said Catherine and Lydia. |
| Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off |
| together. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If we make haste,” said Lydia, as they walked along, “perhaps we may see |
| something of Captain Carter before he goes.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one |
| of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing |
| field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over |
| puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view |
| of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with |
| the warmth of exercise. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were |
| assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. That |
| she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty |
| weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss |
| Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for |
| it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their |
| brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was |
| good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst |
| nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the |
| brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the |
| occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking |
| only of his breakfast. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss |
| Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not well |
| enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her |
| immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving |
| alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed for |
| such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, |
| to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them together, could |
| attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary |
| kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth |
| began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude |
| they showed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined his |
| patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, |
| and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to |
| return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed |
| readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. |
| Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were the other ladies |
| often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in fact, nothing to do |
| elsewhere. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very |
| unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only |
| wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern in |
| parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of |
| the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. |
| Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to |
| Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of |
| clothes. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 8 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six |
| Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil inquiries which then poured |
| in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much |
| superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley's, she could not make a very favourable |
| answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, |
| repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it |
| was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill |
| themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their indifference |
| towards Jane when not immediately before them restored Elizabeth to the |
| enjoyment of all her former dislike. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard |
| with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions |
| to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling herself so much |
| an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others. She had very |
| little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr. Darcy, |
| her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, |
| he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards; |
| who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to |
| say to her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley |
| began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were |
| pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she |
| had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and |
| added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent |
| walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really |
| looked almost wild.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very |
| nonsensical to come at all! Why must <i>she</i> be scampering about the |
| country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in |
| mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide |
| it not doing its office.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,” said Bingley; “but this was all |
| lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when |
| she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my |
| notice.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>You</i> observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley; “and I |
| am inclined to think that you would not wish to see <i>your</i> sister |
| make such an exhibition.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, |
| above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by |
| it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a |
| most country-town indifference to decorum.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,” said |
| Bingley. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,” observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, “that |
| this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not at all,” he replied; “they were brightened by the exercise.” A short |
| pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very |
| sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with |
| such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is |
| no chance of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is capital,” added her sister, and they both laughed heartily. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If they had uncles enough to fill <i>all</i> Cheapside,” cried Bingley, |
| “it would not make them one jot less agreeable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any |
| consideration in the world,” replied Darcy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their |
| hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of |
| their dear friend's vulgar relations. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on |
| leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. She |
| was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late |
| in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and when it |
| seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs |
| herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, |
| and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be |
| playing high she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she |
| would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. |
| Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great |
| reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,” cried Elizabeth; “I am |
| <i>not</i> a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure,” said Bingley; “and I |
| hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table |
| where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others—all |
| that his library afforded. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; |
| but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I |
| ever looked into.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in |
| the room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am astonished,” said Miss Bingley, “that my father should have left so |
| small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at |
| Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It ought to be good,” he replied, “it has been the work of many |
| generations.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying |
| books.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as |
| these.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of |
| that noble place. Charles, when you build <i>your</i> house, I wish it may |
| be half as delightful as Pemberley.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I wish it may.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that |
| neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a |
| finer county in England than Derbyshire.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am talking of possibilities, Charles.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley |
| by purchase than by imitation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed, as to leave her very little |
| attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the |
| card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest |
| sister, to observe the game. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?” said Miss Bingley; “will she |
| be as tall as I am?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or |
| rather taller.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so |
| much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished for |
| her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is amazing to me,” said Bingley, “how young ladies can have patience |
| to be so very accomplished as they all are.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net |
| purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I |
| never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being |
| informed that she was very accomplished.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,” said Darcy, “has too |
| much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no |
| otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very far |
| from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot |
| boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my |
| acquaintance, that are really accomplished.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nor I, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Then,” observed Elizabeth, “you must comprehend a great deal in your idea |
| of an accomplished woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! certainly,” cried his faithful assistant, “no one can be really |
| esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met |
| with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, |
| dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all |
| this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of |
| walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word |
| will be but half-deserved.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet |
| add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by |
| extensive reading.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am no longer surprised at your knowing <i>only</i> six accomplished |
| women. I rather wonder now at your knowing <i>any</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all |
| this?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and |
| application, and elegance, as you describe united.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her |
| implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew many women who |
| answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with |
| bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all |
| conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the |
| room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Elizabeth Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, |
| “is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the |
| other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it |
| succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, |
| “there is a meanness in <i>all</i> the arts which ladies sometimes |
| condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning |
| is despicable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue |
| the subject. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and |
| that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones being sent for |
| immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be |
| of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent |
| physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so unwilling to |
| comply with their brother's proposal; and it was settled that Mr. Jones |
| should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet were not decidedly |
| better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they |
| were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after |
| supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by |
| giving his housekeeper directions that every attention might be paid to |
| the sick lady and her sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 9 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the |
| morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the |
| inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, |
| and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his |
| sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note |
| sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own |
| judgement of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its |
| contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two |
| youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been |
| very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not |
| alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her |
| restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She |
| would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried |
| home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think |
| it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss |
| Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all |
| attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that |
| Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed I have, sir,” was her answer. “She is a great deal too ill to be |
| moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a |
| little longer on your kindness.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Removed!” cried Bingley. “It must not be thought of. My sister, I am |
| sure, will not hear of her removal.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may depend upon it, Madam,” said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, |
| “that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains |
| with us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sure,” she added, “if it was not for such good friends I do not know |
| what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast |
| deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the |
| way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have |
| ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to <i>her</i>. |
| You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the |
| gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to |
| Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though |
| you have but a short lease.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Whatever I do is done in a hurry,” replied he; “and therefore if I should |
| resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At |
| present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,” said Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You begin to comprehend me, do you?” cried he, turning towards her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! yes—I understand you perfectly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen |
| through I am afraid is pitiful.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricate |
| character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy,” cried her mother, “remember where you are, and do not run on in |
| the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I did not know before,” continued Bingley immediately, “that you were a |
| studier of character. It must be an amusing study.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, but intricate characters are the <i>most</i> amusing. They have at |
| least that advantage.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for |
| such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and |
| unvarying society.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be |
| observed in them for ever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a |
| country neighbourhood. “I assure you there is quite as much of <i>that</i> |
| going on in the country as in town.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, |
| turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete |
| victory over him, continued her triumph. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my |
| part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal |
| pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and |
| when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their |
| advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye—that is because you have the right disposition. But that |
| gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing at |
| all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her |
| mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not |
| such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, |
| which you must acknowledge to be true.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with |
| many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods |
| larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his |
| countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards |
| Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying |
| something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if |
| Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since <i>her</i> coming away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir |
| William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So genteel |
| and easy! He has always something to say to everybody. <i>That</i> is my |
| idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very |
| important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did Charlotte dine with you?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For |
| my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; |
| <i>my</i> daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to |
| judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I |
| assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte |
| so <i>very</i> plain—but then she is our particular friend.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She seems a very pleasant young woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has |
| often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast of my |
| own child, but to be sure, Jane—one does not often see anybody |
| better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own |
| partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother |
| Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure |
| he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not. |
| Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, |
| and very pretty they were.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And so ended his affection,” said Elizabeth impatiently. “There has been |
| many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first |
| discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have been used to consider poetry as the <i>food</i> of love,” said |
| Darcy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is |
| strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am |
| convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth |
| tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to |
| speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. |
| Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, |
| with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was |
| unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be |
| civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part |
| indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon |
| afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her |
| daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each |
| other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest |
| should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the |
| country to give a ball at Netherfield. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and |
| good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection |
| had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, |
| and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the |
| officers, to whom her uncle's good dinners, and her own easy manners |
| recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, |
| therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly |
| reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most shameful |
| thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack |
| was delightful to their mother's ear: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when your |
| sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the |
| ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh! yes—it would be much better |
| to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter |
| would be at Meryton again. And when you have given <i>your</i> ball,” she |
| added, “I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel |
| Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned |
| instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the |
| remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, |
| could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of <i>her</i>, in spite |
| of all Miss Bingley's witticisms on <i>fine eyes</i>. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 10 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss |
| Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who |
| continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined |
| their party in the drawing-room. The loo-table, however, did not appear. |
| Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the |
| progress of his letter and repeatedly calling off his attention by |
| messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. |
| Hurst was observing their game. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in |
| attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual |
| commendations of the lady, either on his handwriting, or on the evenness |
| of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern |
| with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was |
| exactly in union with her opinion of each. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He made no answer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You write uncommonly fast.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a year! |
| Letters of business, too! How odious I should think them!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of yours.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have already told her so once, by your desire.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens |
| remarkably well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Thank you—but I always mend my own.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How can you contrive to write so even?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He was silent. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp; |
| and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful |
| little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss |
| Grantley's.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? At |
| present I have not room to do them justice.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you |
| always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They are generally long; but whether always charming it is not for me to |
| determine.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter with |
| ease, cannot write ill.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline,” cried her brother, |
| “because he does <i>not</i> write with ease. He studies too much for words |
| of four syllables. Do not you, Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My style of writing is very different from yours.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh!” cried Miss Bingley, “Charles writes in the most careless way |
| imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “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.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your humility, Mr. Bingley,” said Elizabeth, “must disarm reproof.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nothing is more deceitful,” said Darcy, “than the appearance of humility. |
| It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect |
| boast.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And which of the two do you call <i>my</i> little recent piece of |
| modesty?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in writing, |
| because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought and |
| carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you think at least |
| highly interesting. The power of doing anything with quickness is always |
| prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the |
| imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning |
| that if you ever resolved upon quitting Netherfield you should be gone in |
| five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to |
| yourself—and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance |
| which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real |
| advantage to yourself or anyone else?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nay,” cried Bingley, “this is too much, to remember at night all the |
| foolish things that were said in the morning. And yet, upon my honour, I |
| believe what I said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this moment. |
| At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless |
| precipitance merely to show off before the ladies.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that you would |
| be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependent 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.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have only proved by this,” cried Elizabeth, “that Mr. Bingley did not |
| do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much more |
| than he did himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am exceedingly gratified,” said Bingley, “by your converting what my |
| friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am |
| afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means |
| intend; for he would certainly think better of me, if under such a |
| circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I |
| could.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions as |
| atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must speak for |
| himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but |
| which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to stand |
| according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the |
| friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay of |
| his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in |
| favour of its propriety.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To yield readily—easily—to the <i>persuasion</i> of a friend |
| is no merit with you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of |
| either.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of |
| friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make one |
| readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one |
| into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have |
| supposed about Mr. Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the |
| circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour |
| thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, |
| where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no |
| very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying with |
| the desire, without waiting to be argued into it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject, to arrange |
| with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to appertain |
| to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting between the |
| parties?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “By all means,” cried Bingley; “let us hear all the particulars, not |
| forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more |
| weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure |
| you, that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with |
| myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not |
| know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in |
| particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, |
| when he has nothing to do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy smiled; but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was |
| rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly |
| resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her |
| brother for talking such nonsense. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I see your design, Bingley,” said his friend. “You dislike an argument, |
| and want to silence this.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss |
| Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very |
| thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What you ask,” said Elizabeth, “is no sacrifice on my side; and Mr. Darcy |
| had much better finish his letter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy took her advice, and did finish his letter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When that business was over, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth for |
| an indulgence of some music. Miss Bingley moved with some alacrity to the |
| pianoforte; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way |
| which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seated |
| herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister, and while they were thus employed, |
| Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music-books |
| that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed on |
| her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of |
| admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her because |
| he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, however, |
| at last that she drew his notice because there was something more wrong |
| and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other |
| person present. The supposition did not pain her. She liked him too little |
| to care for his approbation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a |
| lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, |
| said to her: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an |
| opportunity of dancing a reel?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some |
| surprise at her silence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh!” said she, “I heard you before, but I could not immediately determine |
| what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say 'Yes,' that you might |
| have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in |
| overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their |
| premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, |
| that I do not want to dance a reel at all—and now despise me if you |
| dare.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed I do not dare.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his |
| gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner |
| which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never |
| been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that |
| were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some |
| danger. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her great anxiety |
| for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her |
| desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of |
| their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope,” said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery the |
| next day, “you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this |
| desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; |
| and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after |
| officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to check |
| that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your |
| lady possesses.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed |
| in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. |
| They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for |
| your Elizabeth's picture, you must not have it taken, for what painter |
| could do justice to those beautiful eyes?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour |
| and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth |
| herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I did not know that you intended to walk,” said Miss Bingley, in some |
| confusion, lest they had been overheard. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You used us abominably ill,” answered Mrs. Hurst, “running away without |
| telling us that you were coming out.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by |
| herself. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy felt their rudeness, and |
| immediately said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the |
| avenue.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But Elizabeth, who had not the least inclination to remain with them, |
| laughingly answered: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear to |
| uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. |
| Good-bye.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then ran gaily off, rejoicing as she rambled about, in the hope of |
| being at home again in a day or two. Jane was already so much recovered as |
| to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 11 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and |
| seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room, |
| where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of |
| pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were |
| during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers |
| of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment |
| with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their |
| acquaintance with spirit. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object; Miss |
| Bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy, and she had something |
| to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself to |
| Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a |
| slight bow, and said he was “very glad;” but diffuseness and warmth |
| remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The |
| first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer |
| from the change of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side |
| of the fireplace, that she might be further from the door. He then sat |
| down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone else. Elizabeth, at work in the |
| opposite corner, saw it all with great delight. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the card-table—but |
| in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish |
| for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She |
| assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole |
| party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore |
| nothing to do, but to stretch himself on one of the sofas and go to sleep. |
| Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, |
| principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now |
| and then in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy's |
| progress through <i>his</i> book, as in reading her own; and she was |
| perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could |
| not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her |
| question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be |
| amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the |
| second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, “How pleasant it is |
| to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment |
| like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I |
| have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent |
| library.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and |
| cast her eyes round the room in quest for some amusement; when hearing her |
| brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him |
| and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at |
| Netherfield? I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult |
| the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some |
| among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you mean Darcy,” cried her brother, “he may go to bed, if he chooses, |
| before it begins—but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; |
| and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send round my |
| cards.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should like balls infinitely better,” she replied, “if they were |
| carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably |
| tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much |
| more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of |
| the day.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be |
| near so much like a ball.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards she got up and walked |
| about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; but Darcy, at |
| whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation |
| of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, turning to |
| Elizabeth, said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a |
| turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so |
| long in one attitude.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley |
| succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. |
| He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as |
| Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was |
| directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that |
| he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down |
| the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would |
| interfere. “What could he mean? She was dying to know what could be his |
| meaning?”—and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand |
| him? |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not at all,” was her answer; “but depend upon it, he means to be severe |
| on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing |
| about it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in |
| anything, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two |
| motives. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,” said he, as soon |
| as she allowed him to speak. “You either choose this method of passing the |
| evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret |
| affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear |
| to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely |
| in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by |
| the fire.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! shocking!” cried Miss Bingley. “I never heard anything so abominable. |
| How shall we punish him for such a speech?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination,” said Elizabeth. “We |
| can all plague and punish one another. Tease him—laugh at him. |
| Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But upon my honour, I do <i>not</i>. I do assure you that my intimacy has |
| not yet taught me <i>that</i>. Tease calmness of manner and presence of |
| mind! No, no; I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not |
| expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. |
| Mr. Darcy may hug himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!” cried Elizabeth. “That is an uncommon |
| advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great |
| loss to <i>me</i> to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a laugh.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bingley,” said he, “has given me more credit than can be. The wisest |
| and the best of men—nay, the wisest and best of their actions—may |
| be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly,” replied Elizabeth—“there are such people, but I hope I |
| am not one of <i>them</i>. I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. |
| Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, <i>do</i> divert me, I |
| own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are |
| precisely what you are without.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my |
| life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding |
| to ridicule.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Such as vanity and pride.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride—where there is a real |
| superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley; |
| “and pray what is the result?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it |
| himself without disguise.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No,” said Darcy, “I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, |
| but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch |
| for. It is, I believe, too little yielding—certainly too little for |
| the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of |
| others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings |
| are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would |
| perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>That</i> is a failing indeed!” cried Elizabeth. “Implacable resentment |
| <i>is</i> a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I |
| really cannot <i>laugh</i> at it. You are safe from me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular |
| evil—a natural defect, which not even the best education can |
| overcome.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And <i>your</i> defect is to hate everybody.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is willfully to misunderstand |
| them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do let us have a little music,” cried Miss Bingley, tired of a |
| conversation in which she had no share. “Louisa, you will not mind my |
| waking Mr. Hurst?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her sister had not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte was opened; |
| and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was not sorry for it. He |
| began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 12 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the |
| next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for |
| them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her |
| daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would |
| exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive them with |
| pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not |
| to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent |
| them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday; |
| and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister |
| pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. Against |
| staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved—nor did |
| she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being |
| considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to |
| borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at length it was settled |
| that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be |
| mentioned, and the request made. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was said |
| of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work on Jane; |
| and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry |
| that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one |
| sister much exceeded her affection for the other. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so |
| soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be |
| safe for her—that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm |
| where she felt herself to be right. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence—Elizabeth had been at |
| Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked—and |
| Miss Bingley was uncivil to <i>her</i>, and more teasing than usual to |
| himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of |
| admiration should <i>now</i> escape him, nothing that could elevate her |
| with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea |
| had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material |
| weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely |
| spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were |
| at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most |
| conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost |
| all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last |
| very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, |
| after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see |
| her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, |
| she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole |
| party in the liveliest of spirits. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet |
| wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much |
| trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, |
| though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see |
| them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening |
| conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its |
| animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass and human |
| nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of |
| threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for |
| them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the |
| regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined |
| lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually |
| been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 13 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| “I hope, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast |
| the next morning, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I |
| have reason to expect an addition to our family party.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, |
| unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in—and I hope <i>my</i> |
| dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at |
| home.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a stranger.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. “A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. |
| Bingley, I am sure! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. |
| Bingley. But—good Lord! how unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to |
| be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell—I must speak to Hill |
| this moment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is <i>not</i> Mr. Bingley,” said her husband; “it is a person whom I |
| never saw in the whole course of my life.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being |
| eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I |
| answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early |
| attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may |
| turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear,” cried his wife, “I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray |
| do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the |
| world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; |
| and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do |
| something or other about it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail. They |
| had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. |
| Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she continued to rail bitterly |
| against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five |
| daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,” said Mr. Bennet, “and nothing |
| can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you |
| will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his |
| manner of expressing himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of him |
| to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. |
| Why could he not keep on quarreling with you, as his father did before |
| him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, |
| as you will hear.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dear Sir,— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father |
| always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to |
| lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I |
| was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful |
| to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had |
| always pleased him to be at variance.—'There, Mrs. Bennet.'—My |
| mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received |
| ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by |
| the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of |
| Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the |
| valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to |
| demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever |
| ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the |
| Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote |
| and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my |
| influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures |
| are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the |
| entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not |
| lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than |
| concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg |
| leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to |
| make them every possible amends—but of this hereafter. If you should |
| have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the |
| satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by |
| four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the |
| Saturday se'ennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, |
| as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a |
| Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of |
| the day.—I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your |
| lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “WILLIAM COLLINS” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making gentleman,” |
| said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. “He seems to be a most |
| conscientious and polite young man, upon my word, and I doubt not will |
| prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so |
| indulgent as to let him come to us again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however, and if he |
| is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to |
| discourage him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Though it is difficult,” said Jane, “to guess in what way he can mean to |
| make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his |
| credit.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary deference for Lady |
| Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying |
| his parishioners whenever it were required. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He must be an oddity, I think,” said she. “I cannot make him out.—There |
| is something very pompous in his style.—And what can he mean by |
| apologising for being next in the entail?—We cannot suppose he would |
| help it if he could.—Could he be a sensible man, sir?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the |
| reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his |
| letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In point of composition,” said Mary, “the letter does not seem defective. |
| The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is |
| well expressed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any |
| degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should |
| come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received |
| pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their |
| mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she |
| was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her |
| husband and daughters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great |
| politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the |
| ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need |
| of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, |
| heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, |
| and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he |
| complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters; said he |
| had heard much of their beauty, but that in this instance fame had fallen |
| short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all |
| in due time disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the |
| taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. Bennet, who quarreled with no |
| compliments, answered most readily. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove |
| so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must |
| confess. Not that I mean to find fault with <i>you</i>, for such things I |
| know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go |
| when once they come to be entailed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could |
| say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and |
| precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to |
| admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, when we are |
| better acquainted—” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each |
| other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The |
| hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; |
| and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, |
| but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future |
| property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and he begged to |
| know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cooking was owing. |
| But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some |
| asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her |
| daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having |
| displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all |
| offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 14 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants |
| were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his |
| guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, |
| by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady |
| Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his |
| comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen |
| better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him |
| to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect |
| he protested that “he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a |
| person of rank—such affability and condescension, as he had himself |
| experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to |
| approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of |
| preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and |
| had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of |
| quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people |
| he knew, but <i>he</i> had never seen anything but affability in her. She |
| had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not |
| the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood |
| nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his |
| relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he |
| could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in |
| his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations |
| he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself—some |
| shelves in the closet up stairs.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is all very proper and civil, I am sure,” said Mrs. Bennet, “and I |
| dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in |
| general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane |
| from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any family?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive |
| property.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Ah!” said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, “then she is better off than |
| many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says |
| that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the |
| handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her features which marks |
| the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly |
| constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many |
| accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am |
| informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still |
| resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to |
| drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at |
| court.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and |
| by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British |
| court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the |
| idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those |
| little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have |
| more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter |
| seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of |
| giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of |
| little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention |
| which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You judge very properly,” said Mr. Bennet, “and it is happy for you that |
| you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether |
| these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are |
| the result of previous study?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I |
| sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant |
| compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give |
| them as unstudied an air as possible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as |
| he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, |
| maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, |
| and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in |
| his pleasure. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to |
| take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad |
| to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, |
| and a book was produced; but, on beholding it (for everything announced it |
| to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging pardon, |
| protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia |
| exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose |
| Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, |
| with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him |
| with: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard; |
| and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself |
| on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and |
| to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. |
| Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of |
| a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I |
| confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as |
| instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at |
| backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted |
| very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. |
| Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, |
| and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book; |
| but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no |
| ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated |
| himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 15 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been |
| but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life |
| having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; |
| and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the |
| necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The |
| subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally |
| great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the |
| self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential |
| feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had |
| recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford |
| was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his |
| veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of |
| himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made |
| him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and |
| humility. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to |
| marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a |
| wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them |
| as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This |
| was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting their |
| father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility |
| and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own |
| part. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed |
| his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to |
| seniority; and for the first evening <i>she</i> was his settled choice. |
| The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an |
| hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation |
| beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of |
| his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn, produced |
| from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a |
| caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. “As to her <i>younger</i> |
| daughters, she could not take upon her to say—she could not |
| positively answer—but she did not <i>know</i> of any prepossession; |
| her <i>eldest</i> daughter, she must just mention—she felt it |
| incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was |
| soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, |
| equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have |
| two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the |
| day before was now high in her good graces. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister |
| except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at |
| the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and |
| have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him |
| after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one |
| of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, |
| with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings |
| discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure |
| of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to |
| meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used |
| to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in |
| inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, |
| being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely |
| pleased to close his large book, and go. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, |
| their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger |
| ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately |
| wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than |
| a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could |
| recall them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they |
| had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with |
| another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. |
| Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he |
| bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all |
| wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to |
| find out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting |
| something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the |
| pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. |
| Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce |
| his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from |
| town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. |
| This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only |
| regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in |
| his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good |
| figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his |
| side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same |
| time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still |
| standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses |
| drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. |
| On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly |
| towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal |
| spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on |
| his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy |
| corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his |
| eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the |
| stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they |
| looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. |
| Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a |
| few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy just |
| deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to |
| imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what |
| passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. |
| Phillip's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's |
| pressing entreaties that they should come in, and even in spite of Mrs. |
| Phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the |
| invitation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from |
| their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly |
| expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own |
| carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she |
| had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the street, who had told |
| her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because |
| the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. |
| Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best |
| politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his |
| intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not |
| help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship |
| to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was |
| quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of |
| one stranger was soon put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about |
| the other; of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they |
| already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was |
| to have a lieutenant's commission in the ——shire. She had been |
| watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, |
| and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have |
| continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now except a |
| few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become |
| “stupid, disagreeable fellows.” Some of them were to dine with the |
| Phillipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call |
| on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from |
| Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Phillips |
| protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery |
| tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such |
| delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. |
| Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with |
| unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass |
| between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or |
| both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such |
| behaviour than her sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. |
| Phillips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady |
| Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for |
| she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but even pointedly |
| included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly |
| unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his |
| connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in |
| the whole course of his life. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 16 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, |
| and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single |
| evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed |
| him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had |
| the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. |
| Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. |
| Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much |
| struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he |
| might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour |
| at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; |
| but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was |
| its proprietor—when she had listened to the description of only one |
| of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone |
| had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, |
| and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, |
| with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and the |
| improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen |
| joined them; and he found in Mrs. Phillips a very attentive listener, |
| whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who |
| was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. |
| To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to |
| do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent |
| imitations of china on the mantelpiece, the interval of waiting appeared |
| very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach, and |
| when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither |
| been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest |
| degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the ——shire |
| were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them |
| were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in |
| person, countenance, air, and walk, as <i>they</i> were superior to the |
| broad-faced, stuffy uncle Phillips, breathing port wine, who followed them |
| into the room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was |
| turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated |
| himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into |
| conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel |
| that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered |
| interesting by the skill of the speaker. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr. Wickham and the |
| officers, Mr. Collins seemed to sink into insignificance; to the young |
| ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind |
| listener in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most abundantly |
| supplied with coffee and muffin. When the card-tables were placed, he had |
| the opportunity of obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I know little of the game at present,” said he, “but I shall be glad to |
| improve myself, for in my situation in life—” Mrs. Phillips was very |
| glad for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received |
| at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed |
| danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined |
| talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon |
| grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and |
| exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular. |
| Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at |
| leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though |
| what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told—the |
| history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention |
| that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. |
| Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was |
| from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating |
| manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “About a month,” said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject |
| drop, added, “He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I |
| understand.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes,” replied Mr. Wickham; “his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten |
| thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of |
| giving you certain information on that head than myself, for I have been |
| connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not but look surprised. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after |
| seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting |
| yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “As much as I ever wish to be,” cried Elizabeth very warmly. “I have spent |
| four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have no right to give <i>my</i> opinion,” said Wickham, “as to his |
| being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known |
| him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for <i>me</i> |
| to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general |
| astonish—and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly |
| anywhere else. Here you are in your own family.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word, I say no more <i>here</i> than I might say in any house in |
| the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in |
| Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find |
| him more favourably spoken of by anyone.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot pretend to be sorry,” said Wickham, after a short interruption, |
| “that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts; but |
| with <i>him</i> I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded |
| by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing |
| manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should take him, even on <i>my</i> slight acquaintance, to be an |
| ill-tempered man.” Wickham only shook his head. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I wonder,” said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, “whether he is |
| likely to be in this country much longer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not at all know; but I <i>heard</i> nothing of his going away when I |
| was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ——shire |
| will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! no—it is not for <i>me</i> to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If |
| <i>he</i> wishes to avoid seeing <i>me</i>, he must go. We are not on |
| friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no |
| reason for avoiding <i>him</i> but what I might proclaim before all the |
| world, a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his |
| being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of |
| the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I |
| can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the |
| soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been |
| scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him anything and |
| everything, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the |
| memory of his father.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with |
| all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the |
| neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had |
| yet seen, and speaking of the latter with gentle but very intelligible |
| gallantry. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It was the prospect of constant society, and good society,” he added, |
| “which was my chief inducement to enter the ——shire. I knew it |
| to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me |
| further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great |
| attentions and excellent acquaintances Meryton had procured them. Society, |
| I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits |
| will not bear solitude. I <i>must</i> have employment and society. A |
| military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now |
| made it eligible. The church <i>ought</i> to have been my profession—I |
| was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in |
| possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were |
| speaking of just now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes—the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the |
| best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to |
| me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, |
| and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given |
| elsewhere.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good heavens!” cried Elizabeth; “but how could <i>that</i> be? How could |
| his will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give |
| me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, |
| but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it—or to treat it as a merely |
| conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim |
| to it by extravagance, imprudence—in short anything or nothing. |
| Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I |
| was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no |
| less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done |
| anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may |
| have spoken my opinion <i>of</i> him, and <i>to</i> him, too freely. I can |
| recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of |
| men, and that he hates me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly disgraced.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Some time or other he <i>will</i> be—but it shall not be by <i>me</i>. |
| Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose <i>him</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than |
| ever as he expressed them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But what,” said she, after a pause, “can have been his motive? What can |
| have induced him to behave so cruelly?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A thorough, determined dislike of me—a dislike which I cannot but |
| attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me |
| less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father's uncommon |
| attachment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not |
| a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood—the sort |
| of preference which was often given me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this—though I have never |
| liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be |
| despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of |
| descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as |
| this.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, “I <i>do</i> |
| remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of his |
| resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition must be |
| dreadful.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I will not trust myself on the subject,” replied Wickham; “I can hardly |
| be just to him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, “To treat |
| in such a manner the godson, the friend, the favourite of his father!” She |
| could have added, “A young man, too, like <i>you</i>, whose very |
| countenance may vouch for your being amiable”—but she contented |
| herself with, “and one, too, who had probably been his companion from |
| childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the closest |
| manner!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We were born in the same parish, within the same park; the greatest part |
| of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, sharing the |
| same amusements, objects of the same parental care. <i>My</i> father began |
| life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Phillips, appears to do so |
| much credit to—but he gave up everything to be of use to the late |
| Mr. Darcy and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. |
| He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential |
| friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest |
| obligations to my father's active superintendence, and when, immediately |
| before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of |
| providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of |
| gratitude to <i>him</i>, as of his affection to myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How strange!” cried Elizabeth. “How abominable! I wonder that the very |
| pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you! If from no better |
| motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest—for |
| dishonesty I must call it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It <i>is</i> wonderful,” replied Wickham, “for almost all his actions may |
| be traced to pride; and pride had often been his best friend. It has |
| connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling. But we are |
| none of us consistent, and in his behaviour to me there were stronger |
| impulses even than pride.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money |
| freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the |
| poor. Family pride, and <i>filial</i> pride—for he is very proud of |
| what his father was—have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his |
| family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of |
| the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also <i>brotherly</i> |
| pride, which, with <i>some</i> brotherly affection, makes him a very kind |
| and careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried |
| up as the most attentive and best of brothers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He shook his head. “I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to |
| speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother—very, |
| very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely |
| fond of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement. But she |
| is nothing to me now. She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, |
| and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her home |
| has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her |
| education.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not |
| help reverting once more to the first, and saying: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley! How can Mr. Bingley, |
| who seems good humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be |
| in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? Do you know |
| Mr. Bingley?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not at all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. |
| Darcy is.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Probably not; but Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not want |
| abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth his |
| while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a very |
| different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His pride never |
| deserts him; but with the rich he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, |
| rational, honourable, and perhaps agreeable—allowing something for |
| fortune and figure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round |
| the other table and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin |
| Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. The usual inquiries as to his success were |
| made by the latter. It had not been very great; he had lost every point; |
| but when Mrs. Phillips began to express her concern thereupon, he assured |
| her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least importance, |
| that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged that she would |
| not make herself uneasy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I know very well, madam,” said he, “that when persons sit down to a |
| card-table, they must take their chances of these things, and happily I am |
| not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There are |
| undoubtedly many who could not say the same, but thanks to Lady Catherine |
| de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little |
| matters.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham's attention was caught; and after observing Mr. Collins for a |
| few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation was |
| very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” she replied, “has very lately given him a |
| living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, |
| but he certainly has not known her long.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were |
| sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's |
| connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before |
| yesterday.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is |
| believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss |
| Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her |
| affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already |
| self-destined for another. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Collins,” said she, “speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her |
| daughter; but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship, I |
| suspect his gratitude misleads him, and that in spite of her being his |
| patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I believe her to be both in a great degree,” replied Wickham; “I have not |
| seen her for many years, but I very well remember that I never liked her, |
| and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the reputation |
| of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe she derives |
| part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from her |
| authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride for her nephew, who |
| chooses that everyone connected with him should have an understanding of |
| the first class.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and |
| they continued talking together, with mutual satisfaction till supper put |
| an end to cards, and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. |
| Wickham's attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs. |
| Phillips's supper party, but his manners recommended him to everybody. |
| Whatever he said, was said well; and whatever he did, done gracefully. |
| Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing |
| but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home; but |
| there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went, for |
| neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia talked incessantly |
| of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won; and |
| Mr. Collins in describing the civility of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, |
| protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist, |
| enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing that he |
| crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage before the |
| carriage stopped at Longbourn House. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 17 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth related to Jane the next day what had passed between Mr. Wickham |
| and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; she knew not how |
| to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard; |
| and yet, it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man |
| of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The possibility of his having |
| endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; |
| and nothing remained therefore to be done, but to think well of them both, |
| to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or |
| mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They have both,” said she, “been deceived, I dare say, in some way or |
| other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps |
| misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to |
| conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, |
| without actual blame on either side.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say on |
| behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the |
| business? Do clear <i>them</i> too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of |
| somebody.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. |
| My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places |
| Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, one |
| whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No man of |
| common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be |
| capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in |
| him? Oh! no.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than that |
| Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last |
| night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not |
| so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is difficult indeed—it is distressing. One does not know what to |
| think.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But Jane could think with certainty on only one point—that Mr. |
| Bingley, if he <i>had</i> been imposed on, would have much to suffer when |
| the affair became public. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this |
| conversation passed, by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had |
| been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal |
| invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for |
| the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear |
| friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked |
| what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the rest |
| of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as |
| possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. |
| They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity which |
| took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape |
| from Mrs. Bennet's civilities. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every |
| female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in |
| compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by |
| receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a |
| ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society |
| of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother; and Elizabeth |
| thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of |
| seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's look and behaviour. The |
| happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single |
| event, or any particular person, for though they each, like Elizabeth, |
| meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the |
| only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. |
| And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for |
| it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “While I can have my mornings to myself,” said she, “it is enough—I |
| think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. |
| Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who |
| consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for |
| everybody.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion, that though she did not |
| often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him |
| whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he did, |
| whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and |
| she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever |
| on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the |
| Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you,” said he, “that a ball of |
| this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can |
| have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, |
| that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in |
| the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting |
| yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, a preference |
| which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to |
| any disrespect for her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being |
| engaged by Mr. Wickham for those very dances; and to have Mr. Collins |
| instead! her liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help for |
| it, however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own were perforce delayed a |
| little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as |
| she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry from the idea |
| it suggested of something more. It now first struck her, that <i>she</i> |
| was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of |
| Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Rosings, |
| in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to |
| conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities toward herself, and |
| heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and |
| though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her |
| charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the |
| probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to <i>her</i>. |
| Elizabeth, however, did not choose to take the hint, being well aware that |
| a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might |
| never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about |
| him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the |
| younger Miss Bennets would have been in a very pitiable state at this |
| time, for from the day of the invitation, to the day of the ball, there |
| was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton once. |
| No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after—the very |
| shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have |
| found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the |
| improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than a |
| dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and |
| Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 18 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in vain |
| for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled, a doubt of |
| his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty of meeting him |
| had not been checked by any of those recollections that might not |
| unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than usual care, |
| and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained |
| unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in |
| the course of the evening. But in an instant arose the dreadful suspicion |
| of his being purposely omitted for Mr. Darcy's pleasure in the Bingleys' |
| invitation to the officers; and though this was not exactly the case, the |
| absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Denny, to whom |
| Lydia eagerly applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to |
| go to town on business the day before, and was not yet returned; adding, |
| with a significant smile, “I do not imagine his business would have called |
| him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman |
| here.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by |
| Elizabeth, and, as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for |
| Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just, every feeling |
| of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate |
| disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to the |
| polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make. |
| Attendance, forbearance, patience with Darcy, was injury to Wickham. She |
| was resolved against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away |
| with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in |
| speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality provoked her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour; and though every prospect of |
| her own was destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on her |
| spirits; and having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had |
| not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a voluntary transition to |
| the oddities of her cousin, and to point him out to her particular notice. |
| The first two dances, however, brought a return of distress; they were |
| dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising |
| instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, |
| gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a |
| couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking of |
| Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances |
| were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with |
| her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy who took her |
| so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing |
| what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again immediately, and she |
| was left to fret over her own want of presence of mind; Charlotte tried to |
| console her: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I dare say you will find him very agreeable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Heaven forbid! <i>That</i> would be the greatest misfortune of all! To |
| find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such |
| an evil.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her |
| hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper, not to be a |
| simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant |
| in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence. Elizabeth made no answer, |
| and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she was |
| arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in |
| her neighbours' looks, their equal amazement in beholding it. They stood |
| for some time without speaking a word; and she began to imagine that their |
| silence was to last through the two dances, and at first was resolved not |
| to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater |
| punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight |
| observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause |
| of some minutes, she addressed him a second time with:—“It is <i>your</i> |
| turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and <i>you</i> |
| ought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number |
| of couples.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be |
| said. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may |
| observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But <i>now</i> |
| we may be silent.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be |
| entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet for the advantage of <i>some</i>, |
| conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the trouble of |
| saying as little as possible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you |
| imagine that you are gratifying mine?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Both,” replied Elizabeth archly; “for I have always seen a great |
| similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn |
| disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that |
| will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the |
| eclat of a proverb.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure,” |
| said he. “How near it may be to <i>mine</i>, I cannot pretend to say. <i>You</i> |
| think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must not decide on my own performance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He made no answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down the |
| dance, when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often walk to |
| Meryton. She answered in the affirmative, and, unable to resist the |
| temptation, added, “When you met us there the other day, we had just been |
| forming a new acquaintance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The effect was immediate. A deeper shade of <i>hauteur</i> overspread his |
| features, but he said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself |
| for her own weakness, could not go on. At length Darcy spoke, and in a |
| constrained manner said, “Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners |
| as may ensure his <i>making</i> friends—whether he may be equally |
| capable of <i>retaining</i> them, is less certain.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He has been so unlucky as to lose <i>your</i> friendship,” replied |
| Elizabeth with emphasis, “and in a manner which he is likely to suffer |
| from all his life.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject. At that |
| moment, Sir William Lucas appeared close to them, meaning to pass through |
| the set to the other side of the room; but on perceiving Mr. Darcy, he |
| stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on his dancing |
| and his partner. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very superior |
| dancing is not often seen. It is evident that you belong to the first |
| circles. Allow me to say, however, that your fair partner does not |
| disgrace you, and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated, |
| especially when a certain desirable event, my dear Eliza (glancing at her |
| sister and Bingley) shall take place. What congratulations will then flow |
| in! I appeal to Mr. Darcy:—but let me not interrupt you, sir. You |
| will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that |
| young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy; but Sir |
| William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his |
| eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and |
| Jane, who were dancing together. Recovering himself, however, shortly, he |
| turned to his partner, and said, “Sir William's interruption has made me |
| forget what we were talking of.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not think we were speaking at all. Sir William could not have |
| interrupted two people in the room who had less to say for themselves. We |
| have tried two or three subjects already without success, and what we are |
| to talk of next I cannot imagine.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What think you of books?” said he, smiling. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Books—oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the |
| same feelings.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be |
| no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No—I cannot talk of books in a ball-room; my head is always full of |
| something else.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The <i>present</i> always occupies you in such scenes—does it?” |
| said he, with a look of doubt. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, always,” she replied, without knowing what she said, for her |
| thoughts had wandered far from the subject, as soon afterwards appeared by |
| her suddenly exclaiming, “I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, that |
| you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was |
| unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its <i>being created</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am,” said he, with a firm voice. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to |
| be secure of judging properly at first.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “May I ask to what these questions tend?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Merely to the illustration of <i>your</i> character,” said she, |
| endeavouring to shake off her gravity. “I am trying to make it out.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what is your success?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She shook her head. “I do not get on at all. I hear such different |
| accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I can readily believe,” answered he gravely, “that reports may vary |
| greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were |
| not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to |
| fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another |
| opportunity.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours,” he coldly replied. |
| She said no more, and they went down the other dance and parted in |
| silence; and on each side dissatisfied, though not to an equal degree, for |
| in Darcy's breast there was a tolerably powerful feeling towards her, |
| which soon procured her pardon, and directed all his anger against |
| another. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They had not long separated, when Miss Bingley came towards her, and with |
| an expression of civil disdain accosted her: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “So, Miss Eliza, I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! Your |
| sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand |
| questions; and I find that the young man quite forgot to tell you, among |
| his other communication, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late Mr. |
| Darcy's steward. Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give |
| implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy's using him |
| ill, it is perfectly false; for, on the contrary, he has always been |
| remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a |
| most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I know very well |
| that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he cannot bear to hear |
| George Wickham mentioned, and that though my brother thought that he could |
| not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers, he was |
| excessively glad to find that he had taken himself out of the way. His |
| coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing, indeed, and I |
| wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you, Miss Eliza, for this |
| discovery of your favourite's guilt; but really, considering his descent, |
| one could not expect much better.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same,” said |
| Elizabeth angrily; “for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than |
| of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of <i>that</i>, I can assure |
| you, he informed me himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I beg your pardon,” replied Miss Bingley, turning away with a sneer. |
| “Excuse my interference—it was kindly meant.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Insolent girl!” said Elizabeth to herself. “You are much mistaken if you |
| expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this. I see nothing in |
| it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr. Darcy.” She then |
| sought her eldest sister, who had undertaken to make inquiries on the same |
| subject of Bingley. Jane met her with a smile of such sweet complacency, a |
| glow of such happy expression, as sufficiently marked how well she was |
| satisfied with the occurrences of the evening. Elizabeth instantly read |
| her feelings, and at that moment solicitude for Wickham, resentment |
| against his enemies, and everything else, gave way before the hope of |
| Jane's being in the fairest way for happiness. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I want to know,” said she, with a countenance no less smiling than her |
| sister's, “what you have learnt about Mr. Wickham. But perhaps you have |
| been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person; in which case |
| you may be sure of my pardon.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No,” replied Jane, “I have not forgotten him; but I have nothing |
| satisfactory to tell you. Mr. Bingley does not know the whole of his |
| history, and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have principally |
| offended Mr. Darcy; but he will vouch for the good conduct, the probity, |
| and honour of his friend, and is perfectly convinced that Mr. Wickham has |
| deserved much less attention from Mr. Darcy than he has received; and I am |
| sorry to say by his account as well as his sister's, Mr. Wickham is by no |
| means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has been very imprudent, and |
| has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Bingley does not know Mr. Wickham himself?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No; he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This account then is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am satisfied. |
| But what does he say of the living?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has heard them |
| from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he believes that it was left to him <i>conditionally</i> |
| only.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity,” said Elizabeth warmly; |
| “but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr. |
| Bingley's defense of his friend was a very able one, I dare say; but since |
| he is unacquainted with several parts of the story, and has learnt the |
| rest from that friend himself, I shall venture to still think of both |
| gentlemen as I did before.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each, and on |
| which there could be no difference of sentiment. Elizabeth listened with |
| delight to the happy, though modest hopes which Jane entertained of Mr. |
| Bingley's regard, and said all in her power to heighten her confidence in |
| it. On their being joined by Mr. Bingley himself, Elizabeth withdrew to |
| Miss Lucas; to whose inquiry after the pleasantness of her last partner |
| she had scarcely replied, before Mr. Collins came up to them, and told her |
| with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate as to make a most |
| important discovery. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have found out,” said he, “by a singular accident, that there is now in |
| the room a near relation of my patroness. I happened to overhear the |
| gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of the |
| house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady |
| Catherine. How wonderfully these sort of things occur! Who would have |
| thought of my meeting with, perhaps, a nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh |
| in this assembly! I am most thankful that the discovery is made in time |
| for me to pay my respects to him, which I am now going to do, and trust he |
| will excuse my not having done it before. My total ignorance of the |
| connection must plead my apology.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier. I |
| believe him to be Lady Catherine's <i>nephew</i>. It will be in my power |
| to assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday se'nnight.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme, assuring him that |
| Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an |
| impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that it was not |
| in the least necessary there should be any notice on either side; and that |
| if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in consequence, to |
| begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened to her with the determined |
| air of following his own inclination, and, when she ceased speaking, |
| replied thus: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world in your |
| excellent judgement in all matters within the scope of your understanding; |
| but permit me to say, that there must be a wide difference between the |
| established forms of ceremony amongst the laity, and those which regulate |
| the clergy; for, give me leave to observe that I consider the clerical |
| office as equal in point of dignity with the highest rank in the kingdom—provided |
| that a proper humility of behaviour is at the same time maintained. You |
| must therefore allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience on this |
| occasion, which leads me to perform what I look on as a point of duty. |
| Pardon me for neglecting to profit by your advice, which on every other |
| subject shall be my constant guide, though in the case before us I |
| consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on |
| what is right than a young lady like yourself.” And with a low bow he left |
| her to attack Mr. Darcy, whose reception of his advances she eagerly |
| watched, and whose astonishment at being so addressed was very evident. |
| Her cousin prefaced his speech with a solemn bow and though she could not |
| hear a word of it, she felt as if hearing it all, and saw in the motion of |
| his lips the words “apology,” “Hunsford,” and “Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” |
| It vexed her to see him expose himself to such a man. Mr. Darcy was eyeing |
| him with unrestrained wonder, and when at last Mr. Collins allowed him |
| time to speak, replied with an air of distant civility. Mr. Collins, |
| however, was not discouraged from speaking again, and Mr. Darcy's contempt |
| seemed abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech, and at |
| the end of it he only made him a slight bow, and moved another way. Mr. |
| Collins then returned to Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have no reason, I assure you,” said he, “to be dissatisfied with my |
| reception. Mr. Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention. He answered |
| me with the utmost civility, and even paid me the compliment of saying |
| that he was so well convinced of Lady Catherine's discernment as to be |
| certain she could never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very |
| handsome thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased with him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue, she turned |
| her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the train |
| of agreeable reflections which her observations gave birth to, made her |
| perhaps almost as happy as Jane. She saw her in idea settled in that very |
| house, in all the felicity which a marriage of true affection could |
| bestow; and she felt capable, under such circumstances, of endeavouring |
| even to like Bingley's two sisters. Her mother's thoughts she plainly saw |
| were bent the same way, and she determined not to venture near her, lest |
| she might hear too much. When they sat down to supper, therefore, she |
| considered it a most unlucky perverseness which placed them within one of |
| each other; and deeply was she vexed to find that her mother was talking |
| to that one person (Lady Lucas) freely, openly, and of nothing else but |
| her expectation that Jane would soon be married to Mr. Bingley. It was an |
| animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while |
| enumerating the advantages of the match. His being such a charming young |
| man, and so rich, and living but three miles from them, were the first |
| points of self-gratulation; and then it was such a comfort to think how |
| fond the two sisters were of Jane, and to be certain that they must desire |
| the connection as much as she could do. It was, moreover, such a promising |
| thing for her younger daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly must throw |
| them in the way of other rich men; and lastly, it was so pleasant at her |
| time of life to be able to consign her single daughters to the care of |
| their sister, that she might not be obliged to go into company more than |
| she liked. It was necessary to make this circumstance a matter of |
| pleasure, because on such occasions it is the etiquette; but no one was |
| less likely than Mrs. Bennet to find comfort in staying home at any period |
| of her life. She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might |
| soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing |
| there was no chance of it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's |
| words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper; |
| for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the chief of |
| it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them. Her mother only |
| scolded her for being nonsensical. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure |
| we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing <i>he</i> |
| may not like to hear.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “For heaven's sake, madam, speak lower. What advantage can it be for you |
| to offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his friend by so |
| doing!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Nothing that she could say, however, had any influence. Her mother would |
| talk of her views in the same intelligible tone. Elizabeth blushed and |
| blushed again with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently |
| glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what |
| she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was |
| convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her. The expression |
| of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and |
| steady gravity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady Lucas, who |
| had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no |
| likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken. |
| Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the interval of |
| tranquillity; for, when supper was over, singing was talked of, and she |
| had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, |
| preparing to oblige the company. By many significant looks and silent |
| entreaties, did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance, but |
| in vain; Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of exhibiting |
| was delightful to her, and she began her song. Elizabeth's eyes were fixed |
| on her with most painful sensations, and she watched her progress through |
| the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at |
| their close; for Mary, on receiving, amongst the thanks of the table, the |
| hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favour them again, after |
| the pause of half a minute began another. Mary's powers were by no means |
| fitted for such a display; her voice was weak, and her manner affected. |
| Elizabeth was in agonies. She looked at Jane, to see how she bore it; but |
| Jane was very composedly talking to Bingley. She looked at his two |
| sisters, and saw them making signs of derision at each other, and at |
| Darcy, who continued, however, imperturbably grave. She looked at her |
| father to entreat his interference, lest Mary should be singing all night. |
| He took the hint, and when Mary had finished her second song, said aloud, |
| “That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. |
| Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mary, though pretending not to hear, was somewhat disconcerted; and |
| Elizabeth, sorry for her, and sorry for her father's speech, was afraid |
| her anxiety had done no good. Others of the party were now applied to. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If I,” said Mr. Collins, “were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I |
| should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an |
| air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly |
| compatible with the profession of a clergyman. I do not mean, however, to |
| assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time to music, |
| for there are certainly other things to be attended to. The rector of a |
| parish has much to do. In the first place, he must make such an agreement |
| for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his |
| patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time that remains will not |
| be too much for his parish duties, and the care and improvement of his |
| dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as |
| possible. And I do not think it of light importance that he should have |
| attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards |
| those to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit him of that duty; |
| nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of |
| testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family.” And |
| with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had been spoken so |
| loud as to be heard by half the room. Many stared—many smiled; but |
| no one looked more amused than Mr. Bennet himself, while his wife |
| seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, and |
| observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably clever, |
| good kind of young man. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose |
| themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been |
| impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success; |
| and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the |
| exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a |
| sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed. That |
| his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of |
| ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, and she could not determine |
| whether the silent contempt of the gentleman, or the insolent smiles of |
| the ladies, were more intolerable. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teased by |
| Mr. Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side, and though he |
| could not prevail on her to dance with him again, put it out of her power |
| to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with |
| somebody else, and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. |
| He assured her, that as to dancing, he was perfectly indifferent to it; |
| that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to |
| her and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her |
| the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a project. She owed her |
| greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and |
| good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's conversation to herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice; |
| though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite |
| disengaged, he never came near enough to speak. She felt it to be the |
| probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and, by a |
| manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an |
| hour after everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how |
| heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her |
| sister scarcely opened their mouths, except to complain of fatigue, and |
| were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves. They repulsed |
| every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and by so doing threw a |
| languor over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the long |
| speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley and his sisters |
| on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and politeness |
| which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said nothing at |
| all. Mr. Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr. Bingley and |
| Jane were standing together, a little detached from the rest, and talked |
| only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a silence as either Mrs. |
| Hurst or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia was too much fatigued to utter more |
| than the occasional exclamation of “Lord, how tired I am!” accompanied by |
| a violent yawn. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When at length they arose to take leave, Mrs. Bennet was most pressingly |
| civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn, and |
| addressed herself especially to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how happy he |
| would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time, without |
| the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure, |
| and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on |
| her, after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next |
| day for a short time. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied, and quitted the house under the |
| delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of |
| settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly |
| see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four |
| months. Of having another daughter married to Mr. Collins, she thought |
| with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure. |
| Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the |
| man and the match were quite good enough for <i>her</i>, the worth of each |
| was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 19 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his |
| declaration in form. Having resolved to do it without loss of time, as his |
| leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and having no |
| feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at the |
| moment, he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the |
| observances, which he supposed a regular part of the business. On finding |
| Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together, soon after |
| breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, |
| when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course |
| of this morning?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. |
| Bennet answered instantly, “Oh dear!—yes—certainly. I am sure |
| Lizzy will be very happy—I am sure she can have no objection. Come, |
| Kitty, I want you up stairs.” And, gathering her work together, she was |
| hastening away, when Elizabeth called out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dear madam, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse me. |
| He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going |
| away myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you to stay where you are.” And upon |
| Elizabeth's seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to |
| escape, she added: “Lizzy, I <i>insist</i> upon your staying and hearing |
| Mr. Collins.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction—and a moment's |
| consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it |
| over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again and tried to |
| conceal, by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between |
| distress and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as |
| they were gone, Mr. Collins began. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from doing |
| you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You would have |
| been less amiable in my eyes had there <i>not</i> been this little |
| unwillingness; but allow me to assure you, that I have your respected |
| mother's permission for this address. You can hardly doubt the purport of |
| my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble; my |
| attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I |
| entered the house, I singled you out as the companion of my future life. |
| But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject, perhaps it |
| would be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying—and, |
| moreover, for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of selecting a |
| wife, as I certainly did.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run away |
| with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing, that she could not |
| use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further, and he |
| continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for |
| every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of |
| matrimony in his parish; secondly, that I am convinced that it will add |
| very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to |
| have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and |
| recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling |
| patroness. Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked |
| too!) on this subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I |
| left Hunsford—between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson |
| was arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool, that she said, 'Mr. Collins, you |
| must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, choose a |
| gentlewoman for <i>my</i> sake; and for your <i>own</i>, let her be an |
| active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a |
| small income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon |
| as you can, bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her.' Allow me, by the |
| way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice and |
| kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the advantages |
| in my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond anything I can |
| describe; and your wit and vivacity, I think, must be acceptable to her, |
| especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will |
| inevitably excite. Thus much for my general intention in favour of |
| matrimony; it remains to be told why my views were directed towards |
| Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I can assure you there |
| are many amiable young women. But the fact is, that being, as I am, to |
| inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who, however, |
| may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving |
| to choose a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be |
| as little as possible, when the melancholy event takes place—which, |
| however, as I have already said, may not be for several years. This has |
| been my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me |
| in your esteem. And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the |
| most animated language of the violence of my affection. To fortune I am |
| perfectly indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature on your |
| father, since I am well aware that it could not be complied with; and that |
| one thousand pounds in the four per cents, which will not be yours till |
| after your mother's decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On |
| that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure |
| yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are |
| married.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are too hasty, sir,” she cried. “You forget that I have made no |
| answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for |
| the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of your |
| proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than to decline |
| them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not now to learn,” replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the |
| hand, “that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the |
| man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their |
| favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second, or even a |
| third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just |
| said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word, sir,” cried Elizabeth, “your hope is a rather extraordinary |
| one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not one of those young |
| ladies (if such young ladies there are) who are so daring as to risk their |
| happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly |
| serious in my refusal. You could not make <i>me</i> happy, and I am |
| convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so. |
| Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded she would |
| find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so,” said Mr. Collins |
| very gravely—“but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all |
| disapprove of you. And you may be certain when I have the honour of seeing |
| her again, I shall speak in the very highest terms of your modesty, |
| economy, and other amiable qualification.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You must give |
| me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment of believing what |
| I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing your hand, do |
| all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. In making me the offer, |
| you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regard to my |
| family, and may take possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls, |
| without any self-reproach. This matter may be considered, therefore, as |
| finally settled.” And rising as she thus spoke, she would have quitted the |
| room, had Mr. Collins not thus addressed her: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject, I |
| shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me; |
| though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it |
| to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first |
| application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my |
| suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female |
| character.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Really, Mr. Collins,” cried Elizabeth with some warmth, “you puzzle me |
| exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form of |
| encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as to |
| convince you of its being one.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your |
| refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for |
| believing it are briefly these: It does not appear to me that my hand is |
| unworthy of your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be |
| any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with |
| the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are |
| circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into further |
| consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no |
| means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your |
| portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the |
| effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must therefore |
| conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose |
| to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according |
| to the usual practice of elegant females.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of |
| elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be |
| paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again |
| for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is |
| absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak |
| plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to plague |
| you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are uniformly charming!” cried he, with an air of awkward gallantry; |
| “and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of both |
| your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being acceptable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To such perseverance in wilful self-deception Elizabeth would make no |
| reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew; determined, if he |
| persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering |
| encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered in |
| such a manner as to be decisive, and whose behaviour at least could not be |
| mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 20 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his |
| successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in the vestibule to |
| watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door |
| and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she entered the |
| breakfast-room, and congratulated both him and herself in warm terms on |
| the happy prospect of their nearer connection. Mr. Collins received and |
| returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then proceeded to |
| relate the particulars of their interview, with the result of which he |
| trusted he had every reason to be satisfied, since the refusal which his |
| cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow from her bashful |
| modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; she would have been glad |
| to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage him by |
| protesting against his proposals, but she dared not believe it, and could |
| not help saying so. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But, depend upon it, Mr. Collins,” she added, “that Lizzy shall be |
| brought to reason. I will speak to her about it directly. She is a very |
| headstrong, foolish girl, and does not know her own interest but I will <i>make</i> |
| her know it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pardon me for interrupting you, madam,” cried Mr. Collins; “but if she is |
| really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would altogether be |
| a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for |
| happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in |
| rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting |
| me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute |
| much to my felicity.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Sir, you quite misunderstand me,” said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. “Lizzy is |
| only headstrong in such matters as these. In everything else she is as |
| good-natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and |
| we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her |
| husband, called out as she entered the library, “Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are |
| wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy |
| marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not |
| make haste he will change his mind and not have <i>her</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on |
| her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her |
| communication. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have not the pleasure of understanding you,” said he, when she had |
| finished her speech. “Of what are you talking?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, |
| and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what am I to do on the occasion? It seems an hopeless business.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her |
| marrying him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Come here, child,” cried her father as she appeared. “I have sent for you |
| on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an |
| offer of marriage. Is it true?” Elizabeth replied that it was. “Very well—and |
| this offer of marriage you have refused?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have, sir.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your |
| accepting it. Is it not so, Mrs. Bennet?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, or I will never see her again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must |
| be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again |
| if you do <i>not</i> marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if |
| you <i>do</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning, |
| but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the |
| affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, in talking this way? You promised me to <i>insist</i> |
| upon her marrying him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear,” replied her husband, “I have two small favours to request. |
| First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the |
| present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the |
| library to myself as soon as may be.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did Mrs. |
| Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed |
| and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane in her |
| interest; but Jane, with all possible mildness, declined interfering; and |
| Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness, and sometimes with playful |
| gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner varied, however, her |
| determination never did. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. He |
| thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motives his cousin could |
| refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way. |
| His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her |
| deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the |
| day with them. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to her, |
| cried in a half whisper, “I am glad you are come, for there is such fun |
| here! What do you think has happened this morning? Mr. Collins has made an |
| offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Charlotte hardly had time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, who |
| came to tell the same news; and no sooner had they entered the |
| breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than she likewise began on |
| the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and entreating her |
| to persuade her friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her family. |
| “Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas,” she added in a melancholy tone, “for nobody |
| is on my side, nobody takes part with me. I am cruelly used, nobody feels |
| for my poor nerves.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye, there she comes,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “looking as unconcerned as |
| may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided she |
| can have her own way. But I tell you, Miss Lizzy—if you take it into |
| your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will |
| never get a husband at all—and I am sure I do not know who is to |
| maintain you when your father is dead. I shall not be able to keep you—and |
| so I warn you. I have done with you from this very day. I told you in the |
| library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you will |
| find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful |
| children. Not that I have much pleasure, indeed, in talking to anybody. |
| People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no great |
| inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always |
| so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that any |
| attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the |
| irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of |
| them, till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered the room with an |
| air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the |
| girls, “Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your tongues, |
| and let me and Mr. Collins have a little conversation together.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but |
| Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, |
| detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after |
| herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little |
| curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending not |
| to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet began the projected conversation: |
| “Oh! Mr. Collins!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear madam,” replied he, “let us be for ever silent on this point. Far |
| be it from me,” he presently continued, in a voice that marked his |
| displeasure, “to resent the behaviour of your daughter. Resignation to |
| inevitable evils is the duty of us all; the peculiar duty of a young man |
| who has been so fortunate as I have been in early preferment; and I trust |
| I am resigned. Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt of my positive |
| happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; for I have often |
| observed that resignation is never so perfect as when the blessing denied |
| begins to lose somewhat of its value in our estimation. You will not, I |
| hope, consider me as showing any disrespect to your family, my dear madam, |
| by thus withdrawing my pretensions to your daughter's favour, without |
| having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the compliment of requesting you to |
| interpose your authority in my behalf. My conduct may, I fear, be |
| objectionable in having accepted my dismission from your daughter's lips |
| instead of your own. But we are all liable to error. I have certainly |
| meant well through the whole affair. My object has been to secure an |
| amiable companion for myself, with due consideration for the advantage of |
| all your family, and if my <i>manner</i> has been at all reprehensible, I |
| here beg leave to apologise.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 21 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and |
| Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily |
| attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusions of her mother. |
| As for the gentleman himself, <i>his</i> feelings were chiefly expressed, |
| not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by |
| stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, |
| and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself were |
| transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in |
| listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to |
| her friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill-humour or ill |
| health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth |
| had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did |
| not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on |
| Saturday, and to Saturday he meant to stay. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr. Wickham |
| were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. |
| He joined them on their entering the town, and attended them to their |
| aunt's where his regret and vexation, and the concern of everybody, was |
| well talked over. To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that |
| the necessity of his absence <i>had</i> been self-imposed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I found,” said he, “as the time drew near that I had better not meet Mr. |
| Darcy; that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many |
| hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might |
| arise unpleasant to more than myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full |
| discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed |
| on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to |
| Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His |
| accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it |
| offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of |
| introducing him to her father and mother. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came |
| from Netherfield. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, |
| hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and |
| Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her |
| dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself |
| soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual |
| cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on |
| the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner |
| had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her |
| to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane, taking |
| out the letter, said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good |
| deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their |
| way to town—and without any intention of coming back again. You |
| shall hear what she says.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of |
| their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and |
| of their meaning to dine in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. |
| The next was in these words: “I do not pretend to regret anything I shall |
| leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we |
| will hope, at some future period, to enjoy many returns of that delightful |
| intercourse we have known, and in the meanwhile may lessen the pain of |
| separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend |
| on you for that.” To these highflown expressions Elizabeth listened with |
| all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their |
| removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not |
| to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. |
| Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was |
| persuaded that Jane must cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is unlucky,” said she, after a short pause, “that you should not be |
| able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not |
| hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks |
| forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful |
| intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater |
| satisfaction as sisters? Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by |
| them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into |
| Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you:” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which |
| took him to London might be concluded in three or four days; but as we are |
| certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles |
| gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined |
| on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant |
| hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintances are already there |
| for the winter; I wish that I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had |
| any intention of making one of the crowd—but of that I despair. I |
| sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties |
| which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so |
| numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall |
| deprive you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is evident by this,” added Jane, “that he comes back no more this |
| winter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean that he <i>should</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. He is his own master. |
| But you do not know <i>all</i>. I <i>will</i> read you the passage which |
| particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from <i>you</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; and, to confess the truth, <i>we</i> |
| are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana |
| Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the |
| affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something |
| still more interesting, from the hope we dare entertain of her being |
| hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you |
| my feelings on this subject; but I will not leave the country without |
| confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My |
| brother admires her greatly already; he will have frequent opportunity now |
| of seeing her on the most intimate footing; her relations all wish the |
| connection as much as his own; and a sister's partiality is not misleading |
| me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's |
| heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment, and nothing |
| to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an |
| event which will secure the happiness of so many?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What do you think of <i>this</i> sentence, my dear Lizzy?” said Jane as |
| she finished it. “Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare |
| that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is |
| perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she |
| suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to |
| put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. Will you hear it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Most willingly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You shall have it in a few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is |
| in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to |
| town in hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does |
| not care about you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane shook her head. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you |
| together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She is |
| not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy |
| for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is |
| this: We are not rich enough or grand enough for them; and she is the more |
| anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there |
| has been <i>one</i> intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving |
| a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it |
| would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, my dearest |
| Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her |
| brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest degree less |
| sensible of <i>your</i> merit than when he took leave of you on Tuesday, |
| or that it will be in her power to persuade him that, instead of being in |
| love with you, he is very much in love with her friend.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If we thought alike of Miss Bingley,” replied Jane, “your representation |
| of all this might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. |
| Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving anyone; and all that I can |
| hope in this case is that she is deceiving herself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea, since you |
| will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived, by all means. |
| You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in |
| accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry |
| elsewhere?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You must decide for yourself,” said Elizabeth; “and if, upon mature |
| deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is |
| more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by |
| all means to refuse him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How can you talk so?” said Jane, faintly smiling. “You must know that |
| though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could |
| not hesitate.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I did not think you would; and that being the case, I cannot consider |
| your situation with much compassion.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be required. |
| A thousand things may arise in six months!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost |
| contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's |
| interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those |
| wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man so |
| totally independent of everyone. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt on the |
| subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. Jane's |
| temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the |
| diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would |
| return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the |
| family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; but |
| even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, and she |
| bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen to go |
| away just as they were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting |
| it, however, at some length, she had the consolation that Mr. Bingley |
| would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the conclusion |
| of all was the comfortable declaration, that though he had been invited |
| only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 22 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the |
| chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. |
| Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. “It keeps him in good |
| humour,” said she, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.” |
| Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that |
| it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very |
| amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any |
| conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any |
| return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such |
| was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable, that when |
| they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he |
| had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did |
| injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to |
| escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and |
| hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to |
| avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him |
| depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not |
| willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known |
| likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte |
| had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the |
| adventure of Wednesday. His reception, however, was of the most flattering |
| kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards |
| the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But |
| little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her |
| there. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, everything |
| was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered |
| the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him |
| the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the |
| present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The |
| stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship |
| from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss |
| Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of |
| an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; and |
| it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's present |
| circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom |
| they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were |
| exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate, with more |
| interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer |
| Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided |
| opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the |
| Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife |
| should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, |
| were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of |
| <i>coming out</i> a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have |
| done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's |
| dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had |
| gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in |
| general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor |
| agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be |
| imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly |
| either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was |
| the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and |
| however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest |
| preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the |
| age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the |
| good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the |
| surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued |
| beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably |
| would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her |
| feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved to give her |
| the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he |
| returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before |
| any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully |
| given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity |
| excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct questions on |
| his return as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same |
| time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his |
| prosperous love. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the |
| family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved |
| for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said |
| how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his |
| engagements might allow him to visit them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear madam,” he replied, “this invitation is particularly gratifying, |
| because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very |
| certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for |
| so speedy a return, immediately said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my good |
| sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of offending |
| your patroness.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear sir,” replied Mr. Collins, “I am particularly obliged to you for |
| this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a |
| step without her ladyship's concurrence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her |
| displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us |
| again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, |
| and be satisfied that <i>we</i> shall take no offence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such |
| affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from |
| me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your regard |
| during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence |
| may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the |
| liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin |
| Elizabeth.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally |
| surprised that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to |
| understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her |
| younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. She |
| rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a |
| solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means |
| so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve |
| himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable |
| companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done |
| away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference |
| with Elizabeth related the event of the day before. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend |
| had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that |
| Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from possibility as she |
| could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so |
| great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not |
| help crying out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte—impossible!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her |
| story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a |
| reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained |
| her composure, and calmly replied: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible |
| that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, |
| because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for |
| it, was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their |
| relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all |
| imaginable happiness. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I see what you are feeling,” replied Charlotte. “You must be surprised, |
| very much surprised—so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry |
| you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be |
| satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never was. |
| I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, |
| connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of |
| happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the |
| marriage state.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth quietly answered “Undoubtedly;” and after an awkward pause, they |
| returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, |
| and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a |
| long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable |
| a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage |
| within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She |
| had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like |
| her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible that, when called into |
| action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly |
| advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most humiliating |
| picture! And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her |
| esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for |
| that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 23 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she |
| had heard, and doubting whether she was authorised to mention it, when Sir |
| William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter, to announce her |
| engagement to the family. With many compliments to them, and much |
| self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the houses, he |
| unfolded the matter—to an audience not merely wondering, but |
| incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, |
| protested he must be entirely mistaken; and Lydia, always unguarded and |
| often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? Do not you know |
| that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne without |
| anger such treatment; but Sir William's good breeding carried him through |
| it all; and though he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his |
| information, he listened to all their impertinence with the most |
| forbearing courtesy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant a |
| situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by mentioning |
| her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and endeavoured to put a |
| stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters by the earnestness of |
| her congratulations to Sir William, in which she was readily joined by |
| Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be |
| expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the |
| convenient distance of Hunsford from London. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while Sir |
| William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings found a |
| rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of |
| the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken |
| in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together; and |
| fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, |
| were plainly deduced from the whole: one, that Elizabeth was the real |
| cause of the mischief; and the other that she herself had been barbarously |
| misused by them all; and on these two points she principally dwelt during |
| the rest of the day. Nothing could console and nothing could appease her. |
| Nor did that day wear out her resentment. A week elapsed before she could |
| see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could |
| speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months |
| were gone before she could at all forgive their daughter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such as |
| he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for it |
| gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been |
| used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more |
| foolish than his daughter! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said less |
| of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; nor |
| could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty and Lydia |
| were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; |
| and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at |
| Meryton. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on |
| Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she called |
| at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, though |
| Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to |
| drive happiness away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them |
| mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real |
| confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her disappointment in |
| Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose |
| rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken, and |
| for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as Bingley had now been |
| gone a week and nothing more was heard of his return. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting the |
| days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised letter of |
| thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and |
| written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in |
| the family might have prompted. After discharging his conscience on that |
| head, he proceeded to inform them, with many rapturous expressions, of his |
| happiness in having obtained the affection of their amiable neighbour, |
| Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was merely with the view of |
| enjoying her society that he had been so ready to close with their kind |
| wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither he hoped to be able to |
| return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, he added, so heartily |
| approved his marriage, that she wished it to take place as soon as |
| possible, which he trusted would be an unanswerable argument with his |
| amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him the happiest of men. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure |
| to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to complain of |
| it as her husband. It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn |
| instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly |
| troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house while her health was |
| so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable. Such |
| were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the |
| greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after day |
| passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the report |
| which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield |
| the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which |
| she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Even Elizabeth began to fear—not that Bingley was indifferent—but |
| that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as she |
| was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so |
| dishonorable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its |
| frequently occurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and |
| of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and |
| the amusements of London might be too much, she feared, for the strength |
| of his attachment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As for Jane, <i>her</i> anxiety under this suspense was, of course, more |
| painful than Elizabeth's, but whatever she felt she was desirous of |
| concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject was |
| never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother, an hour |
| seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley, express her impatience |
| for his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he did not come |
| back she would think herself very ill used. It needed all Jane's steady |
| mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable tranquillity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins returned most punctually on Monday fortnight, but his |
| reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his |
| first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention; and |
| luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them from a |
| great deal of his company. The chief of every day was spent by him at |
| Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make |
| an apology for his absence before the family went to bed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. The very mention of |
| anything concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour, and |
| wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight of Miss |
| Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she regarded her |
| with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see them, she |
| concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession; and whenever she |
| spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was convinced that they were talking |
| of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself and her daughters |
| out of the house, as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She complained bitterly |
| of all this to her husband. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, Mr. Bennet,” said she, “it is very hard to think that Charlotte |
| Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced to |
| make way for <i>her</i>, and live to see her take her place in it!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better |
| things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and therefore, instead of |
| making any answer, she went on as before. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was |
| not for the entail, I should not mind it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What should not you mind?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should not mind anything at all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such |
| insensibility.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How |
| anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own |
| daughters, I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! |
| Why should <i>he</i> have it more than anybody else?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I leave it to yourself to determine,” said Mr. Bennet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 24 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first |
| sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for |
| the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had time |
| to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the |
| country. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of |
| the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the |
| writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied the |
| chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline |
| boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the |
| accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. |
| She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate of Mr. |
| Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with |
| regard to new furniture. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, |
| heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern for |
| her sister, and resentment against all others. To Caroline's assertion of |
| her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no credit. That he was |
| really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much |
| as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without |
| anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of |
| proper resolution, which now made him the slave of his designing friends, |
| and led him to sacrifice of his own happiness to the caprice of their |
| inclination. Had his own happiness, however, been the only sacrifice, he |
| might have been allowed to sport with it in whatever manner he thought |
| best, but her sister's was involved in it, as she thought he must be |
| sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, on which reflection would be |
| long indulged, and must be unavailing. She could think of nothing else; |
| and yet whether Bingley's regard had really died away, or were suppressed |
| by his friends' interference; whether he had been aware of Jane's |
| attachment, or whether it had escaped his observation; whatever were the |
| case, though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the |
| difference, her sister's situation remained the same, her peace equally |
| wounded. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to |
| Elizabeth; but at last, on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a |
| longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could |
| not help saying: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, that my dear mother had more command over herself! She can have no |
| idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I |
| will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall all |
| be as we were before.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said |
| nothing. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You doubt me,” cried Jane, slightly colouring; “indeed, you have no |
| reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my |
| acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and |
| nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not <i>that</i> pain. A |
| little time, therefore—I shall certainly try to get the better.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With a stronger voice she soon added, “I have this comfort immediately, |
| that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it |
| has done no harm to anyone but myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Jane!” exclaimed Elizabeth, “you are too good. Your sweetness and |
| disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I |
| feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you deserve.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the |
| praise on her sister's warm affection. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nay,” said Elizabeth, “this is not fair. <i>You</i> wish to think all the |
| world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody. I only want to |
| think <i>you</i> perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be |
| afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege |
| of universal good-will. You need not. There are few people whom I really |
| love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, |
| the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of |
| the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence |
| that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense. I have met with |
| two instances lately, one I will not mention; the other is Charlotte's |
| marriage. It is unaccountable! In every view it is unaccountable!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will ruin |
| your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference of |
| situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and |
| Charlotte's steady, prudent character. Remember that she is one of a large |
| family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be ready to |
| believe, for everybody's sake, that she may feel something like regard and |
| esteem for our cousin.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To oblige you, I would try to believe almost anything, but no one else |
| could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that |
| Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her |
| understanding than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a |
| conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as I |
| do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who married him |
| cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though it |
| is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change |
| the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself |
| or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security |
| for happiness.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must think your language too strong in speaking of both,” replied Jane; |
| “and I hope you will be convinced of it by seeing them happy together. But |
| enough of this. You alluded to something else. You mentioned <i>two</i> |
| instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I entreat you, dear Lizzy, not |
| to pain me by thinking <i>that person</i> to blame, and saying your |
| opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves |
| intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always |
| so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity |
| that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And men take care that they should.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of |
| there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design,” |
| said Elizabeth; “but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others |
| unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, |
| want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, will |
| do the business.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And do you impute it to either of those?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what I |
| think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, in conjunction with his friend.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can only |
| wish his happiness; and if he is attached to me, no other woman can secure |
| it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his |
| happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may |
| wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great |
| connections, and pride.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Beyond a doubt, they <i>do</i> wish him to choose Miss Darcy,” replied |
| Jane; “but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They |
| have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love |
| her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely |
| they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think herself |
| at liberty to do it, unless there were something very objectionable? If |
| they believed him attached to me, they would not try to part us; if he |
| were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an affection, you make |
| everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy. Do not |
| distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been mistaken—or, |
| at least, it is light, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel |
| in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, |
| in the light in which it may be understood.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's |
| name was scarcely ever mentioned between them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more, |
| and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it |
| clearly, there was little chance of her ever considering it with less |
| perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not |
| believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of |
| a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but |
| though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had |
| the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best comfort was that |
| Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. “So, Lizzy,” said he one day, |
| “your sister is crossed in love, I find. I congratulate her. Next to being |
| married, a girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is |
| something to think of, and it gives her a sort of distinction among her |
| companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long |
| outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough in Meryton to |
| disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be <i>your</i> |
| man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not |
| all expect Jane's good fortune.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “True,” said Mr. Bennet, “but it is a comfort to think that whatever of |
| that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will make |
| the most of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom |
| which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn |
| family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added |
| that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, |
| his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now |
| openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was pleased to |
| know how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known |
| anything of the matter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any |
| extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society of |
| Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, |
| and urged the possibility of mistakes—but by everybody else Mr. |
| Darcy was condemned as the worst of men. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 25 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. |
| Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday. |
| The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by |
| preparations for the reception of his bride; as he had reason to hope, |
| that shortly after his return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed |
| that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his relations |
| at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair cousins |
| health and happiness again, and promised their father another letter of |
| thanks. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her |
| brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas at |
| Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly |
| superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield |
| ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by |
| trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred |
| and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. |
| Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and |
| a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the two eldest |
| and herself especially, there subsisted a particular regard. They had |
| frequently been staying with her in town. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival was to |
| distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was |
| done she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. |
| Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They |
| had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her girls |
| had been upon the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in |
| it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not blame Jane,” she continued, “for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley |
| if she could. But Lizzy! Oh, sister! It is very hard to think that she |
| might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had it not been for her |
| own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused |
| him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have a daughter |
| married before I have, and that the Longbourn estate is just as much |
| entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. They |
| are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. |
| It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, |
| and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else. |
| However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts, and I |
| am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, in |
| the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her |
| sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the |
| conversation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. “It |
| seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane,” said she. “I am |
| sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as |
| you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a |
| few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that |
| these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “An excellent consolation in its way,” said Elizabeth, “but it will not do |
| for <i>us</i>. We do not suffer by <i>accident</i>. It does not often |
| happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of |
| independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in |
| love with only a few days before.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, |
| so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied |
| to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, |
| strong attachment. Pray, how <i>violent was</i> Mr. Bingley's love?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite |
| inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they |
| met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two |
| or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him |
| twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? |
| Is not general incivility the very essence of love?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes!—of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. |
| Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not |
| get over it immediately. It had better have happened to <i>you</i>, Lizzy; |
| you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she |
| would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene might be of |
| service—and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as |
| anything.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded |
| of her sister's ready acquiescence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope,” added Mrs. Gardiner, “that no consideration with regard to this |
| young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of town, all |
| our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so |
| little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, unless he |
| really comes to see her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And <i>that</i> is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his |
| friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a |
| part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may |
| perhaps have <i>heard</i> of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he |
| would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its |
| impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley |
| never stirs without him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane |
| correspond with his sister? <i>She</i> will not be able to help calling.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She will drop the acquaintance entirely.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this |
| point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being |
| withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which |
| convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely |
| hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that his |
| affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends |
| successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the Bingleys |
| were no otherwise in her thoughts at the same time, than as she hoped by |
| Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, she might |
| occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of seeing him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn; and what with the Phillipses, |
| the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its engagement. |
| Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment of her brother |
| and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family dinner. When the |
| engagement was for home, some of the officers always made part of it—of |
| which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and on these occasions, |
| Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's warm commendation, |
| narrowly observed them both. Without supposing them, from what she saw, to |
| be very seriously in love, their preference of each other was plain enough |
| to make her a little uneasy; and she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the |
| subject before she left Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence |
| of encouraging such an attachment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, unconnected |
| with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, before her |
| marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very part of |
| Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many acquaintances |
| in common; and though Wickham had been little there since the death of |
| Darcy's father, it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence |
| of her former friends than she had been in the way of procuring. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by |
| character perfectly well. Here consequently was an inexhaustible subject |
| of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute |
| description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of |
| praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both him |
| and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's |
| treatment of him, she tried to remember some of that gentleman's reputed |
| disposition when quite a lad which might agree with it, and was confident |
| at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy formerly |
| spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 26 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given on |
| the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after honestly |
| telling her what she thought, she thus went on: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you |
| are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. |
| Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself or |
| endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would |
| make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against <i>him</i>; he is a |
| most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I |
| should think you could not do better. But as it is, you must not let your |
| fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. |
| Your father would depend on <i>your</i> resolution and good conduct, I am |
| sure. You must not disappoint your father.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of myself, |
| and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I can prevent |
| it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Elizabeth, you are not serious now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I beg your pardon, I will try again. At present I am not in love with Mr. |
| Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, the |
| most agreeable man I ever saw—and if he becomes really attached to |
| me—I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the |
| imprudence of it. Oh! <i>that</i> abominable Mr. Darcy! My father's |
| opinion of me does me the greatest honour, and I should be miserable to |
| forfeit it. My father, however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my |
| dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you |
| unhappy; but since we see every day that where there is affection, young |
| people are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into |
| engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many of |
| my fellow-creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that it |
| would be wisdom to resist? All that I can promise you, therefore, is not |
| to be in a hurry. I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first |
| object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. In short, I |
| will do my best.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here so very |
| often. At least, you should not <i>remind</i> your mother of inviting |
| him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “As I did the other day,” said Elizabeth with a conscious smile: “very |
| true, it will be wise in me to refrain from <i>that</i>. But do not |
| imagine that he is always here so often. It is on your account that he has |
| been so frequently invited this week. You know my mother's ideas as to the |
| necessity of constant company for her friends. But really, and upon my |
| honour, I will try to do what I think to be the wisest; and now I hope you |
| are satisfied.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her aunt assured her that she was, and Elizabeth having thanked her for |
| the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice |
| being given on such a point, without being resented. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted by |
| the Gardiners and Jane; but as he took up his abode with the Lucases, his |
| arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. His marriage was now |
| fast approaching, and she was at length so far resigned as to think it |
| inevitable, and even repeatedly to say, in an ill-natured tone, that she “<i>wished</i> |
| they might be happy.” Thursday was to be the wedding day, and on Wednesday |
| Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she rose to take leave, |
| Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and reluctant good wishes, |
| and sincerely affected herself, accompanied her out of the room. As they |
| went downstairs together, Charlotte said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>That</i> you certainly shall.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And I have another favour to ask you. Will you come and see me?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to |
| come to Hunsford.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not refuse, though she foresaw little pleasure in the |
| visit. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My father and Maria are coming to me in March,” added Charlotte, “and I |
| hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as |
| welcome as either of them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the |
| church door, and everybody had as much to say, or to hear, on the subject |
| as usual. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend; and their correspondence |
| was as regular and frequent as it had ever been; that it should be equally |
| unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never address her without |
| feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, and though determined |
| not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been, |
| rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters were received with a good |
| deal of eagerness; there could not but be curiosity to know how she would |
| speak of her new home, how she would like Lady Catherine, and how happy |
| she would dare pronounce herself to be; though, when the letters were |
| read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point |
| exactly as she might have foreseen. She wrote cheerfully, seemed |
| surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing which she could not |
| praise. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, and roads, were all to her |
| taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most friendly and obliging. It |
| was Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened; and |
| Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there to know the |
| rest. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their safe |
| arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it would be |
| in her power to say something of the Bingleys. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience |
| generally is. Jane had been a week in town without either seeing or |
| hearing from Caroline. She accounted for it, however, by supposing that |
| her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been |
| lost. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My aunt,” she continued, “is going to-morrow into that part of the town, |
| and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. “I |
| did not think Caroline in spirits,” were her words, “but she was very glad |
| to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to |
| London. I was right, therefore, my last letter had never reached her. I |
| inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged |
| with Mr. Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that Miss Darcy |
| was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was not long, as |
| Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall see them soon |
| here.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that accident |
| only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to |
| persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be |
| blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning |
| for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the |
| visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and yet more, |
| the alteration of her manner would allow Jane to deceive herself no |
| longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister will |
| prove what she felt. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her |
| better judgement, at my expense, when I confess myself to have been |
| entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me. But, my dear sister, |
| though the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I |
| still assert that, considering what her behaviour was, my confidence was |
| as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for |
| wishing to be intimate with me; but if the same circumstances were to |
| happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again. Caroline did not |
| return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a line, did I receive |
| in the meantime. When she did come, it was very evident that she had no |
| pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal apology, for not calling before, |
| said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was in every respect so |
| altered a creature, that when she went away I was perfectly resolved to |
| continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, though I cannot help blaming |
| her. She was very wrong in singling me out as she did; I can safely say |
| that every advance to intimacy began on her side. But I pity her, because |
| she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure |
| that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it. I need not explain myself |
| farther; and though <i>we</i> know this anxiety to be quite needless, yet |
| if she feels it, it will easily account for her behaviour to me; and so |
| deservedly dear as he is to his sister, whatever anxiety she must feel on |
| his behalf is natural and amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her |
| having any such fears now, because, if he had at all cared about me, we |
| must have met, long ago. He knows of my being in town, I am certain, from |
| something she said herself; and yet it would seem, by her manner of |
| talking, as if she wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to |
| Miss Darcy. I cannot understand it. If I were not afraid of judging |
| harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong |
| appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every |
| painful thought, and think only of what will make me happy—your |
| affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me |
| hear from you very soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never |
| returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the house, but not with any |
| certainty. We had better not mention it. I am extremely glad that you have |
| such pleasant accounts from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, |
| with Sir William and Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there.—Yours, |
| etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she |
| considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least. All |
| expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not even |
| wish for a renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on every review |
| of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to |
| Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy's sister, |
| as by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had |
| thrown away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise concerning |
| that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth had such to send |
| as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to herself. His apparent |
| partiality had subsided, his attentions were over, he was the admirer of |
| some one else. Elizabeth was watchful enough to see it all, but she could |
| see it and write of it without material pain. Her heart had been but |
| slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that <i>she</i> |
| would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it. The sudden |
| acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most remarkable charm of the |
| young lady to whom he was now rendering himself agreeable; but Elizabeth, |
| less clear-sighted perhaps in this case than in Charlotte's, did not |
| quarrel with him for his wish of independence. Nothing, on the contrary, |
| could be more natural; and while able to suppose that it cost him a few |
| struggles to relinquish her, she was ready to allow it a wise and |
| desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely wish him happy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the |
| circumstances, she thus went on: “I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I |
| have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and |
| elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him |
| all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards <i>him</i>; |
| they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I hate |
| her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good |
| sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My watchfulness has been |
| effectual; and though I certainly should be a more interesting object to |
| all my acquaintances were I distractedly in love with him, I cannot say |
| that I regret my comparative insignificance. Importance may sometimes be |
| purchased too dearly. Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to |
| heart than I do. They are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open |
| to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something |
| to live on as well as the plain.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 27 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| With no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise |
| diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and |
| sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take |
| Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of |
| going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan |
| and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure as |
| well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing |
| Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There was |
| novelty in the scheme, and as, with such a mother and such uncompanionable |
| sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change was not unwelcome |
| for its own sake. The journey would moreover give her a peep at Jane; and, |
| in short, as the time drew near, she would have been very sorry for any |
| delay. Everything, however, went on smoothly, and was finally settled |
| according to Charlotte's first sketch. She was to accompany Sir William |
| and his second daughter. The improvement of spending a night in London was |
| added in time, and the plan became perfect as plan could be. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, and |
| who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going, that he told |
| her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on |
| his side even more. His present pursuit could not make him forget that |
| Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention, the |
| first to listen and to pity, the first to be admired; and in his manner of |
| bidding her adieu, wishing her every enjoyment, reminding her of what she |
| was to expect in Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting their opinion of |
| her—their opinion of everybody—would always coincide, there |
| was a solicitude, an interest which she felt must ever attach her to him |
| with a most sincere regard; and she parted from him convinced that, |
| whether married or single, he must always be her model of the amiable and |
| pleasing. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her think |
| him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas, and his daughter Maria, a |
| good-humoured girl, but as empty-headed as himself, had nothing to say |
| that could be worth hearing, and were listened to with about as much |
| delight as the rattle of the chaise. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but she |
| had known Sir William's too long. He could tell her nothing new of the |
| wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his civilities were worn |
| out, like his information. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they began it so early as |
| to be in Gracechurch Street by noon. As they drove to Mr. Gardiner's door, |
| Jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival; when they |
| entered the passage she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, looking |
| earnestly in her face, was pleased to see it healthful and lovely as ever. |
| On the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls, whose eagerness for |
| their cousin's appearance would not allow them to wait in the |
| drawing-room, and whose shyness, as they had not seen her for a |
| twelvemonth, prevented their coming lower. All was joy and kindness. The |
| day passed most pleasantly away; the morning in bustle and shopping, and |
| the evening at one of the theatres. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt. Their first object was her |
| sister; and she was more grieved than astonished to hear, in reply to her |
| minute inquiries, that though Jane always struggled to support her |
| spirits, there were periods of dejection. It was reasonable, however, to |
| hope that they would not continue long. Mrs. Gardiner gave her the |
| particulars also of Miss Bingley's visit in Gracechurch Street, and |
| repeated conversations occurring at different times between Jane and |
| herself, which proved that the former had, from her heart, given up the |
| acquaintance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion, and |
| complimented her on bearing it so well. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But my dear Elizabeth,” she added, “what sort of girl is Miss King? I |
| should be sorry to think our friend mercenary.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial affairs, |
| between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, |
| and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, |
| because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl |
| with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is mercenary.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall know |
| what to think.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather's death |
| made her mistress of this fortune.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No—why should he? If it were not allowable for him to gain <i>my</i> |
| affections because I had no money, what occasion could there be for making |
| love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was equally poor?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But there seems an indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her so |
| soon after this event.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant |
| decorums which other people may observe. If <i>she</i> does not object to |
| it, why should <i>we</i>?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>Her</i> not objecting does not justify <i>him</i>. It only shows her |
| being deficient in something herself—sense or feeling.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well,” cried Elizabeth, “have it as you choose. <i>He</i> shall be |
| mercenary, and <i>she</i> shall be foolish.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, Lizzy, that is what I do <i>not</i> choose. I should be sorry, you |
| know, to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in Derbyshire.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in |
| Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not |
| much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow |
| where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has |
| neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones |
| worth knowing, after all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she had the |
| unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in a |
| tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We have not determined how far it shall carry us,” said Mrs. Gardiner, |
| “but, perhaps, to the Lakes.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and her acceptance |
| of the invitation was most ready and grateful. “Oh, my dear, dear aunt,” |
| she rapturously cried, “what delight! what felicity! You give me fresh |
| life and vigour. Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are young men to |
| rocks and mountains? Oh! what hours of transport we shall spend! And when |
| we <i>do</i> return, it shall not be like other travellers, without being |
| able to give one accurate idea of anything. We <i>will</i> know where we |
| have gone—we <i>will</i> recollect what we have seen. Lakes, |
| mountains, and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our imaginations; |
| nor when we attempt to describe any particular scene, will we begin |
| quarreling about its relative situation. Let <i>our</i> first effusions be |
| less insupportable than those of the generality of travellers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 28 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to |
| Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state of enjoyment; for she had seen |
| her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the |
| prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When they left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in |
| search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. |
| The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth |
| smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the road, |
| the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, |
| everything declared they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared |
| at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which led by a |
| short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole |
| party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight |
| of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest |
| pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming when she |
| found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her |
| cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was |
| just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes at the gate to |
| hear and satisfy his inquiries after all her family. They were then, with |
| no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken |
| into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlour, he welcomed them |
| a second time, with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and |
| punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help in |
| fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect |
| and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing |
| to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though everything |
| seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh |
| of repentance, and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could |
| have so cheerful an air with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said |
| anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly |
| was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or |
| twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did |
| not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture |
| in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their |
| journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them |
| to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to |
| the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in this garden was |
| one of his most respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command |
| of countenance with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the |
| exercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading |
| the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an |
| interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out |
| with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the |
| fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the |
| most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the |
| country or kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect |
| of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park |
| nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, |
| well situated on rising ground. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows; |
| but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white |
| frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte took |
| her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, probably, to |
| have the opportunity of showing it without her husband's help. It was |
| rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything was fitted up |
| and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave |
| Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was |
| really an air of great comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident |
| enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It |
| was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining |
| in, observed: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de |
| Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be |
| delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt |
| not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service |
| is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying she will include you and |
| my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your |
| stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at |
| Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her |
| ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I <i>should</i> say, one |
| of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed,” added |
| Charlotte, “and a most attentive neighbour.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman |
| whom one cannot regard with too much deference.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and |
| telling again what had already been written; and when it closed, |
| Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon |
| Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, |
| and composure in bearing with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it was |
| all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, |
| the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of |
| Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings. A lively |
| imagination soon settled it all. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready for |
| a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion; |
| and, after listening a moment, she heard somebody running up stairs in a |
| violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door and met |
| Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with agitation, cried out— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for |
| there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make |
| haste, and come down this moment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, and |
| down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in quest of |
| this wonder; It was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the garden |
| gate. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And is this all?” cried Elizabeth. “I expected at least that the pigs |
| were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her |
| daughter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “La! my dear,” said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, “it is not Lady |
| Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them; the other |
| is Miss de Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little creature. Who |
| would have thought that she could be so thin and small?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. |
| Why does she not come in?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours |
| when Miss de Bourgh comes in.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I like her appearance,” said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. “She |
| looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make |
| him a very proper wife.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation |
| with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was |
| stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before |
| him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that way. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and the |
| others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two girls |
| than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte |
| explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at |
| Rosings the next day. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 29 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete. |
| The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering |
| visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his |
| wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing |
| it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine's |
| condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I confess,” said he, “that I should not have been at all surprised by her |
| ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at |
| Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it |
| would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who |
| could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an |
| invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately after your |
| arrival!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am the less surprised at what has happened,” replied Sir William, “from |
| that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my |
| situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such |
| instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their |
| visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they |
| were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so |
| splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady |
| Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes |
| herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of |
| your clothes is superior to the rest—there is no occasion for |
| anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being |
| simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different |
| doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much |
| objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. Such formidable accounts of |
| her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas who |
| had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her |
| introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done |
| to his presentation at St. James's. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile |
| across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and |
| Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such |
| raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but |
| slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, |
| and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir |
| Lewis de Bourgh. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment |
| increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth's |
| courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that |
| spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and |
| the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought she could witness |
| without trepidation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous |
| air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they followed the |
| servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her |
| daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her ladyship, with great |
| condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it |
| with her husband that the office of introduction should be hers, it was |
| performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks |
| which he would have thought necessary. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed |
| by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to |
| make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his |
| daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her |
| chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal |
| to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. |
| Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, |
| which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was |
| her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their |
| inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever |
| she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her |
| self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; |
| and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady |
| Catherine to be exactly what he represented. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she |
| soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the |
| daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her |
| being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any |
| likeness between the ladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her |
| features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, |
| except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was |
| nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she |
| said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to |
| admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and |
| Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking |
| at in the summer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and |
| all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had |
| likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her |
| ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish |
| nothing greater. He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; |
| and every dish was commended, first by him and then by Sir William, who |
| was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in a manner |
| which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine |
| seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious |
| smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. |
| The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak |
| whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and |
| Miss de Bourgh—the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady |
| Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner-time. Mrs. |
| Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, |
| pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she was indisposed. Maria |
| thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but |
| eat and admire. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was little to be done |
| but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission |
| till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so |
| decisive a manner, as proved that she was not used to have her judgement |
| controverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly |
| and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them |
| all; told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as |
| hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. |
| Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, |
| which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the |
| intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of |
| questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose |
| connections she knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was a |
| very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at different times, how |
| many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, |
| whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, |
| where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had |
| been her mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her |
| questions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then observed, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake,” |
| turning to Charlotte, “I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion |
| for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought necessary |
| in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A little.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! then—some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our |
| instrument is a capital one, probably superior to——You shall |
| try it some day. Do your sisters play and sing?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “One of them does.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs |
| all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do you |
| draw?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, not at all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What, none of you?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not one.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother |
| should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Has your governess left you?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We never had any governess.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home |
| without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have |
| been quite a slave to your education.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been |
| the case. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess, you must |
| have been neglected.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished |
| to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and |
| had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, |
| certainly might.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had |
| known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage |
| one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady |
| and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is |
| wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that |
| way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces |
| of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it |
| was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was |
| merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted |
| with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's calling yesterday |
| to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady Catherine,' said she, |
| 'you have given me a treasure.' Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss |
| Bennet?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, ma'am, all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The |
| younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters |
| must be very young?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps <i>she</i> is full young to be |
| much in company. But really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon |
| younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and |
| amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to |
| marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth |
| as the first. And to be kept back on <i>such</i> a motive! I think it |
| would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of |
| mind.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word,” said her ladyship, “you give your opinion very decidedly |
| for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With three younger sisters grown up,” replied Elizabeth, smiling, “your |
| ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; |
| and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever |
| dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you need not conceal |
| your age.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not one-and-twenty.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card-tables were |
| placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to |
| quadrille; and as Miss de Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls |
| had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their |
| table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did |
| not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of |
| Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too |
| little light. A great deal more passed at the other table. Lady Catherine |
| was generally speaking—stating the mistakes of the three others, or |
| relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to |
| everything her ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and |
| apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. |
| He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the |
| tables were broken up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, |
| gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round |
| the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have |
| on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival |
| of the coach; and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side |
| and as many bows on Sir William's they departed. As soon as they had |
| driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her |
| opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, |
| she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though |
| costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he |
| was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 30 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long enough |
| to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of |
| her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met |
| with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his morning to |
| driving him out in his gig, and showing him the country; but when he went |
| away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth |
| was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the |
| alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now |
| passed by him either at work in the garden or in reading and writing, and |
| looking out of the window in his own book-room, which fronted the road. |
| The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth had at first |
| rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining-parlour for |
| common use; it was a better sized room, and had a more pleasant aspect; |
| but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, |
| for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own |
| apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte |
| credit for the arrangement. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were |
| indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, |
| and how often especially Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he |
| never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every |
| day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' |
| conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed upon to get |
| out. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and not |
| many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till |
| Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be |
| disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now |
| and then they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing |
| escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. |
| She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised |
| them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the |
| furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted |
| any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that |
| Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in |
| commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate in |
| her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. |
| Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be |
| quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the village |
| to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into |
| harmony and plenty. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; |
| and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one |
| card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of |
| the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living in the |
| neighbourhood in general was beyond Mr. Collins's reach. This, however, |
| was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time |
| comfortably enough; there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with |
| Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had |
| often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she |
| frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along |
| the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice |
| sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she |
| felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. |
| Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition |
| to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. |
| Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected |
| there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her |
| acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one |
| comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be |
| amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his |
| behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady |
| Catherine, who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke |
| of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find |
| that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage; for Mr. Collins was walking |
| the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in |
| order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his bow as |
| the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great |
| intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his |
| respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for |
| Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of |
| his uncle Lord ——, and, to the great surprise of all the |
| party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte |
| had seen them from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately |
| running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, |
| adding: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never |
| have come so soon to wait upon me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, |
| before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly |
| afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who |
| led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address |
| most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to |
| look in Hertfordshire—paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, |
| to Mrs. Collins, and whatever might be his feelings toward her friend, met |
| her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him |
| without saying a word. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness |
| and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, |
| after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to |
| Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to anybody. At length, |
| however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Elizabeth after |
| the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a |
| moment's pause, added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never |
| happened to see her there?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see |
| whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the |
| Bingleys and Jane, and she thought he looked a little confused as he |
| answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The |
| subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went |
| away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 31 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and |
| the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures of |
| their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they |
| received any invitation thither—for while there were visitors in the |
| house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, almost |
| a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by such an |
| attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there |
| in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little of Lady |
| Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the Parsonage |
| more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had seen only at |
| church. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined |
| the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received them |
| civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable |
| as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed |
| by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to |
| any other person in the room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a welcome |
| relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had moreover |
| caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and talked so |
| agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of |
| new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so well |
| entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much spirit |
| and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well as |
| of Mr. Darcy. <i>His</i> eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards |
| them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a while, |
| shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not scruple |
| to call out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? |
| What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We are speaking of music, madam,” said he, when no longer able to avoid a |
| reply. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must |
| have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are |
| few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music |
| than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should |
| have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed |
| her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. |
| How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am very glad to hear such a good account of her,” said Lady Catherine; |
| “and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does |
| not practice a good deal.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I assure you, madam,” he replied, “that she does not need such advice. |
| She practises very constantly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to |
| her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell |
| young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without |
| constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she will |
| never play really well unless she practises more; and though Mrs. Collins |
| has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come |
| to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. |
| She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made no |
| answer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having |
| promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He |
| drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then |
| talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away from |
| her, and making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte |
| stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's |
| countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient |
| pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear |
| me? I will not be alarmed though your sister <i>does</i> play so well. |
| There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at |
| the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate |
| me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I shall not say you are mistaken,” he replied, “because you could not |
| really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had |
| the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great |
| enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your |
| own.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and |
| teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in |
| meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part of |
| the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. |
| Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you |
| knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and, give me leave to say, |
| very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such |
| things may come out as will shock your relations to hear.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,” cried Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam. “I should like to know how he behaves among strangers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very |
| dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must |
| know, was at a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did? He |
| danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain |
| knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. |
| Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly |
| beyond my own party.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps,” said Darcy, “I should have judged better, had I sought an |
| introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?” said Elizabeth, still |
| addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Shall we ask him why a man of sense and |
| education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend |
| himself to strangers?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I can answer your question,” said Fitzwilliam, “without applying to him. |
| It is because he will not give himself the trouble.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, |
| “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch |
| their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I |
| often see done.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the |
| masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same |
| force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have |
| always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the |
| trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe <i>my</i> fingers |
| as capable as any other woman's of superior execution.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your |
| time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can |
| think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what |
| they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady |
| Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to |
| Darcy: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could |
| have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of |
| fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a |
| delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's |
| praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any |
| symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she |
| derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as |
| likely to marry <i>her</i>, had she been his relation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing |
| with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received |
| them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the |
| gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was |
| ready to take them all home. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 32 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane |
| while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village, when |
| she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. |
| As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be Lady |
| Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her half-finished |
| letter that she might escape all impertinent questions, when the door |
| opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only, |
| entered the room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his |
| intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were |
| to be within. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made, seemed |
| in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely necessary, |
| therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence recollecting <i>when</i> |
| she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and feeling curious to know what |
| he would say on the subject of their hasty departure, she observed: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! |
| It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you all |
| after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before. |
| He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perfectly so, I thank you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short |
| pause added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever |
| returning to Netherfield again?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend very |
| little of his time there in the future. He has many friends, and is at a |
| time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for the |
| neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might |
| possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did not |
| take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as for his |
| own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same principle.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should not be surprised,” said Darcy, “if he were to give it up as soon |
| as any eligible purchase offers.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his friend; |
| and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble |
| of finding a subject to him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He took the hint, and soon began with, “This seems a very comfortable |
| house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins |
| first came to Hunsford.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have bestowed her |
| kindness on a more grateful object.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of |
| the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made him |
| happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding—though I |
| am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest |
| thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a |
| prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a distance |
| of her own family and friends.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's |
| journey. Yes, I call it a <i>very</i> easy distance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should never have considered the distance as one of the <i>advantages</i> |
| of the match,” cried Elizabeth. “I should never have said Mrs. Collins was |
| settled <i>near</i> her family.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond |
| the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she |
| understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and |
| Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her family. |
| The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying |
| circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of travelling |
| unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case <i>here</i>. |
| Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not such a one as will |
| allow of frequent journeys—and I am persuaded my friend would not |
| call herself <i>near</i> her family under less than <i>half</i> the |
| present distance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, “<i>You</i> |
| cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. <i>You</i> |
| cannot have been always at Longbourn.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of |
| feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and |
| glancing over it, said, in a colder voice: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you pleased with Kent?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm |
| and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte and |
| her sister, just returned from her walk. The tete-a-tete surprised them. |
| Mr. Darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss |
| Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying much to |
| anybody, went away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What can be the meaning of this?” said Charlotte, as soon as he was gone. |
| “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have |
| called us in this familiar way.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But when Elizabeth told of his silence, it did not seem very likely, even |
| to Charlotte's wishes, to be the case; and after various conjectures, they |
| could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from the difficulty of |
| finding anything to do, which was the more probable from the time of year. |
| All field sports were over. Within doors there was Lady Catherine, books, |
| and a billiard-table, but gentlemen cannot always be within doors; and in |
| the nearness of the Parsonage, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or |
| of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a temptation from |
| this period of walking thither almost every day. They called at various |
| times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now |
| and then accompanied by their aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion |
| which of course recommended him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by |
| her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident |
| admiration of her, of her former favourite George Wickham; and though, in |
| comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam's manners, she believed he might have the best informed mind. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was more difficult to |
| understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there ten |
| minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it |
| seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice—a sacrifice to |
| propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated. |
| Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him. Colonel Fitzwilliam's |
| occasionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was generally |
| different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told her; and as |
| she would liked to have believed this change the effect of love, and the |
| object of that love her friend Eliza, she set herself seriously to work to |
| find it out. She watched him whenever they were at Rosings, and whenever |
| he came to Hunsford; but without much success. He certainly looked at her |
| friend a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It |
| was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were |
| much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of |
| mind. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his being |
| partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; and Mrs. Collins |
| did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of raising |
| expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in her opinion it |
| admitted not of a doubt, that all her friend's dislike would vanish, if |
| she could suppose him to be in her power. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned her marrying |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was beyond comparison the most pleasant man; he |
| certainly admired her, and his situation in life was most eligible; but, |
| to counterbalance these advantages, Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage |
| in the church, and his cousin could have none at all. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 33 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| More than once did Elizabeth, in her ramble within the park, unexpectedly |
| meet Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the mischance that should |
| bring him where no one else was brought, and, to prevent its ever |
| happening again, took care to inform him at first that it was a favourite |
| haunt of hers. How it could occur a second time, therefore, was very odd! |
| Yet it did, and even a third. It seemed like wilful ill-nature, or a |
| voluntary penance, for on these occasions it was not merely a few formal |
| inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, but he actually thought it |
| necessary to turn back and walk with her. He never said a great deal, nor |
| did she give herself the trouble of talking or of listening much; but it |
| struck her in the course of their third rencontre that he was asking some |
| odd unconnected questions—about her pleasure in being at Hunsford, |
| her love of solitary walks, and her opinion of Mr. and Mrs. Collins's |
| happiness; and that in speaking of Rosings and her not perfectly |
| understanding the house, he seemed to expect that whenever she came into |
| Kent again she would be staying <i>there</i> too. His words seemed to |
| imply it. Could he have Colonel Fitzwilliam in his thoughts? She supposed, |
| if he meant anything, he must mean an allusion to what might arise in that |
| quarter. It distressed her a little, and she was quite glad to find |
| herself at the gate in the pales opposite the Parsonage. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was engaged one day as she walked, in perusing Jane's last letter, and |
| dwelling on some passages which proved that Jane had not written in |
| spirits, when, instead of being again surprised by Mr. Darcy, she saw on |
| looking up that Colonel Fitzwilliam was meeting her. Putting away the |
| letter immediately and forcing a smile, she said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I did not know before that you ever walked this way.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have been making the tour of the park,” he replied, “as I generally do |
| every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are you |
| going much farther?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, I should have turned in a moment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| And accordingly she did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage |
| together. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday?” said she. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes—if Darcy does not put it off again. But I am at his disposal. |
| He arranges the business just as he pleases.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And if not able to please himself in the arrangement, he has at least |
| pleasure in the great power of choice. I do not know anybody who seems |
| more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He likes to have his own way very well,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. |
| “But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than |
| many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak |
| feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and |
| dependence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of either. |
| Now seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? |
| When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you |
| chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “These are home questions—and perhaps I cannot say that I have |
| experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater |
| weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where |
| they like.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often |
| do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my |
| rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is this,” thought Elizabeth, “meant for me?” and she coloured at the |
| idea; but, recovering herself, said in a lively tone, “And pray, what is |
| the usual price of an earl's younger son? Unless the elder brother is very |
| sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped. To interrupt a |
| silence which might make him fancy her affected with what had passed, she |
| soon afterwards said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of |
| having someone at his disposal. I wonder he does not marry, to secure a |
| lasting convenience of that kind. But, perhaps, his sister does as well |
| for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what he |
| likes with her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, “that is an advantage which he must divide |
| with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship of Miss Darcy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? Does your |
| charge give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are sometimes a |
| little difficult to manage, and if she has the true Darcy spirit, she may |
| like to have her own way.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As she spoke she observed him looking at her earnestly; and the manner in |
| which he immediately asked her why she supposed Miss Darcy likely to give |
| them any uneasiness, convinced her that she had somehow or other got |
| pretty near the truth. She directly replied: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her; and I dare say |
| she is one of the most tractable creatures in the world. She is a very |
| great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and Miss |
| Bingley. I think I have heard you say that you know them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I know them a little. Their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike man—he |
| is a great friend of Darcy's.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! yes,” said Elizabeth drily; “Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. |
| Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy <i>does</i> take care of him in |
| those points where he most wants care. From something that he told me in |
| our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to |
| him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that |
| Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is it you mean?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a circumstance which Darcy could not wish to be generally known, |
| because if it were to get round to the lady's family, it would be an |
| unpleasant thing.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may depend upon my not mentioning it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Bingley. |
| What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself on having |
| lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent |
| marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I |
| only suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man |
| to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have been |
| together the whole of last summer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did Mr. Darcy give you reasons for this interference?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I understood that there were some very strong objections against the |
| lady.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what arts did he use to separate them?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He did not talk to me of his own arts,” said Fitzwilliam, smiling. “He |
| only told me what I have now told you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with |
| indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she |
| was so thoughtful. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am thinking of what you have been telling me,” said she. “Your cousin's |
| conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was he to be the judge?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his |
| friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgement alone, he was to |
| determine and direct in what manner his friend was to be happy. But,” she |
| continued, recollecting herself, “as we know none of the particulars, it |
| is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed that there was much |
| affection in the case.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is not an unnatural surmise,” said Fitzwilliam, “but it is a |
| lessening of the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was spoken jestingly; but it appeared to her so just a picture of Mr. |
| Darcy, that she would not trust herself with an answer, and therefore, |
| abruptly changing the conversation talked on indifferent matters until |
| they reached the Parsonage. There, shut into her own room, as soon as |
| their visitor left them, she could think without interruption of all that |
| she had heard. It was not to be supposed that any other people could be |
| meant than those with whom she was connected. There could not exist in the |
| world <i>two</i> men over whom Mr. Darcy could have such boundless |
| influence. That he had been concerned in the measures taken to separate |
| Bingley and Jane she had never doubted; but she had always attributed to |
| Miss Bingley the principal design and arrangement of them. If his own |
| vanity, however, did not mislead him, <i>he</i> was the cause, his pride |
| and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still |
| continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for |
| the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say |
| how lasting an evil he might have inflicted. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There were some very strong objections against the lady,” were Colonel |
| Fitzwilliam's words; and those strong objections probably were, her having |
| one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in business in |
| London. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To Jane herself,” she exclaimed, “there could be no possibility of |
| objection; all loveliness and goodness as she is!—her understanding |
| excellent, her mind improved, and her manners captivating. Neither could |
| anything be urged against my father, who, though with some peculiarities, |
| has abilities Mr. Darcy himself need not disdain, and respectability which |
| he will probably never reach.” When she thought of her mother, her |
| confidence gave way a little; but she would not allow that any objections |
| <i>there</i> had material weight with Mr. Darcy, whose pride, she was |
| convinced, would receive a deeper wound from the want of importance in his |
| friend's connections, than from their want of sense; and she was quite |
| decided, at last, that he had been partly governed by this worst kind of |
| pride, and partly by the wish of retaining Mr. Bingley for his sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The agitation and tears which the subject occasioned, brought on a |
| headache; and it grew so much worse towards the evening, that, added to |
| her unwillingness to see Mr. Darcy, it determined her not to attend her |
| cousins to Rosings, where they were engaged to drink tea. Mrs. Collins, |
| seeing that she was really unwell, did not press her to go and as much as |
| possible prevented her husband from pressing her; but Mr. Collins could |
| not conceal his apprehension of Lady Catherine's being rather displeased |
| by her staying at home. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 34 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| When they were gone, Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself as |
| much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the |
| examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her |
| being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any |
| revival of past occurrences, or any communication of present suffering. |
| But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that |
| cheerfulness which had been used to characterise her style, and which, |
| proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly |
| disposed towards everyone, had been scarcely ever clouded. Elizabeth |
| noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness, with an attention |
| which it had hardly received on the first perusal. Mr. Darcy's shameful |
| boast of what misery he had been able to inflict, gave her a keener sense |
| of her sister's sufferings. It was some consolation to think that his |
| visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the next—and, a still |
| greater, that in less than a fortnight she should herself be with Jane |
| again, and enabled to contribute to the recovery of her spirits, by all |
| that affection could do. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She could not think of Darcy's leaving Kent without remembering that his |
| cousin was to go with him; but Colonel Fitzwilliam had made it clear that |
| he had no intentions at all, and agreeable as he was, she did not mean to |
| be unhappy about him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| While settling this point, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the |
| door-bell, and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its |
| being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in the |
| evening, and might now come to inquire particularly after her. But this |
| idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently affected, |
| when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the room. In an |
| hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her health, imputing |
| his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. She answered him with |
| cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked |
| about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but said not a word. After a |
| silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner, and |
| thus began: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be |
| repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love |
| you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, |
| doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; and |
| the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, immediately |
| followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides those of the |
| heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of |
| tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being |
| a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to |
| inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the |
| consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the |
| compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not |
| vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to |
| receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost |
| all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to answer |
| him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with |
| representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite of all |
| his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing |
| his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As |
| he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable |
| answer. He <i>spoke</i> of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance |
| expressed real security. Such a circumstance could only exasperate |
| farther, and, when he ceased, the colour rose into her cheeks, and she |
| said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express |
| a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they |
| may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I |
| could <i>feel</i> gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot—I |
| have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it |
| most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to anyone. It has |
| been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be of short |
| duration. The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented the |
| acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in overcoming it |
| after this explanation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy, who was leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes fixed on |
| her face, seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than surprise. |
| His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was |
| visible in every feature. He was struggling for the appearance of |
| composure, and would not open his lips till he believed himself to have |
| attained it. The pause was to Elizabeth's feelings dreadful. At length, |
| with a voice of forced calmness, he said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! I |
| might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little <i>endeavour</i> |
| at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I might as well inquire,” replied she, “why with so evident a desire of |
| offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against |
| your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not |
| this some excuse for incivility, if I <i>was</i> uncivil? But I have other |
| provocations. You know I have. Had not my feelings decided against you—had |
| they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that |
| any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means |
| of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As she pronounced these words, Mr. Darcy changed colour; but the emotion |
| was short, and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she |
| continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can |
| excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted <i>there</i>. You dare |
| not, you cannot deny, that you have been the principal, if not the only |
| means of dividing them from each other—of exposing one to the |
| censure of the world for caprice and instability, and the other to its |
| derision for disappointed hopes, and involving them both in misery of the |
| acutest kind.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She paused, and saw with no slight indignation that he was listening with |
| an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any feeling of remorse. He even |
| looked at her with a smile of affected incredulity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Can you deny that you have done it?” she repeated. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With assumed tranquillity he then replied: “I have no wish of denying that |
| I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or |
| that I rejoice in my success. Towards <i>him</i> I have been kinder than |
| towards myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection, but |
| its meaning did not escape, nor was it likely to conciliate her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But it is not merely this affair,” she continued, “on which my dislike is |
| founded. Long before it had taken place my opinion of you was decided. |
| Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months |
| ago from Mr. Wickham. On this subject, what can you have to say? In what |
| imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself? or under what |
| misrepresentation can you here impose upon others?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns,” said Darcy, in |
| a less tranquil tone, and with a heightened colour. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Who that knows what his misfortunes have been, can help feeling an |
| interest in him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His misfortunes!” repeated Darcy contemptuously; “yes, his misfortunes |
| have been great indeed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And of your infliction,” cried Elizabeth with energy. “You have reduced |
| him to his present state of poverty—comparative poverty. You have |
| withheld the advantages which you must know to have been designed for him. |
| You have deprived the best years of his life of that independence which |
| was no less his due than his desert. You have done all this! and yet you |
| can treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and ridicule.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And this,” cried Darcy, as he walked with quick steps across the room, |
| “is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! I |
| thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this |
| calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps,” added he, stopping in his |
| walk, and turning towards her, “these offenses might have been overlooked, |
| had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that |
| had long prevented my forming any serious design. These bitter accusations |
| might have been suppressed, had I, with greater policy, concealed my |
| struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by |
| unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by reflection, by |
| everything. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed |
| of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me |
| to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?—to congratulate |
| myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly |
| beneath my own?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment; yet she tried to |
| the utmost to speak with composure when she said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your |
| declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern |
| which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more |
| gentlemanlike manner.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She saw him start at this, but he said nothing, and she continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that |
| would have tempted me to accept it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Again his astonishment was obvious; and he looked at her with an |
| expression of mingled incredulity and mortification. She went on: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “From the very beginning—from the first moment, I may almost say—of |
| my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest |
| belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the |
| feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation |
| on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had |
| not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the |
| world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, |
| and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for |
| having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your |
| health and happiness.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| And with these words he hastily left the room, and Elizabeth heard him the |
| next moment open the front door and quit the house. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how to |
| support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for |
| half-an-hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, was |
| increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of |
| marriage from Mr. Darcy! That he should have been in love with her for so |
| many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the |
| objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying her sister, |
| and which must appear at least with equal force in his own case—was |
| almost incredible! It was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so |
| strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable pride—his |
| shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to Jane—his |
| unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could not justify it, |
| and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned Mr. Wickham, his |
| cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, soon overcame the pity |
| which the consideration of his attachment had for a moment excited. She |
| continued in very agitated reflections till the sound of Lady Catherine's |
| carriage made her feel how unequal she was to encounter Charlotte's |
| observation, and hurried her away to her room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 35 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations |
| which had at length closed her eyes. She could not yet recover from the |
| surprise of what had happened; it was impossible to think of anything |
| else; and, totally indisposed for employment, she resolved, soon after |
| breakfast, to indulge herself in air and exercise. She was proceeding |
| directly to her favourite walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's |
| sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, she |
| turned up the lane, which led farther from the turnpike-road. The park |
| paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon passed one of the |
| gates into the ground. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After walking two or three times along that part of the lane, she was |
| tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at the gates and look |
| into the park. The five weeks which she had now passed in Kent had made a |
| great difference in the country, and every day was adding to the verdure |
| of the early trees. She was on the point of continuing her walk, when she |
| caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which edged the |
| park; he was moving that way; and, fearful of its being Mr. Darcy, she was |
| directly retreating. But the person who advanced was now near enough to |
| see her, and stepping forward with eagerness, pronounced her name. She had |
| turned away; but on hearing herself called, though in a voice which proved |
| it to be Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the gate. He had by that time |
| reached it also, and, holding out a letter, which she instinctively took, |
| said, with a look of haughty composure, “I have been walking in the grove |
| some time in the hope of meeting you. Will you do me the honour of reading |
| that letter?” And then, with a slight bow, turned again into the |
| plantation, and was soon out of sight. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With no expectation of pleasure, but with the strongest curiosity, |
| Elizabeth opened the letter, and, to her still increasing wonder, |
| perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper, written quite |
| through, in a very close hand. The envelope itself was likewise full. |
| Pursuing her way along the lane, she then began it. It was dated from |
| Rosings, at eight o'clock in the morning, and was as follows:— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of |
| its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those |
| offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any |
| intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes which, |
| for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the effort |
| which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion, should |
| have been spared, had not my character required it to be written and read. |
| You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your |
| attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand |
| it of your justice. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Two offenses of a very different nature, and by no means of equal |
| magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, |
| that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley |
| from your sister, and the other, that I had, in defiance of various |
| claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate |
| prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Wilfully and wantonly |
| to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favourite |
| of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on |
| our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would |
| be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons, whose |
| affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no |
| comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last night so |
| liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope to be in |
| the future secured, when the following account of my actions and their |
| motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which is due to |
| myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be |
| offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be |
| obeyed, and further apology would be absurd. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with |
| others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young woman |
| in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at |
| Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious |
| attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I had |
| the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir |
| William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to your |
| sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. He spoke |
| of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could be undecided. From |
| that moment I observed my friend's behaviour attentively; and I could then |
| perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever |
| witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were |
| open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar |
| regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny, that though |
| she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any |
| participation of sentiment. If <i>you</i> have not been mistaken here, <i>I</i> |
| must have been in error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make |
| the latter probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to |
| inflict pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I |
| shall not scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister's |
| countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a |
| conviction that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to |
| be easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is |
| certain—but I will venture to say that my investigation and |
| decisions are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not |
| believe her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on |
| impartial conviction, as truly as I wished it in reason. My objections to |
| the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have |
| the utmost force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of |
| connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But there |
| were other causes of repugnance; causes which, though still existing, and |
| existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had myself endeavoured to |
| forget, because they were not immediately before me. These causes must be |
| stated, though briefly. The situation of your mother's family, though |
| objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety |
| so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three |
| younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father. Pardon me. It pains |
| me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest |
| relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it |
| give you consolation to consider that, to have conducted yourselves so as |
| to avoid any share of the like censure, is praise no less generally |
| bestowed on you and your elder sister, than it is honourable to the sense |
| and disposition of both. I will only say farther that from what passed |
| that evening, my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and every |
| inducement heightened which could have led me before, to preserve my |
| friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection. He left Netherfield |
| for London, on the day following, as you, I am certain, remember, with the |
| design of soon returning. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness |
| had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was soon |
| discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching |
| their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London. We |
| accordingly went—and there I readily engaged in the office of |
| pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described, |
| and enforced them earnestly. But, however this remonstrance might have |
| staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose that it would |
| ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been seconded by the |
| assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your sister's indifference. |
| He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere, if not |
| with equal regard. But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger |
| dependence on my judgement than on his own. To convince him, therefore, |
| that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point. To persuade him |
| against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, |
| was scarcely the work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done |
| thus much. There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on |
| which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to |
| adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's |
| being in town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her |
| brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without ill |
| consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me |
| enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this |
| concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it was |
| done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other |
| apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings, it was |
| unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to you very |
| naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured |
| Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his |
| connection with my family. Of what he has <i>particularly</i> accused me I |
| am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more |
| than one witness of undoubted veracity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many years |
| the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good conduct in the |
| discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to be of service to |
| him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was therefore |
| liberally bestowed. My father supported him at school, and afterwards at |
| Cambridge—most important assistance, as his own father, always poor |
| from the extravagance of his wife, would have been unable to give him a |
| gentleman's education. My father was not only fond of this young man's |
| society, whose manners were always engaging; he had also the highest |
| opinion of him, and hoping the church would be his profession, intended to |
| provide for him in it. As for myself, it is many, many years since I first |
| began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities—the |
| want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his |
| best friend, could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the |
| same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in |
| unguarded moments, which Mr. Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give |
| you pain—to what degree you only can tell. But whatever may be the |
| sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created, a suspicion of their nature |
| shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character—it adds even |
| another motive. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. |
| Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly |
| recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner that |
| his profession might allow—and if he took orders, desired that a |
| valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There was |
| also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long survive |
| mine, and within half a year from these events, Mr. Wickham wrote to |
| inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, he hoped I |
| should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate |
| pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he could not be |
| benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying law, and I must be |
| aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very |
| insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed him to be |
| sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal. |
| I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman; the business was |
| therefore soon settled—he resigned all claim to assistance in the |
| church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive |
| it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection between |
| us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him to |
| Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believe he chiefly |
| lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free |
| from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. For |
| about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the |
| incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to me |
| again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured me, |
| and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. He had |
| found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely resolved |
| on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in question—of |
| which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was well assured that |
| I had no other person to provide for, and I could not have forgotten my |
| revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to |
| comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition to it. His |
| resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances—and |
| he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others as in his |
| reproaches to myself. After this period every appearance of acquaintance |
| was dropped. How he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most |
| painfully obtruded on my notice. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, |
| and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold |
| to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your |
| secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the |
| guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About |
| a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her |
| in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it, to |
| Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for |
| there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. |
| Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her |
| connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose |
| affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as |
| a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent |
| to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and |
| after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the knowledge |
| of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the |
| intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of |
| grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, |
| acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. |
| Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure; |
| but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. |
| Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object |
| was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; |
| but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a |
| strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been |
| concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you |
| will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. I know |
| not in what manner, under what form of falsehood he had imposed on you; |
| but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at. Ignorant as you |
| previously were of everything concerning either, detection could not be in |
| your power, and suspicion certainly not in your inclination. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but I |
| was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be |
| revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more |
| particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our near |
| relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of the |
| executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted with every |
| particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of <i>me</i> should |
| make <i>my</i> assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by the same |
| cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility |
| of consulting him, I shall endeavour to find some opportunity of putting |
| this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add, |
| God bless you. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “FITZWILLIAM DARCY” <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 36 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to |
| contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of |
| its contents. But such as they were, it may well be supposed how eagerly |
| she went through them, and what a contrariety of emotion they excited. Her |
| feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined. With amazement did she |
| first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power; and |
| steadfastly was she persuaded, that he could have no explanation to give, |
| which a just sense of shame would not conceal. With a strong prejudice |
| against everything he might say, she began his account of what had |
| happened at Netherfield. She read with an eagerness which hardly left her |
| power of comprehension, and from impatience of knowing what the next |
| sentence might bring, was incapable of attending to the sense of the one |
| before her eyes. His belief of her sister's insensibility she instantly |
| resolved to be false; and his account of the real, the worst objections to |
| the match, made her too angry to have any wish of doing him justice. He |
| expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied her; his style |
| was not penitent, but haughty. It was all pride and insolence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But when this subject was succeeded by his account of Mr. Wickham—when |
| she read with somewhat clearer attention a relation of events which, if |
| true, must overthrow every cherished opinion of his worth, and which bore |
| so alarming an affinity to his own history of himself—her feelings |
| were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition. |
| Astonishment, apprehension, and even horror, oppressed her. She wished to |
| discredit it entirely, repeatedly exclaiming, “This must be false! This |
| cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!”—and when she had |
| gone through the whole letter, though scarcely knowing anything of the |
| last page or two, put it hastily away, protesting that she would not |
| regard it, that she would never look in it again. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on nothing, |
| she walked on; but it would not do; in half a minute the letter was |
| unfolded again, and collecting herself as well as she could, she again |
| began the mortifying perusal of all that related to Wickham, and commanded |
| herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence. The account of |
| his connection with the Pemberley family was exactly what he had related |
| himself; and the kindness of the late Mr. Darcy, though she had not before |
| known its extent, agreed equally well with his own words. So far each |
| recital confirmed the other; but when she came to the will, the difference |
| was great. What Wickham had said of the living was fresh in her memory, |
| and as she recalled his very words, it was impossible not to feel that |
| there was gross duplicity on one side or the other; and, for a few |
| moments, she flattered herself that her wishes did not err. But when she |
| read and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately |
| following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his |
| receiving in lieu so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again |
| was she forced to hesitate. She put down the letter, weighed every |
| circumstance with what she meant to be impartiality—deliberated on |
| the probability of each statement—but with little success. On both |
| sides it was only assertion. Again she read on; but every line proved more |
| clearly that the affair, which she had believed it impossible that any |
| contrivance could so represent as to render Mr. Darcy's conduct in it less |
| than infamous, was capable of a turn which must make him entirely |
| blameless throughout the whole. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at |
| Mr. Wickham's charge, exceedingly shocked her; the more so, as she could |
| bring no proof of its injustice. She had never heard of him before his |
| entrance into the ——shire Militia, in which he had engaged at |
| the persuasion of the young man who, on meeting him accidentally in town, |
| had there renewed a slight acquaintance. Of his former way of life nothing |
| had been known in Hertfordshire but what he told himself. As to his real |
| character, had information been in her power, she had never felt a wish of |
| inquiring. His countenance, voice, and manner had established him at once |
| in the possession of every virtue. She tried to recollect some instance of |
| goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence, that might |
| rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy; or at least, by the predominance |
| of virtue, atone for those casual errors under which she would endeavour |
| to class what Mr. Darcy had described as the idleness and vice of many |
| years' continuance. But no such recollection befriended her. She could see |
| him instantly before her, in every charm of air and address; but she could |
| remember no more substantial good than the general approbation of the |
| neighbourhood, and the regard which his social powers had gained him in |
| the mess. After pausing on this point a considerable while, she once more |
| continued to read. But, alas! the story which followed, of his designs on |
| Miss Darcy, received some confirmation from what had passed between |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before; and at last she |
| was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitzwilliam |
| himself—from whom she had previously received the information of his |
| near concern in all his cousin's affairs, and whose character she had no |
| reason to question. At one time she had almost resolved on applying to |
| him, but the idea was checked by the awkwardness of the application, and |
| at length wholly banished by the conviction that Mr. Darcy would never |
| have hazarded such a proposal, if he had not been well assured of his |
| cousin's corroboration. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation |
| between Wickham and herself, in their first evening at Mr. Phillips's. |
| Many of his expressions were still fresh in her memory. She was <i>now</i> |
| struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger, and |
| wondered it had escaped her before. She saw the indelicacy of putting |
| himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions |
| with his conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear of |
| seeing Mr. Darcy—that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that <i>he</i> |
| should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfield ball the very |
| next week. She remembered also that, till the Netherfield family had |
| quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but herself; but that |
| after their removal it had been everywhere discussed; that he had then no |
| reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy's character, though he had |
| assured her that respect for the father would always prevent his exposing |
| the son. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| How differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned! His |
| attentions to Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and |
| hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer |
| the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness to grasp at anything. His |
| behaviour to herself could now have had no tolerable motive; he had either |
| been deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been gratifying his |
| vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most |
| incautiously shown. Every lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter |
| and fainter; and in farther justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not but |
| allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago asserted his |
| blamelessness in the affair; that proud and repulsive as were his manners, |
| she had never, in the whole course of their acquaintance—an |
| acquaintance which had latterly brought them much together, and given her |
| a sort of intimacy with his ways—seen anything that betrayed him to |
| be unprincipled or unjust—anything that spoke him of irreligious or |
| immoral habits; that among his own connections he was esteemed and valued—that |
| even Wickham had allowed him merit as a brother, and that she had often |
| heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to prove him capable of |
| <i>some</i> amiable feeling; that had his actions been what Mr. Wickham |
| represented them, so gross a violation of everything right could hardly |
| have been concealed from the world; and that friendship between a person |
| capable of it, and such an amiable man as Mr. Bingley, was |
| incomprehensible. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could |
| she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How despicably I have acted!” she cried; “I, who have prided myself on my |
| discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often |
| disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in |
| useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how |
| just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more |
| wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with |
| the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the |
| very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and |
| ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this |
| moment I never knew myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From herself to Jane—from Jane to Bingley, her thoughts were in a |
| line which soon brought to her recollection that Mr. Darcy's explanation |
| <i>there</i> had appeared very insufficient, and she read it again. Widely |
| different was the effect of a second perusal. How could she deny that |
| credit to his assertions in one instance, which she had been obliged to |
| give in the other? He declared himself to be totally unsuspicious of her |
| sister's attachment; and she could not help remembering what Charlotte's |
| opinion had always been. Neither could she deny the justice of his |
| description of Jane. She felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were |
| little displayed, and that there was a constant complacency in her air and |
| manner not often united with great sensibility. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When she came to that part of the letter in which her family were |
| mentioned in terms of such mortifying, yet merited reproach, her sense of |
| shame was severe. The justice of the charge struck her too forcibly for |
| denial, and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as having |
| passed at the Netherfield ball, and as confirming all his first |
| disapprobation, could not have made a stronger impression on his mind than |
| on hers. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt. It soothed, but |
| it could not console her for the contempt which had thus been |
| self-attracted by the rest of her family; and as she considered that |
| Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest relations, |
| and reflected how materially the credit of both must be hurt by such |
| impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything she had ever |
| known before. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After wandering along the lane for two hours, giving way to every variety |
| of thought—re-considering events, determining probabilities, and |
| reconciling herself, as well as she could, to a change so sudden and so |
| important, fatigue, and a recollection of her long absence, made her at |
| length return home; and she entered the house with the wish of appearing |
| cheerful as usual, and the resolution of repressing such reflections as |
| must make her unfit for conversation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings had each |
| called during her absence; Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes, to take |
| leave—but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at |
| least an hour, hoping for her return, and almost resolving to walk after |
| her till she could be found. Elizabeth could but just <i>affect</i> |
| concern in missing him; she really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was |
| no longer an object; she could think only of her letter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 37 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having |
| been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was |
| able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very |
| good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the |
| melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then |
| hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return |
| brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, |
| importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of |
| having them all to dine with her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she |
| chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future |
| niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's |
| indignation would have been. “What would she have said? how would she have |
| behaved?” were questions with which she amused herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. “I assure |
| you, I feel it exceedingly,” said Lady Catherine; “I believe no one feels |
| the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to |
| these young men, and know them to be so much attached to me! They were |
| excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear Colonel rallied |
| his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most |
| acutely, more, I think, than last year. His attachment to Rosings |
| certainly increases.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which were |
| kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of |
| spirits, and immediately accounting for it by herself, by supposing that |
| she did not like to go home again so soon, she added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But if that is the case, you must write to your mother and beg that you |
| may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, |
| I am sure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation,” replied |
| Elizabeth, “but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next |
| Saturday.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you |
| to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be |
| no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you |
| for another fortnight.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters |
| are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another |
| <i>month</i> complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as |
| London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does |
| not object to the barouche-box, there will be very good room for one of |
| you—and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should |
| not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are all kindness, madam; but I believe we must abide by our original |
| plan.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine seemed resigned. “Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant |
| with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of |
| two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You |
| must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world |
| to that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and |
| attended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana |
| went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two |
| men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of |
| Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a |
| different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must |
| send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me |
| to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to <i>you</i> to let |
| them go alone.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My uncle is to send a servant for us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a man-servant, does he? I am very glad you have |
| somebody who thinks of these things. Where shall you change horses? Oh! |
| Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be |
| attended to.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, |
| and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, which |
| Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her; or, with a mind so occupied, she |
| might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved for |
| solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest |
| relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might |
| indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She |
| studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at times |
| widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was |
| still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had |
| condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his |
| disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment |
| excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she could not |
| approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, or feel the |
| slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour, |
| there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy |
| defects of her family, a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were |
| hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at them, would |
| never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest |
| daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right herself, was |
| entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane |
| in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while |
| they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there |
| be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely |
| under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and |
| Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They |
| were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they |
| would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, |
| they would be going there forever. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern; and Mr. Darcy's |
| explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, |
| heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to |
| have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could |
| attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous |
| then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, |
| so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been |
| deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's |
| character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had |
| seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it |
| almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of her |
| stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and |
| her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of their |
| journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so |
| urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that Maria |
| thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the work of the |
| morning, and pack her trunk afresh. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished them a |
| good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; and |
| Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her hand |
| to both. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 38 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few |
| minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of paying |
| the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I know not, Miss Elizabeth,” said he, “whether Mrs. Collins has yet |
| expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very |
| certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for it. |
| The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We know how |
| little there is to tempt anyone to our humble abode. Our plain manner of |
| living, our small rooms and few domestics, and the little we see of the |
| world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like yourself; |
| but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we |
| have done everything in our power to prevent your spending your time |
| unpleasantly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She had |
| spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with |
| Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make <i>her</i> |
| feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified, and with a more smiling |
| solemnity replied: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not |
| disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having |
| it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, from our |
| connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble home |
| scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot |
| have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine's |
| family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which |
| few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually |
| we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the |
| disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think anyone abiding |
| in it an object of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at |
| Rosings.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was |
| obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility |
| and truth in a few short sentences. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into |
| Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will be |
| able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have |
| been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that |
| your friend has drawn an unfortunate—but on this point it will be as |
| well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I |
| can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My |
| dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is |
| in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between |
| us. We seem to have been designed for each other.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was |
| the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed and |
| rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to have the |
| recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang. Poor |
| Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she had |
| chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her |
| visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and |
| her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent |
| concerns, had not yet lost their charms. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels |
| placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate |
| parting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr. |
| Collins, and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her with |
| his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks for the |
| kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his compliments |
| to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed her in, Maria |
| followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, when he suddenly |
| reminded them, with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten |
| to leave any message for the ladies at Rosings. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But,” he added, “you will of course wish to have your humble respects |
| delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you |
| while you have been here.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth made no objection; the door was then allowed to be shut, and the |
| carriage drove off. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good gracious!” cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence, “it seems but |
| a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A great many indeed,” said her companion with a sigh. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! |
| How much I shall have to tell!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth added privately, “And how much I shall have to conceal!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and |
| within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's |
| house, where they were to remain a few days. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her |
| spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had |
| reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn |
| there would be leisure enough for observation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for |
| Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know |
| that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish |
| Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own |
| vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to |
| openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in |
| which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; and |
| her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried into |
| repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister further. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0039" id="link2HCH0039"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 39 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| It was the second week in May, in which the three young ladies set out |
| together from Gracechurch Street for the town of ——, in |
| Hertfordshire; and, as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's |
| carriage was to meet them, they quickly perceived, in token of the |
| coachman's punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-room |
| up stairs. These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily |
| employed in visiting an opposite milliner, watching the sentinel on guard, |
| and dressing a salad and cucumber. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After welcoming their sisters, they triumphantly displayed a table set out |
| with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords, exclaiming, “Is not |
| this nice? Is not this an agreeable surprise?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And we mean to treat you all,” added Lydia, “but you must lend us the |
| money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.” Then, showing |
| her purchases—“Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think |
| it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall |
| pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any |
| better.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| And when her sisters abused it as ugly, she added, with perfect unconcern, |
| “Oh! but there were two or three much uglier in the shop; and when I have |
| bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh, I think it will |
| be very tolerable. Besides, it will not much signify what one wears this |
| summer, after the ——shire have left Meryton, and they are |
| going in a fortnight.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are they indeed!” cried Elizabeth, with the greatest satisfaction. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so want papa to |
| take us all there for the summer! It would be such a delicious scheme; and |
| I dare say would hardly cost anything at all. Mamma would like to go too |
| of all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we shall have!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes,” thought Elizabeth, “<i>that</i> would be a delightful scheme |
| indeed, and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Brighton, and a |
| whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one |
| poor regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Now I have got some news for you,” said Lydia, as they sat down at table. |
| “What do you think? It is excellent news—capital news—and |
| about a certain person we all like!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, and the waiter was told he need |
| not stay. Lydia laughed, and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Aye, that is just like your formality and discretion. You thought the |
| waiter must not hear, as if he cared! I dare say he often hears worse |
| things said than I am going to say. But he is an ugly fellow! I am glad he |
| is gone. I never saw such a long chin in my life. Well, but now for my |
| news; it is about dear Wickham; too good for the waiter, is it not? There |
| is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King. There's for you! She is gone |
| down to her uncle at Liverpool: gone to stay. Wickham is safe.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And Mary King is safe!” added Elizabeth; “safe from a connection |
| imprudent as to fortune.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is a great fool for going away, if she liked him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side,” said Jane. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sure there is not on <i>his</i>. I will answer for it, he never |
| cared three straws about her—who could about such a nasty little |
| freckled thing?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was shocked to think that, however incapable of such coarseness |
| of <i>expression</i> herself, the coarseness of the <i>sentiment</i> was |
| little other than her own breast had harboured and fancied liberal! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was ordered; |
| and after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their boxes, |
| work-bags, and parcels, and the unwelcome addition of Kitty's and Lydia's |
| purchases, were seated in it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How nicely we are all crammed in,” cried Lydia. “I am glad I bought my |
| bonnet, if it is only for the fun of having another bandbox! Well, now let |
| us be quite comfortable and snug, and talk and laugh all the way home. And |
| in the first place, let us hear what has happened to you all since you |
| went away. Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I |
| was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you |
| came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost |
| three-and-twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married |
| before three-and-twenty! My aunt Phillips wants you so to get husbands, |
| you can't think. She says Lizzy had better have taken Mr. Collins; but <i>I</i> |
| do not think there would have been any fun in it. Lord! how I should like |
| to be married before any of you; and then I would chaperon you about to |
| all the balls. Dear me! we had such a good piece of fun the other day at |
| Colonel Forster's. Kitty and me were to spend the day there, and Mrs. |
| Forster promised to have a little dance in the evening; (by the bye, Mrs. |
| Forster and me are <i>such</i> friends!) and so she asked the two |
| Harringtons to come, but Harriet was ill, and so Pen was forced to come by |
| herself; and then, what do you think we did? We dressed up Chamberlayne in |
| woman's clothes on purpose to pass for a lady, only think what fun! Not a |
| soul knew of it, but Colonel and Mrs. Forster, and Kitty and me, except my |
| aunt, for we were forced to borrow one of her gowns; and you cannot |
| imagine how well he looked! When Denny, and Wickham, and Pratt, and two or |
| three more of the men came in, they did not know him in the least. Lord! |
| how I laughed! and so did Mrs. Forster. I thought I should have died. And |
| <i>that</i> made the men suspect something, and then they soon found out |
| what was the matter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes, did Lydia, |
| assisted by Kitty's hints and additions, endeavour to amuse her companions |
| all the way to Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as she could, but |
| there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their reception at home was most kind. Mrs. Bennet rejoiced to see Jane in |
| undiminished beauty; and more than once during dinner did Mr. Bennet say |
| voluntarily to Elizabeth: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am glad you are come back, Lizzy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Lucases came |
| to meet Maria and hear the news; and various were the subjects that |
| occupied them: Lady Lucas was inquiring of Maria, after the welfare and |
| poultry of her eldest daughter; Mrs. Bennet was doubly engaged, on one |
| hand collecting an account of the present fashions from Jane, who sat some |
| way below her, and, on the other, retailing them all to the younger |
| Lucases; and Lydia, in a voice rather louder than any other person's, was |
| enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who would hear |
| her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! Mary,” said she, “I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! |
| As we went along, Kitty and I drew up the blinds, and pretended there was |
| nobody in the coach; and I should have gone so all the way, if Kitty had |
| not been sick; and when we got to the George, I do think we behaved very |
| handsomely, for we treated the other three with the nicest cold luncheon |
| in the world, and if you would have gone, we would have treated you too. |
| And then when we came away it was such fun! I thought we never should have |
| got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter. And then we were so |
| merry all the way home! we talked and laughed so loud, that anybody might |
| have heard us ten miles off!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To this Mary very gravely replied, “Far be it from me, my dear sister, to |
| depreciate such pleasures! They would doubtless be congenial with the |
| generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for <i>me</i>—I |
| should infinitely prefer a book.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom listened to anybody |
| for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk to |
| Meryton, and to see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth steadily opposed |
| the scheme. It should not be said that the Miss Bennets could not be at |
| home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. There was |
| another reason too for her opposition. She dreaded seeing Mr. Wickham |
| again, and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to <i>her</i> |
| of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond expression. In a |
| fortnight they were to go—and once gone, she hoped there could be |
| nothing more to plague her on his account. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had not been many hours at home before she found that the Brighton |
| scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn, was under |
| frequent discussion between her parents. Elizabeth saw directly that her |
| father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were at |
| the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often |
| disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0040" id="link2HCH0040"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 40 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no |
| longer be overcome; and at length, resolving to suppress every particular |
| in which her sister was concerned, and preparing her to be surprised, she |
| related to her the next morning the chief of the scene between Mr. Darcy |
| and herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly |
| partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly |
| natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings. She was |
| sorry that Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so |
| little suited to recommend them; but still more was she grieved for the |
| unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His being so sure of succeeding was wrong,” said she, “and certainly |
| ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his |
| disappointment!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed,” replied Elizabeth, “I am heartily sorry for him; but he has |
| other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me. You |
| do not blame me, however, for refusing him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Blame you! Oh, no.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No—I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you <i>will</i> know it, when I tell you what happened the very next |
| day.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far |
| as they concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this for poor Jane! |
| who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that so |
| much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here |
| collected in one individual. Nor was Darcy's vindication, though grateful |
| to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery. Most |
| earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error, and seek to |
| clear the one without involving the other. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This will not do,” said Elizabeth; “you never will be able to make both |
| of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied |
| with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just |
| enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting |
| about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy's; |
| but you shall do as you choose.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not know when I have been more shocked,” said she. “Wickham so very |
| bad! It is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy! Dear Lizzy, only |
| consider what he must have suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the |
| knowledge of your ill opinion, too! and having to relate such a thing of |
| his sister! It is really too distressing. I am sure you must feel it so.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so full |
| of both. I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am growing |
| every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion makes me |
| saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be as light |
| as a feather.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his countenance! |
| such an openness and gentleness in his manner!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those |
| two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the |
| appearance of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the <i>appearance</i> of it as |
| you used to do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to |
| him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an |
| opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually |
| abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot always be laughing at |
| a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy, when you first read that letter, I am sure you could not treat the |
| matter as you do now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, I could not. I was uncomfortable enough, I may say unhappy. And |
| with no one to speak to about what I felt, no Jane to comfort me and say |
| that I had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had! |
| Oh! how I wanted you!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions in |
| speaking of Wickham to Mr. Darcy, for now they <i>do</i> appear wholly |
| undeserved.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly. But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most |
| natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging. There is one |
| point on which I want your advice. I want to be told whether I ought, or |
| ought not, to make our acquaintances in general understand Wickham's |
| character.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, “Surely there can be no |
| occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is your opinion?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That it ought not to be attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorised me to |
| make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular relative |
| to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to myself; and if I |
| endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his conduct, who will |
| believe me? The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it |
| would be the death of half the good people in Meryton to attempt to place |
| him in an amiable light. I am not equal to it. Wickham will soon be gone; |
| and therefore it will not signify to anyone here what he really is. Some |
| time hence it will be all found out, and then we may laugh at their |
| stupidity in not knowing it before. At present I will say nothing about |
| it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are quite right. To have his errors made public might ruin him for |
| ever. He is now, perhaps, sorry for what he has done, and anxious to |
| re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation. She had |
| got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, |
| and was certain of a willing listener in Jane, whenever she might wish to |
| talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind, of |
| which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other half |
| of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor explain to her sister how sincerely she had |
| been valued by her friend. Here was knowledge in which no one could |
| partake; and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect |
| understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off this |
| last encumbrance of mystery. “And then,” said she, “if that very |
| improbable event should ever take place, I shall merely be able to tell |
| what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself. The liberty |
| of communication cannot be mine till it has lost all its value!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was now, on being settled at home, at leisure to observe the real |
| state of her sister's spirits. Jane was not happy. She still cherished a |
| very tender affection for Bingley. Having never even fancied herself in |
| love before, her regard had all the warmth of first attachment, and, from |
| her age and disposition, greater steadiness than most first attachments |
| often boast; and so fervently did she value his remembrance, and prefer |
| him to every other man, that all her good sense, and all her attention to |
| the feelings of her friends, were requisite to check the indulgence of |
| those regrets which must have been injurious to her own health and their |
| tranquillity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Bennet one day, “what is your opinion <i>now</i> |
| of this sad business of Jane's? For my part, I am determined never to |
| speak of it again to anybody. I told my sister Phillips so the other day. |
| But I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London. Well, he is |
| a very undeserving young man—and I do not suppose there's the least |
| chance in the world of her ever getting him now. There is no talk of his |
| coming to Netherfield again in the summer; and I have inquired of |
| everybody, too, who is likely to know.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield any more.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh well! it is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. Though I |
| shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill; and if I was her, I |
| would not have put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will |
| die of a broken heart; and then he will be sorry for what he has done.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation, she |
| made no answer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, Lizzy,” continued her mother, soon afterwards, “and so the |
| Collinses live very comfortable, do they? Well, well, I only hope it will |
| last. And what sort of table do they keep? Charlotte is an excellent |
| manager, I dare say. If she is half as sharp as her mother, she is saving |
| enough. There is nothing extravagant in <i>their</i> housekeeping, I dare |
| say.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, nothing at all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A great deal of good management, depend upon it. Yes, yes, <i>they</i> |
| will take care not to outrun their income. <i>They</i> will never be |
| distressed for money. Well, much good may it do them! And so, I suppose, |
| they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead. They look |
| upon it as quite their own, I dare say, whenever that happens.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It was a subject which they could not mention before me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No; it would have been strange if they had; but I make no doubt they |
| often talk of it between themselves. Well, if they can be easy with an |
| estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the better. I should be |
| ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0041" id="link2HCH0041"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 41 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It was the |
| last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the young ladies in the |
| neighbourhood were drooping apace. The dejection was almost universal. The |
| elder Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat, drink, and sleep, and |
| pursue the usual course of their employments. Very frequently were they |
| reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia, whose own misery was |
| extreme, and who could not comprehend such hard-heartedness in any of the |
| family. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good Heaven! what is to become of us? What are we to do?” would they |
| often exclaim in the bitterness of woe. “How can you be smiling so, |
| Lizzy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered what she |
| had herself endured on a similar occasion, five-and-twenty years ago. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sure,” said she, “I cried for two days together when Colonel |
| Miller's regiment went away. I thought I should have broken my heart.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sure I shall break <i>mine</i>,” said Lydia. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If one could but go to Brighton!” observed Mrs. Bennet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes!—if one could but go to Brighton! But papa is so |
| disagreeable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A little sea-bathing would set me up forever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And my aunt Phillips is sure it would do <i>me</i> a great deal of good,” |
| added Kitty. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through |
| Longbourn House. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them; but all sense of |
| pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew the justice of Mr. Darcy's |
| objections; and never had she been so much disposed to pardon his |
| interference in the views of his friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for she |
| received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of the |
| regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was a very |
| young woman, and very lately married. A resemblance in good humour and |
| good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of their |
| <i>three</i> months' acquaintance they had been intimate <i>two</i>. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster, the |
| delight of Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of Kitty, are scarcely to be |
| described. Wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia flew about |
| the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's congratulations, and |
| laughing and talking with more violence than ever; whilst the luckless |
| Kitty continued in the parlour repined at her fate in terms as |
| unreasonable as her accent was peevish. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask <i>me</i> as well as Lydia,” |
| said she, “Though I am <i>not</i> her particular friend. I have just as |
| much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years |
| older.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable, and Jane to make her |
| resigned. As for Elizabeth herself, this invitation was so far from |
| exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia, that she |
| considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense for |
| the latter; and detestable as such a step must make her were it known, she |
| could not help secretly advising her father not to let her go. She |
| represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general behaviour, the |
| little advantage she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as |
| Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with |
| such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must be greater than |
| at home. He heard her attentively, and then said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public |
| place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little |
| expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present |
| circumstances.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you were aware,” said Elizabeth, “of the very great disadvantage to us |
| all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded and |
| imprudent manner—nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure |
| you would judge differently in the affair.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Already arisen?” repeated Mr. Bennet. “What, has she frightened away some |
| of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such squeamish |
| youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not |
| worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of pitiful fellows who have been |
| kept aloof by Lydia's folly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent. It is not of |
| particular, but of general evils, which I am now complaining. Our |
| importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild |
| volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia's |
| character. Excuse me, for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear father, |
| will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and of |
| teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of her |
| life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character will |
| be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever |
| made herself or her family ridiculous; a flirt, too, in the worst and |
| meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond youth and a |
| tolerable person; and, from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind, |
| wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her |
| rage for admiration will excite. In this danger Kitty also is |
| comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, ignorant, idle, |
| and absolutely uncontrolled! Oh! my dear father, can you suppose it |
| possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever they are |
| known, and that their sisters will not be often involved in the disgrace?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject, and affectionately |
| taking her hand said in reply: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known you |
| must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less advantage |
| for having a couple of—or I may say, three—very silly sisters. |
| We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let |
| her go, then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out of |
| any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to |
| anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common flirt |
| than she has been here. The officers will find women better worth their |
| notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own |
| insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without |
| authorising us to lock her up for the rest of her life.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content; but her own opinion |
| continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It was not in |
| her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them. She |
| was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over unavoidable |
| evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference with her |
| father, their indignation would hardly have found expression in their |
| united volubility. In Lydia's imagination, a visit to Brighton comprised |
| every possibility of earthly happiness. She saw, with the creative eye of |
| fancy, the streets of that gay bathing-place covered with officers. She |
| saw herself the object of attention, to tens and to scores of them at |
| present unknown. She saw all the glories of the camp—its tents |
| stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young |
| and the gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and, to complete the view, she saw |
| herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six |
| officers at once. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Had she known her sister sought to tear her from such prospects and such |
| realities as these, what would have been her sensations? They could have |
| been understood only by her mother, who might have felt nearly the same. |
| Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for her melancholy |
| conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed; and their raptures |
| continued, with little intermission, to the very day of Lydia's leaving |
| home. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having been |
| frequently in company with him since her return, agitation was pretty well |
| over; the agitations of former partiality entirely so. She had even learnt |
| to detect, in the very gentleness which had first delighted her, an |
| affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present behaviour |
| to herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure, for the |
| inclination he soon testified of renewing those intentions which had |
| marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve, after what |
| had since passed, to provoke her. She lost all concern for him in finding |
| herself thus selected as the object of such idle and frivolous gallantry; |
| and while she steadily repressed it, could not but feel the reproof |
| contained in his believing, that however long, and for whatever cause, his |
| attentions had been withdrawn, her vanity would be gratified, and her |
| preference secured at any time by their renewal. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On the very last day of the regiment's remaining at Meryton, he dined, |
| with other of the officers, at Longbourn; and so little was Elizabeth |
| disposed to part from him in good humour, that on his making some inquiry |
| as to the manner in which her time had passed at Hunsford, she mentioned |
| Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three weeks at |
| Rosings, and asked him, if he was acquainted with the former. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but with a moment's recollection |
| and a returning smile, replied, that he had formerly seen him often; and, |
| after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man, asked her how she |
| had liked him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. With an air of |
| indifference he soon afterwards added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How long did you say he was at Rosings?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nearly three weeks.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And you saw him frequently?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, almost every day.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His manners are very different from his cousin's.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, very different. But I think Mr. Darcy improves upon acquaintance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed!” cried Mr. Wickham with a look which did not escape her. “And |
| pray, may I ask?—” But checking himself, he added, in a gayer tone, |
| “Is it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add aught of |
| civility to his ordinary style?—for I dare not hope,” he continued |
| in a lower and more serious tone, “that he is improved in essentials.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, no!” said Elizabeth. “In essentials, I believe, he is very much what |
| he ever was.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| While she spoke, Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether to rejoice |
| over her words, or to distrust their meaning. There was a something in her |
| countenance which made him listen with an apprehensive and anxious |
| attention, while she added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that his |
| mind or his manners were in a state of improvement, but that, from knowing |
| him better, his disposition was better understood.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated look; |
| for a few minutes he was silent, till, shaking off his embarrassment, he |
| turned to her again, and said in the gentlest of accents: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You, who so well know my feeling towards Mr. Darcy, will readily |
| comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume |
| even the <i>appearance</i> of what is right. His pride, in that direction, |
| may be of service, if not to himself, to many others, for it must only |
| deter him from such foul misconduct as I have suffered by. I only fear |
| that the sort of cautiousness to which you, I imagine, have been alluding, |
| is merely adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good opinion and |
| judgement he stands much in awe. His fear of her has always operated, I |
| know, when they were together; and a good deal is to be imputed to his |
| wish of forwarding the match with Miss de Bourgh, which I am certain he |
| has very much at heart.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this, but she answered only by a |
| slight inclination of the head. She saw that he wanted to engage her on |
| the old subject of his grievances, and she was in no humour to indulge |
| him. The rest of the evening passed with the <i>appearance</i>, on his |
| side, of usual cheerfulness, but with no further attempt to distinguish |
| Elizabeth; and they parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a |
| mutual desire of never meeting again. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to Meryton, from |
| whence they were to set out early the next morning. The separation between |
| her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic. Kitty was the only one |
| who shed tears; but she did weep from vexation and envy. Mrs. Bennet was |
| diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter, and |
| impressive in her injunctions that she should not miss the opportunity of |
| enjoying herself as much as possible—advice which there was every |
| reason to believe would be well attended to; and in the clamorous |
| happiness of Lydia herself in bidding farewell, the more gentle adieus of |
| her sisters were uttered without being heard. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0042" id="link2HCH0042"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 42 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not |
| have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity or domestic |
| comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance |
| of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman |
| whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their |
| marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and |
| confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness |
| were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort |
| for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of |
| those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or |
| their vice. He was fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes |
| had arisen his principal enjoyments. To his wife he was very little |
| otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his |
| amusement. This is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general |
| wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are |
| wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her |
| father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but |
| respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of |
| herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to |
| banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and |
| decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children, |
| was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so strongly as now the |
| disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage, |
| nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged a |
| direction of talents; talents, which, rightly used, might at least have |
| preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of |
| enlarging the mind of his wife. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure she found little |
| other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties |
| abroad were less varied than before, and at home she had a mother and |
| sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of everything around them |
| threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty might in |
| time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers of her brain |
| were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition greater evil might |
| be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all her folly and assurance |
| by a situation of such double danger as a watering-place and a camp. Upon |
| the whole, therefore, she found, what has been sometimes found before, |
| that an event to which she had been looking with impatient desire did not, |
| in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. It |
| was consequently necessary to name some other period for the commencement |
| of actual felicity—to have some other point on which her wishes and |
| hopes might be fixed, and by again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, |
| console herself for the present, and prepare for another disappointment. |
| Her tour to the Lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts; it was |
| her best consolation for all the uncomfortable hours which the |
| discontentedness of her mother and Kitty made inevitable; and could she |
| have included Jane in the scheme, every part of it would have been |
| perfect. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But it is fortunate,” thought she, “that I have something to wish for. |
| Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain. |
| But here, by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my |
| sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of |
| pleasure realised. A scheme of which every part promises delight can never |
| be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the |
| defence of some little peculiar vexation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When Lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely to |
| her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and |
| always very short. Those to her mother contained little else than that |
| they were just returned from the library, where such and such officers had |
| attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her |
| quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which she would |
| have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a violent |
| hurry, as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going off to the camp; |
| and from her correspondence with her sister, there was still less to be |
| learnt—for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were much too |
| full of lines under the words to be made public. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health, good |
| humour, and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn. Everything wore a |
| happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came back |
| again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennet was |
| restored to her usual querulous serenity; and, by the middle of June, |
| Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears; |
| an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by the |
| following Christmas she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention |
| an officer above once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious |
| arrangement at the War Office, another regiment should be quartered in |
| Meryton. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast |
| approaching, and a fortnight only was wanting of it, when a letter arrived |
| from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and curtailed |
| its extent. Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out |
| till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again within a |
| month, and as that left too short a period for them to go so far, and see |
| so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with the leisure and |
| comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up the Lakes, and |
| substitute a more contracted tour, and, according to the present plan, |
| were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire. In that county there was |
| enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks; and to Mrs. |
| Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had |
| formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a |
| few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity as all the |
| celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing |
| the Lakes, and still thought there might have been time enough. But it was |
| her business to be satisfied—and certainly her temper to be happy; |
| and all was soon right again. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With the mention of Derbyshire there were many ideas connected. It was |
| impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its |
| owner. “But surely,” said she, “I may enter his county with impunity, and |
| rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away |
| before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away, and Mr. and |
| Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at |
| Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two |
| younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin |
| Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and sweetness |
| of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way—teaching |
| them, playing with them, and loving them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off the next |
| morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment |
| was certain—that of suitableness of companions; a suitableness which |
| comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences—cheerfulness |
| to enhance every pleasure—and affection and intelligence, which |
| might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor |
| of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay; |
| Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, etc. are sufficiently |
| known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the |
| little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and |
| where she had lately learned some acquaintance still remained, they bent |
| their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country; |
| and within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found from her aunt that |
| Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct road, nor more than a |
| mile or two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, |
| Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. |
| Gardiner declared his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her |
| approbation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so |
| much?” said her aunt; “a place, too, with which so many of your |
| acquaintances are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you |
| know.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley, |
| and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She must own |
| that she was tired of seeing great houses; after going over so many, she |
| really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. “If it were merely a fine house richly |
| furnished,” said she, “I should not care about it myself; but the grounds |
| are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the country.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth said no more—but her mind could not acquiesce. The |
| possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly |
| occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea, and thought |
| it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. |
| But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved that it |
| could be the last resource, if her private inquiries to the absence of the |
| family were unfavourably answered. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether |
| Pemberley were not a very fine place? what was the name of its proprietor? |
| and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for the summer? A |
| most welcome negative followed the last question—and her alarms now |
| being removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see |
| the house herself; and when the subject was revived the next morning, and |
| she was again applied to, could readily answer, and with a proper air of |
| indifference, that she had not really any dislike to the scheme. To |
| Pemberley, therefore, they were to go. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0043" id="link2HCH0043"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 43 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of |
| Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in |
| at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They |
| entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a |
| beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired |
| every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for |
| half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable |
| eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by |
| Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the |
| road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building, |
| standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; |
| and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into |
| greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither |
| formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a |
| place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so |
| little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in |
| their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of |
| Pemberley might be something! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door; and, |
| while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehension of |
| meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been |
| mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the hall; |
| and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder |
| at her being where she was. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking elderly woman, much less fine, |
| and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her. They followed her |
| into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well proportioned room, |
| handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went to a |
| window to enjoy its prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, which they had |
| descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a |
| beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked |
| on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks and the |
| winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with delight. As they |
| passed into other rooms these objects were taking different positions; but |
| from every window there were beauties to be seen. The rooms were lofty and |
| handsome, and their furniture suitable to the fortune of its proprietor; |
| but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste, that it was neither gaudy |
| nor uselessly fine; with less of splendour, and more real elegance, than |
| the furniture of Rosings. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And of this place,” thought she, “I might have been mistress! With these |
| rooms I might now have been familiarly acquainted! Instead of viewing them |
| as a stranger, I might have rejoiced in them as my own, and welcomed to |
| them as visitors my uncle and aunt. But no,”—recollecting herself—“that |
| could never be; my uncle and aunt would have been lost to me; I should not |
| have been allowed to invite them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was a lucky recollection—it saved her from something very like |
| regret. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master was really |
| absent, but had not the courage for it. At length however, the question |
| was asked by her uncle; and she turned away with alarm, while Mrs. |
| Reynolds replied that he was, adding, “But we expect him to-morrow, with a |
| large party of friends.” How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey |
| had not by any circumstance been delayed a day! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She approached and saw the |
| likeness of Mr. Wickham, suspended, amongst several other miniatures, over |
| the mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she liked it. The |
| housekeeper came forward, and told them it was a picture of a young |
| gentleman, the son of her late master's steward, who had been brought up |
| by him at his own expense. “He is now gone into the army,” she added; “but |
| I am afraid he has turned out very wild.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could not |
| return it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And that,” said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, “is |
| my master—and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the |
| other—about eight years ago.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have heard much of your master's fine person,” said Mrs. Gardiner, |
| looking at the picture; “it is a handsome face. But, Lizzy, you can tell |
| us whether it is like or not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Reynolds respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation |
| of her knowing her master. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth coloured, and said: “A little.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, very handsome.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery up stairs you will |
| see a finer, larger picture of him than this. This room was my late |
| master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they used to be |
| then. He was very fond of them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being among them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy, drawn |
| when she was only eight years old. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?” said Mrs. Gardiner. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! yes—the handsomest young lady that ever was seen; and so |
| accomplished!—She plays and sings all day long. In the next room is |
| a new instrument just come down for her—a present from my master; |
| she comes here to-morrow with him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant, encouraged her |
| communicativeness by his questions and remarks; Mrs. Reynolds, either by |
| pride or attachment, had evidently great pleasure in talking of her master |
| and his sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not so much as I could wish, sir; but I dare say he may spend half his |
| time here; and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Except,” thought Elizabeth, “when she goes to Ramsgate.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If your master would marry, you might see more of him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, sir; but I do not know when <i>that</i> will be. I do not know who |
| is good enough for him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying, “It is very |
| much to his credit, I am sure, that you should think so.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I say no more than the truth, and everybody will say that knows him,” |
| replied the other. Elizabeth thought this was going pretty far; and she |
| listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added, “I have |
| never known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever |
| since he was four years old.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her |
| ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion. |
| Her keenest attention was awakened; she longed to hear more, and was |
| grateful to her uncle for saying: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There are very few people of whom so much can be said. You are lucky in |
| having such a master.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, sir, I know I am. If I were to go through the world, I could not |
| meet with a better. But I have always observed, that they who are |
| good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up; and he was |
| always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth almost stared at her. “Can this be Mr. Darcy?” thought she. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “His father was an excellent man,” said Mrs. Gardiner. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him—just |
| as affable to the poor.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient for more. Mrs. |
| Reynolds could interest her on no other point. She related the subjects of |
| the pictures, the dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the furniture, |
| in vain. Mr. Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family prejudice to |
| which he attributed her excessive commendation of her master, soon led |
| again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his many merits as they |
| proceeded together up the great staircase. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is the best landlord, and the best master,” said she, “that ever |
| lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who think of nothing but |
| themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but will give him |
| a good name. Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw |
| anything of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away |
| like other young men.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In what an amiable light does this place him!” thought Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This fine account of him,” whispered her aunt as they walked, “is not |
| quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps we might be deceived.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is not very likely; our authority was too good.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty |
| sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than |
| the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done to give |
| pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when last at |
| Pemberley. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is certainly a good brother,” said Elizabeth, as she walked towards |
| one of the windows. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight, when she should enter the |
| room. “And this is always the way with him,” she added. “Whatever can give |
| his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment. There is nothing |
| he would not do for her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The picture-gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms, were all |
| that remained to be shown. In the former were many good paintings; but |
| Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already |
| visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss |
| Darcy's, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and |
| also more intelligible. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could have |
| little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked in quest of |
| the only face whose features would be known to her. At last it arrested |
| her—and she beheld a striking resemblance to Mr. Darcy, with such a |
| smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he |
| looked at her. She stood several minutes before the picture, in earnest |
| contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery. |
| Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father's |
| lifetime. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more gentle |
| sensation towards the original than she had ever felt at the height of |
| their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs. Reynolds was |
| of no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise of an |
| intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she considered |
| how many people's happiness were in his guardianship!—how much of |
| pleasure or pain was it in his power to bestow!—how much of good or |
| evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by the |
| housekeeper was favourable to his character, and as she stood before the |
| canvas on which he was represented, and fixed his eyes upon herself, she |
| thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of gratitude than it had |
| ever raised before; she remembered its warmth, and softened its |
| impropriety of expression. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen, |
| they returned downstairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper, were |
| consigned over to the gardener, who met them at the hall-door. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As they walked across the hall towards the river, Elizabeth turned back to |
| look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and while the former was |
| conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself |
| suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his |
| appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes |
| instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest |
| blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from |
| surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and |
| spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of |
| perfect civility. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach, received |
| his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be overcome. Had his |
| first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture they had just been |
| examining, been insufficient to assure the other two that they now saw Mr. |
| Darcy, the gardener's expression of surprise, on beholding his master, |
| must immediately have told it. They stood a little aloof while he was |
| talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused, scarcely dared lift |
| her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer she returned to his civil |
| inquiries after her family. Amazed at the alteration of his manner since |
| they last parted, every sentence that he uttered was increasing her |
| embarrassment; and every idea of the impropriety of her being found there |
| recurring to her mind, the few minutes in which they continued were some |
| of the most uncomfortable in her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; |
| when he spoke, his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and he |
| repeated his inquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of |
| her having stayed in Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as |
| plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing a few moments |
| without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took leave. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of his figure; but |
| Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, |
| followed them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her |
| coming there was the most unfortunate, the most ill-judged thing in the |
| world! How strange it must appear to him! In what a disgraceful light |
| might it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had purposely |
| thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did she come? Or, why did he thus |
| come a day before he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes sooner, |
| they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination; for it was |
| plain that he was that moment arrived—that moment alighted from his |
| horse or his carriage. She blushed again and again over the perverseness |
| of the meeting. And his behaviour, so strikingly altered—what could |
| it mean? That he should even speak to her was amazing!—but to speak |
| with such civility, to inquire after her family! Never in her life had she |
| seen his manners so little dignified, never had he spoken with such |
| gentleness as on this unexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to |
| his last address in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her hand! |
| She knew not what to think, or how to account for it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water, and every |
| step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer reach of the |
| woods to which they were approaching; but it was some time before |
| Elizabeth was sensible of any of it; and, though she answered mechanically |
| to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and seemed to direct her |
| eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she distinguished no part of the |
| scene. Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot of Pemberley House, |
| whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then was. She longed to know what |
| at the moment was passing in his mind—in what manner he thought of |
| her, and whether, in defiance of everything, she was still dear to him. |
| Perhaps he had been civil only because he felt himself at ease; yet there |
| had been <i>that</i> in his voice which was not like ease. Whether he had |
| felt more of pain or of pleasure in seeing her she could not tell, but he |
| certainly had not seen her with composure. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At length, however, the remarks of her companions on her absence of mind |
| aroused her, and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for a while, |
| ascended some of the higher grounds; when, in spots where the opening of |
| the trees gave the eye power to wander, were many charming views of the |
| valley, the opposite hills, with the long range of woods overspreading |
| many, and occasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed a wish |
| of going round the whole park, but feared it might be beyond a walk. With |
| a triumphant smile they were told that it was ten miles round. It settled |
| the matter; and they pursued the accustomed circuit; which brought them |
| again, after some time, in a descent among hanging woods, to the edge of |
| the water, and one of its narrowest parts. They crossed it by a simple |
| bridge, in character with the general air of the scene; it was a spot less |
| adorned than any they had yet visited; and the valley, here contracted |
| into a glen, allowed room only for the stream, and a narrow walk amidst |
| the rough coppice-wood which bordered it. Elizabeth longed to explore its |
| windings; but when they had crossed the bridge, and perceived their |
| distance from the house, Mrs. Gardiner, who was not a great walker, could |
| go no farther, and thought only of returning to the carriage as quickly as |
| possible. Her niece was, therefore, obliged to submit, and they took their |
| way towards the house on the opposite side of the river, in the nearest |
| direction; but their progress was slow, for Mr. Gardiner, though seldom |
| able to indulge the taste, was very fond of fishing, and was so much |
| engaged in watching the occasional appearance of some trout in the water, |
| and talking to the man about them, that he advanced but little. Whilst |
| wandering on in this slow manner, they were again surprised, and |
| Elizabeth's astonishment was quite equal to what it had been at first, by |
| the sight of Mr. Darcy approaching them, and at no great distance. The |
| walk here being here less sheltered than on the other side, allowed them |
| to see him before they met. Elizabeth, however astonished, was at least |
| more prepared for an interview than before, and resolved to appear and to |
| speak with calmness, if he really intended to meet them. For a few |
| moments, indeed, she felt that he would probably strike into some other |
| path. The idea lasted while a turning in the walk concealed him from their |
| view; the turning past, he was immediately before them. With a glance, she |
| saw that he had lost none of his recent civility; and, to imitate his |
| politeness, she began, as they met, to admire the beauty of the place; but |
| she had not got beyond the words “delightful,” and “charming,” when some |
| unlucky recollections obtruded, and she fancied that praise of Pemberley |
| from her might be mischievously construed. Her colour changed, and she |
| said no more. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind; and on her pausing, he asked |
| her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends. This |
| was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; and she could |
| hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the acquaintance of some |
| of those very people against whom his pride had revolted in his offer to |
| herself. “What will be his surprise,” thought she, “when he knows who they |
| are? He takes them now for people of fashion.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as she named their |
| relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how he bore |
| it, and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast as he |
| could from such disgraceful companions. That he was <i>surprised</i> by |
| the connection was evident; he sustained it, however, with fortitude, and |
| so far from going away, turned back with them, and entered into |
| conversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but be pleased, could |
| not but triumph. It was consoling that he should know she had some |
| relations for whom there was no need to blush. She listened most |
| attentively to all that passed between them, and gloried in every |
| expression, every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, |
| his taste, or his good manners. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The conversation soon turned upon fishing; and she heard Mr. Darcy invite |
| him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he chose while |
| he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to supply him |
| with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of the stream where |
| there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking arm-in-arm |
| with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of wonder. Elizabeth said |
| nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment must be all for |
| herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme, and continually was she |
| repeating, “Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed? It cannot be |
| for <i>me</i>—it cannot be for <i>my</i> sake that his manners are |
| thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as |
| this. It is impossible that he should still love me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, the two |
| gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending to the brink |
| of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant, there |
| chanced to be a little alteration. It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, |
| fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate |
| to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took |
| her place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short |
| silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she had been |
| assured of his absence before she came to the place, and accordingly began |
| by observing, that his arrival had been very unexpected—“for your |
| housekeeper,” she added, “informed us that you would certainly not be here |
| till to-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell, we understood that |
| you were not immediately expected in the country.” He acknowledged the |
| truth of it all, and said that business with his steward had occasioned |
| his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he |
| had been travelling. “They will join me early to-morrow,” he continued, |
| “and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you—Mr. |
| Bingley and his sisters.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly |
| driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been the last |
| mentioned between them; and, if she might judge by his complexion, <i>his</i> |
| mind was not very differently engaged. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There is also one other person in the party,” he continued after a pause, |
| “who more particularly wishes to be known to you. Will you allow me, or do |
| I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your |
| stay at Lambton?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great for |
| her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately felt that |
| whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of being acquainted with her must be |
| the work of her brother, and, without looking farther, it was |
| satisfactory; it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made |
| him think really ill of her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was |
| not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased. |
| His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of the highest |
| kind. They soon outstripped the others, and when they had reached the |
| carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He then asked her to walk into the house—but she declared herself |
| not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time much might |
| have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but |
| there seemed to be an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected |
| that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale |
| with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly—and her |
| patience and her ideas were nearly worn out before the tete-a-tete was |
| over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming up they were all pressed to go |
| into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined, and they |
| parted on each side with utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the ladies |
| into the carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly |
| towards the house. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each of them |
| pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected. |
| “He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming,” said her uncle. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There <i>is</i> something a little stately in him, to be sure,” replied |
| her aunt, “but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now |
| say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud, I |
| have seen nothing of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was more than |
| civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for such |
| attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very trifling.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “To be sure, Lizzy,” said her aunt, “he is not so handsome as Wickham; or, |
| rather, he has not Wickham's countenance, for his features are perfectly |
| good. But how came you to tell me that he was so disagreeable?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she had liked |
| him better when they had met in Kent than before, and that she had never |
| seen him so pleasant as this morning. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities,” replied her |
| uncle. “Your great men often are; and therefore I shall not take him at |
| his word, as he might change his mind another day, and warn me off his |
| grounds.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth felt that they had entirely misunderstood his character, but |
| said nothing. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “From what we have seen of him,” continued Mrs. Gardiner, “I really should |
| not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by anybody |
| as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not an ill-natured look. On the |
| contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And |
| there is something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one |
| an unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be sure, the good lady who |
| showed us his house did give him a most flaming character! I could hardly |
| help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal master, I suppose, and |
| <i>that</i> in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of |
| his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in as |
| guarded a manner as she could, that by what she had heard from his |
| relations in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different |
| construction; and that his character was by no means so faulty, nor |
| Wickham's so amiable, as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In |
| confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniary |
| transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming her |
| authority, but stating it to be such as might be relied on. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now |
| approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every idea gave way to the |
| charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out to her |
| husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of anything |
| else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they had no sooner |
| dined than she set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and the |
| evening was spent in the satisfactions of a intercourse renewed after many |
| years' discontinuance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth |
| much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing but |
| think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and, above all, of |
| his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0044" id="link2HCH0044"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 44 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit |
| her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently |
| resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. But |
| her conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their arrival at |
| Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the place with |
| some of their new friends, and were just returning to the inn to dress |
| themselves for dining with the same family, when the sound of a carriage |
| drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in a curricle |
| driving up the street. Elizabeth immediately recognizing the livery, |
| guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of her surprise to her |
| relations by acquainting them with the honour which she expected. Her |
| uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment of her manner as |
| she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many of the |
| circumstances of the preceding day, opened to them a new idea on the |
| business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but they felt that there |
| was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a quarter |
| than by supposing a partiality for their niece. While these newly-born |
| notions were passing in their heads, the perturbation of Elizabeth's |
| feelings was at every moment increasing. She was quite amazed at her own |
| discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, she dreaded lest the |
| partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favour; and, |
| more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally suspected that every |
| power of pleasing would fail her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked up |
| and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of |
| inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took |
| place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was |
| at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her being at Lambton, she |
| had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a |
| very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She |
| found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though |
| little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance |
| womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother; but there |
| was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly |
| unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute |
| and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much |
| relieved by discerning such different feelings. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy told her that Bingley was |
| also coming to wait on her; and she 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. All |
| Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away; but had she still |
| felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected |
| cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He |
| inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and looked |
| and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than |
| to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before them, |
| indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just arisen |
| of Mr. Darcy and their niece directed their observation towards each with |
| an earnest though guarded inquiry; and they soon drew from those inquiries |
| the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love. Of |
| the lady's sensations they remained a little in doubt; but that the |
| gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the |
| feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own, and to |
| make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she feared |
| most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she |
| endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was |
| ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; and, oh! how |
| ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in a like |
| manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on former |
| occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that, as he |
| looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But, though this |
| might be imaginary, she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss |
| Darcy, who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look appeared on either |
| side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred between them that |
| could justify the hopes of his sister. On this point she was soon |
| satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted, |
| which, in her anxious interpretation, denoted a recollection of Jane not |
| untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of saying more that might lead to |
| the mention of her, had he dared. He observed to her, at a moment when the |
| others were talking together, and in a tone which had something of real |
| regret, that it “was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of |
| seeing her;” and, before she could reply, he added, “It is above eight |
| months. We have not met since the 26th of November, when we were all |
| dancing together at Netherfield.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards took |
| occasion to ask her, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether <i>all</i> |
| her sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, nor in |
| the preceding remark; but there was a look and a manner which gave them |
| meaning. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself; but, |
| whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general |
| complaisance, and in all that he said she heard an accent so removed from |
| <i>hauteur</i> or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that the |
| improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed however temporary |
| its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When she saw him |
| thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people with |
| whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace—when |
| she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations |
| whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in |
| Hunsford Parsonage—the difference, the change was so great, and |
| struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly restrain her |
| astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company of his dear |
| friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations at Rosings, had she |
| seen him so desirous to please, so free from self-consequence or unbending |
| reserve, as now, when no importance could result from the success of his |
| endeavours, and when even the acquaintance of those to whom his attentions |
| were addressed would draw down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both |
| of Netherfield and Rosings. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their visitors stayed with them above half-an-hour; and when they arose to |
| depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing their |
| wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennet, to dinner at |
| Pemberley, before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a |
| diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, |
| readily obeyed. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing how |
| <i>she</i>, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its |
| acceptance, but Elizabeth had turned away her head. Presuming however, |
| that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than |
| any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of |
| society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for |
| her attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth |
| again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many inquiries to make |
| after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all this into |
| a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased, and on this |
| account, as well as some others, found herself, when their visitors left |
| them, capable of considering the last half-hour with some satisfaction, |
| though while it was passing, the enjoyment of it had been little. Eager to |
| be alone, and fearful of inquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, she |
| stayed with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of |
| Bingley, and then hurried away to dress. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was |
| not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was |
| much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; it |
| was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to |
| interest, but nothing to justify inquiry. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far as |
| their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could not be |
| untouched by his politeness; and had they drawn his character from their |
| own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference to any other |
| account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known would not have |
| recognized it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, however, in |
| believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible that the |
| authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and |
| whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily |
| rejected. Neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of their |
| Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had nothing |
| to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, it would |
| certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town where the |
| family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal |
| man, and did much good among the poor. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held |
| there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns with the |
| son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well-known |
| fact that, on his quitting Derbyshire, he had left many debts behind him, |
| which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than |
| the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not |
| long enough to determine her feelings towards <i>one</i> in that mansion; |
| and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She |
| certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had |
| almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, that |
| could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable |
| qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased |
| to be repugnant to her feeling; and it was now heightened into somewhat of |
| a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in his favour, and |
| bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday |
| had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive |
| within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude; |
| gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still |
| well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in |
| rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. |
| He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, |
| seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the |
| acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any |
| peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was |
| soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known |
| to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride exciting not only |
| astonishment but gratitude—for to love, ardent love, it must be |
| attributed; and as such its impression on her was of a sort to be |
| encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly |
| defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, she felt a |
| real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she |
| wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for |
| the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy |
| told her she still possessed, of bringing on her the renewal of his |
| addresses. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It had been settled in the evening between the aunt and the niece, that |
| such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's in coming to see them on the very |
| day of her arrival at Pemberley, for she had reached it only to a late |
| breakfast, ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, by some |
| exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it would be |
| highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following morning. They |
| were, therefore, to go. Elizabeth was pleased; though when she asked |
| herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been |
| renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some |
| of the gentlemen at Pemberley before noon. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0045" id="link2HCH0045"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 45 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had |
| originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how unwelcome her |
| appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how |
| much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, |
| whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows |
| opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody |
| hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts |
| which were scattered over the intermediate lawn. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In this house they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with |
| Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. |
| Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with all the |
| embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing |
| wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief |
| of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did |
| her justice, and pitied her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a curtsey; and, |
| on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, |
| succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a |
| genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind |
| of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the |
| others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from |
| Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she |
| wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short |
| sentence when there was least danger of its being heard. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, |
| and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without |
| calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented her from |
| trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an inconvenient |
| distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much. |
| Her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some |
| of the gentlemen would enter the room. She wished, she feared that the |
| master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished or |
| feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner |
| a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was |
| roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her |
| family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity, and the other |
| said no more. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance |
| of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits |
| in season; but this did not take place till after many a significant look |
| and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given, to remind her |
| of her post. There was now employment for the whole party—for though |
| they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the beautiful pyramids of |
| grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them round the table. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether |
| she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the feelings |
| which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but a moment |
| before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to regret |
| that he came. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other |
| gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river, and had left him only |
| on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to Georgiana |
| that morning. No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be |
| perfectly easy and unembarrassed; a resolution the more necessary to be |
| made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she saw that the |
| suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, and that there |
| was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came |
| into the room. In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly |
| marked as in Miss Bingley's, in spite of the smiles which overspread her |
| face whenever she spoke to one of its objects; for jealousy had not yet |
| made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. |
| Miss Darcy, on her brother's entrance, exerted herself much more to talk, |
| and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get |
| acquainted, and forwarded as much as possible, every attempt at |
| conversation on either side. Miss Bingley saw all this likewise; and, in |
| the imprudence of anger, took the first opportunity of saying, with |
| sneering civility: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the ——shire Militia removed from |
| Meryton? They must be a great loss to <i>your</i> family.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In Darcy's presence she dared not mention Wickham's name; but Elizabeth |
| instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts; and the |
| various recollections connected with him gave her a moment's distress; but |
| exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she presently |
| answered the question in a tolerably detached tone. While she spoke, an |
| involuntary glance showed her Darcy, with a heightened complexion, |
| earnestly looking at her, and his sister overcome with confusion, and |
| unable to lift up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was then |
| giving her beloved friend, she undoubtedly would have refrained from the |
| hint; but she had merely intended to discompose Elizabeth by bringing |
| forward the idea of a man to whom she believed her partial, to make her |
| betray a sensibility which might injure her in Darcy's opinion, and, |
| perhaps, to remind the latter of all the follies and absurdities by which |
| some part of her family were connected with that corps. Not a syllable had |
| ever reached her of Miss Darcy's meditated elopement. To no creature had |
| it been revealed, where secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth; and |
| from all Bingley's connections her brother was particularly anxious to |
| conceal it, from the very wish which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to |
| him, of their becoming hereafter her own. He had certainly formed such a |
| plan, and without meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate |
| him from Miss Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his |
| lively concern for the welfare of his friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's collected behaviour, however, soon quieted his emotion; and as |
| Miss Bingley, vexed and disappointed, dared not approach nearer to |
| Wickham, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to be able to |
| speak any more. Her brother, whose eye she feared to meet, scarcely |
| recollected her interest in the affair, and the very circumstance which |
| had been designed to turn his thoughts from Elizabeth seemed to have fixed |
| them on her more and more cheerfully. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer above |
| mentioned; and while Mr. Darcy was attending them to their carriage Miss |
| Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person, |
| behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother's |
| recommendation was enough to ensure her favour; his judgement could not |
| err. And he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as to leave Georgiana |
| without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. When |
| Darcy returned to the saloon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to him |
| some part of what she had been saying to his sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How very ill Miss Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy,” she cried; |
| “I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since the winter. |
| She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing that we |
| should not have known her again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| However little Mr. Darcy might have liked such an address, he contented |
| himself with coolly replying that he perceived no other alteration than |
| her being rather tanned, no miraculous consequence of travelling in the |
| summer. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “For my own part,” she rejoined, “I must confess that I never could see |
| any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; |
| and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character—there |
| is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of |
| the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so |
| fine, I could never see anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, |
| shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether there |
| is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not |
| the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always |
| wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all the |
| success she expected. He was resolutely silent, however, and, from a |
| determination of making him speak, she continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all |
| were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect |
| your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, '<i>She</i> |
| a beauty!—I should as soon call her mother a wit.' But afterwards |
| she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty |
| at one time.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes,” replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, “but <i>that</i> |
| was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have |
| considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of |
| having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their |
| visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them |
| both. The look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed, |
| except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked |
| of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit—of everything but |
| himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of |
| him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's |
| beginning the subject. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0046" id="link2HCH0046"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 46 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from |
| Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been |
| renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but on the |
| third her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt of |
| two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had been |
| missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had written |
| the direction remarkably ill. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and her uncle |
| and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves. The |
| one missent must first be attended to; it had been written five days ago. |
| The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and |
| engagements, with such news as the country afforded; but the latter half, |
| which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more |
| important intelligence. It was to this effect: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most |
| unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you—be |
| assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. An |
| express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from |
| Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one |
| of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! Imagine our surprise. To |
| Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very |
| sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! But I am willing to hope the |
| best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and |
| indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice |
| over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, |
| for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly |
| grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I that we never let |
| them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. |
| They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not |
| missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. |
| My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel |
| Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines |
| for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I |
| cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to |
| make it out, but I hardly know what I have written.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing what |
| she felt, Elizabeth on finishing this letter instantly seized the other, |
| and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows: it had been |
| written a day later than the conclusion of the first. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I |
| wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my |
| head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest |
| Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and |
| it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and |
| our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken |
| place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to |
| Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day |
| before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to |
| Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, |
| something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never |
| intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to |
| Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to |
| trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no further; |
| for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney coach, and |
| dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after |
| this is, that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what |
| to think. After making every possible inquiry on that side London, Colonel |
| F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the |
| turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success—no |
| such people had been seen to pass through. With the kindest concern he |
| came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most |
| creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but |
| no one can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very |
| great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I cannot think so ill |
| of him. Many circumstances might make it more eligible for them to be |
| married privately in town than to pursue their first plan; and even if <i>he</i> |
| could form such a design against a young woman of Lydia's connections, |
| which is not likely, can I suppose her so lost to everything? Impossible! |
| I grieve to find, however, that Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon |
| their marriage; he shook his head when I expressed my hopes, and said he |
| feared W. was not a man to be trusted. My poor mother is really ill, and |
| keeps her room. Could she exert herself, it would be better; but this is |
| not to be expected. And as to my father, I never in my life saw him so |
| affected. Poor Kitty has anger for having concealed their attachment; but |
| as it was a matter of confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, |
| dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing |
| scenes; but now, as the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for |
| your return? I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if |
| inconvenient. Adieu! I take up my pen again to do what I have just told |
| you I would not; but circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly |
| begging you all to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and |
| aunt so well, that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still |
| something more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with |
| Colonel Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do I |
| am sure I know not; but his excessive distress will not allow him to |
| pursue any measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is |
| obliged to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In such an exigence, my |
| uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world; he will |
| immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! where, where is my uncle?” cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat as |
| she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, without losing a |
| moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door it was opened |
| by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous manner |
| made him start, and before he could recover himself to speak, she, in |
| whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's situation, hastily |
| exclaimed, “I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. |
| Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not an |
| instant to lose.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good God! what is the matter?” cried he, with more feeling than |
| politeness; then recollecting himself, “I will not detain you a minute; |
| but let me, or let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not |
| well enough; you cannot go yourself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her and she felt how |
| little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling back the |
| servant, therefore, she commissioned him, though in so breathless an |
| accent as made her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and mistress |
| home instantly. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On his quitting the room she sat down, unable to support herself, and |
| looking so miserably ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to leave her, |
| or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration, “Let |
| me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you present |
| relief? A glass of wine; shall I get you one? You are very ill.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, I thank you,” she replied, endeavouring to recover herself. “There is |
| nothing the matter with me. I am quite well; I am only distressed by some |
| dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could not |
| speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say something |
| indistinctly of his concern, and observe her in compassionate silence. At |
| length she spoke again. “I have just had a letter from Jane, with such |
| dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My younger sister has |
| left all her friends—has eloped; has thrown herself into the power |
| of—of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. <i>You</i> |
| know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, |
| nothing that can tempt him to—she is lost for ever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy was fixed in astonishment. “When I consider,” she added in a yet |
| more agitated voice, “that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he |
| was. Had I but explained some part of it only—some part of what I |
| learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not |
| have happened. But it is all—all too late now.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am grieved indeed,” cried Darcy; “grieved—shocked. But is it |
| certain—absolutely certain?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes! They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced |
| almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone to |
| Scotland.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's |
| immediate assistance; and we shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour. But |
| nothing can be done—I know very well that nothing can be done. How |
| is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have |
| not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When <i>my</i> eyes were opened to his real character—Oh! had I |
| known what I ought, what I dared to do! But I knew not—I was afraid |
| of doing too much. Wretched, wretched mistake!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was walking up |
| and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air |
| gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed, and instantly understood it. Her power |
| was sinking; everything <i>must</i> sink under such a proof of family |
| weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She could neither |
| wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing |
| consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It was, |
| on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own wishes; |
| and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, |
| when all love must be vain. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her. Lydia—the |
| humiliation, the misery she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed up |
| every private care; and covering her face with her handkerchief, Elizabeth |
| was soon lost to everything else; and, after a pause of several minutes, |
| was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice of her |
| companion, who, in a manner which, though it spoke compassion, spoke |
| likewise restraint, said, “I am afraid you have been long desiring my |
| absence, nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, |
| though unavailing concern. Would to Heaven that anything could be either |
| said or done on my part that might offer consolation to such distress! But |
| I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask |
| for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's |
| having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley to-day.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy. Say that urgent |
| business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as |
| it is possible, I know it cannot be long.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He readily assured her of his secrecy; again expressed his sorrow for her |
| distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present reason |
| to hope, and leaving his compliments for her relations, with only one |
| serious, parting look, went away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they |
| should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had marked |
| their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a retrospective |
| glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full of contradictions and |
| varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those feelings which would now |
| have promoted its continuance, and would formerly have rejoiced in its |
| termination. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth's |
| change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if |
| otherwise—if regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or |
| unnatural, in comparison of what is so often described as arising on a |
| first interview with its object, and even before two words have been |
| exchanged, nothing can be said in her defence, except that she had given |
| somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, |
| and that its ill success might, perhaps, authorise her to seek the other |
| less interesting mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him go |
| with regret; and in this early example of what Lydia's infamy must |
| produce, found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched |
| business. Never, since reading Jane's second letter, had she entertained a |
| hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her. No one but Jane, she thought, |
| could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least of |
| her feelings on this development. While the contents of the first letter |
| remained in her mind, she was all surprise—all astonishment that |
| Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry for |
| money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared |
| incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment |
| as this she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose |
| Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of |
| marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor |
| her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that |
| Lydia had any partiality for him; but she was convinced that Lydia wanted |
| only encouragement to attach herself to anybody. Sometimes one officer, |
| sometimes another, had been her favourite, as their attentions raised them |
| in her opinion. Her affections had continually been fluctuating but never |
| without an object. The mischief of neglect and mistaken indulgence towards |
| such a girl—oh! how acutely did she now feel it! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was wild to be at home—to hear, to see, to be upon the spot to |
| share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a |
| family so deranged, a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion, and |
| requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing |
| could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost |
| importance, and till he entered the room her impatience was severe. Mr. |
| and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing by the servant's |
| account that their niece was taken suddenly ill; but satisfying them |
| instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their |
| summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript of |
| the last with trembling energy.— Though Lydia had never been a favourite |
| with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply afflicted. Not |
| Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and after the first exclamations |
| of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner promised every assistance in his |
| power. Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with tears of |
| gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, everything relating |
| to their journey was speedily settled. They were to be off as soon as |
| possible. “But what is to be done about Pemberley?” cried Mrs. Gardiner. |
| “John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for us; was it so?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement. <i>That</i> |
| is all settled.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is all settled?” repeated the other, as she ran into her room to |
| prepare. “And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real |
| truth? Oh, that I knew how it was!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But wishes were vain, or at least could only serve to amuse her in the |
| hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth been at leisure |
| to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment was |
| impossible to one so wretched as herself; but she had her share of |
| business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest there were notes to be |
| written to all their friends at Lambton, with false excuses for their |
| sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. |
| Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing remained |
| to be done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of the morning, |
| found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed, |
| seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0047" id="link2HCH0047"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 47 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| “I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth,” said her uncle, as they |
| drove from the town; “and really, upon serious consideration, I am much |
| more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does on the |
| matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should form |
| such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless, |
| and who was actually staying in his colonel's family, that I am strongly |
| inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends would not step |
| forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the regiment, after such |
| an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is not adequate to the |
| risk!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you really think so?” cried Elizabeth, brightening up for a moment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Upon my word,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “I begin to be of your uncle's |
| opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour, and |
| interest, for him to be guilty of. I cannot think so very ill of Wickham. |
| Can you yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up, as to believe him capable |
| of it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not, perhaps, of neglecting his own interest; but of every other neglect |
| I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so! But I dare not |
| hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland if that had been the case?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In the first place,” replied Mr. Gardiner, “there is no absolute proof |
| that they are not gone to Scotland.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is such a |
| presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be found on the |
| Barnet road.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, then—supposing them to be in London. They may be there, |
| though for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptional purpose. It |
| is not likely that money should be very abundant on either side; and it |
| might strike them that they could be more economically, though less |
| expeditiously, married in London than in Scotland.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must their |
| marriage be private? Oh, no, no—this is not likely. His most |
| particular friend, you see by Jane's account, was persuaded of his never |
| intending to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some |
| money. He cannot afford it. And what claims has Lydia—what |
| attraction has she beyond youth, health, and good humour that could make |
| him, for her sake, forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying |
| well? As to what restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps |
| might throw on a dishonourable elopement with her, I am not able to judge; |
| for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce. But as |
| to your other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has |
| no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's |
| behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed |
| to give to what was going forward in his family, that <i>he</i> would do |
| as little, and think as little about it, as any father could do, in such a |
| matter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him as |
| to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed,” replied Elizabeth, with |
| tears in her eyes, “that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such a |
| point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not what to say. Perhaps |
| I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never been |
| taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half-year, nay, for |
| a twelvemonth—she has been given up to nothing but amusement and |
| vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and |
| frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. Since |
| the ——shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, |
| flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She has been doing |
| everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject, to give |
| greater—what shall I call it? susceptibility to her feelings; which |
| are naturally lively enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm |
| of person and address that can captivate a woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you see that Jane,” said her aunt, “does not think so very ill of |
| Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever might be |
| their former conduct, that she would think capable of such an attempt, |
| till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I do, what |
| Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in every sense |
| of the word; that he has neither integrity nor honour; that he is as false |
| and deceitful as he is insinuating.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And do you really know all this?” cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity as |
| to the mode of her intelligence was all alive. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do indeed,” replied Elizabeth, colouring. “I told you, the other day, |
| of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself, when last at |
| Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved with |
| such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other |
| circumstances which I am not at liberty—which it is not worth while |
| to relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From |
| what he said of Miss Darcy I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud, |
| reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He must |
| know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found her.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But does Lydia know nothing of this? can she be ignorant of what you and |
| Jane seem so well to understand?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes!—that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent, and |
| saw so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was |
| ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home, the ——shire |
| was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the case, |
| neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it necessary to |
| make our knowledge public; for of what use could it apparently be to any |
| one, that the good opinion which all the neighbourhood had of him should |
| then be overthrown? And even when it was settled that Lydia should go with |
| Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening her eyes to his character never |
| occurred to me. That <i>she</i> could be in any danger from the deception |
| never entered my head. That such a consequence as <i>this</i> could ensue, |
| you may easily believe, was far enough from my thoughts.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I |
| suppose, to believe them fond of each other?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on either side; |
| and had anything of the kind been perceptible, you must be aware that ours |
| is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When first he entered |
| the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so we all were. Every |
| girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for the first two |
| months; but he never distinguished <i>her</i> by any particular attention; |
| and, consequently, after a moderate period of extravagant and wild |
| admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others of the regiment, who |
| treated her with more distinction, again became her favourites.” |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| It may be easily believed, that however little of novelty could be added |
| to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject, by |
| its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during |
| the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. |
| Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find |
| no interval of ease or forgetfulness. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They travelled as expeditiously as possible, and, sleeping one night on |
| the road, reached Longbourn by dinner time the next day. It was a comfort |
| to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied by long |
| expectations. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were standing on |
| the steps of the house as they entered the paddock; and, when the carriage |
| drove up to the door, the joyful surprise that lighted up their faces, and |
| displayed itself over their whole bodies, in a variety of capers and |
| frisks, was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth jumped out; and, after giving each of them a hasty kiss, hurried |
| into the vestibule, where Jane, who came running down from her mother's |
| apartment, immediately met her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled the |
| eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether anything had been heard |
| of the fugitives. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not yet,” replied Jane. “But now that my dear uncle is come, I hope |
| everything will be well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is my father in town?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And have you heard from him often?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We have heard only twice. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday to say |
| that he had arrived in safety, and to give me his directions, which I |
| particularly begged him to do. He merely added that he should not write |
| again till he had something of importance to mention.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And my mother—how is she? How are you all?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are greatly |
| shaken. She is up stairs and will have great satisfaction in seeing you |
| all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty, thank |
| Heaven, are quite well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you—how are you?” cried Elizabeth. “You look pale. How much you |
| must have gone through!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well; and their |
| conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were |
| engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the approach of the |
| whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt, and welcomed and thanked them |
| both, with alternate smiles and tears. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When they were all in the drawing-room, the questions which Elizabeth had |
| already asked were of course repeated by the others, and they soon found |
| that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of good, however, |
| which the benevolence of her heart suggested had not yet deserted her; she |
| still expected that it would all end well, and that every morning would |
| bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, to explain their |
| proceedings, and, perhaps, announce their marriage. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a few minutes' |
| conversation together, received them exactly as might be expected; with |
| tears and lamentations of regret, invectives against the villainous |
| conduct of Wickham, and complaints of her own sufferings and ill-usage; |
| blaming everybody but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the |
| errors of her daughter must principally be owing. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If I had been able,” said she, “to carry my point in going to Brighton, |
| with all my family, <i>this</i> would not have happened; but poor dear |
| Lydia had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever let her go |
| out of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or other on |
| their side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing if she had |
| been well looked after. I always thought they were very unfit to have the |
| charge of her; but I was overruled, as I always am. Poor dear child! And |
| now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham, |
| wherever he meets him and then he will be killed, and what is to become of |
| us all? The Collinses will turn us out before he is cold in his grave, and |
| if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we shall do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas; and Mr. Gardiner, after |
| general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her |
| that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. |
| Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do not give way to useless alarm,” added he; “though it is right to be |
| prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain. It |
| is not quite a week since they left Brighton. In a few days more we may |
| gain some news of them; and till we know that they are not married, and |
| have no design of marrying, do not let us give the matter over as lost. As |
| soon as I get to town I shall go to my brother, and make him come home |
| with me to Gracechurch Street; and then we may consult together as to what |
| is to be done.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear brother,” replied Mrs. Bennet, “that is exactly what I could |
| most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them out, wherever |
| they may be; and if they are not married already, <i>make</i> them marry. |
| And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but tell Lydia |
| she shall have as much money as she chooses to buy them, after they are |
| married. And, above all, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. Tell him what a |
| dreadful state I am in, that I am frighted out of my wits—and have |
| such tremblings, such flutterings, all over me—such spasms in my |
| side and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that I can get no |
| rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia not to give any |
| directions about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does not know |
| which are the best warehouses. Oh, brother, how kind you are! I know you |
| will contrive it all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her again of his earnest endeavours in |
| the cause, could not avoid recommending moderation to her, as well in her |
| hopes as her fear; and after talking with her in this manner till dinner |
| was on the table, they all left her to vent all her feelings on the |
| housekeeper, who attended in the absence of her daughters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real |
| occasion for such a seclusion from the family, they did not attempt to |
| oppose it, for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her |
| tongue before the servants, while they waited at table, and judged it |
| better that <i>one</i> only of the household, and the one whom they could |
| most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been |
| too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance |
| before. One came from her books, and the other from her toilette. The |
| faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and no change was visible in |
| either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger which |
| she had herself incurred in this business, had given more of fretfulness |
| than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress enough |
| of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance of grave |
| reflection, soon after they were seated at table: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. |
| But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of |
| each other the balm of sisterly consolation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, |
| “Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful |
| lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false |
| step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle |
| than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her |
| behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much oppressed to |
| make any reply. Mary, however, continued to console herself with such kind |
| of moral extractions from the evil before them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for |
| half-an-hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of the |
| opportunity of making any inquiries, which Jane was equally eager to |
| satisfy. After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel of |
| this event, which Elizabeth considered as all but certain, and Miss Bennet |
| could not assert to be wholly impossible, the former continued the |
| subject, by saying, “But tell me all and everything about it which I have |
| not already heard. Give me further particulars. What did Colonel Forster |
| say? Had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement took place? |
| They must have seen them together for ever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality, |
| especially on Lydia's side, but nothing to give him any alarm. I am so |
| grieved for him! His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost. He <i>was</i> |
| coming to us, in order to assure us of his concern, before he had any idea |
| of their not being gone to Scotland: when that apprehension first got |
| abroad, it hastened his journey.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry? Did he know of |
| their intending to go off? Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; but, when questioned by <i>him</i>, Denny denied knowing anything of |
| their plans, and would not give his real opinion about it. He did not |
| repeat his persuasion of their not marrying—and from <i>that</i>, I |
| am inclined to hope, he might have been misunderstood before.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And till Colonel Forster came himself, not one of you entertained a |
| doubt, I suppose, of their being really married?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains? I felt a |
| little uneasy—a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him in |
| marriage, because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite right. |
| My father and mother knew nothing of that; they only felt how imprudent a |
| match it must be. Kitty then owned, with a very natural triumph on knowing |
| more than the rest of us, that in Lydia's last letter she had prepared her |
| for such a step. She had known, it seems, of their being in love with each |
| other, many weeks.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But not before they went to Brighton?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, I believe not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And did Colonel Forster appear to think well of Wickham himself? Does he |
| know his real character?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly |
| did. He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant. And since this sad |
| affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt; |
| but I hope this may be false.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew of him, this |
| could not have happened!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps it would have been better,” replied her sister. “But to expose |
| the former faults of any person without knowing what their present |
| feelings were, seemed unjustifiable. We acted with the best intentions.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his |
| wife?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He brought it with him for us to see.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth. These |
| were the contents: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR HARRIET, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing |
| myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed. I am |
| going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you |
| a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is an |
| angel. I should never be happy without him, so think it no harm to be off. |
| You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like |
| it, for it will make the surprise the greater, when I write to them and |
| sign my name 'Lydia Wickham.' What a good joke it will be! I can hardly |
| write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my |
| engagement, and dancing with him to-night. Tell him I hope he will excuse |
| me when he knows all; and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball |
| we meet, with great pleasure. I shall send for my clothes when I get to |
| Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my |
| worked muslin gown before they are packed up. Good-bye. Give my love to |
| Colonel Forster. I hope you will drink to our good journey. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your affectionate friend, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “LYDIA BENNET.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!” cried Elizabeth when she had |
| finished it. “What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment! But |
| at least it shows that <i>she</i> was serious on the subject of their |
| journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her |
| side a <i>scheme</i> of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never saw anyone so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten |
| minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in such |
| confusion!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! Jane,” cried Elizabeth, “was there a servant belonging to it who did |
| not know the whole story before the end of the day?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not know. I hope there was. But to be guarded at such a time is very |
| difficult. My mother was in hysterics, and though I endeavoured to give |
| her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did not do so much as I |
| might have done! But the horror of what might possibly happen almost took |
| from me my faculties.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not look well. |
| Oh that I had been with you! you have had every care and anxiety upon |
| yourself alone.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in every |
| fatigue, I am sure; but I did not think it right for either of them. Kitty |
| is slight and delicate; and Mary studies so much, that her hours of repose |
| should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn on Tuesday, |
| after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till Thursday with |
| me. She was of great use and comfort to us all. And Lady Lucas has been |
| very kind; she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole with us, and |
| offered her services, or any of her daughters', if they should be of use |
| to us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She had better have stayed at home,” cried Elizabeth; “perhaps she <i>meant</i> |
| well, but, under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see too little of |
| one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence insufferable. Let |
| them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had |
| intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He meant I believe,” replied Jane, “to go to Epsom, the place where they |
| last changed horses, see the postilions and try if anything could be made |
| out from them. His principal object must be to discover the number of the |
| hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come with a fare from |
| London; and as he thought that the circumstance of a gentleman and lady's |
| removing from one carriage into another might be remarked he meant to make |
| inquiries at Clapham. If he could anyhow discover at what house the |
| coachman had before set down his fare, he determined to make inquiries |
| there, and hoped it might not be impossible to find out the stand and |
| number of the coach. I do not know of any other designs that he had |
| formed; but he was in such a hurry to be gone, and his spirits so greatly |
| discomposed, that I had difficulty in finding out even so much as this.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0048" id="link2HCH0048"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 48 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next |
| morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him. His |
| family knew him to be, on all common occasions, a most negligent and |
| dilatory correspondent; but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. |
| They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to send; |
| but even of <i>that</i> they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. |
| Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant |
| information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, to |
| prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, to the |
| great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only security |
| for her husband's not being killed in a duel. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few days |
| longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable to her |
| nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a great |
| comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also visited |
| them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of cheering and |
| heartening them up—though, as she never came without reporting some |
| fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, she seldom went |
| away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months |
| before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt |
| to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with the |
| title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family. |
| Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; and |
| everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance |
| of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above half of what |
| was said, believed enough to make her former assurance of her sister's |
| ruin more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less of it, became |
| almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come when, if they |
| had gone to Scotland, which she had never before entirely despaired of, |
| they must in all probability have gained some news of them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday his wife received a |
| letter from him; it told them that, on his arrival, he had immediately |
| found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street; |
| that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, but |
| without gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now |
| determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet |
| thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first |
| coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself did |
| not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother was eager in |
| it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. Bennet seemed |
| wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised to write again |
| very soon. There was also a postscript to this effect: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if possible, |
| from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, whether Wickham |
| has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in what part |
| of town he has now concealed himself. If there were anyone that one could |
| apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that, it might be of |
| essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel |
| Forster will, I dare say, do everything in his power to satisfy us on this |
| head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps, Lizzy could tell us what relations |
| he has now living, better than any other person.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference to her |
| authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information |
| of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved. She had never |
| heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both of |
| whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of his |
| companions in the ——shire might be able to give more |
| information; and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the |
| application was a something to look forward to. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part |
| of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the |
| grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters, whatever of |
| good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day |
| was expected to bring some news of importance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for their |
| father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane had |
| received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, she |
| accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his letters |
| always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as follows: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR SIR, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation in life, |
| to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering |
| under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. |
| Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise |
| with you and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which |
| must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no |
| time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can |
| alleviate so severe a misfortune—or that may comfort you, under a |
| circumstance that must be of all others the most afflicting to a parent's |
| mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison |
| of this. And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to |
| suppose as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of |
| behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of |
| indulgence; though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and |
| Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be |
| naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early |
| an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied; in which |
| opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady |
| Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree |
| with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be |
| injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine |
| herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family? |
| And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect, with augmented |
| satisfaction, on a certain event of last November; for had it been |
| otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let |
| me then advise you, dear sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to |
| throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her |
| to reap the fruits of her own heinous offense. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am, dear sir, etc., etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from |
| Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It |
| was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he kept up |
| any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His |
| former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he had been in the |
| militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship |
| with any of them. There was no one, therefore, who could be pointed out as |
| likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own |
| finances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his |
| fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired that he |
| had left gaming debts behind him to a very considerable amount. Colonel |
| Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to |
| clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal in town, but his debts |
| of honour were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to |
| conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family. Jane heard them with |
| horror. “A gamester!” she cried. “This is wholly unexpected. I had not an |
| idea of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see their |
| father at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Rendered |
| spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded to |
| his brother-in-law's entreaty that he would return to his family, and |
| leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for |
| continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did not |
| express so much satisfaction as her children expected, considering what |
| her anxiety for his life had been before. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?” she cried. “Sure he |
| will not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight Wickham, |
| and make him marry her, if he comes away?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that she and |
| the children should go to London, at the same time that Mr. Bennet came |
| from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of their journey, |
| and brought its master back to Longbourn. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her |
| Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world. His |
| name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece; and |
| the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, of their |
| being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had |
| received none since her return that could come from Pemberley. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for the |
| lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be fairly |
| conjectured from <i>that</i>, though Elizabeth, who was by this time |
| tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware that, |
| had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of Lydia's |
| infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought, one |
| sleepless night out of two. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual |
| philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the habit |
| of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him away, and it |
| was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was not till the afternoon, when he had joined them at tea, that |
| Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly |
| expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, “Say |
| nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, |
| and I ought to feel it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You must not be too severe upon yourself,” replied Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone to |
| fall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have been |
| to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. It will |
| pass away soon enough.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Do you suppose them to be in London?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And Lydia used to want to go to London,” added Kitty. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is happy then,” said her father drily; “and her residence there will |
| probably be of some duration.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Then after a short silence he continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy, I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me |
| last May, which, considering the event, shows some greatness of mind.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her mother's tea. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is a parade,” he cried, “which does one good; it gives such an |
| elegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit in my |
| library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and give as much trouble as I |
| can; or, perhaps, I may defer it till Kitty runs away.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not going to run away, papa,” said Kitty fretfully. “If I should |
| ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>You</i> go to Brighton. I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne |
| for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, and you |
| will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter into my house |
| again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely |
| prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are |
| never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten |
| minutes of every day in a rational manner.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, well,” said he, “do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good |
| girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end of |
| them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0049" id="link2HCH0049"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 49 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking |
| together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper |
| coming towards them, and, concluding that she came to call them to their |
| mother, went forward to meet her; but, instead of the expected summons, |
| when they approached her, she said to Miss Bennet, “I beg your pardon, |
| madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some |
| good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dear madam,” cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, “don't you know |
| there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? He has been here |
| this half-hour, and master has had a letter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. They ran |
| through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from thence to the library; |
| their father was in neither; and they were on the point of seeking him up |
| stairs with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the little |
| copse.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once more, |
| and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing |
| his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as |
| Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, came |
| up with him, and eagerly cried out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, papa, what news—what news? Have you heard from my uncle?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes I have had a letter from him by express.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, and what news does it bring—good or bad?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What is there of good to be expected?” said he, taking the letter from |
| his pocket. “But perhaps you would like to read it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Read it aloud,” said their father, “for I hardly know myself what it is |
| about.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Gracechurch Street, Monday, August 2. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR BROTHER, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, upon |
| the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction. Soon after you left me on |
| Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what part of London they |
| were. The particulars I reserve till we meet; it is enough to know they |
| are discovered. I have seen them both—” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Then it is as I always hoped,” cried Jane; “they are married!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth read on: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there was any |
| intention of being so; but if you are willing to perform the engagements |
| which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will not be long |
| before they are. All that is required of you is, to assure to your |
| daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand pounds |
| secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister; |
| and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your |
| life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions which, |
| considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I |
| thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by express, that no |
| time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You will easily comprehend, |
| from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham's circumstances are not so |
| hopeless as they are generally believed to be. The world has been deceived |
| in that respect; and I am happy to say there will be some little money, |
| even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition |
| to her own fortune. If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me full |
| powers to act in your name throughout the whole of this business, I will |
| immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper |
| settlement. There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to |
| town again; therefore stay quiet at Longbourn, and depend on my diligence |
| and care. Send back your answer as fast as you can, and be careful to |
| write explicitly. We have judged it best that my niece should be married |
| from this house, of which I hope you will approve. She comes to us to-day. |
| I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on. Yours, |
| etc., |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “EDW. GARDINER.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is it possible?” cried Elizabeth, when she had finished. “Can it be |
| possible that he will marry her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Wickham is not so undeserving, then, as we thought him,” said her sister. |
| “My dear father, I congratulate you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And have you answered the letter?” cried Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No; but it must be done soon.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more time before he |
| wrote. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear father,” she cried, “come back and write immediately. |
| Consider how important every moment is in such a case.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Let me write for you,” said Jane, “if you dislike the trouble yourself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I dislike it very much,” he replied; “but it must be done.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And may I ask—” said Elizabeth; “but the terms, I suppose, must be |
| complied with.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Complied with! I am only ashamed of his asking so little.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And they <i>must</i> marry! Yet he is <i>such</i> a man!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. But there |
| are two things that I want very much to know; one is, how much money your |
| uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other, how am I ever to pay |
| him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Money! My uncle!” cried Jane, “what do you mean, sir?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I mean, that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a |
| temptation as one hundred a year during my life, and fifty after I am |
| gone.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is very true,” said Elizabeth; “though it had not occurred to me |
| before. His debts to be discharged, and something still to remain! Oh! it |
| must be my uncle's doings! Generous, good man, I am afraid he has |
| distressed himself. A small sum could not do all this.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No,” said her father; “Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing |
| less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry to think so ill of him, |
| in the very beginning of our relationship.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half such a sum to be repaid?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought, continued |
| silent till they reached the house. Their father then went on to the |
| library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And they are really to be married!” cried Elizabeth, as soon as they were |
| by themselves. “How strange this is! And for <i>this</i> we are to be |
| thankful. That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, |
| and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice. Oh, Lydia!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I comfort myself with thinking,” replied Jane, “that he certainly would |
| not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her. Though our kind uncle |
| has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten |
| thousand pounds, or anything like it, has been advanced. He has children |
| of his own, and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand |
| pounds?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If he were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been,” said |
| Elizabeth, “and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall |
| exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has not |
| sixpence of his own. The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be |
| requited. Their taking her home, and affording her their personal |
| protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years |
| of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she is actually with |
| them! If such goodness does not make her miserable now, she will never |
| deserve to be happy! What a meeting for her, when she first sees my aunt!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side,” said |
| Jane: “I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry |
| her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of |
| thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; and I flatter myself |
| they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in |
| time make their past imprudence forgotten.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Their conduct has been such,” replied Elizabeth, “as neither you, nor I, |
| nor anybody can ever forget. It is useless to talk of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood |
| perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They went to the library, |
| therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make |
| it known to her. He was writing and, without raising his head, coolly |
| replied: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Just as you please.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “May we take my uncle's letter to read to her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Take whatever you like, and get away.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went up stairs |
| together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet: one communication |
| would, therefore, do for all. After a slight preparation for good news, |
| the letter was read aloud. Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself. As |
| soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon married, |
| her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance. |
| She was now in an irritation as violent from delight, as she had ever been |
| fidgety from alarm and vexation. To know that her daughter would be |
| married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor |
| humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear, dear Lydia!” she cried. “This is delightful indeed! She will be |
| married! I shall see her again! She will be married at sixteen! My good, |
| kind brother! I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage everything! |
| How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too! But the clothes, the |
| wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. |
| Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give |
| her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill. I will |
| put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear Lydia! How merry we shall be |
| together when we meet!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of |
| these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. |
| Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “For we must attribute this happy conclusion,” she added, “in a great |
| measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to |
| assist Mr. Wickham with money.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well,” cried her mother, “it is all very right; who should do it but her |
| own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must |
| have had all his money, you know; and it is the first time we have ever |
| had anything from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy! In a |
| short time I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well it |
| sounds! And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in such a |
| flutter, that I am sure I can't write; so I will dictate, and you write |
| for me. We will settle with your father about the money afterwards; but |
| the things should be ordered immediately.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and |
| cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had |
| not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her |
| father was at leisure to be consulted. One day's delay, she observed, |
| would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy to be quite so |
| obstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I will go to Meryton,” said she, “as soon as I am dressed, and tell the |
| good, good news to my sister Philips. And as I come back, I can call on |
| Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An |
| airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. Girls, can I do |
| anything for you in Meryton? Oh! Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you |
| heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall all |
| have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth received her |
| congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took |
| refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was no |
| worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; and though, in looking |
| forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly |
| expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared, only two |
| hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had gained. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0050" id="link2HCH0050"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 50 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, |
| instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for the |
| better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived him. He |
| now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia |
| need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit |
| could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of |
| the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then |
| have rested in its proper place. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone |
| should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he was |
| determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance, and to |
| discharge the obligation as soon as he could. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly |
| useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join in |
| cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow and |
| younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters |
| successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. |
| Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he |
| would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late |
| to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her husband's love |
| of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and |
| the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the |
| latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with |
| regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet |
| could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In terms |
| of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, though |
| expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect |
| approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the |
| engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed that, |
| could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would be done with |
| so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He would |
| scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid |
| them; for, what with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual |
| presents in money which passed to her through her mother's hands, Lydia's |
| expenses had been very little within that sum. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was |
| another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as |
| little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports of |
| rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he |
| naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon |
| dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick in |
| its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he was |
| indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any message |
| to her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The good news spread quickly through the house, and with proportionate |
| speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent |
| philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of |
| conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the happiest |
| alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farmhouse. But |
| there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the good-natured |
| wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from all the spiteful |
| old ladies in Meryton lost but a little of their spirit in this change of |
| circumstances, because with such an husband her misery was considered |
| certain. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs; but on this |
| happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in spirits |
| oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph. The |
| marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object of her wishes |
| since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point of accomplishment, and her |
| thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendants of elegant nuptials, |
| fine muslins, new carriages, and servants. She was busily searching |
| through the neighbourhood for a proper situation for her daughter, and, |
| without knowing or considering what their income might be, rejected many |
| as deficient in size and importance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Haye Park might do,” said she, “if the Gouldings could quit it—or |
| the great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth is |
| too far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as for |
| Pulvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the servants |
| remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her: “Mrs. Bennet, |
| before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let |
| us come to a right understanding. Into <i>one</i> house in this |
| neighbourhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the |
| impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm. It soon |
| led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror, that her |
| husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter. He |
| protested that she should receive from him no mark of affection whatever |
| on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehend it. That his anger |
| could be carried to such a point of inconceivable resentment as to refuse |
| his daughter a privilege without which her marriage would scarcely seem |
| valid, exceeded all she could believe possible. She was more alive to the |
| disgrace which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter's |
| nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her eloping and living with |
| Wickham a fortnight before they took place. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of |
| the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her |
| sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper |
| termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable |
| beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means. There were few |
| people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended; but, at |
| the same time, there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's frailty |
| would have mortified her so much—not, however, from any fear of |
| disadvantage from it individually to herself, for, at any rate, there |
| seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been concluded |
| on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy |
| would connect himself with a family where, to every other objection, would |
| now be added an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with a man |
| whom he so justly scorned. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink. The wish |
| of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his feeling in |
| Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such a blow as this. |
| She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she hardly knew of |
| what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no longer hope to |
| be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least |
| chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she could have been |
| happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that the |
| proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now |
| have been most gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she |
| doubted not, as the most generous of his sex; but while he was mortal, |
| there must be a triumph. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in |
| disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and |
| temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was |
| an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and |
| liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and |
| from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have |
| received benefit of greater importance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what |
| connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and |
| precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their |
| family. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she |
| could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a |
| couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger |
| than their virtue, she could easily conjecture. |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet's |
| acknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurance of his eagerness to |
| promote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with entreaties |
| that the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The principal |
| purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved on |
| quitting the militia. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It was greatly my wish that he should do so,” he added, “as soon as his |
| marriage was fixed on. And I think you will agree with me, in considering |
| the removal from that corps as highly advisable, both on his account and |
| my niece's. It is Mr. Wickham's intention to go into the regulars; and |
| among his former friends, there are still some who are able and willing to |
| assist him in the army. He has the promise of an ensigncy in General |
| ——'s regiment, now quartered in the North. It is an advantage |
| to have it so far from this part of the kingdom. He promises fairly; and I |
| hope among different people, where they may each have a character to |
| preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have written to Colonel |
| Forster, to inform him of our present arrangements, and to request that he |
| will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham in and near Brighton, |
| with assurances of speedy payment, for which I have pledged myself. And |
| will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to his |
| creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin a list according to his |
| information? He has given in all his debts; I hope at least he has not |
| deceived us. Haggerston has our directions, and all will be completed in a |
| week. They will then join his regiment, unless they are first invited to |
| Longbourn; and I understand from Mrs. Gardiner, that my niece is very |
| desirous of seeing you all before she leaves the South. She is well, and |
| begs to be dutifully remembered to you and her mother.—Yours, etc., |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “E. GARDINER.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal |
| from the ——shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs. |
| Bennet was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in the |
| North, just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company, |
| for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in |
| Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; and, besides, it was such a |
| pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted |
| with everybody, and had so many favourites. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is so fond of Mrs. Forster,” said she, “it will be quite shocking to |
| send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that she likes |
| very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ——'s |
| regiment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of being admitted |
| into her family again before she set off for the North, received at first |
| an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, who agreed in wishing, for |
| the sake of their sister's feelings and consequence, that she should be |
| noticed on her marriage by her parents, urged him so earnestly yet so |
| rationally and so mildly, to receive her and her husband at Longbourn, as |
| soon as they were married, that he was prevailed on to think as they |
| thought, and act as they wished. And their mother had the satisfaction of |
| knowing that she would be able to show her married daughter in the |
| neighbourhood before she was banished to the North. When Mr. Bennet wrote |
| again to his brother, therefore, he sent his permission for them to come; |
| and it was settled, that as soon as the ceremony was over, they should |
| proceed to Longbourn. Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham |
| should consent to such a scheme, and had she consulted only her own |
| inclination, any meeting with him would have been the last object of her |
| wishes. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0051" id="link2HCH0051"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 51 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Their sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her |
| probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to meet |
| them at ——, and they were to return in it by dinner-time. |
| Their arrival was dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets, and Jane more |
| especially, who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself, |
| had she been the culprit, and was wretched in the thought of what her |
| sister must endure. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive |
| them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to |
| the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, |
| anxious, uneasy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and |
| she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, and |
| welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand, with an affectionate smile, to |
| Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an alacrity |
| which shewed no doubt of their happiness. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite |
| so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely |
| opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was |
| enough to provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was |
| shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and |
| fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their |
| congratulations; and when at length they all sat down, looked eagerly |
| round the room, took notice of some little alteration in it, and observed, |
| with a laugh, that it was a great while since she had been there. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but his manners were |
| always so pleasing, that had his character and his marriage been exactly |
| what they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he claimed their |
| relationship, would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had not before |
| believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolving |
| within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent |
| man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the two who caused |
| their confusion suffered no variation of colour. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither of |
| them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to sit near Elizabeth, |
| began inquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood, with a good |
| humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her replies. They |
| seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of |
| the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led voluntarily to subjects |
| which her sisters would not have alluded to for the world. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Only think of its being three months,” she cried, “since I went away; it |
| seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet there have been things enough |
| happened in the time. Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure I had no |
| more idea of being married till I came back again! though I thought it |
| would be very good fun if I was.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabeth looked |
| expressively at Lydia; but she, who never heard nor saw anything of which |
| she chose to be insensible, gaily continued, “Oh! mamma, do the people |
| hereabouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not; and we |
| overtook William Goulding in his curricle, so I was determined he should |
| know it, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took off my |
| glove, and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, so that he might |
| see the ring, and then I bowed and smiled like anything.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up, and ran out of the room; |
| and returned no more, till she heard them passing through the hall to the |
| dining parlour. She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia, with |
| anxious parade, walk up to her mother's right hand, and hear her say to |
| her eldest sister, “Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go |
| lower, because I am a married woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment |
| from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits |
| increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips, the Lucases, and all their |
| other neighbours, and to hear herself called “Mrs. Wickham” by each of |
| them; and in the mean time, she went after dinner to show her ring, and |
| boast of being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, mamma,” said she, when they were all returned to the breakfast |
| room, “and what do you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I am |
| sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good |
| luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands. |
| What a pity it is, mamma, we did not all go.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But my dear Lydia, I don't at |
| all like your going such a way off. Must it be so?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, lord! yes;—there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all |
| things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down and see us. We shall |
| be at Newcastle all the winter, and I dare say there will be some balls, |
| and I will take care to get good partners for them all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should like it beyond anything!” said her mother. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters behind |
| you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the winter is |
| over.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I thank you for my share of the favour,” said Elizabeth; “but I do not |
| particularly like your way of getting husbands.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham |
| had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join his |
| regiment at the end of a fortnight. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short; and |
| she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter, and |
| having very frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to |
| all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did |
| think, than such as did not. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected to find |
| it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had scarcely needed her present |
| observation to be satisfied, from the reason of things, that their |
| elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love, rather than by |
| his; and she would have wondered why, without violently caring for her, he |
| chose to elope with her at all, had she not felt certain that his flight |
| was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and if that were the |
| case, he was not the young man to resist an opportunity of having a |
| companion. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham on every |
| occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every thing |
| best in the world; and she was sure he would kill more birds on the first |
| of September, than any body else in the country. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| One morning, soon after their arrival, as she was sitting with her two |
| elder sisters, she said to Elizabeth: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy, I never gave <i>you</i> an account of my wedding, I believe. You |
| were not by, when I told mamma and the others all about it. Are not you |
| curious to hear how it was managed?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No really,” replied Elizabeth; “I think there cannot be too little said |
| on the subject.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off. We were |
| married, you know, at St. Clement's, because Wickham's lodgings were in |
| that parish. And it was settled that we should all be there by eleven |
| o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I were to go together; and the others were |
| to meet us at the church. Well, Monday morning came, and I was in such a |
| fuss! I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen to put it |
| off, and then I should have gone quite distracted. And there was my aunt, |
| all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as if she was |
| reading a sermon. However, I did not hear above one word in ten, for I was |
| thinking, you may suppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he |
| would be married in his blue coat.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought it would never be |
| over; for, by the bye, you are to understand, that my uncle and aunt were |
| horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them. If you'll believe me, I |
| did not once put my foot out of doors, though I was there a fortnight. Not |
| one party, or scheme, or anything. To be sure London was rather thin, but, |
| however, the Little Theatre was open. Well, and so just as the carriage |
| came to the door, my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid |
| man Mr. Stone. And then, you know, when once they get together, there is |
| no end of it. Well, I was so frightened I did not know what to do, for my |
| uncle was to give me away; and if we were beyond the hour, we could not be |
| married all day. But, luckily, he came back again in ten minutes' time, |
| and then we all set out. However, I recollected afterwards that if he had |
| been prevented going, the wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might |
| have done as well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy!” repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes!—he was to come there with Wickham, you know. But gracious |
| me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised |
| them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If it was to be secret,” said Jane, “say not another word on the subject. |
| You may depend upon my seeking no further.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! certainly,” said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; “we will |
| ask you no questions.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Thank you,” said Lydia, “for if you did, I should certainly tell you all, |
| and then Wickham would be angry.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her |
| power, by running away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least it |
| was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at her |
| sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, and exactly among people, where |
| he had apparently least to do, and least temptation to go. Conjectures as |
| to the meaning of it, rapid and wild, hurried into her brain; but she was |
| satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her, as placing his conduct |
| in the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She could not bear such |
| suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short letter to |
| her aunt, to request an explanation of what Lydia had dropt, if it were |
| compatible with the secrecy which had been intended. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may readily comprehend,” she added, “what my curiosity must be to |
| know how a person unconnected with any of us, and (comparatively speaking) |
| a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such a time. |
| Pray write instantly, and let me understand it—unless it is, for |
| very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think |
| necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not that I <i>shall</i>, though,” she added to herself, as she finished |
| the letter; “and my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable |
| manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it |
| out.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to Elizabeth |
| privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth was glad of it;—till |
| it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any satisfaction, she had |
| rather be without a confidante. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0052" id="link2HCH0052"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 52 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as |
| soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it than, |
| hurrying into the little copse, where she was least likely to be |
| interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to be happy; |
| for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not contain a |
| denial. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Gracechurch street, Sept. 6. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR NIECE, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to |
| answering it, as I foresee that a <i>little</i> writing will not comprise |
| what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your |
| application; I did not expect it from <i>you</i>. Don't think me angry, |
| however, for I only mean to let you know that I had not imagined such |
| inquiries to be necessary on <i>your</i> side. If you do not choose to |
| understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised as |
| I am—and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned |
| would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really |
| innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most |
| unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several |
| hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so |
| dreadfully racked as <i>yours</i> seems to have been. He came to tell Mr. |
| Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and |
| that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly, Lydia |
| once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day after |
| ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The |
| motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that |
| Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it |
| impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He |
| generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed that he |
| had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the |
| world. His character was to speak for itself. He called it, therefore, his |
| duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been |
| brought on by himself. If he <i>had another</i> motive, I am sure it would |
| never disgrace him. He had been some days in town, before he was able to |
| discover them; but he had something to direct his search, which was more |
| than <i>we</i> had; and the consciousness of this was another reason for |
| his resolving to follow us. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess |
| to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of |
| disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large house in |
| Edward-street, and has since maintained herself by letting lodgings. This |
| Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went |
| to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to town. But it was two |
| or three days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not |
| betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and corruption, for she |
| really did know where her friend was to be found. Wickham indeed had gone |
| to her on their first arrival in London, and had she been able to receive |
| them into her house, they would have taken up their abode with her. At |
| length, however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction. They |
| were in —— street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on |
| seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to |
| persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her |
| friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering his |
| assistance, as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved |
| on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends; she wanted |
| no help of his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they |
| should be married some time or other, and it did not much signify when. |
| Since such were her feelings, it only remained, he thought, to secure and |
| expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, |
| he easily learnt had never been <i>his</i> design. He confessed himself |
| obliged to leave the regiment, on account of some debts of honour, which |
| were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of |
| Lydia's flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission |
| immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very |
| little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he |
| knew he should have nothing to live on. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once. Though |
| Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able to do |
| something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by marriage. |
| But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the |
| hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other |
| country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof |
| against the temptation of immediate relief. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham of |
| course wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be |
| reasonable. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Every thing being settled between <i>them</i>, Mr. Darcy's next step was |
| to make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch |
| street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen, |
| and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father was still with |
| him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your father to |
| be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore |
| readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He |
| did not leave his name, and till the next day it was only known that a |
| gentleman had called on business. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, |
| as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They met again on Sunday, and then <i>I</i> saw him too. It was not all |
| settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to |
| Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that |
| obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been |
| accused of many faults at different times, but <i>this</i> is the true |
| one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure |
| (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it), |
| your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the |
| gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was |
| forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, |
| was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which |
| went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this |
| morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that |
| would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was |
| due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane at most. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. |
| His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than |
| a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon <i>her</i>, |
| and his commission purchased. The reason why all this was to be done by |
| him alone, was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his |
| reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham's character had |
| been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and |
| noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in <i>this</i>; though I |
| doubt whether <i>his</i> reserve, or <i>anybody's</i> reserve, can be |
| answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear |
| Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have |
| yielded, if we had not given him credit for <i>another interest</i> in the |
| affair. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were |
| still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London |
| once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were then to |
| receive the last finish. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which you |
| tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford |
| you any displeasure. Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant admission |
| to the house. <i>He</i> was exactly what he had been, when I knew him in |
| Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with |
| her behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane's |
| letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a |
| piece with it, and therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh |
| pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing |
| to her all the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness |
| she had brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I |
| am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked, but then I |
| recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience |
| with her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, attended |
| the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again on |
| Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I |
| take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say |
| before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, in every respect, |
| been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and |
| opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and |
| <i>that</i>, if he marry <i>prudently</i>, his wife may teach him. I |
| thought him very sly;—he hardly ever mentioned your name. But |
| slyness seems the fashion. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish |
| me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I |
| have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little pair of |
| ponies, would be the very thing. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half |
| hour. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yours, very sincerely, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “M. GARDINER.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, in |
| which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the |
| greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had |
| produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's |
| match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too |
| great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the |
| pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! |
| He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all the |
| trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which |
| supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and |
| despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with, |
| persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to avoid, |
| and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all |
| this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did |
| whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by |
| other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity was |
| insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her—for a |
| woman who had already refused him—as able to overcome a sentiment so |
| natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of |
| Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, to |
| be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had given a |
| reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary stretch of |
| belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong; he had |
| liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and though she would |
| not place herself as his principal inducement, she could, perhaps, believe |
| that remaining partiality for her might assist his endeavours in a cause |
| where her peace of mind must be materially concerned. It was painful, |
| exceedingly painful, to know that they were under obligations to a person |
| who could never receive a return. They owed the restoration of Lydia, her |
| character, every thing, to him. Oh! how heartily did she grieve over every |
| ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had |
| ever directed towards him. For herself she was humbled; but she was proud |
| of him. Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able |
| to get the better of himself. She read over her aunt's commendation of him |
| again and again. It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even |
| sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how |
| steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and |
| confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one's approach; |
| and before she could strike into another path, she was overtaken by |
| Wickham. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?” said he, |
| as he joined her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You certainly do,” she replied with a smile; “but it does not follow that |
| the interruption must be unwelcome.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and |
| now we are better.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “True. Are the others coming out?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to |
| Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that you |
| have actually seen Pemberley.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She replied in the affirmative. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much |
| for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the |
| old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of me. |
| But of course she did not mention my name to you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, she did.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And what did she say?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had—not turned |
| out well. At such a distance as <i>that</i>, you know, things are |
| strangely misrepresented.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Certainly,” he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced |
| him; but he soon afterwards said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other |
| several times. I wonder what he can be doing there.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh,” said Elizabeth. |
| “It must be something particular, to take him there at this time of year.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I |
| understood from the Gardiners that you had.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes; he introduced us to his sister.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And do you like her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very much.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year or |
| two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you |
| liked her. I hope she will turn out well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did you go by the village of Kympton?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not recollect that we did.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most |
| delightful place!—Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited me |
| in every respect.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How should you have liked making sermons?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and the |
| exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine;—but, |
| to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the |
| retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness! |
| But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance, |
| when you were in Kent?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have heard from authority, which I thought <i>as good</i>, that it was |
| left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have. Yes, there was something in <i>that</i>; I told you so from the |
| first, you may remember.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I <i>did</i> hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not |
| so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually |
| declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business had |
| been compromised accordingly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember what |
| I told you on that point, when first we talked of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast to |
| get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to provoke him, she |
| only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let us |
| quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one mind.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though he |
| hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0053" id="link2HCH0053"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 53 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he |
| never again distressed himself, or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth, by |
| introducing the subject of it; and she was pleased to find that she had |
| said enough to keep him quiet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The day of his and Lydia's departure soon came, and Mrs. Bennet was forced |
| to submit to a separation, which, as her husband by no means entered into |
| her scheme of their all going to Newcastle, was likely to continue at |
| least a twelvemonth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! my dear Lydia,” she cried, “when shall we meet again?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, lord! I don't know. Not these two or three years, perhaps.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Write to me very often, my dear.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for |
| writing. My sisters may write to <i>me</i>. They will have nothing else to |
| do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's. He |
| smiled, looked handsome, and said many pretty things. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He is as fine a fellow,” said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of the |
| house, “as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to us all. I |
| am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to |
| produce a more valuable son-in-law.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The loss of her daughter made Mrs. Bennet very dull for several days. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I often think,” said she, “that there is nothing so bad as parting with |
| one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is the consequence, you see, Madam, of marrying a daughter,” said |
| Elizabeth. “It must make you better satisfied that your other four are |
| single.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is no such thing. Lydia does not leave me because she is married, but |
| only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off. If that had |
| been nearer, she would not have gone so soon.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly |
| relieved, and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope, by an |
| article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper at |
| Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master, |
| who was coming down in a day or two, to shoot there for several weeks. |
| Mrs. Bennet was quite in the fidgets. She looked at Jane, and smiled and |
| shook her head by turns. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, well, and so Mr. Bingley is coming down, sister,” (for Mrs. |
| Phillips first brought her the news). “Well, so much the better. Not that |
| I care about it, though. He is nothing to us, you know, and I am sure <i>I</i> |
| never want to see him again. But, however, he is very welcome to come to |
| Netherfield, if he likes it. And who knows what <i>may</i> happen? But |
| that is nothing to us. You know, sister, we agreed long ago never to |
| mention a word about it. And so, is it quite certain he is coming?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may depend on it,” replied the other, “for Mrs. Nicholls was in |
| Meryton last night; I saw her passing by, and went out myself on purpose |
| to know the truth of it; and she told me that it was certain true. He |
| comes down on Thursday at the latest, very likely on Wednesday. She was |
| going to the butcher's, she told me, on purpose to order in some meat on |
| Wednesday, and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing |
| colour. It was many months since she had mentioned his name to Elizabeth; |
| but now, as soon as they were alone together, she said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I saw you look at me to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present |
| report; and I know I appeared distressed. But don't imagine it was from |
| any silly cause. I was only confused for the moment, because I felt that I |
| <i>should</i> be looked at. I do assure you that the news does not affect |
| me either with pleasure or pain. I am glad of one thing, that he comes |
| alone; because we shall see the less of him. Not that I am afraid of <i>myself</i>, |
| but I dread other people's remarks.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth did not know what to make of it. Had she not seen him in |
| Derbyshire, she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no |
| other view than what was acknowledged; but she still thought him partial |
| to Jane, and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming there |
| <i>with</i> his friend's permission, or being bold enough to come without |
| it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yet it is hard,” she sometimes thought, “that this poor man cannot come |
| to a house which he has legally hired, without raising all this |
| speculation! I <i>will</i> leave him to himself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In spite of what her sister declared, and really believed to be her |
| feelings in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could easily |
| perceive that her spirits were affected by it. They were more disturbed, |
| more unequal, than she had often seen them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents, |
| about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “As soon as ever Mr. Bingley comes, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “you will |
| wait on him of course.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised, if I |
| went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in |
| nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention |
| would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen, on his returning to |
| Netherfield. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “'Tis an etiquette I despise,” said he. “If he wants our society, let him |
| seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours in running |
| after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, all I know is, that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait |
| on him. But, however, that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here, I am |
| determined. We must have Mrs. Long and the Gouldings soon. That will make |
| thirteen with ourselves, so there will be just room at table for him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Consoled by this resolution, she was the better able to bear her husband's |
| incivility; though it was very mortifying to know that her neighbours |
| might all see Mr. Bingley, in consequence of it, before <i>they</i> did. |
| As the day of his arrival drew near,— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I begin to be sorry that he comes at all,” said Jane to her sister. “It |
| would be nothing; I could see him with perfect indifference, but I can |
| hardly bear to hear it thus perpetually talked of. My mother means well; |
| but she does not know, no one can know, how much I suffer from what she |
| says. Happy shall I be, when his stay at Netherfield is over!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I wish I could say anything to comfort you,” replied Elizabeth; “but it |
| is wholly out of my power. You must feel it; and the usual satisfaction of |
| preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me, because you have always so |
| much.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley arrived. Mrs. Bennet, through the assistance of servants, |
| contrived to have the earliest tidings of it, that the period of anxiety |
| and fretfulness on her side might be as long as it could. She counted the |
| days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent; hopeless |
| of seeing him 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. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy. Jane resolutely |
| kept her place at the table; but Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went to |
| the window—she looked,—she saw Mr. Darcy with him, and sat |
| down again by her sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There is a gentleman with him, mamma,” said Kitty; “who can it be?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Some acquaintance or other, my dear, I suppose; I am sure I do not know.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “La!” replied Kitty, “it looks just like that man that used to be with him |
| before. Mr. what's-his-name. That tall, proud man.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good gracious! Mr. Darcy!—and so it does, I vow. Well, any friend |
| of Mr. Bingley's will always be welcome here, to be sure; but else I must |
| say that I hate the very sight of him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern. She knew but little of |
| their meeting in Derbyshire, and therefore felt for the awkwardness which |
| must attend her sister, in seeing him almost for the first time after |
| receiving his explanatory letter. Both sisters were uncomfortable enough. |
| Each felt for the other, and of course for themselves; and their mother |
| talked on, of her dislike of Mr. Darcy, and her resolution to be civil to |
| him only as Mr. Bingley's friend, without being heard by either of them. |
| But Elizabeth had sources of uneasiness which could not be suspected by |
| Jane, to whom she had never yet had courage to shew Mrs. Gardiner's |
| letter, or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him. To Jane, he |
| could be only a man whose proposals she had refused, and whose merit she |
| had undervalued; but to her own more extensive information, he was the |
| person to whom the whole family were indebted for the first of benefits, |
| and whom she regarded herself with an interest, if not quite so tender, at |
| least as reasonable and just as what Jane felt for Bingley. Her |
| astonishment at his coming—at his coming to Netherfield, to |
| Longbourn, and voluntarily seeking her again, was almost equal to what she |
| had known on first witnessing his altered behaviour in Derbyshire. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The colour which had been driven from her face, returned for half a minute |
| with an additional glow, and a smile of delight added lustre to her eyes, |
| as she thought for that space of time that his affection and wishes must |
| still be unshaken. But she would not be secure. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Let me first see how he behaves,” said she; “it will then be early enough |
| for expectation.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She sat intently at work, striving to be composed, and without daring to |
| lift up her eyes, till anxious curiosity carried them to the face of her |
| sister as the servant was approaching the door. Jane looked a little paler |
| than usual, but more sedate than Elizabeth had expected. On the |
| gentlemen's appearing, her colour increased; yet she received them with |
| tolerable ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any |
| symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complaisance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow, and sat down |
| again to her work, with an eagerness which it did not often command. She |
| had ventured only one glance at Darcy. He looked serious, as usual; and, |
| she thought, more as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, than as |
| she had seen him at Pemberley. But, perhaps he could not in her mother's |
| presence be what he was before her uncle and aunt. It was a painful, but |
| not an improbable, conjecture. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley, she had likewise seen for an instant, and in that short period |
| saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed. He was received by Mrs. |
| Bennet with a degree of civility which made her two daughters ashamed, |
| especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of her |
| curtsey and address to his friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, particularly, who knew that her mother owed to the latter the |
| preservation of her favourite daughter from irremediable infamy, was hurt |
| and distressed to a most painful degree by a distinction so ill applied. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy, after inquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, a question |
| which she could not answer without confusion, said scarcely anything. He |
| was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but it |
| had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends, when he |
| could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without bringing the |
| sound of his voice; and when occasionally, unable to resist the impulse of |
| curiosity, she raised her eyes to his face, she as often found him looking |
| at Jane as at herself, and frequently on no object but the ground. More |
| thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please, than when they last met, were |
| plainly expressed. She was disappointed, and angry with herself for being |
| so. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Could I expect it to be otherwise!” said she. “Yet why did he come?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself; and to him |
| she had hardly courage to speak. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She inquired after his sister, but could do no more. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a long time, Mr. Bingley, since you went away,” said Mrs. Bennet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He readily agreed to it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I began to be afraid you would never come back again. People <i>did</i> |
| say you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas; but, however, I |
| hope it is not true. A great many changes have happened in the |
| neighbourhood, since you went away. Miss Lucas is married and settled. And |
| one of my own daughters. I suppose you have heard of it; indeed, you must |
| have seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier, I know; |
| though it was not put in as it ought to be. It was only said, 'Lately, |
| George Wickham, Esq. to Miss Lydia Bennet,' without there being a syllable |
| said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. It was my |
| brother Gardiner's drawing up too, and I wonder how he came to make such |
| an awkward business of it. Did you see it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations. Elizabeth dared |
| not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked, therefore, she could not tell. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is a delightful thing, to be sure, to have a daughter well married,” |
| continued her mother, “but at the same time, Mr. Bingley, it is very hard |
| to have her taken such a way from me. They are gone down to Newcastle, a |
| place quite northward, it seems, and there they are to stay I do not know |
| how long. His regiment is there; for I suppose you have heard of his |
| leaving the ——shire, and of his being gone into the regulars. |
| Thank Heaven! he has <i>some</i> friends, though perhaps not so many as he |
| deserves.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, who knew this to be levelled at Mr. Darcy, was in such misery |
| of shame, that she could hardly keep her seat. It drew from her, however, |
| the exertion of speaking, which nothing else had so effectually done |
| before; and she asked Bingley whether he meant to make any stay in the |
| country at present. A few weeks, he believed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley,” said her mother, |
| “I beg you will come here, and shoot as many as you please on Mr. Bennet's |
| manor. I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you, and will save all |
| the best of the covies for you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's misery increased, at such unnecessary, such officious |
| attention! Were the same fair prospect to arise at present as had |
| flattered them a year ago, every thing, she was persuaded, would be |
| hastening to the same vexatious conclusion. At that instant, she felt that |
| years of happiness could not make Jane or herself amends for moments of |
| such painful confusion. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The first wish of my heart,” said she to herself, “is never more to be in |
| company with either of them. Their society can afford no pleasure that |
| will atone for such wretchedness as this! Let me never see either one or |
| the other again!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Yet the misery, for which years of happiness were to offer no |
| compensation, received soon afterwards material relief, from observing how |
| much the beauty of her sister re-kindled the admiration of her former |
| lover. When first he came in, he had spoken to her but little; but every |
| five minutes seemed to be giving her more of his attention. He found her |
| as handsome as she had been last year; as good natured, and as unaffected, |
| though not quite so chatty. Jane was anxious that no difference should be |
| perceived in her at all, and was really persuaded that she talked as much |
| as ever. But her mind was so busily engaged, that she did not always know |
| when she was silent. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the gentlemen rose to go away, Mrs. Bennet was mindful of her |
| intended civility, and they were invited and engaged to dine at Longbourn |
| in a few days time. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are quite a visit in my debt, Mr. Bingley,” she added, “for when you |
| went to town last winter, you promised to take a family dinner with us, as |
| soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see; and I assure you, I was |
| very much disappointed that you did not come back and keep your |
| engagement.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley looked a little silly at this reflection, and said something of |
| his concern at having been prevented by business. They then went away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet had been strongly inclined to ask them to stay and dine there |
| that day; but, though she always kept a very good table, she did not think |
| anything less than two courses could be good enough for a man on whom she |
| had such anxious designs, or satisfy the appetite and pride of one who had |
| ten thousand a year. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0054" id="link2HCH0054"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 54 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits; or |
| in other words, to dwell without interruption on those subjects that must |
| deaden them more. Mr. Darcy's behaviour astonished and vexed her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why, if he came only to be silent, grave, and indifferent,” said she, |
| “did he come at all?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He could be still amiable, still pleasing, to my uncle and aunt, when he |
| was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If he no |
| longer cares for me, why silent? Teasing, teasing, man! I will think no |
| more about him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach of |
| her sister, who joined her with a cheerful look, which showed her better |
| satisfied with their visitors, than Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Now,” said she, “that this first meeting is over, I feel perfectly easy. |
| I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed again by his |
| coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be publicly seen |
| that, on both sides, we meet only as common and indifferent acquaintance.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, very indifferent indeed,” said Elizabeth, laughingly. “Oh, Jane, |
| take care.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak, as to be in danger now?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with |
| you as ever.” |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday; and Mrs. Bennet, in the |
| meanwhile, was giving way to all the happy schemes, which the good humour |
| and common politeness of Bingley, in half an hour's visit, had revived. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn; and the two who |
| were most anxiously expected, to the credit of their punctuality as |
| sportsmen, were in very good time. When they repaired to the dining-room, |
| Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take the place, |
| which, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by her sister. |
| Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore to invite him to |
| sit by herself. On entering the room, he seemed to hesitate; but Jane |
| happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was decided. He placed |
| himself by her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, with a triumphant sensation, looked towards his friend. He bore |
| it with noble indifference, and she would have imagined that Bingley had |
| received his sanction to be happy, had she not seen his eyes likewise |
| turned towards Mr. Darcy, with an expression of half-laughing alarm. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| His behaviour to her sister was such, during dinner time, as showed an |
| admiration of her, which, though more guarded than formerly, persuaded |
| Elizabeth, that if left wholly to himself, Jane's happiness, and his own, |
| would be speedily secured. Though she dared not depend upon the |
| consequence, she yet received pleasure from observing his behaviour. It |
| gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast; for she was in no |
| cheerful humour. Mr. Darcy was almost as far from her as the table could |
| divide them. He was on one side of her mother. She knew how little such a |
| situation would give pleasure to either, or make either appear to |
| advantage. She was not near enough to hear any of their discourse, but she |
| could see how seldom they spoke to each other, and how formal and cold was |
| their manner whenever they did. Her mother's ungraciousness, made the |
| sense of what they owed him more painful to Elizabeth's mind; and she |
| would, at times, have given anything to be privileged to tell him that his |
| kindness was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the family. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of |
| bringing them together; that the whole of the visit would not pass away |
| without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than |
| the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance. Anxious and |
| uneasy, the period which passed in the drawing-room, before the gentlemen |
| came, was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her uncivil. She |
| looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all her chance of |
| pleasure for the evening must depend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If he does not come to me, <i>then</i>,” said she, “I shall give him up |
| for ever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The gentlemen came; and she thought he looked as if he would have answered |
| her hopes; but, alas! the ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss |
| Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee, in so close a |
| confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit |
| of a chair. And on the gentlemen's approaching, one of the girls moved |
| closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The men shan't come and part us, I am determined. We want none of them; |
| do we?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with |
| her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough |
| to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being |
| so silly! |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to |
| expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not |
| protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? |
| There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She was a little revived, however, by his bringing back his coffee cup |
| himself; and she seized the opportunity of saying: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Is your sister at Pemberley still?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, she will remain there till Christmas.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough, |
| these three weeks.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse with |
| her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for some |
| minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady's whispering to |
| Elizabeth again, he walked away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When the tea-things were removed, and the card-tables placed, the ladies |
| all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, when all |
| her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her mother's |
| rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated with the |
| rest of the party. She now lost every expectation of pleasure. They were |
| confined for the evening at different tables, and she had nothing to hope, |
| but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side of the room, as to |
| make him play as unsuccessfully as herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper; |
| but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the others, and she |
| had no opportunity of detaining them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well girls,” said she, as soon as they were left to themselves, “What say |
| you to the day? I think every thing has passed off uncommonly well, I |
| assure you. The dinner was as well dressed as any I ever saw. The venison |
| was roasted to a turn—and everybody said they never saw so fat a |
| haunch. The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the Lucases' |
| last week; and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges were |
| remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at |
| least. And, my dear Jane, I never saw you look in greater beauty. Mrs. |
| Long said so too, for I asked her whether you did not. And what do you |
| think she said besides? 'Ah! Mrs. Bennet, we shall have her at Netherfield |
| at last.' She did indeed. I do think Mrs. Long is as good a creature as |
| ever lived—and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls, and not at |
| all handsome: I like them prodigiously.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in very great spirits; she had seen enough of |
| Bingley's behaviour to Jane, to be convinced that she would get him at |
| last; and her expectations of advantage to her family, when in a happy |
| humour, were so far beyond reason, that she was quite disappointed at not |
| seeing him there again the next day, to make his proposals. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It has been a very agreeable day,” said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. “The |
| party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other. I hope we |
| may often meet again.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth smiled. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy, you must not do so. You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. I |
| assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an |
| agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am |
| perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had any |
| design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed with |
| greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally pleasing, |
| than any other man.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are very cruel,” said her sister, “you will not let me smile, and are |
| provoking me to it every moment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How hard it is in some cases to be believed!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And how impossible in others!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I |
| acknowledge?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to |
| instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; |
| and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0055" id="link2HCH0055"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 55 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His |
| friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in ten |
| days time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably good |
| spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many |
| expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Next time you call,” said she, “I hope we shall be more lucky.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He should be particularly happy at any time, etc. etc.; and if she would |
| give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Can you come to-morrow?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was |
| accepted with alacrity. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them |
| dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's room, in her dressing gown, |
| and with her hair half finished, crying out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come—Mr. Bingley is |
| come. He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss |
| Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss Lizzy's |
| hair.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We will be down as soon as we can,” said Jane; “but I dare say Kitty is |
| forwarder than either of us, for she went up stairs half an hour ago.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come be quick, be quick! |
| Where is your sash, my dear?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down |
| without one of her sisters. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the |
| evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his custom, |
| and Mary went up stairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of the five being |
| thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and |
| Catherine for a considerable time, without making any impression on them. |
| Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last Kitty did, she very |
| innocently said, “What is the matter mamma? What do you keep winking at me |
| for? What am I to do?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you.” She then sat still five |
| minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she suddenly |
| got up, and saying to Kitty, “Come here, my love, I want to speak to you,” |
| took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which |
| spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her entreaty that <i>she</i> |
| would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half-opened the |
| door and called out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was forced to go. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We may as well leave them by themselves you know;” said her mother, as |
| soon as she was in the hall. “Kitty and I are going up stairs to sit in my |
| dressing-room.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but remained quietly |
| in the hall, till she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned into the |
| drawing-room. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bingley was every |
| thing that was charming, except the professed lover of her daughter. His |
| ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their |
| evening party; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the |
| mother, and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command of |
| countenance particularly grateful to the daughter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went away, |
| an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. Bennet's means, |
| for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference. Not a word passed |
| between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in the |
| happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy |
| returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably |
| persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's |
| concurrence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent the |
| morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more |
| agreeable than his companion expected. There was nothing of presumption or |
| folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into |
| silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the other |
| had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner; and in |
| the evening Mrs. Bennet's invention was again at work to get every body |
| away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter to write, went |
| into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea; for as the others |
| were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be wanted to counteract |
| her mother's schemes. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| But on returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished, she |
| saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her mother |
| had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she perceived her |
| sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as if engaged in |
| earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion, the faces of both, |
| as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other, would have |
| told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but <i>hers</i> she |
| thought was still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by either; and |
| Elizabeth was on the point of going away again, when 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. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give |
| pleasure; and instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest |
| emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “'Tis too much!” she added, “by far too much. I do not deserve it. Oh! why |
| is not everybody as happy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity, a warmth, a |
| delight, which words could but poorly express. Every sentence of kindness |
| was a fresh source of happiness to Jane. But she would not allow herself |
| to stay with her sister, or say half that remained to be said for the |
| present. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must go instantly to my mother;” she cried. “I would not on any account |
| trifle with her affectionate solicitude; or allow her to hear it from |
| anyone but myself. He is gone to my father already. Oh! Lizzy, to know |
| that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear family! |
| how shall I bear so much happiness!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the card |
| party, and was sitting up stairs with Kitty. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease |
| with which an affair was finally settled, that had given them so many |
| previous months of suspense and vexation. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And this,” said she, “is the end of all his friend's anxious |
| circumspection! of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance! the |
| happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose conference with her |
| father had been short and to the purpose. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Where is your sister?” said he hastily, as he opened the door. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “With my mother up stairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good wishes and |
| affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed her |
| delight in the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands with great |
| cordiality; and then, till her sister came down, she had to listen to all |
| he had to say of his own happiness, and of Jane's perfections; and in |
| spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his expectations |
| of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the |
| excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a |
| general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| It was an evening of no common delight to them all; the satisfaction of |
| Miss Bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face, as |
| made her look handsomer than ever. Kitty simpered and smiled, and hoped |
| her turn was coming soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her consent or speak |
| her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings, though she |
| talked to Bingley of nothing else for half an hour; and when Mr. Bennet |
| joined them at supper, his voice and manner plainly showed how really |
| happy he was. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Not a word, however, passed his lips in allusion to it, till their visitor |
| took his leave for the night; but as soon as he was gone, he turned to his |
| daughter, and said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him for his goodness. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are a good girl;” he replied, “and I have great pleasure in thinking |
| you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well |
| together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so |
| complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every |
| servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your |
| income.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be |
| unpardonable in me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet,” cried his wife, “what are you |
| talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely |
| more.” Then addressing her daughter, “Oh! my dear, dear Jane, I am so |
| happy! I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it |
| would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not |
| be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when |
| he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was |
| that you should come together. Oh! he is the handsomest young man that |
| ever was seen!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her |
| favourite child. At that moment, she cared for no other. Her younger |
| sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness |
| which she might in future be able to dispense. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; and Kitty |
| begged very hard for a few balls there every winter. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; |
| coming frequently before breakfast, and always remaining till after |
| supper; unless when some barbarous neighbour, who could not be enough |
| detested, had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself |
| obliged to accept. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for |
| while he was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else; but |
| she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours of |
| separation that must sometimes occur. In the absence of Jane, he always |
| attached himself to Elizabeth, for the pleasure of talking of her; and |
| when Bingley was gone, Jane constantly sought the same means of relief. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He has made me so happy,” said she, one evening, “by telling me that he |
| was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring! I had not believed |
| it possible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I suspected as much,” replied Elizabeth. “But how did he account for it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It must have been his sister's doing. They were certainly no friends to |
| his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have |
| chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, as |
| I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to |
| be contented, and we shall be on good terms again; though we can never be |
| what we once were to each other.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is the most unforgiving speech,” said Elizabeth, “that I ever heard |
| you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe |
| of Miss Bingley's pretended regard.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last November, he |
| really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of <i>my</i> being |
| indifferent would have prevented his coming down again!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the credit of his |
| modesty.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and the |
| little value he put on his own good qualities. Elizabeth was pleased to |
| find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, though |
| Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she knew it |
| was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!” cried |
| Jane. “Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above |
| them all! If I could but see <i>you</i> as happy! If there <i>were</i> but |
| such another man for you!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. |
| Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your |
| happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very |
| good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a |
| secret. Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Phillips, and she |
| ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her neighbours in |
| Meryton. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the |
| world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they |
| had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0056" id="link2HCH0056"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 56 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| One morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with Jane had been |
| formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the |
| dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the |
| sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the |
| lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the |
| equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses |
| were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who |
| preceded it, were familiar to them. 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. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three |
| continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open |
| and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their astonishment |
| was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, |
| though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth |
| felt. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no |
| other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the |
| head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name |
| to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of |
| introduction had been made. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such |
| high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting |
| for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And <i>that</i> I suppose is one of your sisters.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. “She |
| is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my |
| eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man who, I |
| believe, will soon become a part of the family.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have a very small park here,” returned Lady Catherine after a short |
| silence. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I assure |
| you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; |
| the windows are full west.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then |
| added: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and |
| Mrs. Collins well.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from |
| Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no |
| letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some |
| refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, |
| declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness |
| on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you |
| will favour me with your company.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Go, my dear,” cried her mother, “and show her ladyship about the |
| different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, attended |
| her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady |
| Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and |
| pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked |
| on. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her |
| waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk |
| that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for |
| conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and |
| disagreeable. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How could I ever think her like her nephew?” said she, as she looked in |
| her face. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following |
| manner:— |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my |
| journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I |
| come.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account |
| for the honour of seeing you here.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know, |
| that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere <i>you</i> may |
| choose to be, you shall not find <i>me</i> so. My character has ever been |
| celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment |
| as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming |
| nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was |
| on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss |
| Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to |
| my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I <i>know</i> it must be a |
| scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose |
| the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this |
| place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, colouring with |
| astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. |
| What could your ladyship propose by it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth |
| coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is |
| in existence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been |
| industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report |
| is spread abroad?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I never heard that it was.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may |
| ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has |
| he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. |
| But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made |
| him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have |
| drawn him in.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such |
| language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, |
| and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, |
| ever induce me to be explicit.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the |
| presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is |
| engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will |
| make an offer to me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, |
| they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of <i>his</i> |
| mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union: |
| and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be |
| accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of |
| inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the |
| family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit |
| engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety |
| and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he |
| was destined for his cousin?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no |
| other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept |
| from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss de |
| Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its |
| completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor |
| inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? |
| And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss |
| Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or |
| friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be |
| censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your |
| alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any |
| of us.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr. |
| Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily |
| attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause |
| to repine.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude |
| for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? |
| Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with |
| the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded |
| from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not |
| been in the habit of brooking disappointment.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>That</i> will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; |
| but it will have no effect on me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew |
| are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from |
| the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, honourable, |
| and ancient—though untitled—families. Their fortune on both |
| sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every |
| member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? The upstart |
| pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is |
| this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of |
| your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have |
| been brought up.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that |
| sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are |
| equal.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “True. You <i>are</i> a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? Who |
| are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not |
| object to them, they can be nothing to <i>you</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady |
| Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a |
| moment's deliberation: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am not.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine seemed pleased. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I will make no promise of the kind.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more |
| reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I |
| will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance |
| I require.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And I certainly <i>never</i> shall give it. I am not to be intimidated |
| into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to |
| marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make |
| their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, |
| would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his |
| cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you |
| have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as |
| the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if |
| you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your |
| nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; |
| but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, |
| therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the |
| objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am no |
| stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous elopement. |
| I know it all; that the young man's marrying her was a patched-up |
| business, at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to |
| be my nephew's sister? Is her husband, is the son of his late father's |
| steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!—of what are you |
| thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You can now have nothing further to say,” she resentfully answered. “You |
| have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the |
| house.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned back. |
| Her ladyship was highly incensed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! |
| Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you |
| must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are then resolved to have him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, |
| which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference |
| to <i>you</i>, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims |
| of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the |
| opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude,” replied Elizabeth, “have any |
| possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either |
| would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the |
| resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former |
| <i>were</i> excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's |
| concern—and the world in general would have too much sense to join |
| in the scorn.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I |
| shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition |
| will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; |
| but, depend upon it, I will carry my point.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of the |
| carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, “I take no leave of you, |
| Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such |
| attention. I am most seriously displeased.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her ladyship |
| to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She heard the |
| carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother impatiently met |
| her at the door of the dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would not |
| come in again and rest herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She did not choose it,” said her daughter, “she would go.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously |
| civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were well. |
| She is on her road somewhere, I dare say, and so, passing through Meryton, |
| thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing |
| particular to say to you, Lizzy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to |
| acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0057" id="link2HCH0057"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 57 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth |
| into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many hours, learn |
| to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had |
| actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, for the sole |
| purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy. It was a |
| rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report of their engagement |
| could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected |
| that <i>his</i> being the intimate friend of Bingley, and <i>her</i> being |
| the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one |
| wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply the idea. She had not |
| herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them |
| more frequently together. And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge, therefore |
| (for through their communication with the Collinses, the report, she |
| concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had only set that down as almost |
| certain and immediate, which she had looked forward to as possible at some |
| future time. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help |
| feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting |
| in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to prevent |
| their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an |
| application to her nephew; and how <i>he</i> might take a similar |
| representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared |
| not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his |
| aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose |
| that he thought much higher of her ladyship than <i>she</i> could do; and |
| it was certain that, in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with <i>one</i>, |
| whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt would |
| address him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would |
| probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weak and |
| ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often |
| seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle |
| every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity |
| unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady |
| Catherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to |
| Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his |
| friend within a few days,” she added, “I shall know how to understand it. |
| I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his constancy. If |
| he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might have obtained my |
| affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him at all.” |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had |
| been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same kind |
| of supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and Elizabeth |
| was spared from much teasing on the subject. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her father, |
| who came out of his library with a letter in his hand. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy,” said he, “I was going to look for you; come into my room.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell |
| her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner |
| connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be |
| from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent |
| explanations. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He then |
| said, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly. |
| As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its contents. I did |
| not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony. Let |
| me congratulate you on a very important conquest.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous |
| conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; and |
| she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself |
| at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself; |
| when her father continued: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters |
| as these; but I think I may defy even <i>your</i> sagacity, to discover |
| the name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “From Mr. Collins! and what can <i>he</i> have to say?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with |
| congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of |
| which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping |
| Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he says |
| on that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows: 'Having thus |
| offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this |
| happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another; of |
| which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter |
| Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after |
| her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may |
| be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in |
| this land.' |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this? 'This young |
| gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart of |
| mortal can most desire,—splendid property, noble kindred, and |
| extensive patronage. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my |
| cousin Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur by a |
| precipitate closure with this gentleman's proposals, which, of course, you |
| will be inclined to take immediate advantage of.' |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “'My motive for cautioning you is as follows. We have reason to imagine |
| that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with a |
| friendly eye.' |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “<i>Mr. Darcy</i>, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I <i>have</i> |
| surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man within |
| the circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie more |
| effectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman |
| but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It |
| is admirable!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry, but could only force |
| one most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so |
| little agreeable to her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Are you not diverted?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! yes. Pray read on.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “'After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last |
| night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she |
| felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of some |
| family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her |
| consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my duty to |
| give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she and her |
| noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not run hastily |
| into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.' Mr. Collins |
| moreover adds, 'I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad business |
| has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that their living |
| together before the marriage took place should be so generally known. I |
| must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain from |
| declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young couple into |
| your house as soon as they were married. It was an encouragement of vice; |
| and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously have |
| opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them, as a Christian, but never |
| to admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned in your |
| hearing.' That is his notion of Christian forgiveness! The rest of his |
| letter is only about his dear Charlotte's situation, and his expectation |
| of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, you look as if you did not enjoy it. |
| You are not going to be <i>missish</i>, I hope, and pretend to be |
| affronted at an idle report. For what do we live, but to make sport for |
| our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh!” cried Elizabeth, “I am excessively diverted. But it is so strange!” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yes—<i>that</i> is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any |
| other man it would have been nothing; but <i>his</i> perfect indifference, |
| and <i>your</i> pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I |
| abominate writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for |
| any consideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving |
| him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and |
| hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherine |
| about this report? Did she call to refuse her consent?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had |
| been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his |
| repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings |
| appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would |
| rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he |
| said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing but wonder at |
| such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead of his seeing |
| too little, she might have fancied too much. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0058" id="link2HCH0058"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 58 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend, as |
| Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do, he was able to bring Darcy with |
| him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit. |
| The gentlemen arrived early; and, 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. It was agreed to. Mrs. Bennet was not in the habit of |
| walking; Mary could never spare time; but the remaining five set off |
| together. Bingley and Jane, however, soon allowed the others to outstrip |
| them. They lagged behind, while Elizabeth, Kitty, and Darcy were to |
| entertain each other. Very little was said by either; Kitty was too much |
| afraid of him to talk; Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate |
| resolution; and perhaps he might be doing the same. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They walked towards the Lucases, because Kitty wished to call upon Maria; |
| and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern, when |
| Kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone. Now was the moment for |
| her resolution to be executed, and, while her courage was high, she |
| immediately said: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving |
| relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours. I |
| can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor |
| sister. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to |
| acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of |
| my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am sorry, exceedingly sorry,” replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise and |
| emotion, “that you have ever been informed of what may, in a mistaken |
| light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so |
| little to be trusted.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to me |
| that you had been concerned in the matter; and, of course, I could not |
| rest till I knew the particulars. Let me thank you again and again, in the |
| name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced you to |
| take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications, for the sake of |
| discovering them.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “If you <i>will</i> thank me,” he replied, “let it be for yourself alone. |
| That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other |
| inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your <i>family</i> |
| owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of <i>you</i>.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her |
| companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings |
| are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. <i>My</i> |
| affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me |
| on this subject for ever.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his |
| situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very |
| fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so |
| material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her |
| receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness |
| which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; |
| and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a |
| man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to |
| encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the expression of |
| heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; but, though she |
| could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings, which, in |
| proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment |
| more valuable. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to |
| be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects. She |
| soon learnt that they were indebted for their present good understanding |
| to the efforts of his aunt, who did call on him in her return through |
| London, and there relate her journey to Longbourn, its motive, and the |
| substance of her conversation with Elizabeth; dwelling emphatically on |
| every expression of the latter which, in her ladyship's apprehension, |
| peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance; in the belief that such |
| a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that promise from her |
| nephew which she had refused to give. But, unluckily for her ladyship, its |
| effect had been exactly contrariwise. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It taught me to hope,” said he, “as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to |
| hope before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, had you |
| been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have |
| acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied, “Yes, you know enough of my |
| frankness to believe me capable of <i>that</i>. After abusing you so |
| abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all |
| your relations.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your |
| accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to |
| you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I |
| cannot think of it without abhorrence.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that |
| evening,” said Elizabeth. “The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, |
| will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in |
| civility.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I |
| then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of |
| it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your |
| reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: 'had you behaved in a more |
| gentlemanlike manner.' Those were your words. You know not, you can |
| scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me;—though it was some |
| time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an |
| impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such a |
| way.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper |
| feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never |
| forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible |
| way that would induce you to accept me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh! do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at |
| all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Darcy mentioned his letter. “Did it,” said he, “did it soon make you think |
| better of me? Did you, on reading it, give any credit to its contents?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She explained what its effect on her had been, and how gradually all her |
| former prejudices had been removed. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I knew,” said he, “that what I wrote must give you pain, but it was |
| necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part |
| especially, the opening of it, which I should dread your having the power |
| of reading again. I can remember some expressions which might justly make |
| you hate me.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The letter shall certainly be burnt, if you believe it essential to the |
| preservation of my regard; but, though we have both reason to think my |
| opinions not entirely unalterable, they are not, I hope, quite so easily |
| changed as that implies.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “When I wrote that letter,” replied Darcy, “I believed myself perfectly |
| calm and cool, but I am since convinced that it was written in a dreadful |
| bitterness of spirit.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “The letter, perhaps, began in bitterness, but it did not end so. The |
| adieu is charity itself. But think no more of the letter. The feelings of |
| the person who wrote, and the person who received it, are now so widely |
| different from what they were then, that every unpleasant circumstance |
| attending it ought to be forgotten. You must learn some of my philosophy. |
| Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your |
| retrospections must be so totally void of reproach, that the contentment |
| arising from them is not of philosophy, but, what is much better, of |
| innocence. But with me, it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude |
| which cannot, which ought not, to be repelled. I have been a selfish being |
| all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught |
| what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given |
| good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. |
| Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by |
| my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that |
| was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be |
| selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to |
| think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think |
| meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from |
| eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, |
| dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a |
| lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was |
| properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You |
| showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman |
| worthy of being pleased.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be |
| wishing, expecting my addresses.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I assure you. |
| I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might often lead me wrong. |
| How you must have hated me after <i>that</i> evening?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take a |
| proper direction.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me, when we met at |
| Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “No indeed; I felt nothing but surprise.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Your surprise could not be greater than <i>mine</i> in being noticed by |
| you. My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness, |
| and I confess that I did not expect to receive <i>more</i> than my due.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My object then,” replied Darcy, “was to show you, by every civility in my |
| power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain |
| your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you see that your |
| reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes introduced |
| themselves I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an hour after I |
| had seen you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance, and of her |
| disappointment at its sudden interruption; which naturally leading to the |
| cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of |
| following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed |
| before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there |
| had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must |
| comprehend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to |
| each, to be dwelt on farther. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| After walking several miles in a leisurely manner, and too busy to know |
| anything about it, they found at last, on examining their watches, that it |
| was time to be at home. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane!” was a wonder which introduced |
| the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with their |
| engagement; his friend had given him the earliest information of it. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must ask whether you were surprised?” said Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much.” And |
| though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had been pretty much |
| the case. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “On the evening before my going to London,” said he, “I made a confession |
| to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I told him of all |
| that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and |
| impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had the slightest |
| suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself mistaken in |
| supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent to him; and as |
| I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no |
| doubt of their happiness together.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his |
| friend. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Did you speak from your own observation,” said she, “when you told him |
| that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which |
| I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to |
| him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented |
| his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance |
| on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess one thing, which |
| for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not allow myself to |
| conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I |
| had known it, and purposely kept it from 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.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful |
| friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked |
| herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it |
| was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness of Bingley, |
| which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he continued the |
| conversation till they reached the house. In the hall they parted. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0059" id="link2HCH0059"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 59 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| “My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?” was a question which |
| Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from |
| all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to say in reply, |
| that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own knowledge. She |
| coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor anything else, awakened a |
| suspicion of the truth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary. The |
| acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. |
| Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; and |
| Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather <i>knew</i> that she was happy |
| than <i>felt</i> herself to be so; for, besides the immediate |
| embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what |
| would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware |
| that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it |
| was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from |
| Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be!—engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, |
| no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and I |
| am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in |
| earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are |
| engaged.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Jane looked at her doubtingly. “Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much |
| you dislike him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You know nothing of the matter. <i>That</i> is all to be forgot. Perhaps |
| I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, |
| a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember |
| it myself.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more |
| seriously assured her of its truth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you,” cried |
| Jane. “My dear, dear Lizzy, I would—I do congratulate you—but |
| are you certain? forgive the question—are you quite certain that you |
| can be happy with him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that we |
| are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? |
| Shall you like to have such a brother?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more |
| delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you |
| really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than |
| marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought |
| to do?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Oh, yes! You will only think I feel <i>more</i> than I ought to do, when |
| I tell you all.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “What do you mean?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid |
| you will be angry.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dearest sister, now <i>be</i> serious. I want to talk very seriously. |
| Let me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me |
| how long you have loved him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But |
| I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at |
| Pemberley.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Another entreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired |
| effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of |
| attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing |
| further to wish. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Now I am quite happy,” said she, “for you will be as happy as myself. I |
| always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, I |
| must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingley's friend and your |
| husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But |
| Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you |
| tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know of |
| it to another, not to you.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling to |
| mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her |
| equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer conceal |
| from her his share in Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the |
| night spent in conversation. |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| “Good gracious!” cried Mrs. Bennet, as she stood at a window the next |
| morning, “if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our |
| dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming |
| here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or other, |
| and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? Lizzy, you |
| must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's way.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet was |
| really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively, and shook |
| hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; and he |
| soon afterwards said aloud, “Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes |
| hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty,” said Mrs. Bennet, “to walk to |
| Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never |
| seen the view.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “It may do very well for the others,” replied Mr. Bingley; “but I am sure |
| it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?” Kitty owned that she had |
| rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view |
| from the Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went up stairs to |
| get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that |
| disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is |
| all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion for talking to |
| him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to inconvenience.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be |
| asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the |
| application for her mother's. She could not determine how her mother would |
| take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be |
| enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she were |
| violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was |
| certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her |
| sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first |
| raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation. |
| </p> |
| <hr /> |
| <p> |
| In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw Mr. |
| Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was |
| extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to be |
| made unhappy; and that it should be through her means—that <i>she</i>, |
| his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be |
| filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her—was a |
| wretched reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, |
| when, looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few |
| minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, |
| while pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, “Go to your father, |
| he wants you in the library.” She was gone directly. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. “Lizzy,” |
| said he, “what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting |
| this man? Have not you always hated him?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more |
| reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from |
| explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but |
| they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, of her |
| attachment to Mr. Darcy. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be |
| sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But |
| will they make you happy?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Have you any other objection,” said Elizabeth, “than your belief of my |
| indifference?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but |
| this would be nothing if you really liked him.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I do, I do like him,” she replied, with tears in her eyes, “I love him. |
| Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know |
| what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such |
| terms.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lizzy,” said her father, “I have given him my consent. He is the kind of |
| man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he |
| condescended to ask. I now give it to <i>you</i>, if you are resolved on |
| having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your |
| disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor |
| respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up |
| to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest |
| danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and |
| misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing <i>you</i> unable to |
| respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and |
| at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of |
| her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him |
| had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not |
| the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months' suspense, and |
| enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did conquer her |
| father's incredulity, and reconcile him to the match. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Well, my dear,” said he, when she ceased speaking, “I have no more to |
| say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with |
| you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy |
| had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing; |
| made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him |
| his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and |
| economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and <i>would</i> have paid |
| him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I |
| shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his love |
| for you, and there will be an end of the matter.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading |
| Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her at |
| last to go—saying, as she quitted the room, “If any young men come |
| for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after |
| half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join the |
| others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for gaiety, |
| but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longer anything |
| material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come |
| in time. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, |
| and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; |
| for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to utter |
| a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend |
| what she heard; though not in general backward to credit what was for the |
| advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of |
| them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get |
| up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would |
| have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich |
| and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you |
| will have! Jane's is nothing to it—nothing at all. I am so pleased—so |
| happy. Such a charming man!—so handsome! so tall!—Oh, my dear |
| Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he |
| will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing that is |
| charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What |
| will become of me. I shall go distracted.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and |
| Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon |
| went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her |
| mother followed her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My dearest child,” she cried, “I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand |
| a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a special |
| licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But my |
| dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I |
| may have it to-morrow.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman |
| himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain |
| possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations' consent, |
| there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow passed off much |
| better than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood in such awe of her |
| intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to him, unless it was |
| in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her deference for his |
| opinion. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get |
| acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising |
| every hour in his esteem. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I admire all my three sons-in-law highly,” said he. “Wickham, perhaps, is |
| my favourite; but I think I shall like <i>your</i> husband quite as well |
| as Jane's.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0060" id="link2HCH0060"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 60 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy |
| to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. “How could you |
| begin?” said she. “I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had |
| once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which |
| laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew |
| that I <i>had</i> begun.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners—my |
| behaviour to <i>you</i> was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and |
| I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now |
| be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “For the liveliness of your mind, I did.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. |
| The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious |
| attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and |
| looking, and thinking for <i>your</i> approbation alone. I roused, and |
| interested you, because I was so unlike <i>them</i>. Had you not been |
| really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains |
| you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; |
| and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously |
| courted you. There—I have saved you the trouble of accounting for |
| it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly |
| reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me—but nobody |
| thinks of <i>that</i> when they fall in love.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was |
| ill at Netherfield?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it |
| by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to |
| exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to |
| find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may be; |
| and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to |
| come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first |
| called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did |
| you look as if you did not care about me?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “But I was embarrassed.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And so was I.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “A man who had felt less, might.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I |
| should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you <i>would</i> |
| have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you <i>would</i> |
| have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of thanking you for |
| your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. <i>Too much</i>, I am |
| afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a |
| breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the subject. This |
| will never do.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady |
| Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of |
| removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your |
| eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait |
| for any opening of yours. My aunt's intelligence had given me hope, and I |
| was determined at once to know every thing.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, |
| for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to |
| Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? or |
| had you intended any more serious consequence?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “My real purpose was to see <i>you</i>, and to judge, if I could, whether |
| I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to |
| myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, and |
| if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to |
| befall her?” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought |
| to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done |
| directly.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire |
| the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have |
| an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had |
| been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long |
| letter; but now, having <i>that</i> to communicate which she knew would be |
| most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had |
| already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as follows: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, |
| for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the |
| truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. |
| But <i>now</i> suppose as much as you choose; give a loose rein to your |
| fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject |
| will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot |
| greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a great deal |
| more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, for not |
| going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your idea of |
| the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I am the |
| happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, |
| but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only |
| smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can |
| spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Yours, etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; and still |
| different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply to |
| his last. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “DEAR SIR, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be |
| the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if |
| I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yours sincerely, etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother, on his approaching |
| marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even to |
| Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her former |
| professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was affected; and |
| though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing her a much |
| kinder answer than she knew was deserved. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, was |
| as sincere as her brother's in sending it. Four sides of paper were |
| insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of |
| being loved by her sister. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations to |
| Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the Collinses |
| were come themselves to Lucas Lodge. The reason of this sudden removal was |
| soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the |
| contents of her nephew's letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the |
| match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over. At such a |
| moment, the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, |
| though in the course of their meetings she must sometimes think the |
| pleasure dearly bought, when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading |
| and obsequious civility of her husband. He bore it, however, with |
| admirable calmness. He could even listen to Sir William Lucas, when he |
| complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country, and |
| expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James's, with |
| very decent composure. If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir |
| William was out of sight. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mrs. Phillips's vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his |
| forbearance; and though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, stood in too |
| much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good humour |
| encouraged, yet, whenever she <i>did</i> speak, she must be vulgar. Nor |
| was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to |
| make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the |
| frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, |
| and to those of her family with whom he might converse without |
| mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this |
| took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the |
| hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to the time when |
| they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all |
| the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| <a name="link2HCH0061" id="link2HCH0061"> |
| <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> |
| </p> |
| <div style="height: 4em;"> |
| <br /><br /><br /><br /> |
| </div> |
| <h2> |
| Chapter 61 |
| </h2> |
| <p> |
| Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got |
| rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she |
| afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may be guessed. |
| I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of |
| her earnest desire in the establishment of so many of her children |
| produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, |
| well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it was lucky |
| for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity in so |
| unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and invariably |
| silly. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her |
| drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in |
| going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a |
| vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to <i>his</i> |
| easy temper, or <i>her</i> affectionate heart. The darling wish of his |
| sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county |
| to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source |
| of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with |
| her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally |
| known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a temper |
| as Lydia; and, removed from the influence of Lydia's example, she became, |
| by proper attention and management, less irritable, less ignorant, and |
| less insipid. From the further disadvantage of Lydia's society she was of |
| course carefully kept, and though Mrs. Wickham frequently invited her to |
| come and stay with her, with the promise of balls and young men, her |
| father would never consent to her going. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily |
| drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet's being quite |
| unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she |
| could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no longer |
| mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own, it was |
| suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much |
| reluctance. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from the |
| marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction that |
| Elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude and |
| falsehood had before been unknown to her; and in spite of every thing, was |
| not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his |
| fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received from Lydia on |
| her marriage, explained to her that, by his wife at least, if not by |
| himself, such a hope was cherished. The letter was to this effect: |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “MY DEAR LIZZY, |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear |
| Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so |
| rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. I |
| am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think |
| we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place |
| would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but however, do not speak |
| to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| “Yours, etc.” |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| As it happened that Elizabeth had <i>much</i> rather not, she endeavoured |
| in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. |
| Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practice of |
| what might be called economy in her own private expences, she frequently |
| sent them. It had always been evident to her that such an income as |
| theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, |
| and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support; |
| and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure |
| of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their |
| bills. Their manner of living, even when the restoration of peace |
| dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the extreme. They were always |
| moving from place to place in quest of a cheap situation, and always |
| spending more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into |
| indifference; hers lasted a little longer; and in spite of her youth and |
| her manners, she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage |
| had given her. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Though Darcy could never receive <i>him</i> at Pemberley, yet, for |
| Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was |
| occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself |
| in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently |
| staid so long, that even Bingley's good humour was overcome, and he |
| proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage; but as she |
| thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she |
| dropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as |
| attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility to |
| Elizabeth. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; and the attachment of the sisters was |
| exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each other |
| even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion in the |
| world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with an |
| astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive, manner of talking |
| to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect which |
| almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry. |
| Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way. By |
| Elizabeth's instructions, she began to comprehend that a woman may take |
| liberties with her husband which a brother will not always allow in a |
| sister more than ten years younger than himself. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew; and |
| as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character in her reply |
| to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent him language so |
| very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some time all intercourse |
| was at an end. But at length, by Elizabeth's persuasion, he was prevailed |
| on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation; and, after a little |
| further resistance on the part of his aunt, her resentment gave way, |
| either to her affection for him, or her curiosity to see how his wife |
| conducted herself; and she condescended to wait on them at Pemberley, in |
| spite of that pollution which its woods had received, not merely from the |
| presence of such a mistress, but the visits of her uncle and aunt from the |
| city. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as |
| well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of |
| the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into |
| Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them. |
| </p> |
| |
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