[Music] AI read to me presents Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin narrated by AI voices chapter 1 it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife however little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered as the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters My Dear Mr Bennett said his lad
y to him one day have you heard that netherfield Park is L at last Mr Bennett replied that he had not but it is returned she for Mrs long has just been here and she told me all about it Mr Bennett made no answer do not you want to know who has taken it cried his wife impatiently you want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it this was invitation enough 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 cam
e down on Monday in a Shaz 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 melar and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week what is his name Bingley is he married or single oh single my dear to be sure a single man of large Fortune four or 5 thousand a year What a fine thing for our girls how so how can it affect them My Dear Mr Bennett replied his wife how can you be so tireso
me you must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them is that his design in settling here design nonsense how can you talk so but it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes 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 might like you the best of the party my dear you flat me I certainly hav
e 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 in such cases a woman has not often much Beauty to think of but my dear you must indeed go and see Mr Bingley when he comes into the neighborhood it is more than I engage for I assure you 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 merel
y on that account for in general you know they visit no newcomers indeed you must go for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not 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 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 humored as Lydia but you are always giving her the Preference they have none of them much to recommend them replied he they're all silly and ignorant like other girls But Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sister's Mr Bennett how can you abuse your own children in such a way you take Delight in vexing me you have no compassion on my poor nerves you mistake me my dear I have a high respect for your nerves they are my old friends I have hea
rd you mention them with consideration these 20 years at least ah you do not know what I suffer but I hope you will get over it and live to see many young men of 4,000 a year come into the neighborhood it will be no use to us if 20 such should come since you will not visit them depend upon it my dear that when there are 20 I will visit them all Mr Bennett was so odd a mixture of quick Parts sarcastic humor reserve and Caprice that the experience of 3 and 20 years had been insufficient to make hi
s wife understand his character her 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 ner nervous the business of her life was to get her daughters married its Solace was visiting and news chapter 2 Mr Bennett 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 until the evening afte
r 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 I hope Mr Bingley will like it Lizzy we are not in a way to know what Mr Bingley likes said her mother resentfully since we are not to visit but you forget mam said Elizabeth that we shall meet him at the assemblies and that Mrs long has promised to introduce him I do not believe Mrs long will do any such thing she h
as two nieces of her own she is a selfish hypocritical woman and I have no opinion of her no more have I said Mr Bennett and I'm glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you Mrs Bennett DED not to make any reply but unable to contain herself began scolding one of her daughters don't keep coughing so Kitty For Heaven's Sake have a little compassion on my nerves you tear them to Pieces Kitty has no discretion in her coughs said her father she times the meal I do not cough for my own Amus
ement replied Kitty fretfully when is your next ball to be Lizzy tomorrow fortnite I 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 then my dear you may have the advantage of your friend and introduce Mr Bingley to her impossible Mr Bennett impossible when I'm not acquainted with him myself how can you be so teasing I honor your circumspection a fortnite's acquaintance is certainly
very little one cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnite but if we 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 the girls stared at their father Mrs Bennet said only nonsense nonsense what can be the meaning of that emphatic excl clamation 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 there what say you Mary for you are a young lady of deep reflection I know and read great books and make extracts Mary wished to say something very sensible but knew not how while Mary is adjusting her ideas he continued Let Us return to Mr Bingley I am sick of Mr Bingley cried his wife I'm sorry to hear that but why did you not tell me so 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 the astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished that of Mrs Bennett 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 how good it was in you my dear Mr Bennett 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 sh
ould have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now now Kitty you may cough as much as you choose said Mr Bennett and as he spoke he left the room fatigued with the raptures of his wife 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 any
thing Lydia my love though you are the youngest I dare say Mr Bingley will dance with you at the next ball oh said Lydia stoutly I am not afraid for though I am the youngest I'm the tallest the rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr Bennett's visit and determining when they should ask him to dinner chapter 3 not all that Mrs Bennett however with the assistance of her five daughters could ask on the subject was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactor
y 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 secondhand intelligence of their neighbor lady Lucas her report was highly favorable 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 deli
ghtful to be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love and very Lively hopes of Mr bingley's heart were entertained if I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at netherfield said Mrs Bennett to her husband and all the others equally well married I shall have nothing to wish for in a few days Mr Bingley returned Mr Bennett's visit and sat about 10 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 an invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched and already had Mrs Bennett 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 honor of their invita
tion Etc Mrs Bennett was quite disconcerted she could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in hartfordshire and she began to fear that he might always be 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 12 ladies and seven gentlemen with hi
m 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 12 he had 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 Mr Bingley was good-look and gentlemanlike he had a pleasant countenance and easy unaffected manners his sisters were fine women w
ith 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 mean and the report which was in general circulation within 5 minutes after his entrance of his having 10,000 a year the gentleman 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 til
l 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 love being pleased and not all his large estate in darbishire could save him from having a most forbidding disagreeable countenance and being unworthy to be compared with his friend 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 tal
ked 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 Bennett whose dislike of his General Behavior was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters Elizabeth Bennett 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 overhear a conversation between him and Mr Bingley who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it 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 I certainly cly 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 I would not be so fastidious as you are cried Bingley for a kingdom upon my honor 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 you are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room said Mr Darcy looking at the eldest Miss Bennett 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 which do you mean and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth till catching her eye he withdre
w his own and coldly said she's tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me and I'm in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are lighted by other men you had better return to your partner and enjoy her Smiles for you are wasting your time with me Mr Bingley followed his advice Mr Darcy walked off and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him she told the story however with great spirit among her friends for she had a lively playful disposition which del
ighted in anything ridiculous the evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family Mrs Bennett 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 neighborhood and Katherine and Lydia had bee
n fortunate enough to be never Without Partners which was all that they had yet leared to care for at a ball they returned therefore in good spirits to longor the village where they lived and of which they were the principal inhabitants they found Mr Bennett 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 all his wife's views on the strange
r would be disappointed but he soon found that he had a very different story to hear Oh My Dear Mr Bennett 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 that my dear he actually danced with her twice and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time fir
st 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 two3 he danced with Miss king and the two4 with Maria Lucas and the two fifth with Jane again and the two sixth with Lizzy and the bonger if he had had any compassion for me 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 oh my dear continued Mrs Bennett I am quite delighted with him he 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 here she was interrupted again Mr Bennett 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 exag exaggeration the shocking rudess of Mr Darcy but I can assure you she added that Lizzie does not lose much by not suiting his 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 setd Dow
ns I quite detest The Man chapter 4 when Jane and Elizabeth were alone the former who had been cautious in her praise of Mr Bingley before expressed to her sister how very much she admired him he is just what a young man ought to be said she sensible good humored Lively and I never saw such happy manners so much ease with such perfect good breeding he is also handsome replied Elizabeth which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can his character is thereby complete I was very much fla
ttered by his asking me to dance a second time I did not expect such a compliment did not you I did for you but that is one great difference between us compliments always take you by surprise and me 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
dear Lizzy 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 my life I would wish not to be Hasty in censuring anyone but I always speak what I think I know know you do and it is that which makes the Wonder with your good sense to be so honestly blind to the folies and nonsense of others affectation of cander is common enough one meets with it everyw
here 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 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 neighbor in her Elizabeth listened in silence bu
t was not convinced their behavior 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 judgment too unassailed by any attention to herself she was very little disposed to approve them they were in fact very fine F ladies not deficient in Good Humor when they were pleased nor in the power of being agreeable where 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 £20,000 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 Mr Bingley Inherited property to the amount of nearly £100
,000 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 manner it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper whether he might not not spend the remainder of his days at netherfield and leave the next Generation to purchase his sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own but though he w
as now established only 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 between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship in spite of a 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 appeared dissatisfied on the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmest Reliance and of his judgment the highest opinion in understanding Darcy was the superior Bingley w
as by no means deficient but Darcy was clever he was at the same time hay 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 the manner in which they spoke of the meritan assembly was sufficiently characteristic Bingley had never met with pleaser 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 Bennett 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 Bennett he acknowledged to be pretty but she smiled too much Mrs Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so but still they admired her a
nd liked her and pronounced her to be a sweet girl and one whom they should not object to know more of Miss Bennett was therefore established as a sweet girl and their brother felt authorized by such Commendation to think of her as he chose chapter 5 within a short walk of long born lived a family with whom the Bennetts were particularly intimate Sir William Lucas had been formerly adeed in meritan where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honor of Knighthood by an address to the ki
ng during his meraly 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 quitting the them both he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from meritan 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 lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman not too clever to be a valuable neighbor to Mrs Bennett they had several children the eldest of them a sensible intelligent young woman about 27 was Elizabeth's intimate friend that the Miss Lucas's and the Miss Bennetts should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary and the morning after the assembly
brought the former to Long born to hear and to communicate you began the evening well Charlotte said Mrs Bennett with civil self-command to miss Lucas you were Mr bingley's First Choice yes but he seemed to like his second better Oh you mean Jane I suppose because he danced with her twice to be sure that did seem as if he admired her indeed I rather believe he did I heard something about it but I hardly know what something about Mr Robinson perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr Ro
binson did not I mention it to you Mr Robinson's asking him how he liked our meritan assemblies and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room and which he thought the prettiest and his answering immediately to the last question oh the eldest Miss Bennett Beyond a doubt there cannot be two opinions on that point upon my word well that was very decided indeed that does seem as if but however it may all come to nothing you know my over hearings were more to the purpo
se than yours Eliza said Charlotte Mr Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend is he poor Eliza to be only just tolerable I beg you will 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 are you quite sure ma'am is not there a little mistake said Jane I certainly saw Mr Darcy speaking
to her I because she asked him at last how he liked netherfield and he could not help answering her but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to miss Bingley told me said Jane that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance with them he is remarkably agreeable 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 to come to the ball in a hack Shaz I do not mind his not talking to Mrs long said Miss Lucas but I wish he had danced with Eliza another time Lizzy said her mother I would not dance with him if I were you I believe ma'am I may safely promise you never to dance with him his pride said Miss Lucas does not offend me 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 i
n his favor should think highly of himself if I may so express it he has a right to be proud that is very true replied Elizabeth and I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine 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 com
placency 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 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 every day then you would drink a great deal mo
re than you ought said Mrs Bennett and if I were to see you at it I should take away your bottle directly the boy protested that she should not she continued to declare that she would and the argument ended only with the visit chapter 6 The Ladies of longor soon waited on those of netherfield the visit was returned in due form Miss Bennett'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 spea
king to a wish of being better acquainted with them 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 did admire her and to her it wa
s 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 an uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent she mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas it may perhaps be pleasant replie
d 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's not safe to leave any to itself we can all begin 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 10 a woman had better show more 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 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 remember Eliza that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do but if a woman is
is partial to a man and does not Endeavor to conceal it he must find it out perhaps he must if he sees enough of her but though Bingle 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 he can command his attention when she is secure of him there will be leisure for falling in love as m
uch as she chooses 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 meritan she saw him one morning at his own house and has s
ince dined in company with him four times this is not quite enough to make her understand his character not as you represent it had she merely dined with him she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together and four evenings may do a great deal yes these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Von better than Commerce but with respect to any other leading characteristic I do not imagine t
hat much has been unfolded well said Charlotte I wish Jane's success with all my heart and if she were married to him tomorrow I should think she had as good a chance of Happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a 12 month 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 afterward
s 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 to pass your life 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 occupied in observing Mr bingley's attention 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 pre
tty he had looked at her without admiration at the ball and when they next met he looked at her only to criticize but no sooner had he made clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face then 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 a
cknowledge 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 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 W
illiam Lucas's where a large party were assembled what does Mr Darcy mean said she to Charlotte by listening to my conversation with colonel forer that is a question which Mr Darcy only can answer but if he does it anymore 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 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 did not you think Mr Darcy that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now when I was teasing Colonel fer to give us a ball at meritan with great energy but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic you are severe on us it will be her turn soon to be teased said Miss Lucas I am going to open the instrument Eliza and you know what follows you are a very strange c
reature 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 very 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 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 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 purchas praise and gratitude by scotch and Irish heirs 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 Mr Darc
y 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 own thoughts to perceive that so William Lucas was his neighbor till Sir William thus began 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 societies certainly sir and it has the advantage also of being in Vogue amongst the less polished soc
ieties of the world every Savage can dance 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 you saw me dance at meritan I believe sir yes indeed and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the site do you often dance at St James's never sir do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place it is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I c
an avoid it you have a house in town I conclude Mr Darcy bowed I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself for I am fond of superior Society but I did not feel quite certain that the heir of London would agree with Lady Lucas 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 notion of doing a very Gallant thing and called out to her My Dear Miss Eliza why are not you dancing Mr Darcy you m
ust allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner you cannot refuse to dance I'm 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 indeed sir I have not the least intention of dancing I entreat you not to suppose that I move this way in order to beg for a partner Mr Darcy with grave propriet
y requested to be allowed the honor of her hand but in vain Elizabeth was determined nor did Sir William at all shake her Purpose By His attempt at persuasion 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 oblig us for one half hour Mr Darcy is all politeness said Elizabeth smiling he is indeed but considering the inducement My Dear Miss Eliza we ca
nnot Wonder at his complacence for who would object to such a partner 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 a costed by Miss Bingley I can guess the subject of your revery I should imagine not you are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner in such society and indeed I'm quite of your opinion I was never more annoyed the insipidity and yet the
noise the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people what would I give to hear your strictures on them 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 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 Dary replied with great intrepidity Miss E
lizabeth Bennett Miss Elizabeth Bennett repeated Miss Bingley I am all astonishment how long has she been such a favorite and pray when am I to wish you Joy that is exactly the question 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 nay if you are so serious about it I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled you will have a Charming mother-in-law indeed and of c
ourse she will be always at pembley with you 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 said safe her wit flowed along chapter 7 Mr Bennett's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of 2,000 a year which unfortunately for his daughters was entailed in default of A's maale on a distant relation and their mother's Fortune though ample for her situation in life could but ill Supply the defi
ciency of his her father had been an attorney in meritan and had left her £4,000 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 the village of longor was only one mile from meritan 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 millona shop just over the way the two yo
ungest of the family Katherine and Lydia were particularly frequent in these attentions their minds were more vacant than their sisters and when nothing better offered a walk to meritan 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
neighborhood it was to remain the whole winter and meritan was the headquarters their visits to Mrs Phillips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence every day added something to their knowledge of the officer's 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 source of Felicity unknown before they could talk of nothing but officers and Mr bingley's La
rge Fortune the mention of which gave animation to their mother was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of anenson after listening one morning to their affusions on this subject Mr Bennett cooly observed 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 sometime but I am now convinced Katherine 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 I am astonished my dear said Mrs Bennett that you should be so ready to think your own children silly if I wish to think slightingly of anybody's children it should not be of my own however if my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it yes but as it happens they are all of them very clever 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 My Dear Mr Bennett 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 like to Red Coat myself very well and indeed so I do still at my heart and if a smart young Colonel with five or 6 thousand a year should want o
ne of my girls I shall not say nay to him and I thought Colonel forer looked very becoming the other night at sir Williams in his regimen mentals Mama cried Lydia my aunt says that Colonel forer 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 Clark's Library Mrs Bennett was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennett it came from netherfield and the servant waited for an answer Mrs
Bennett's eyes sparkled with pleasure and she was eagerly calling out while her daughter read well Jane who is it from what is it about what is he say well Jane make haste and tell us make haste my love it is from Miss Bingley said Jane and then read it aloud my dear friend if you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives for a whole day's tet tet between two women can never end without a quarrel come as soo
n as you can on the receipt of this my brother and the gentleman are to dine with the officers yours ever Caroline Bingley with the officers cried Lydia I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that dining out said Mrs Bennett that is very unlucky can I have the carriage said Jane no my dear you had better go on Horseback because it seems likely to rain and then you must stay all night that would be a good scheme said Elizabeth if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home oh but the ge
ntleman will have Mr bingle's Shay to go to meritan and the hursts Have No Horses to theirs I had much rather go in the coach but my dear your father cannot spare the horses I am sure they are wanted in the farm Mr Bennett are not they they are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them but if you have got them today said Elizabeth my mother's purpose will be answered she did at last extort from her father an acknowledgement 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 this was a lucky idea of mine indeed said Mrs Bennett 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 the following note for Elizabeth my dearest Lizzy 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 home till I'm 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 accepting a sore throat and a headache there is not muc
h the matter with me yours Etc well my dear said Mr Bennett 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 oh I'm not at all 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 Elizabeth feeling reall
y anxious 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 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 I shall be very fit to see Jane which is all I want is this a hint to me Lizzy said her father to send for the horses no indeed I do not wish to avoid the walk the distance is nothing when one has a mot
ive only 3 miles I shall be back by dinner 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 we will go as far as meritan with you said Catherine and Lydia Elizabeth accepted their company and the three young ladies set off together if we make haste said Lydia as they walked along perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes in meritan they
parted the two youngest repaired to the LOD ings of one of the officer's wives and Elizabeth continued her walk alone Crossing Field after field at a quick Pace jumping over Styles 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 she was shown into the breakfast parlor where all but Jane were assembled and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise th
at 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 brothers manners there was something better than politeness there was good humor 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 occas s justifying her coming so far alone the latter was thinking only of his breakfast her inquiries after her sister were not very favorably answered Miss Bennett 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 deligh
ted at her entrance she was not equal however to much conversation and when Miss Bingley left them together could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with Elizabeth silently attended her 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 Endeavor to get the better of it advised her to return to bed and promised her some drafts the advice was followed readily for the feverish symptoms increased and her head achd acutely Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment nor were the other ladies often absent the gentleman being out they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere when the Clock Struck three Elizabeth felt that she must go and very unwillingly said so Miss Bingley offered her the carria
ge and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it when Jane testified such concern at parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the Shay into an invitation to remain at netherfield for the present Elizabeth most thankfully consented and a servant was dispatched to longor to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of clothes chapter 8 at 5:00 the two ladies retired to dress and at half 6 Elizabeth was summoned to dinner to the Civil inquiries whi
ch then poured in and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much Superior solicitude of Mr Bingley she could not make a very favorable 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 original dislike 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 li
ved only to eat drink and play at cards who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragu had nothing to say to her 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 taste no Beauty Mrs Hurst thought the same and added 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 she did indeed Louisa I could hardly keep my countenance very nonsensical to come at all why must she be scampering about the country because her sister had a cold her hair so untidy so blousy yes and her pett coat I hope you saw her pett coat 6 in deep in mud I'm absolutely certain and the Gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office your picture may be very exact Louisa said Bingley but this was all lost upon me I
thought Miss Elizabeth Bennett looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning her dirty pett coat quite escaped my notice you observed it Mr Darcy I am sure said Miss bingly and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition so certainly not to walk 3 miles or four miles or 5 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 Independen
ce a most Country Town indifference to decorum it shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing said Bingley I am afraid Mr Darcy observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes not at all he replied they were brightened by the exercise a short pause followed this speech and Mrs Hurst began again I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennett 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'm afraid there is no chance of it I think I've heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in meritan yes and they have another who lives somewhere near cheapside that is cap added her sister and they both laughed heartily if they had uncles enough to fill all cheapside cried bingly it would not make them one jot less agreeable but it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world replied D
arcy to this speech Bingley made no answer but his sisters gave it their hearty ascent and indulged their MTH for some time at the expense of their dear friends vulgar relations with a renewal of tender however they repaired to her room on leaving the dining parlor 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 asleep and when it appeared to her rather right than Pleasant t
hat she should go downstairs herself on entering the drawing room she found the whole party at Lou and was immediately invited to join them but suspecting them to be playing High she declined it and making her sister to 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 do you prefer reading to cards said he that is rather singular Miss Eliza Bennett said Miss Bingley despises cards she is a great reader and has no
pleasure in anything else I deserve neither such praise nor such censure cried Elizabeth I am not a great reader and I have pleasure in many things in nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure said Bingley and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well Elizabeth thanked him from her heart and then walked towards a table where a few books were lying he immediately offered to fetch her others all that his Library afforded 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 Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room 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 pembley Mr Darcy it ought to be good he replied it has been the work of many generations and then you have added so much to it yourself you're always buying books I cannot compr
ehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these neglect I'm sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that Noble Place Charles when you build your house I wish it may be half as delightful as pembley I wish it may but I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighborhood and take pembley for a kind of model there's not a finer County in England than darbishire with all my heart I will buy pembley itself if Darcy will sell it I am talking of possibilities
Charles upon my word Caroline I should think it more possible to get pembley by purchase than by imitation Elizabeth was so much caught by 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 is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring said Miss Bingley will she be as tall as I am I think she will she is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennett's height
or rather taller 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 piano Forte is exquisite it is amazing to me said Bingley how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are all young ladies accomplished my dear Charles what do you mean 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 accomp 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 re
ally accomplished nor I I am sure said Miss Bingley then observed Elizabeth you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman yes I do comprehend a great deal in it 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 all this she must possess added Darcy and to all she must yet add something more substantial in the Improvement of her mind by extensive reading I'm no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women I rather Wonder now at your knowing any are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this I never saw such a woman I never saw such capacity
and taste and application and elegance as you describe United 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 Eliza Bennett said Miss Bingley when the door was closed on her is one of those youn
g 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 poultry device a very mean art undoubtedly replied Darcy to whom this remark was chiefly addressed there is meanness in all the Arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation whatever Bears Affinity to cunning is Despicable Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject Elizabeth joined the
m again only to say that her sister was worse and that she could not leave her Bingley urged Mr Jones's being sent for immediately 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 Bennett were not decidedly better Bingley was q
uite 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 possible attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister chapter nine 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 sometime 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 longor Desiring her mother to visit Jane and form her own judgment of her situation the note was immediately dispatched and its contents as quickly complied with Mrs Bennett accompanied by her two youngest girls reached netherfield soon after the family breakfast had she found found Jane in any apparent danger Mrs Bennett
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 three daughte
rs all attended her into the breakfast parlor Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs Bennett had not found Miss Bennett worse than she expected 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 removed cried Bingley it must not be thought of my sister I am sure will not hear of her removal you may depend upon it Madam said Miss Bingley with cold civility that Miss Bennett shall re
ceive every possible attention while she remains with us Mrs Bennett was profuse in her acknowledgements 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 ever met with I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her you have a sweet room here Mr Bingley and a Charmin
g Prospect over that 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 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 5 minutes at present however I consider myself as quite fixed here that is exactly what I should have supposed of you said Elizabeth you begin to comprehend me do you cried he turning towar
ds her oh yes I understand you perfectly I wish I might take this for a compliment but to be so easily seen through I'm afraid is pitiful that is as it happens it does not necessarily follow that a deep intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours 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 I did not know before continued Bingley immediately that you you were a studier of character it must be an
amusing study yes but intricate characters are the most amusing they have at least that Advantage the country said Darcy can in general Supply but few subjects for such a study in a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying Society but people themselves alter so much that there is something new to be observed in them forever yes indeed cried Mrs Bennett offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbor Ood I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the cou
ntry as in town everybody was surprised and Darcy after looking at her for a moment turned silently away Mrs Bennett who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him continued her Triumph 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 not it Mr Bingley 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 adv
antages and I can be equally happy in either I that is because you have the right disposition but that gentleman looking at Darcy seemed to think the country was nothing at all indeed mamama 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 town which you must acknowledge to be true certainly my dear nobody said there were but as to not meeting with many people in this n
eighborhood I believe there are few neighborhoods larger I know we dine with four and 20 families nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance his sister was less delicate and directed her eye 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 longor since her coming away yes yes she called yesterday with her father what an agreeable man Sir W
illiam is Mr Bingley is not he so much the man of fashion so G Gentile and so easy he has always something to say to everybody that is my idea of good breeding and those persons who fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths quite mistake the matter did Charlotte dine with you 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 my daughters are brought up differently but everybody is to judge f
or 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 very plain but then she is our particular friend she seems a very pleasant young woman said Bingley 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 o
wn partiality when she was only 15 there was a gentleman at my brother gardeners 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 and so ended his affection said Elizabeth impatiently there has been many of one I fancy over come in the same way I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love I
have been used to consider poetry as the food of Love said Darcy 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'm convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away 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 Bennett began repeating her t
hanks to Mr Bingley for his kindness to Jane with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzie 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 Bennett 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 r
esult 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 Lydia was a stout well-grown girl of 15 with a fine complexion and good humored countenance a favorite 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-conquest which the attentions of the officers to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own Easy manners recommended her ha
d 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 her mother's ear 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 while she is ill 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 meritan again and when you have given your ball she added I shall insist on their giving one also I shall tell Colonel forer it will be quite a shame if he does not Mrs Bennett and her daughters then departed and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane leaving her own and her relations Behavior 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 her in spite of all Miss bingley's witticisms on fine eyes chapter 10 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 L table however did not appear Mr Darcy was writing and Miss Bingley seated near him was watching the progress of his letter and repe
atedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister Mr Hurst and Mr Bingley were at PK and Mrs Hurst was observing their game Elizabeth took up some needle work 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 unison
with her opinion of each how delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter he made no answer you write uncommonly fast you mistaken I write rather slowly 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 it is fortunate then that they fall to my lot instead of to yours pray tell your sister that I long to see her I have already told her so once by your desire I am afraid you do not like your pen let me mend it
for you I mend pens remarkably well thank you but I always men my own how can you contrive to write so even he was silent tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her Improvement on the harp and pray let her know that I I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table and I think it infinitely Superior to miss grantley will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again at present I have not room to do them Justice 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 they are generally long but where they always Charming it is not for me to determine it is a rule with me that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill that will not do for a compliment to Darcy Caroline cried her brother because he does not write with ease he studies too much for words of four syllables do not you Darcy my style of writing is very different from yours oh cried Miss Bingley Charles
writes in the most careless way imaginable he leaves out half his words and blots the rest my ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them by which means my letters sometimes convey no IDE ideas at all to my correspondence your humility Mr Bingley said Elizabeth must disarm reproof nothing is more deceitful said Darcy than the appearance of humility it is often only carelessness of opinion and sometimes an indirect boast and which of the two do you call my little recent piece of mo
desty the indirect boast for you're 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 much prized by the possessor and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance when you told Mrs Bennett this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting netherfield you should be gone in 5
minutes you meant it to be a sort of panag 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 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 honor I believed 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 needles
s precipitance merely to show off before the ladies I dare say you believed it but I'm 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'd better stay till next week you would probably do it you would probably not go and at another word might stay a month you have only proved by this cried Elizabeth that Mr Bingley did not do justice t
o his own disposition you have shown him off now much more than he did himself I am exceedingly gratified said Bingley by your converting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper but I'm afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend for he would certainly think the better of me if under such a circumstance I were to give a flat denial and to ride off as fast as I could would Mr Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention as
atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it upon my word I cannot exactly explain the matter Darcy must speak for himself you expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine but which I have never acknowledged allow the case however to stand according to your representation you must remember Miss Bennett 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 favor of its propr
iety to yield readily easily to the persuasion of a friend is no merit with you to yield without conviction is no complement to the understanding of either 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'm not particularly speaking of such a case as you have supposed about Mr Bingley we may as well wait perhaps till the circumst
ance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behavior 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 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 de
gree of intimacy subsisting between the parties 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 Bennett than you may be aware of I assure you that if Darcy were not such a a great tall fellow in comparison with myself I should not pay him half so much difference I declare I do not know a more awful object than Dary on particular occasions and in particular places at his own house espec
ially and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do 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 I see your design Bingley said his friend you dislike an argument and want to silence this perhaps I do arguments are too much like disputes if you and Miss Bennett will defer yours till I am out of the ro
om I shall be very thankful and then you may say whatever you like of me what you ask said Elizabeth is no sacrifice on my side and Mr Darcy had much better finish his letter Mr Darcy took her advice and did finish his letter when that business was over he applied to miss Bingley and Elizabeth for the Indulgence of some music Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the piano Forte and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived sh
e seated herself 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 about
her 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 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 do you not feel a great inclination Miss Bennett to see such an opportunity of dancing a real she smiled but made no answer he repeated the question with some surpris
e at her silence 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 real at all and now despise me if you dare indeed I do not dare Elizabeth having rather expected to affront him was ama
zed 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 believed that were it not for the inferiority of her connections he should be in some danger 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 s
he often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest by talking of their supposed marriage and planning his happiness in such an alliance 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 to cure the younger girls of running after the officers and if I may mention so delicate a subject Endeavor to check that little so
mething bordering on conceit and impertinence which your lady possesses have you anything else to propose for my domestic Felicity oh yes do let the portraits of your uncle and Aunt Philip be placed in The Gallery at pembley 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 attempt to have it taken for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes it would not be easy indeed to catch t
heir expression but their color and shape and the eyelashes so remarkably fine might be copied at that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs Hurst and Elizabeth herself I did not know that you intended to walk said Miss Bingley in some confusion lest they had been overheard you used us abominably ill answered Mrs Hurst running away without telling us that you were coming out then taking the disengaged arm of Mr Dary she left Elizabeth to walk by herself the path just admitted three Mr Da
rcy felt their rudeness and immediately said this walk is not wide enough for our party we had better go into the Avenue but Elizabeth who had not the least inclination to remain with them laughingly answered no no stay where you are you are charmingly grouped and appear to uncommon Advantage the picturesque would be spoiled by admitting a fourth goodbye she then ran gay 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 chapter 11 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 gentleman appeared their powers of conversation were considerable they could describe an entertainment with accu
racy relate an anecdote with humor and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit but when the gentleman entered Jane was no longer the first object Miss bingley's eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy and she had something to say to him before he had Advanced many steps he addressed himself directly to Miss Bennett 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 attenti
on 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 farther 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 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 Bennett Miss bingle's attention was quite as much eng
aged in watching Mr Darcy's progress through his 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 enjo
yment 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 no one made any reply she then yawned again threw aside her book and cast her eyes around the room in quest of some amusement when hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennett she turned suddenly towards him and said by the bye Charles are you really serious in meditating a dance at netherfield I would advise you before you determi
ne 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 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 Nichols has made white soup enough I shall send round my cards I should like balls infinitely better she replied if they were carried on in a different manner but there is something insuffera
bly tedious in the usual process of such a meeting it would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day much more rational my dear Caroline I dare say but it would not be near so much like a ball Miss Bingley made no answer and soon afterwards 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 Des Iration of her feelings she resolved on one effort more an
d turning to Elizabeth said Miss Eliza Bennett 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 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 par
ty 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 not at all was her answer but depend on it he means to be severe on us and our shest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it Miss Bingley however was incapable of disa
ppointing Mr Darcy in anything and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives 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 you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in Walking if the first I should be completely in your way and if the second I can ad
mire you much better as I sit by the fire oh shocking cried Miss Bingley I never heard anything so abominable how shall we punish him for such a speech 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 but upon my honor I do not I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that te's calmness of temper 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 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 me to have many such acquaintance I dearly love a laugh Miss Bingley said he has given me credit for more than can be the wisest and 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 certainly replied Elizabeth there are such people but I hope I am not one of them I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good Follies and nonsense whims and inconsistencies do divert me I own and I laugh at them whenever I can but these I suppose are precisely what you are without 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 such as vanity and pri
de yes vanity is a weakness indeed but Pride where there is a real superiority of Mind Pride will be always under good regulation Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile your examination of Mr Darcy is over I presume said Miss Bingley and pray what is the result I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr Darcy has no defect he owns it himself without disguise 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 that is a failing indeed cried Elizabeth implacable resentment is a shade in a character but you have chosen your fault well I really cannot laugh at it you are saf
e from me there is I believe in every disposition a tendency to something particular evil a natural defect which not even the best education can overcome and your defect is a propensity to hate everybody and yours he replied with a smile is willfully to misunderstand them 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 her sister made not the smallest objection and the piano Forte 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 chapter 12 in consequence of an agreement between the sisters Elizabeth wrote the next morning to her mother to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day but Mrs Bennett who had calculated on her daughter's 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 Bennett sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday and in her postcript 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 of 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 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 until the tomorrow their going was deferred Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay for her jealousy and dislike o
f one sister much exceeded her AFF ction for the other the Master of the House heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennett 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 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 her and more teasing than usual to himself he W
is resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now Escape him nothing that could Elevate her with the hope of influencing his Felicity sensible that if such an idea had been suggested his behavior during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it steady to his purpose he scarcely spoke 10 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 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 longor or netherfield and embracing her most tenderly she even shook hands with the former Elizabeth took of the whole party in the liveliest Spirits they were not welcomed hom
e very cordially by their mother Mrs Bennett 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 they found Mary as usual deep in the s
tudy of thorough Bas and human nature and had some new extracts to admire and some new observations of threadbear morality to listen to Katherine 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 forer was going to be married chapter 13 I hope my dear said Mr Bennett to his wi
fe as they were at breakfast the next morning that you have ordered a good dinner today because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party who do you mean my dear I know of nobody that is coming I'm sure unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in and I hope my dinners are good enough for her I do not believe she often sees such at home the person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger Mrs Bennett's eyes sparkled a gentleman and a stranger it is Mr Bingley I am sure why J
ane you never dropped a word of this you Sly thing well I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr Bingley but good Lord how unlucky there's not a bit of fish to be got today Lydia my love ring the bell I must speak to Hill this moment it is not Mr Bingley said her husband it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life this roused a general astonishment and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once after amusing himself some time wi
th their curiosity he thus explained 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 col who when I am dead may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases 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 child
ren and I am sure if I had been you I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail they had often attempt Ed it before but it was a subject on which Mrs Bennett 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 favor of a man whom nobody cared anything about it certainly is a most iniquitous Affair said Mr Bennett
and nothing can clear Mr Collins from the guilt of inheriting longor but if you will listen to his letter you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself know that I am sure I shall not and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all and very hypocritical I hate such false friends why could not he keep on quarreling with you as his father did before him why indeed he does seem to have had some filial Scruples on that head as you will hear hunsford near
westram Kent the 15th of October Dear Sir the disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honored father always gave me much uneasiness and since I've 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 Bennett my mind however is now made up on the subject f
or having received ordination at Easter I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the right honorable Lady Katherine dorg Widow of Sir Lewis dorg whose Bounty and beneficence has Preferred me to the valuable rectory of this Parish where it shall be my Earnest Endeavor to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship and be ever ready to perform those rights 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 of Goodwill are highly commendable and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of long born 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 apologize for it as well as t
o 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 4:00 and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday s night 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 t
he duty of the day I remain Dear Sir with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters your well-wisher and friend William Collins at 4:00 therefore we may expect this peacemaking gentleman said Mr Bennett 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 there is some sense in what he says about the girls howeve
r and if he is disposed to make them any amends I shall not be the person to discourage him 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 Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for lady Catherine and His Kind intention of christening marrying and burying his parishioners whenever it were required he must be an oddity I think said she I cannot make him out there is something v
ery pompous in his style and what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the endale we cannot suppose he would help it if he could can he be a sensible man sir no my dear I think not I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse there is a mixture of Civility and self-importance in his letter which promises well I'm impatient to see him in point of composition said Mary his letter does not seem defective the idea of the Olive Branch perhaps is not wholly new yet I think it is well ex
pressed to Katherine 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 color 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 Mr Collins was punctual to his time and was rece
ived with great politeness by the whole family Mr Bennett 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 20 his air was grave and stately and his manners were very formal he had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs Bennett 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 well disposed of in marriage this gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers but Mrs Bennett who quarreled with no compliments answered most readily you are very kind sir I'm sure and I wish with all my heart it may prove so for else they will be destitute enough things are settled so oddly you allude perhaps to the entail of this estate 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 you for such things I know are all Chance in This World there is no knowing how States will go when once they come to be entailed 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 he was interrup
ted 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 Bennett'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 Excellence of its cookery was owing but here he
was set right by Mrs Bennett 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 soften tone she declared herself not at all offended but he continued to apologize for about a quarter of an hour chapter 14 during dinner Mr Mr Bennett scarcely spoke at all but when the servants were withdrawn he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest and theref
ore started a subject in which he expected him to shine by observing that he seemed very fortunate in His patroness Lady Katherine de Borg's attention to his wishes and consideration for his comfort appeared very remarkable Mr Bennett 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 the most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behavior in a person of rank such affabil
ity and condescension as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine she had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honor 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 quadril in the evening Lady Katherine was reckoned Proud by many people he knew but he had never seen anything but affability in her she had always spoken to him as she would to any othe
r gentleman she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the Society of the neighborhood nor to his leaving his 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 King and had even vouch safe to suggest some herself some shelves in the closets upstairs
that is all very proper and civil I'm sure said Mrs Bennett 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 the Garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park her lady ship's residence oh I think you said she was a widow sir has she any family she has one only daughter daughter the aess of Rosings and a very extensive property ah cried Mrs Bennett shaking her head then s
he is better off than many girls and what sort of young lady is she is she handsome she is a most Charming young lady indeed Lady Katherine herself says that in point of true beauty Mr Borg is far superior to the handsomest of her sex because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth she is unfortunately of a sickly Constitution which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have 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 faton and ponies has she been presented I do not remember her name among the ladies at court her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town and by that means as I told lady Catherine myself one day has deprived the British Court of its brightest ornament her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea and you may
imagine that I'm 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 you judge very properly said Mr Bennett 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 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 Mr Bennett's expectations were fully answered his cousi
n 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 by tea time however the dose had been enough and Mr Bennett 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 ascented and a book was produced but on beholding it for e
verything 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 for Di's sermons Lydia gaped as he opened the volume and before he had with very monotonous solemnity read three pages she interrupted him with do you know Mama that my uncle Phillips talks of Turning Away Richard and if he does Colonel forer will hire him my aunt told
me so herself on Saturday I shall walk to meritan tomorrow to hear more about it and to ask when Mr Denny comes back from town Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue but Mr Collins much offended laid aside his book and said 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 then turning to Mr Bennett he offered himself as his antagonist at bgam Mr Bennett accepted the challenge observing that he acted very wisely and leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements Mrs Bennett and her daughters apologized most civil 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 behavior as any affront seated h
imself at another table with Mr Bennett and prepared for B gam chapter 15 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 orig
inally 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 Katherine de Borg 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 hi
m altogether a mixture of Pride and obsequiousness self-importance and humility having now a good house and a very sufficient income he intended to marry and in Seeking a reconciliation with the long born 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 sui
tableness and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part his plan did not vary on seeing them Miss Bennett's lovely face confirmed his views and established all his strictest Notions of what was due to seniority and for the first evening she was his settled Choice the next morning however made an alteration for in a quarter of an hour's tet AET with Mrs Bennett before breakfast a conversation beginning with his parsonage house and leading naturally to the avow of his hopes that a mis
tress for it might be found at long born produced from her amid very complacent smiles and general encouragement a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on as to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say she could not positively answer but she did not know of any prepossession her eldest daughter she must just mention she felt it incumbent on her to hint was likely to be very soon engaged Mr Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth and it was soon done done while Mrs
Bennett was stirring the fire Elizabeth equally next to Jane in birth and Beauty succeeded her of course Mrs Bennett 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 Lydia's intention of walking to meritan was not forgotten every sister except Mary agreed to go with her and Mr Collins was to attend them at the request of Mr Bennett 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 Bennett with little cessation of his house and Garden at hunsford such doings discomposed Mr Bennett exceedingly in his Library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility and though prepared as he told Elizabeth to meet with Folly and conceit in every other room in the house he was
used to be free from them there his civility therefore was most prompt in inviting Mr Collins to join and his daughters in their walk and Mr Collins being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader was extremely well pleased to close his large book and go in pompous nothings on his side and civil ascents on that of his cousins their time passed till they entered meritan the attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him Their Eyes Were immediately wandering up th
e 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 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 an 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 h
e 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 intreated 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 core 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 favor he had all the best parts 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 was still standing and talking together very agreeably when the sound of horses Drew their notice and Darcy and Bingley were se
en riding down the street on distinguishing the ladies of the group group the two gentlemen came directly towards them and began the usual civilities Bingley was the principal spokesman and Miss Bennett the principal object he was then he said on his way to longor 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 counte
nance of both as they looked at each other was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting both changed color one looked white the other red Mr Wickham after a few moments touched his hat a salutation which Mr Darcy just DED to return what could be the meaning of it it was impossible to imagine it was impossible not to long to know in another minute Mr Bingley but without seeming to have noticed what passed took leave and rode on with his friend Mr Denny and Mr Wickham walked with the young la
dies to the door of Mr Phillips's house house and then made their bows in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in and even in spite of Mrs Phillips's throwing up the Parlor window and loudly seconding the invitation 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 kno
wn nothing about if 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 drafts to netherfield because the Miss benets 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 apologizing 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 AED by such an excess of good breeding but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to 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 a
nd had Mr Wickham appeared Kitty and IA would certainly have continued the occupation but unluckily no one passed the 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 longor would come in the evening this was agreed to and Mrs Phillips protested that they wou
ld 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 as they walked home Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen past between the two gentlemen but though Jane would have defended either or both had they appeared to be wrong she coul
d no more explain such Behavior than her sister Mr Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs Bennett by admiring Mrs Phillips's manners and politeness he protested that except Lady Katherine and her daughter he had never seen a more elegant woman for she had not only received him with the utmost civility but had 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 h
e had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life chapter 16 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 Bennett for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to meritan and the girls had the pleasure of hearing as they entered the drawing room that Mr Wickham had accepted their uncles's invitation and was then i
n the house 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 parlor 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 Katherine's drawing rooms and found that the chimney piece alone had cost £800 she felt all the force of the compliment and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper room 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 gentleman joined them and he found in Mrs Phillips a very attentive listener whose opin
ion of his consequence increased with what she heard and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbors 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 mantlepiece the interval of waiting appeared very long it was over at last however the gentleman did approach and when Mr Wickam walked into the room Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing hi
m 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 Wickam was as far beyond them all in person countenance air and walk as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy Uncle Phillips breathing port wine who followed them into the room Mr Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned and Elizabeth was th
e 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 and on the probability of a rainy season made her feel that the commonest dullest most threadbear topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker 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 h
ad 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 an opportunity of obliging her in return by sitting down to Wist I know little of the game at present said he but I shall be glad to improve myself for in my situation of Life Mrs Phillips was very thankful for his compliance but could not wait for his reason Mr Wickham did not play at Wist 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 Wickam was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth and she was very willing to hear him though what she chi
efly 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 meritan and after receiving her answer asked in a hesitating manner how long Mr Darcy had been staying there about a month said Elizabeth and then unwilling to let the subject drop added he is a man of very large property in darbishire
I understand yes replied Wickham his estate there is a noble one a clear 10,000 perom 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 Elizabeth could not but look surprised you may well be surprised Miss Bennett at such an assertion after seeing as you probably probably might the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday are you much acquainted with Mr Dar
cy as much as I ever wish to be cried Elizabeth warmly I have spent four days in the same house with him and I think him very disagreeable I have no right to give my opinion said Wickham as to his being agreeable or otherwise I'm not qualified to form one I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge it is impossible for me 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 y
our own family upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighborhood except netherfield he is not at all liked in hartfordshire everybody is disgusted with his pride you will not find him more favorably spoken of by anyone I cannot pretend to be sorry said Wickham after a short Interruption that he or that any man should not be estimated Beyond on their deserts but with him I believe it does not often happen the world is blinded by his fortune and consequence or frigh
tened by his high and imposing manners and sees him only as he chooses to be seen I should take him even on my slight acquaintance to be an ill-tempered man Wickam only shook his head I wonder said he at the next opportunity of speaking whether he is likely to be in this country much longer I do not at all know but I heard nothing of his going away way when I was at netherfield I hope your plans in favor of the Shire will not be affected by his being in the neighborhood oh no it is not for me to
be driven Away by Mr Darcy if he wishes to avoid seeing me he must go we not on friendly terms and it always gives me pain to meet him but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might Proclaim to all the world a sense of very great ill usage and most painful regrets at his being what he is his father Miss Bennett the late Mr D Dy 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 behavior 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 Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase and listened with all her heart but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry Mr Wickham began to speak on more General topics meritan the neighborhood the society appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen and
speaking of the latter especially with gentle but very intelligible gallantry it was the prospect of constant society and good Society he added which was my chief inducement to enter the Shire I know it to be a most respectable agreeable core and my friend Denny tempted me further by his account of their present quarters and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance meritan had procured them Society I own is necessary to me I've been a disappointed man and my spirits will not bear Sol
itude I must have employment and Society a military life is not what I was intended for but circumstances have now made it eligible the church ought 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 indeed 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 good Heavens cried Elizabeth but how could that be how could his will be disregarded why did not you seek legal redress there was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no Hope from law a man of Honor 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 th
at 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 war unguarded temper and I may perhaps have sometimes spoken my opinion of him and to 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 this is quite shocking he deserves to be publicly disgraced sometime or other he will be but it shall not be by me till I can forget his father I can never defy or expose him Elizabeth honored him for such feelings and thought him handsomer than than ever as he expressed them but what said she after a pause can have been his motive what can have induced him to behave so cruy 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 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 after a few minutes reflection however she continued I do remember his boasting one day at netherfield of the implacability of his resentments of his having an unforgiving temper his disposition must be Dreadful I will not trust myself on the subject replied Wickham I can hardly be just to him Elizabeth was again deep in thought and after a Time exclaimed to treat in such a manner the godson the friend the favori
te of his father she could have added a young man too like you whose very countenance May vouch for your being amiable but she contented herself with and one too who had probably been his own companion from childhood connected together as I think you said in the closest manner 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 my father began life in the pr
ofession 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 pemy property he was most highly esteemed by Mr Darcy a most intimate confidential friend 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 him as of affection to myself 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 it is wonderful replied Wickam for almost all his actions may be traced to Pride and pride has often been his best friend it has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling but
we are none of us consistent and in his behavior to me there were stronger impulses even Than Pride can such abominable Pride as his have ever done him good yes it has often led him to be liberal and generous to give his money freely to to display Hospitality to assist his tenants and relieve the poor family pride and fial pride for he's 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 pem
y house is a powerful motive he has also brotherly Pride which with some 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 what sort of a girl is Miss Darcy he shook his head I wish I could call her amiable it gives me pain to speak ill of a Dary 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 15 or 16 and I understand highly accomplished since her father's death her home has been London where a lady lives with her and superintends her Ed education after many pauses and many Trials of other subjects Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the first and saying I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr Bingley how can Mr Bingley who seems good humor itself and is I really beli truly amiable
be in friendship with such a man how can they suit each other do you know Mr Bingley not at all he is a sweet tempered amiable Charming Man he cannot know what Mr Darcy is 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-mi
nded just sincere rational honorable and perhaps agreeable allowing something for fortune and figure the Wist party soon afterwards breaking up the play players gathered around 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 no
t of the least importance that he considered the money as a mere trifle and begged she would not make herself uneasy I know very well Madam said he that when persons sit down to card table they must take their chance 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 Katherine de Borg I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters Mr Wickham's attention was cau
ght and after observing Mr Collins for a few moments he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relations were very intimately acquainted with the family of dbor Lady Katherine Borg 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 you know of course that lady Katherine de Borg and Lady an Darcy were sisters consequently that she is Aunt to the present Mr Darcy no indeed I did not I knew nothi
ng at all of Lady Catherine's connections I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday her daughter Mr Borg will have a very large fortune and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates 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-d destined to another Mr Collins said she speaks highly both of La
dy Katherine 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 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 pa
rt of her abilities from her Rank and Fortune part from her authoritative Manner and the rest from the pride of her nephew who chooses that everyone connected with him should have an understanding of the first class 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 wickhams attentions there could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs Phil
lips'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 d
escribing the civility of Mr and Mrs Phillips protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at Wist enumerating all the dishes at supper and repeatedly fearing that he crowed his cousins had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at longbourn house chapter 17 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 bi
ngley's regard and yet it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as WI the possibility of his having really endured such unkindness was enough to interest all her tender feelings and nothing therefore remained 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 they have both said she been deceived I dare say in some way or other of whi
ch we can form no idea interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other it is in short impossible for us to conjecture to the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them without actual blame on either side very true indeed and now my dear Jane what have you got to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business do clear them too or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody laugh as much as you choose but you will not laugh me ou
t of my opinion my dearest Lizzy do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr Darcy to be treating his father's favorite 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 I can much more easily believe Mr bingley's being imposed on than that Mr Wickam 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 it is difficult indeed it is distressing one does not know what to think I beg your pardon one knows exactly what to think but Jane could think with certainty on only one point that Mr Bingley if he had been imposed on would have much to suffer when the affair became public the two young ladies were summoned from the Shrubbery where this convers
ation passed by the arrival of some 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 Bennett as much as
possible saying not much 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 Bennett's civilities the prospect of the netherfield bull was extremely agreeable to every female of the family Mrs Bennett chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr Bingley himsel
f instead of a monious 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 behavior the happiness anticipated by Katherine 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 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 Elizabeth's Spirits were so high on the occasion that though she did not oft
en 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 Katherine de Borg by venturing to dance I am by no means of opinion I assure you said he that a ball of this kind given by a young m
an of character to respectable people can have any evil tendency and I'm so far from objecting to dancing myself that I shall hope to be honored 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 Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in she had fully proposed being engaged
by Wickham for the those very dances and to have Mr Collins instead her liveliness had been never worse timed there was no help for it however Mr Wickham's happiness and her own was 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 she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the Mistress of hunsford parsona
ge and of assisting to form a quadril table at Rosings in the absence of more eligible visitors the idea soon reached to conviction as she observed his increasing civilities towards 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 exceedingly agreeable to her Elizabeth however did not choos
e 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 if there had not been a netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of the younger Miss bennets would have been in a 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 meritan Once no Aunt no officers no news could b
e 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 chapter 18 Till Elizabeth entered the drawing room at netherfield and looked in vain for Mr Wickham among the 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 one 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 bi
ngley's invitation to the officers and though this was not exactly the case the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr 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 wished to avoid a certain gentleman here this part of his intelligence though unheard by Lydia wa
s caught by Elizabeth and as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for Wickham's absence than if her first smise 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 attention 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 humor which she could not wholly surmount even in speaking to Mr Bingley whose blind partiality provoked her but Elizabeth was not formed for ill humor 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 two first danc
es however brought a return of distress they were dances of mortification Mr Collins awkward and solemn apologizing 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 she danced next with an officer and had the refreshment of talking of and of hearing that he was universally liked when those dances were over she returned to Charlotte Luc
as 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 I dare say you will find him very agreeable heaven forbid that would be the greatest Misfortune of all to find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate do not wi
sh me such an evil 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 Wickam to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man often 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 neighbor's 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 minute she addressed him a second time withit is your turn to say something now Mr Darcy I talked about the dance and you ought
to make some kind of remark on the size of the room or the number of couples he smiled and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said 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 now we may be silent do you talk by rule then while you are dancing 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 so
me conversation ought to be so arranged as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible are you Consulting your own feelings in the present case or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine both replied Elizabeth archly for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds we we are each of an unsocial tacitn 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 eekat of a prov
erb this is no very striking resemblance of your own character I am sure said he how near it may be to mine I cannot pretend to say you think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly I must not decide on my own performance he made no answer and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance when when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often walk to meritan she answered in the affirmative and unable to resist the temptation added when you met us there the other day we had just b
een forming a new acquaintance the effect was immediate a Deeper Shade of hter 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 making friends whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain he's been so unlucky as to lose your friendship replied Elizabeth with emphasis and in a manner wh
ich he is likely to suffer from all his life 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 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 allo
w 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 Miss Eliza glancing at her sister and Bingley shall take place 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 upbring me the latter part of this address was sca
rcely heard by Darcy but sir Williams illusion 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 Williams Interruption has made me forget what we were talking of I do not think we were speaking at all Sir William could not have interrupted any two people in the room who had less to say for themselves we have tried two or t
hree subjects already without success and what we are to talk of next I cannot imagine what think you of books said he smiling books oh no I'm sure we never read the same or not with the same feelings I 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 no I cannot talk of books in a ballroom my head is always full of something else the present always occupies you in such scenes does it said he with a look of Doubt 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 being created I am said he with a firm voice and never allow yourself to be blinded by Prejudice I hope not it is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion to be secur
e of judging properly at first may I ask to what these questions tend merely to the illustration of your character said she endeavoring to shake off her gravity I am trying to make it out and what is your success she shook her head I do not get on at all I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly I can readily believe answered he Gravely that reports may vary greatly with respect to me and I could wish Miss Bennett that you were not to sketch my character at the present momen
t as there is reason to fear that the per performance would reflect no credit on either but if I do not take your likeness now I may never have another opportunity 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 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 they had not long separated When Miss Bingley came towards her and with an expression of civil disdain thus accosted her 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 forgot to tell you among his other Communications that he was the son of old Wickham the late Mr dar'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 been always remarkably kind to him though George Wickam 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 Wickam mentioned and that though my brother thought 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 favorites guilt but really considering his dissent one could not expect much better 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 that I can assure you he informed me himself I
beg your pardon replied Miss Bingley turning away with a sneer excuse my interference it was kindly meant insolent girl said Elizabeth to herself you're much mistaken if you expect to influence Me by such a poultry attack as this I see nothing in it but your own willful 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 su
fficiently 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 I want to know said she with a countenance no less smiling than her sisters what you have learned 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 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 honor of his friend and is perfectly convinced that Mr Wickam has deserved much less attention from Mr Darcy than he has received and I'm sorry to say that by his account as well as his sisters Mr Wickham
is by no means a respectable young man I'm afraid he has been very imprudent and has deserved to lose Mr Darcy's regard Mr Bingley does not know Mr Wickham himself no he never saw him till the other morning at meritan this account then is what he has received from Mr Darcy I am perfectly satisfied but what does he say of the living 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 conditionally only I ha
ve 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 acquainted with several parts of the story and has learned the rest from that friend himself I shall Venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before 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 bingley's regard and said all in her power to heighten her confidence in it on there 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 exaltation that he had just been so fortunate as to make a most important Discovery I have found out said he by a singular accident
that there is now in the room a near relation to my patroness I happen to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honors of this house the names of his cousin Mr Borg 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 Katherine deor 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 you are not going to introduce yourself to Mr Darcy indeed I am I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier I believe him to be lady Catherine's nephew it will be in my power to assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday site Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme assuring him that Mr Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an im
pertinent 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 My Dear Miss Elizabeth I have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your underst
anding but permit me to say that there must be a wide difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the Ley and those which regulate the clergy forgive 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 behavior is at the same time maintained you must therefore allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion which lead 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 no
t 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 Katherine deor 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 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 o
nly made him a slight bow and moved another way Mr Collins then returned to Elizabeth I have no reason I assure you said he to be dis satisfied 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 favor unworthily it was really a very handsome thought upon the whole I am much pleased with him as Eliz
abeth 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 endeavoring even to like bingle's two sisters her mother's thoughts she plainly saw were bent t
he same way and she determined not to Venture near her L she might hear too much when they sat down to supper therefore she considered it a most 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 of her expectation that Jane would be soon married to Mr Bingley it was an animating subject and Mrs Bennett seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating th
e advantages of the match his being such a Charming young man and so rich and living but 3 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 b
e able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister that she might not be obliged to go into to 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 Bennett to find comfort in staying at 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 chanc
e of it in vain did Elizabeth Endeavor 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 what is Mr Dary to me prey that I should be afraid of him I'm sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear For Heaven's
Sake Madam speak lower what advantage can it be to you to offend Mr Darcy you will never recommend yourself to his friend by so doing 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 h
is attention was invariably fixed by her the expression of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and steady gravity at length however Mrs Bennett 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 Tranquility for when supper was over singing was talked of and she had the mortificati
on of seeing Mary after very little intreaty preparing to oblige the company by many significant looks and Silent entreaties did she Endeavor to prevent such a proof of complacence 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 re
ceiving amongst the thanks of the table the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favor 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 impenetrabl
y 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 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 if I 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 a 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 consiliary 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 ma
n who should Adit an occasion of testifying his respect towards any body 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 Bennett 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 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 attempt of the gentleman or the insolent Smiles of the ladies were more intolerable 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 with 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 offered 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 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 Illusions to Mr Wickham and rejoiced in it the long born party were the last of all the company to depart and by a maneuver of Mrs Bennett 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 ex
cept to complain of fatigue and were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves they repulsed every attempt of Mrs Bennett at conversation and by so doing threw a Langer 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 behavior to their guests Darcy said nothing at all Mr Bennett in equal silence was enjoy
ing 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 as 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 when at length they arose to take leave Mrs Bennett was most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at longor and addressed herself particularly t
o 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 wither he was obliged to go the next day for a short time Mrs Bennett 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 4 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 her the worth of each was eclipsed by Mr Bingley and netherfield chapter 19 the next day opened a new scene at longor Mr Colli
ns 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 Bennett Elizabeth and one of the younger girls together soon after breakfast he addressed the mother in these words may I hope Madam for y
our interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth when I solicit for the honor of a private audience with her in the course of this morning before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise Mrs Bennett instantly answered oh dear yes certainly I'm sure Lizzy will be very happy I'm sure she can have no objection come Kitty I want you upstairs and Gathering her work together she was hastening away when Elizabeth called out Dear ma'am 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 No No Nonsense Lizzy I desire you will stay where you are and upon Elizabeth seeming really with vexed and embarrassed looks about to escape she added Lizzy I insist upon your staying and hearing Mr Collins 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 c
onceal by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion Mrs Bennett and kitty walked off and as soon as they were gone Mr Collins began 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 not been this little unwillingness but allow me to assure you that I have your respected mother's permission for this address you can hardly doub
t 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 will be advisable for me to State my reasons for marrying and moreover for coming into Heartford with the design of selecting a wife as I certainly did the idea of Mr Collins with all his solemn compos
ure 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 farther and he continued 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'm convinced it will add very very greatly to my happiness and thirdly which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier that it is the particular ad
vice and recommendation of the very Noble lady whom I have the honor of calling patroness twice has she condescended to give me her opinion unass too on this subject and it was but the very Saturday night before I left hunsford between our pools at quadrel while Mrs jenkinson was arranging Mr Borg's foot stol that she said Mr Collins you must marry a clergyman like you must marry choose properly choose a gentle woman for my sake and for your own let her be an active useful sort of person not bro
ught 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 Katherine de Borg 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 respe
ct which her rank will inevitably excite thus much for my general intention in the favor of matrimony it remains to be told why My Views were directed to longor instead of my own neighborhood where I 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 honored 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 £1,000 in
the four perents 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 it was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now you too hasty sir she cried you forget that I have made no answer let me do it without further loss of time except my thanks for the compliment you are paying me I am very sensible of t
he honor of your proposals but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them 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 favor 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 air long upon my w
ord sir cried Elizabeth your hope is rather an 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'm perfectly serious in my refusal you could not make me happy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so Nay Will your friend lady Catherine to know me I am persuaded she would find me in every respect
ill qualified for the situation were it certain that lady Katherine 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 that when I have the honor of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty economy and other amiable qualific ifications 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 long born 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 not Mr Collins thus addressed her when I do myself the honor of speaking t
o you next on the subject I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer than you have now given me though I am far from accusing you of a 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 really Mr Collins cried Elizabeth with some warmth you puzzle me exceedingly if what I have hitherto said C
an appear to you in the form of encouragement I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as May convince you of its being one you must give me leave to flatter myself my dear cousin that your refusal of my addresses are merely words of course my reasons for believing it are briefly these it does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy 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 deb
or and my relationship to your own are circumstances highly in my favor 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 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 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 honor you have done me in your proposals but to accept them is absolutely impossible my feelings in every respect forbid it can I speak pler do not consider me now as an elegant female inte
nding to plague you but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart you're 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 to to such perseverance in willful self-deception Elizabeth would make no reply and immediately and in silence withdrew determined that if he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encou
ragement to apply to her father whose negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive and whose Behavior at least could not be mistaken for the affectation and catry of an elegant female chapter 20 Mr Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love for Mrs Bennett having doled 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 breakf
ast 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 in 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 this information however sta
rtled Mrs Bennett 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 but but depend upon it Mr Collins she added that Lizzy shall be brought to reason I will speak to her about it myself directly she is a very headstrong foolish girl and does not know her own interest but I will make her know it pardon me for interrupting you madam cried Mr Collins but if she i
s 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 ists 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 sir you quite misunderstand me said Mrs Bennett alarmed Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these in every
thing else she is as good-natured a girl as ever lived I will go directly to Mr Bennett and we shall very soon settle it with her I am sure she would not give him time to reply but hurrying instantly to her husband called out as she entered the library oh Mr Bennett 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 her Mr Bennett 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 I have have not the pleasure of understanding you said he when she had finished her speech of what are you talking 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 and what am I to do on the occasion it seems a hopeless business speak to Lizzie about it yourself tell her that you insist upon h
er marrying him let her be called down she shall hear my opinion Mrs Bennett rang the bell and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library 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 I have sir very well we now come to the point your mother insists upon your accepting it is it not so Mrs Be
nnett yes or I will never see her again 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 not marry Mr Collins and I will never see you again if you do Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning but Mrs Bennett who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished was access ly disappointed what do you mean Mr Bennett by talking in this way yo
u promised me to insist upon her marrying him my dear replied her husband I have two small favors 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 not yet however in spite of her disappointment in her husband did Mrs Bennett give up up the point she talked to Elizabeth again and again coaxed and threatened her by turns she endeavored to secure Jane in her intere
st but Jane with all possible mildness declined interfering and Elizabeth sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes with playful gayety replied to her attacks though her manner varied however her determination never did Mr Collins meanwhile was meditating in solitude on what had passed he thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive 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 h
er deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret 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 Lizzie and she will not have him Charlotte had hardly time to answer before they were joined by Kitty who came to tell the same news and n
o sooner had they entered the breakfast room where Mrs Bennett was alone then 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 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 cruy used nobody feels for my poor nerves Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth I there she comes continued Mrs Benn
ett looking as unconcerned as maybe and caring no more for us than if we were at York provided she can have her own way but I tell you what 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 pied her daughters listened in silence to this affusion sensible that any attempt to reason with 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 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 Mr Collins and me have a little conversation together 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 Bennett thus began the projected conversation oh Mr Collins my dear Madam replied he let us be forever silent on this point far be it from me he presently continued in a voice that marked his displeasure to resent the behavior of your daughter resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of us all the peculiar duty of a yo
ung 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 honored 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 favo
r without having paid yourself and Mr Bennett the compliment of requesting you to interpose your Authority in my behalf my conduct may I fear be objection 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 manner has been at all reprehensible I here beg lea
ve to apologize chapter 21 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 illusion of her mother as for the gentleman himself his 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 the morrow produced no abatement of Mrs Bennett's ill humor 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 still meant to stay after bre
akfast the girls walked to meritan 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 aunts where his regret and vexation and the concern of everybody were well talked over to Elizabeth however he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed I found said he as the time Drew near that I better not meet Mr Darcy that to be in the same room the same p
arty with him for so many hours together might be more than I could bear and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself she highly approved his forbearance and they had Leisure for a full discussion of it and for all the commendations which they civy bestowed on each other as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to longor 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 self
and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother soon after their return a letter was delivered to Miss Bennett it came from netherfield and was opened immediately 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 upstairs when they had gained their own room Jane taking out her letter said 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 witho
ut any intention of coming back again you shall hear what she says 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 that day in groer Street where Mr Hurst had a house the next was in these words I do not pretend to regret anything I shall leave in hartfordshire except your Society my dearest friend but we will hope at some future period to enjoy many returns of that delightf
ul 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 high-flown 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 persua
ded that Jane must soon cease to regard it in the enjoyment of his 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 Caroline decid
edly says that none of the party will return into hartfordshire this winter I will read it to you when my brother left us yesterday he imagined that the business which took him to London might be concluded in 3 or 4 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 comfort Hotel many of my acquaintanc
e are already there for the winter I wish I could hear that you my dearest friend had any intention of making one in the crowd but of that I despair I sincerely hope your Christmas in hartfordshire May abound in the gayties which That season generally brings and that your bow will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you it is evident by this added Jane that he comes back no more this winter it is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he
should why will you think so it must be his own doing he is his own Master but you do not know all I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me I will have no reserves from you Mr Darcy is impatient to see his sister and to confess the truth we 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 to entertain of her being here after 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 relation s all wish the connection as much as his own and a sister's partiality is not misleading me I think when I call Cha
rles most capable of engaging any woman's heart with all these circumstances to favor 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 what think you of this 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 sus
pects 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 yes they can for mine is totally different will you hear it most willingly 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 follow CLS him to town in the hope of keeping him there and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you Jane shook her head indeed Jane you ought to believe me
no one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection Miss Bingley I'm 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 one intermarriage she may have less trouble in achieving a second in which there is certainly some Inge
nuity and I dare say it would succeed if Mr bore 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 your 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 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 willfully deceiving anyone and all that I can hope in this case is that she is deceived herself 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 but my dear sister can I be happy even supposing the best in accepting a man who sisters and friends are all wishing him
to marry elsewhere 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 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 I did not think you would and that being the case I cannot consider your situation with much compass
ion but if he returns no more this winter my choice will never be required a thousand things may arise in six months 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 Not For a Moment suppose that those wishes however openly or artfully spoken could influence a young man so totally independent of everyone 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 they agreed that Mrs Bennett 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 ex
ceedingly 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 of thinking that Mr Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at longor 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 chapter 22 the Bennetts were engaged to dine with the lucases and again during the chi
ef 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 Humor said she and I 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 less 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 favorable that when they parted Ed at night she would have felt Almost sure of success if he had not been to leave hartfordshire so very soon but here she did Injustice to the fire and Independence of his character for it led him to escape out of long born house the next morning with admirable sness and hastened to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet he was anxious to avoid the notice of his co
usins 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 could 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 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 intreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness the stupidity with which
he was favored 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 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 fort
une and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly Fair Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more more interest than the matter had ever excited before how many years longer Mr Bennett was likely to live and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion that whenever Mr Collins should be in possession of the longb born 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 coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done and the boys were reled reled 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 t
hinking highly either of men or of matrimony marriage had always been her object it was the only honorable 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 27 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 Bennett whose friendsh
ip 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 longor 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 as he was to begin his journey too early on the tomorrow to see any of the family the ceremony of leaking was performed when the ladies moved for the night and Mrs Bennett with great politeness and cordiality said how happy they should be to see at longor again whenever his other
engagements might allow him to visit them 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 they were all astonished and Mr Bennett who could by no means wish for so Speedy a return immediately said but is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here my good sir you have could better neglect your relations than run the risk of offending y
our patroness 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 you cannot be too much on 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 we shall take no offense believe me my dear sir my gratitude is warmly exc
ited by such affectionate attention and depend upon it you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this as well as for every other Mark of your regard during my stay in hartfordshire 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 accepting my cousin Elizabeth with proper civilities the ladies then withdrew all of them equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick retur
n Mrs Bennett 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 t
his kind was done away Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast and in a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before 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 that she could encourage him herself and her astonish ment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum and she could not
help crying out engage to Mr Collins my dear Charlotte impossible 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 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 but
Elizabeth had now recollected herself and making a strong effort for it was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly Greatful to her and that she wished her all imaginable happiness 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 all over I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done I not romantic you know I neve
r was I ask only a comfortable home and considering Mr Collins's character connections 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 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 3 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 could not have supposed it possible that when called into action she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly Advantage Charlotte the the wife of Mr Collins was a most humiliating picture and to the Pang of a friend disgracing herself and sun
k 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 chapter 23 Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters reflecting on what she had heard and doubting whether she was authorized 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 Bennett with more perseverance than politeness protested he must be entirely mistaken and Lydia always unguarded and often uncivil boisterously exclaimed good Lord Sir William how can you tell such a story do not you know that Mr Collins wants to marry Lizzy nothing less than the complacence of a courtier could have borne Without Anger such treatment but sir Williams good breeding carried him through it all and thou
gh he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information he listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy 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 endeavored 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 b
y 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 Mrs Bennett 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 hole one that Elizabeth was the real cause of all the mischief and the other that she herself had been barbarously used by them all and on these two points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day nothing could console and nothing 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 Mr Bennett'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 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 meritan lady Lucas could not be insensible of Triumph on being able to retort on Mrs Bennett the comfort of having a daughter well married and she called at longor
rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was though Mrs Bennett's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject and Elizabeth felt persuaded Ed that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fond regard to her sister of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be s
haken and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious as Bingley had now been gone a week and nothing was heard of his return 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 red on Tuesday addressed to their father and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a 12 months 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 neighbor 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 longor whether he hoped to be able to return return on Monday fortnite for lady Catherine he added so heartily approved his marriage that she wished it to take place as soon as possible which he tr
usted would be an unanswerable argument with his amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him the happiest of men Mr Collins's return into hartfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs Bennett on the contrary she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband it was very strange that he should come to longor 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 l
overs were of all people the most disagreeable such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs Bennett and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr bingley's continued absence 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 meritan of his coming no more to netherfield the whole winter a report which highly incensed Mrs Bennett and which she never failed to contradict as a most s
candalous falsehood 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 to Jane's happiness and so dishonorable to the stability of her lover she could not prevent its frequently recurring 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 as for Jane her 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 should think herself very ill-used it needed a
ll Jane's steady mildness to Bear these attacks with tolerable Tranquility Mr Collins returned most punctually on the Monday fortnite but his reception at longor 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 longor only in time to make an apolog
y for his absence before the family went to bed Mrs Bennett was really in a most pitiable State the very mention of anything concerning the match threw her into an Agony of ill humor 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 Coll
ins was convinced that they were talking of the long born estate and resolving to turn herself and her daughters out of the house as soon as Mr Bennett was dead she complained bitterly of all this to her husband indeed Mr Bennett said she it is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be Mistress of this house house that I should be forced to make way for her and live to see her take my place in it my dear do not give way to such gloomy thoughts let us hope for better things let us fl
atter ourselves that I may be the Survivor this was not very consoling to Mrs Bennett and therefore instead of making any answer she went on as before I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate if it was not for the endale I should not mind it what should not you mind I should not mind anything at all let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility I never can be thankful Mr Bennett 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 he have it more than anybody else I leave it to yourself to determine said Mr Bennett chapter 24 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 hartfordshire before he left
the country 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 the writer that could give her any comfort Miss dary'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 brothers being an inm
ate of Mr Darcy's house and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to New Furniture Elizabeth to whom 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 brothers 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 hi
m she could not think Without Anger hardly without contempt on that easiness of temper that want of proper res resolution which now made him the slave of his designing friends and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the Caprice of their inclinations 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 sisters was involved in it as she thought he must be sensible himself it was a subject in short on whic
h reflection would be long indulged and must be unavailing she could think of nothing else and yet whether bingle's regard had really died away or were suppressed by his friend's interference whether he had been aware of Jane's attachment or whether it had escaped his observation whichever 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 a day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of
her feelings to Elizabeth but at last on Mrs Bennett's leaving them together after a longer irritation than usual about netherfield and its Master she could not help saying 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 Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude but said nothing you doubt me cried
Jane slightly coloring 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 that pain a little time therefore I shall certainly try to get the better 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 my dear Dear Jane exc
laimed Elizabeth you 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 Miss Bennett eagerly disclaimed all Extraordinary Merit and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection nay said Elizabeth this is not fair you wish to think all the world respectable and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody I only want to think you perfect and you set yourself against it do not be afra
id 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 either Merit or sense I've met with two instances lately one I will not mention the other is Charlotte's mar
riage it is unaccountable in every view it is unaccountable 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 prudent steady 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 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 marries 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 Endeavor to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is Prudence an insensibility of danger security for happiness 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 two instances I cannot misunderstand you but I entreat you dear Lizzy not to pain me b
y thinking that person 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 and men take care that they should 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 I am fa
r 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 and do you impute it to either of those 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 you persist then in supposing his sisters influence him
yes in conjunction with his friend 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 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 Beyond a doubt they do wish him to choose Miss Darcy replied Jane but this may be from be
tter 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 brothers what sister would think herself at Liberty to do it unless there was 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 wr
ong and me most unhappy do not distress me by the idea I'm not ashamed of having been mistaken or at least it is slight 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 Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish and from this time Mr bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them Mrs Bennett still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more and though a day seldom p
assed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity her daughter in endeed 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 Bennett's best Comfort was that Mr Bingley must be do
wn again in the summer Mr Bennett 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 in love a little now and then it is something to think of and 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 offices enough at meritan to disappoint all the young ladies in the country let Wickham b
e your man he's a pleasant fellow and would jilt you creditably thank you sir but a less agreeable man would satisfy me we must not all expect Jan's Good Fortune true said Mr Bennett but it is a comfort to think that whatever of that kind May befall you you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it Mr Wickham Society was of material service in dispelling the Gloom which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the long born family they saw him often and to his ot
her 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 canvased and everybody was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr Darcy before they had known anything of the matter Miss Bennett was the only creature who could Suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case unknown to the Society of hartfordshire her mild a
nd steady cander always pleaded for allowances and urged the possibility of mistakes but by everybody else Mr Darcy was condemned as the worst of Men chapter 25 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 his next return into hartfordshire the
day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men he took leave of his relations at long born with as much solemnity as before wished his fair cousins health and happiness again and promised their father another letter of thanks on the following Monday Mrs Bennett had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife who came as usual to spend the Christmas at long born Mr Gardner was a sensible gentlemanlike man greatly Superior to his sister as well by Nature as education the nether
field 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 Gardner who was several years younger than Mrs Bennett and Mrs Phillips was an amiable intelligent elegant woman and a great favorite with her long born nieces between the two eldest and herself especially there subsisted a very particular regard they had frequently been staying with her in town the first part of Mrs Gardner's busi
ness 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 Bennett 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 on the point of marriage and after all there was nothing in it I do not blame Jane she continued for Jane would have got Mr Bingley if she could But Lizzy Oh Sister it is very har
d to think that she might have been Mr Collins's wife by this time had not it 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 long born 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'm sorry to say it of them but so it is it makes me very nervous and poorly to be thwarted so in my own f
amily and to have neighbors 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 Mrs Garder 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 when alone with Elizabeth afterwards she spoke more on the subject it seems likely to ha
ve been a desirable match for Jane said she I'm 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 inconstancies are very frequent and excellent consolation in its way said Elizabeth but it will not do for us we do not suffer by accident it does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man o
f independent Fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before but that expression of violently in love is so hacked so doubtful so indefinite that it gives me very little idea it is as often applied to feelings which arise only from a half hour's acquaintance as to a real strong attachment pray how violent was Mr bingley's love I never saw a more promising inclination he was growing quite inattentive to other people and wholly engrossed by her every t
ime 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 in civility the very essence of love 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 you Lizzy you would have laughed yourself
out of it sooner but do you think she would be prevailed on 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 Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal and felt persuaded of her sister ready acquiescence I hope added Mrs Gardner 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 they should meet at all unless he really comes to see her and that 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 could you think of it Mr Darcy May perhaps have heard of such a place as Grace Church Street but he would hardly think a month ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities where he wants to enter it and depend upon it Mr Bingley never
stirs without him so much the better I hope they will not meet at all but does not Jane correspond with his sister she will not be able to help calling she will drop the acquaintance entirely 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 some
times she thought it probable that his affection might be reanimated and the influence of his friends successfully combed by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions Miss Bennett 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 the gardeners stayed a week at longor and
what with the phillipses the lucases and the officers there was not a day without its engagement Mrs Bennett 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 Garder rendered suspicious By Elizabeth's warm Commendation of him 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 hartfordshire and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such an attachment to Mrs Garder Wickam had one means of affording pleasure unconnected with his General Powers about 10 or a dozen years ago before her marriage she had spent a considerable time in that very part of darbishire to which
he belonged they had therefore many acquaintance in common and though Wickham had been little there since the death of Darcy's father 5 years before it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of procuring Mrs Gardner had seen pembley and known the late Mr Darcy by character perfectly well here consequently was an inexhaustible subject of discourse in comparing her recollection of pembley with the minute description which Wickam cou
ld 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 something of that gentleman's reputed disposition when when quite a lad which might agree with it and was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr Fitz William Darcy forly spoken of as a very proud ill-natured boy chapter 26 Mrs Gardner's caution to Elizabeth was punc
tually and kindly given on the first favorable opportunity of speaking to her alone after honestly telling her what she thought she thus went on you are too sensible a girl Lizzy to fall in love merely because you are warned against it and therefore I'm not afraid of speaking openly seriously I would have you be on your guard do not involve yourself or Endeavor to involve him in an affection which the want of Fortune would make so very imprudent I have nothing to say against him he is a most int
eresting 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 your resolution and Good Conduct I'm sure you must not disappoint your father my dear Aunt this is being serious indeed yes and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise 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 Elizabeth you are not serious now 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 that abominable Mr Darcy my father's opinion of me does me the greatest honor and I should be miserable to Forfeit it my father howe
ver 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 wiser 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 in company with him I will not be wishing in short I will do my best perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here so very often at least you should not remind your mother of inviting him as I did the other day said Elizabeth with a conscious smile very true it will be wise in me to refrain from that 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
know my mother's ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her friends but really and upon my honor I will try to do what I think to be wisest and now I hope you are satisfied 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 Mr Collins returned into hartfordshire soon after it had been quitted by the gardeners and Jane but as he took up his abod w
ith the lucases his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs Bennett 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 wished 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 o
f the room as they went downstairs together Charlotte said I shall depend on hearing from you very often Eliza that you certainly shall and I have another favor to ask will you come and see me we shall often meet I hope in hartfordshire I not likely to leave Kent for some time promise me therefore to come to hunsford Elizabeth could not refuse though she foresaw little pleasure in the visit my father and Maria to come to me in March added Charlotte and I hope you will consent to be of the party
indeed Eliza you will be as welcome to me as either of them 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 ever had 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 sla
cken 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 neighborhood and roads were all to her taste and Lady Catherine's Behavior 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 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 som
ething of the Bingley 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 longor had by some accident been lost my aunt she continued is going tomorrow into that part of the town and I shall take the opportunity of calling in groer street 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 soon see them here E
lizabeth shook her head over this letter it convinced her that accident only could discover to Mr Bingley her sister's being in town four weeks passed away and Jane saw nothing of him she endeavored 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 morning for a fortnite 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 alt
eration 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 my dearest Lizzy will I'm sure be incapable of triumphing in her better judgment at my expense when I confessed 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 behavior was my confidence was as natura
l 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'm 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 t
hat 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'm very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it I need not explain myself far and though we know this anxiety to be quite needless yet if she feels it it will easil
y account for her behavior to me and so deservedly dear as he is to his sister Whatever anxiety she may 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 long ago he knows of my being in town I'm 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 I will endeavor to banish every painful thought and think only of what will make me happy your affection and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle 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 th
at 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 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 any 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 Mrs Gardner 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 someone else Elizabeth was watchf
ul 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 she would have been his only choice had Fortune permitted it the sudden acquisition of £10,000 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 all this was acknowledged to Mrs Gardner and after relating the circumstances she thus went on I 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 mann
er of evil but my feelings are not only cordial towards him they are even impartial towards Miss King I can't 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 should certainly be a more interesting object to all my acquaintance were I distractedly in love with him I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance importance May sometimes be purch
ased 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 plane chapter 27 with no greater events than these in the long born family and otherwise Diversified by little beyond the walks to meritan 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 novalty in the scheme and as with such a mother and such uncompany 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 as perfect as plan could be 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 to
ld her to write to him and almost promised to answer her letter 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 ad du wishing her every enjoyment reminding her of what she was to expect in Lady Katherine debor and trusting their opinion of her their o
pinion of everybody body 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 her fellow Travelers the next day were not of her kind to make her think him less agreeable Sir William Lucas and his daughter Maria a good humored girl but as empty-headed as himself had nothing to say that could be worth hear
ing were listen to with about as much delight as the rattle of the Shays Elizabeth loved absurdities but she had known sir Williams 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 it was a journey of only 24 miles and they began it so early as to be in Grace Church Street by noon as they drove to Mr Gardner's door Jane was at a drawing room window watching their arrival when they entered the passage sh
e 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 cousins appearance would not allow them to wait in the drawing room and whose shyness as they had not seen her for a 12 month 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 theaters Elizabeth
then contrived to sit by her aunt their first subject 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 Gardner gave her the particulars also of Miss bingle's visit in Grace Church 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 Mrs Gardner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion and complimented her on bearing it so well but my dear Elizabeth she added what sort of girl is Miss King I should be sorry to think our friend mercenary pray my dear Aunt what is the difference in matrimonial Affairs between the mercenary and The Prudent motive where does discretion end 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 £10,000 you want to find out that he is mercenary if you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is I shall know what to think she is a very good kind of girl I believe I know no harm of her but he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather's death made her Mistress of this Fortune no why should he if it were not allowable for him to gain my 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 but there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her so soon after this event a man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant decorums which other people may observe if she does not object to it why should we her not objecting does not justify him it only shows her being deficient in something herself sense or feeling well cried Elizabeth have it as you choose he shall be mercenary and she shall be fool
ish no Lizzy that is what I do not choose I should be sorry you know to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in darbishire oh if that is all I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in darbishire and their intimate friends who live in hartfordshire are not much better I am sick of them all thank heaven I'm going tomorrow where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality who has neither manners nor sense to recommend him stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after
all take care Lizzy that speech Savers strongly of disappointment 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 we have not quite determined how far it shall carry said Mrs Gardner but perhaps to the Lakes no scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth and her acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful my dear dear Aunt s
he rapturously cried what Delight what Felicity you give me fresh life and vigor ADW to disappointment and spleen what a men to rocks and mountains oh what hours of Transport we shall spend and when we do return it shall not be like other Travelers without being being able to give one accurate idea of anything we will know where we have gone we will recollect what we have seen Lakes mountains and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our imaginations nor when we attempt to describe any particu
lar scene will we begin quarreling about its relative situation let our first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of Travelers chapter 28 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 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 paling of Rosings Park was their boundy on one side Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants 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 gr
avel walk to the house amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party in a moment they were all out of the Shay rejoicing at the sight of each other Mrs Collins welcomed her friend with the Lively EST 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 Parlor he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious formality to his humble abode and punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room its aspect and its furniture he addressed himsel
f 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 seldom she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte once or twice she could discern a faint blush b
ut 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 his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Charlott
e talked of the healthfulness of the exercise and owned she encouraged it as much as possible here leading the way through every walk and crosswalk and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the Praises he asked for every view was pointed out with the 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 the 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 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 ha
ve the opportunity of showing it without her husband's help it was rather small but wellb 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 a great air of comfort throughout and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten she had already leared that lady Catherine was still in the country it was spoken of again
while they were at dinner when Mr Collins joining in observed yes Miss Elizabeth you will have the honor of seeing Lady Katherine de Borg 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 honored with some portion of her notice when service is over I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honors US during your sta
y here her behavior to my dear Charlotte is charming We Dine at Rosings twice every week and are never allowed to walk home her lady ship's Carriage is regularly ordered for us I should say one of her lady ship's carriages for she has several Lady Katherine is a very respectable sensible woman indeed added Charlotte and a most attentive neighbor very true my dear that is exactly what I say she is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference the evening was spent chiefly in ta
lking over herfer news and telling again what had been already 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 guid Ing 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 gayties of their intercourse with Rosin
gs a lively imagination soon settled it all 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 upstairs 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 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 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 one wonder it was two ladies stopping in a low faton at the Garden Gate and is this all cried Elizabeth I expected at least that the Pigs Would got into the garden and here is nothing but lady Catherine and her daughter 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 Mr boar only look at her she is quite a little creature who would have thought she could be so thin and small she is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind why does she not come in Oh Charlotte says she hardly ever does it is the greatest of favors when Mr Bor comes in 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 m
ake him a very proper wife 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 Mr Berg looked that way 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 whi
ch Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at in the next day chapter 29 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 a
dmire enough I confess said he that I should not have been at all surprised by her lady ship'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 I am am the less surprised at what has happened repl
ied 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 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 when the ladies were separating for t
he tolet he said to Elizabeth 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 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 while they were dressing he kep 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 as the weather was fine they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park every park has its bea
uty 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 Borg 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 he
ard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation from the entrance hall of which Mr Collins pointed out with a rapturous air the fine proportion and finished ornaments they followed the servants through an antichamber to the room where lady Catherine her daughter and Mrs jenkinson were sitting her lady ship with great condescension arose to receive th
em 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 in spite of having been at St James's Sir William was so completely AED 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 chai
r 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 in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance
and brought Mr Wickam immediately to Elizabeth's mind and from the observation of the day altogether she believed lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented 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 Mr Borg was pale and sickly h
er 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 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 Cath cine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking
at in the summer 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 lady ship'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 i
n 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 Mr Borg the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine and the latter said not a word to her all the dinner time Mrs jenk
inson was chiefly employed in watching how little Mr Borg ate pressing her to try some other dish and fearing she was indisposed Maria thought speaking out of the question and the gentleman did nothing but eat and admire 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 object in so decisive a manner As proved that she was not used to have her
judgment controverted she inquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely and 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 for 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 gential 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 imperti
nence of her questions but answered them very composedly Lady Katherine then observed 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 Borg's family do you play and sing Miss Bennett a little oh then sometime or other we shall be happy to hear you our instrument is a Capital One probably Superior to you shall try it somed
ay do your sisters play and sing one of them does why did not you all learn you ought all to have learned the Miss webs all play and their father has not so good an income as yours do you draw no not at all what none of you not one 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 my mother would have no objection but my father hates London has your Governor left you we never had any governor no Governor ho
w was that possible Five Daughters brought up at home without a governor I never heard of such a thing your mother must have been quite quite a slave to your education Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been the case then who taught you who attended to you without a governance you must have been neglected compared with some families I believe we were but such of us as wish to learn never wanted the means we were always encouraged to read and had all the Masters t
hat were necessary those who chose to be idle certainly might I no doubt but that is is what a governance 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 governor can give it it is wonderful how many families I've been the means of supplying in that way I'm always glad to get a young person well placed out four nieces of Mrs jenkinson a
re 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 meta's calling yesterday to thank me as she finds Miss Pope a treasure lady Catherine said she you have given me a treasure are any of your younger sisters out Miss Bennett yes ma'am all all what all five out at once very odd and you only the second the younger
one out before the Elder are married your youngest sisters must be very young yes my youngest is not 16 perhaps she 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 such a motive I think it would not be very likely
to promote sister affection or delicacy of Mind upon my word said her ladyship you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person pray what is your age with three younger sisters grown up replied Elizabeth smiling your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it 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 you cannot be more than 20 I am sure t
herefore you need not conceal your age I am not one in 20 when the gentleman had joined them and tea was over the card tables were placed lady Catherine Sir William and Mr and Mrs Collins sat down to quadril and as Mr Borg chose to play at casino the two girls had the honor 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 Mr Borg'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 lady ship said thanking her for every fish he won and apologizing if he thought he won too many William did not say much he was storing his memory with anecdotes and Noble names when Lady Katherine and her daughter had played as long as t
hey chose the tables were broken up the carriage was offered to Mrs Collins gratefully accepted and immediately ordered the party then gathered around the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the tomorrow 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 Williams 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 favorable 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 Chapter 30 Sir William stayed only a week at hunsford but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughters being most comfortably settled and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbor as w
ere not often met with while Sir William was with them Mr Collins devoted His Mornings 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 window in his own book room which f
ronted the road the room in which the ladies sat was backwards Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlor for common use it was a better sized room and had a pleasanter 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 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 Mr Borg drove by in her Fon 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 on to get out 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 until 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 honored with a call from her lhip 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 acc
epted 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 Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the peace for the county she was a most active magistrate in her own Parish the minut concerns of which were carried to her by Mr Collins and whenever any of the Cottages were disposed to be quarrelsome discontented or too poor she sallied forth into the village to settle their diff
erences silence their complaints and scold them into Harmony and plenty 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 of the neighborhood in general was beyond the Collins's reach this however was no evil to Elizabeth and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably e
nough 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 favorite 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 a nice sheltered path which no one seemed to Value but herself and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity in this quiet way the first Fortn
ight 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 acquaintance 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 bingle
y's designs on him were by his behavior 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 hadd already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself 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 a
nd 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 Fitz William the younger son of his uncle and to the great surprise of all the party when Mr Collins returned the gentleman 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 honor they might expect adding I may thank you Eliza for this piece of Civility Mr Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment before their approach was announced by the doorbell and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room Colonel Fitz William who led the way was about 30 not handsome but in person and address most truly the gentleman Mr Darcy looked just as he had b
een used to look in hartfordshire paid his compliments with his usual Reserve to Mrs Collins and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend met her with every appearance of composure Elizabeth merely courtes to him without saying a word Colonel Fitz William 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 sp
eaking 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 my eldest sister has been in in town these three months have you never happened to see her there 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 a
nswered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennett the subject was pursued no further and the gentleman soon afterwards went away chapter 31 Colonel Fitz Williams manners were very much admired at the parsonage and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure 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 gentleman's arrival that they were honored 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 either Lady Katherine or her daughter Colonel Fitz William had called at the parsonage more than once during the time but Mr Darcy they had only seen at church the invitation was accepted of course and at a proper hour they joined the party in lady Katherine's drawing room her ladyshi
p received them civy 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 Colonel Fitz Williams 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 hartf
ordshire of traveling 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 his 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 what is that you are saying Fitz Wi
lliam what is it you are talking of what are you telling Miss Bennett let me hear what it is we were talking of Music Madam said he when no longer able to avoid a reply 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 learned I should have been a great proficient and so would Anne i
f her health had allowed her to apply I'm confident that she would have performed delightfully how does Georgiana get on Darcy Mr Darcy spoke with affectionate Praise of his sister's proficiency 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 great deal I assure you madam he replied that she does not need such advice she practices very constantly so much the better it cannot be done too muc
h 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 Bennett several times that she will never play really well unless she practices 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 piano forte in Mrs Jenkin son's room she would be in nobody's way you know in that par
t of the house Mr Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill breeding and made no answer when coffee was over Colonel Fitz William 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 moving with his usual deliberation towards the an Forte stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair p
erformer's countenance Elizabeth saw what he was doing and at the First Convenient pause turned to him with an arch smile and said you mean to frighten me Mr Darcy by coming in all this state to hear me but I will not be alarmed though your sister does 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 with every attempt to intimidate me I shall not say that you are mistaken he replied because you could not really beli
eve 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 Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself and said to Colonel Fitz William 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 well 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 hartfordshire 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 I am not afraid of you said he smilingly pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of cried Colonel Fitz William I should like to know how he behaves among strangers y
ou shall hear then but prepare for something very Dreadful the first time of my ever seeing him in hartfordshire you must know was at a ball and at this ball what do you think he did he danced only four dances I am sorry to pain you but so it was 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 I had not at that time the honor of knowing any lady in the assembly bey
ond my own party true and nobody can ever be introduced in a ballroom well Colonel Fitz William what do I play next my fingers wait your orders perhaps said Darcy I should have judged better had I sought an introduction but I'm Ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers shall we ask your cousin the reason of this said Elizabeth still addressing Colonel Fitz William 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 strang
ers I can answer your question said Fitz William without applying to him it is because he will not give himself the trouble 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 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 rapi
dity and do not produce the same expression but then I have always supposed it to be my own fault because I would not take the trouble of practicing it is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution 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 performed to strangers here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine who call
ed out to know what they were talking of Elizabeth immediately began playing again Lady Katherine approached and after listening for a few minutes said to Darcy Miss Bennett would not play at all a Miss if she practiced 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 Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he ascented to his c
ousin's praise but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love and from the whole of his behavior to Mr Borg she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley that he might have been just as likely to marry her had she been his relation Lady Katherine 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 gentleman remained at the in
strument till her lady ship's Carriage was ready to take them all home chapter 32 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 he seemed astonished too on finding her alone and apologized for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies to be within 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 emergency recollecting when she had seen him last in hartfordshire and feeling
curious to know what he would say on the subject of their Hasty departure she observed how very suddenly you all quitted netherfield last nov remember 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 perfectly so I thank you she found that she was to receive no other answer and after a short pause added I think I've understood that Mr Bi
ngley has not much idea of ever returning to netherfield again I have never heard him say so but it is probable that that he may spend very little of his time there in future he has many friends and he is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing if he means to be but little at netherfield it would be better for the neighborhood 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 h
ouse so much for the convenience of the neighborhood as for his own and we must expect him to keep or quit it on the same principle I should not be surprised said Darcy if he were to give it up as soon as any eligible purchase offers 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 he took the hint and soon began with this seems a very comfortable house lady Catherine I belie
ve did a great deal to it when Mr Collins first came to huntsford I believe she did and I'm sure she could not not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful object Mr Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife 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 w
isest thing she ever did she seems perfectly happy however and in a Prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her it must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends an easy distance do you call it it is nearly 50 Mi and what is 50 Mi of good road little more than half a day's Journey yes I call it a very easy distance I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match cried Elizabeth I should never ha
ve said Mrs Collins was settled near her family it is a proof of your own attachment to hartfordshire anything beyond the very neighborhood of longor I suppose would appear far 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 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 circumstance
s where there is Fortune to make the expense of traveling unimportant distance becomes no evil but that is not the case here 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 near her family under less than half the present distance Mr Darcy drew his chair a little towards her and said you cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment you cannot have been always at longor Elizabeth loo
ked 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 are you pleased with Kent a short Dialogue on the subject of the country ensued on either side Cal and concise and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte and her sister just returned from their walk the tetet surprised them Mr Darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss Bennett and after sitting a few m
inutes longer without saying much to anybody went away 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 on us in this familiar way 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 t
ime of years here all Field Sports were over within doors there was Lady Catherine books and a billiard table but gentleman cannot be always 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 al
l that Colonel Fitz William 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 former favorite George Wickham and though in comparing them she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitz Williams manners she believed he might have the best informed mind but why Mr Darcy came so often to the parsonage it was more difficult
to to understand it could not be for society as he frequently sat there 10 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 Fitz Williams occasionally laughing at his stupidity proved that he was generally different which her own knowledge of him could not have told her her and as she would ha
ve liked to believe 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 nothing but absence of mind s
he 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 friends dislike would vanish if she could suppose him to be in her power in her kind schemes for Elizabeth she sometimes planned her Mar Maring Colonel Fitz William he was b
eyond comparison the pleasantest 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 chapter 33 more than once did Elizabeth in her ramble within the park unexpectedly meet Mr Darcy she felt all the perverse 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 th
at it was a favorite haunt of hers how it could occur a second time therefore was very odd yet it did and even the third it seemed like willful 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 rencounter t
hat 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 there too his words seemed to imply it could he have have Colonel Fitz William in his thoughts she supposed if he meant anything he must mean an illusion 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 she was engaged one day as she walked in rep 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 Fitz William was meeting her putting away the letter immediately and forcing a smile she said I did not know before that you ever walk
ed this way I have been making the tour of the park he replied as I generally do every year and intended to close it with a call at the parsonage are you going much farther no I should have turned in a moment and accordingly she did turn and they walked towards the parsonage together do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday said she yes if Darcy does not put it off again but I am at his disposal he arranges the business just as he pleases and if not able to please himself in the arrangement he ha
s at least great pleasure in The Power of Choice I do not know anybody who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr Darcy he likes to have his own way very well replied Colonel Fitz William 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 in my opinion the youngest 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 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 the want of money younger Sons cannot marry where they like unless where they like women of Fortune which I think they very often do 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 is this thought Elizabeth meant for me and she colored 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 £50,000 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 I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of having somebody at his disposal I wonder he does not marry to secure a lasting convenience of that kind but perhaps his sister does as well well for the present and as she is under his sole care he may do what he likes with her no said Colonel Fitz William that is an advantage which he must divide with me I'm joined with him in the guardianship of Miss Darcy are you indeed and pray what sort o
f a guardian 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 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 you need not be frightened I never heard
any harm of her and I dare say she's one of the most tractable creatures in the world she is a very great favorite with some ladies of my acquaintance Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley I think I've heard you say that you know them I know them a little their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike man he is a great friend of dar's oh yes said Elizabeth Dry Mr Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr Bingley and takes a prodigious deal of care of him care of him yes I really believe Darcy does take care of him in thos
e 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 what is it you mean it is a circumstance which Darcy of course 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 you may depend upon my not mentioning it and remember
that I have not much reason for supposing it to be bingly 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 bingly 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 did Mr Darcy give you his reasons for this interference I un
derstood that there were some very strong objections against the lady and what Arts did he use to separate them he did not talk to me of his own Arts said Fitz William smiling he only told me what I have now told you Elizabeth made no answer and walked on her heart swelling with indignation after watching her a little Fitz William asked her why she was so thoughtful 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
you are rather disposed to call his interference officious I do not see what right Mr Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his friend's inclination or why upon his own judgment alone he was to determine and Direct in what manner that 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 that is not an unnatural surmise said Fitz William but it is lessenin
g the honor of my cousin's Triumph very sadly 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 indiff matters till 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 co
nnected there could not exist in the world two men over whom Mr Darcy could have such boundless influence that he had been concerned in the measures taken to separate Mr 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 he 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 there were some very strong objections against the lady were Colonel Fitz Williams words and these strong objections probably were her having one Uncle who was a country attorney and another who was in business in London to Jane herself she exclaimed there could be no possibility of objection all loveliness and goodness as she is her understanding excellent her mind im
proved and her manners captivating neither could anything be urged against my father who though with some peculiarities has abilities which Mr Darcy himself need not disdain and respectability which he will probably never reach when she thought of her mother indeed her confidence gave way a little but she would not allow that any objections there had material weight with Mr Darcy whose Pride she was convinced would receive a deeper wound from the want of importance in his friends connections tha
n 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 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 p
ress her to go and and as much as possible prevented her husband from pressing her but Mr Collins could not conceal his apprehension of Lady Katherine's being rather displeased by her staying at home chapter 34 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 con Ed no actual complaint nor was there any Revival of past occu
rrences 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 characterize 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 bee
n 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 she could not think of Darcy's leaving Kent without remembering that his cousin was to go with him but Colonel Fitz William had made it clear that he had no in
tentions at all and agreeable as he was she did not mean to be unhappy about him while settling this point she was suddenly roused by the sound of the doorbell and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its being Colonel Fitz William 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 Ed when to her utter amazement she saw Mr Darcy walk into the room
in A 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 in vain have I 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 Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression she stared colored doubted and was silent this he considered sufficient encouragement and the AOW 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 judgment had always opposed to inclin
ation were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding but was very unlikely to recommend his suit 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 w
hen he should have done he concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which in spite of all his Endeavors 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 favorable answer he spoke of apprehension and anxiety but his countenance expressed real security such a circumstance could only exasperate father and when he ceased the color rose in
to her cheeks and she said in such cases as this it is I believe the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments of vowed however unequally they may be returned it is natural that obligation should be felt and if I could feel gratitude I would now thank you 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 o
f short duration the feelings which you tell me have long prevented the acknowledgement of your regard can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation Mr Darcy who was leaning against the mantlepiece 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 in a voice of forced calmness he said and this is all the reply which I am to have the honor of expecting I might perhaps wish to be informed why with so Endeavor at civility I am thus rejected but it is of small importance I might as well inquire replied she why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will against your reason and even a
gainst your character was not this some excuse for incivility if I was uncivil but I have other provocations you know I have had not my own feelings decided against you had they been indifferent or had they even been been favorable do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister as she pronounced these words Mr Darcy changed color but the emotion was short and he listened without attempt
ing to interrupt her while she continued I have every reason in the world to think ill of you no motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there 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 the other to its derision for disappointed hopes and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind 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 can you deny that you have done it she repeated with assumed Tranquility 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 him I have been Kinder than towards myself Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection but its m
eaning did not Escape nor was it likely to conciliate her 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 he defend yourself or under what M representation can you he impose upon others you take an eager interest in that gentleman's
concerns said Darcy in a less tranquil tone and with a heightened color who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feel feeling an interest in him his misfortunes repeated Darcy contemptuously yes his misfortunes have been great indeed 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 misfortunes with contempt and ridicule 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 overloo
ked 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 rejoi
ce in the inferiority of your connections to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own Elizabeth felt herself growing more Angry every moment yet she tried to the utmost to speak with composure when she said 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 she saw hi
m start at this but he said nothing and she continued you could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it again his astonishment was obvious and he looked at her with an expression of mingled incredulity and mortification she went on 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 fee
lings of others were such as to form that 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 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 and
with these words he hastily left the room and Elizabeth heard him the next moment open the front door and quit the house 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
ed to marry her in spite of all the objections which had made him prevent his friends 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 which he had mentioned Mr Wickam his cr
uelty 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 agitating Reflections till the sound of Lady Katherine's carriage made her feel how unequal she was to encounter Charlotte's observation and hurried her away to her room chapter 35 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 h
ad 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 favorite 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 her father 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 after wal
king 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 verg 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 Edge the park he was moving that way and fearful of its being Mr Darcy she was directly re
treating 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 said with a look of hay composure I have been walking in the Grove some time in the hope of meeting you will you do me the honor of reading that lett
er and then with a slight bow turned again into the plantation and was soon out of sight 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 8:00 in the morning and was as follows 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 happy 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 par
don the freedom with which I demand your attention your feelings I know will bestow it unwillingly but I demand it of your Justice two offenses of a very different nature and by no means of equal magnitude you last night laid to my charge the first men 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 honor and Humanity ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects
of Mr Wickam willfully and wanly to have thrown off the companion of my youth the acknowledged favorite 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 pravity 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 shal
l hope to be in 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 I had not been long in hartfordshire before I saw in common with others that bingly preferred your elder sister to any other young woman in the country but it was not un
til 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 honor 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 Behavior at
tentively and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennett 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 you have not been mistaken here I must have been in an 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 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 investigati
ons 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 required 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 ex
isting and existing to an equal degree in both instances I had myself endeavored to forget because they were not immediately before me these causes must be stated though briefly the situ ation of your mother's family though objectionable was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently so almost uniformally 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 yo
ur 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 s is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your eldest sister than it is Honorable to the sense and disposition of both I will only say father 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 w
hat 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 the part which I acted is now to be explained his sister's 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 which 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 judgment than on his own to convince him therefore that he had deceived himself was no very difficult point to persuade him against returning into arfer 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 tow
n 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 th
ough the motives which governed me May to you very naturally appear insufficient I have not yet learned to condemn them with respect ECT 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 particularly accused me I am ignorant but of the truth of what I shall relate I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity Mr Wickham is the son of a very respectable man who had for m
any years the management of all the pembley 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 ma
n's society whose manners were always engaging he had also the highest opinion of him and hoping the church would be his profession in 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 seei
ng 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 Wickam has created a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character it adds even another motive my excellent father died about 5 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 £1,000 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 Li of the preferment by which he could not be benefited he had so
me intention he added of studying the law and I must be aware that the interest of 1,000 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 acceed to his proposal I knew that Mr Wickam 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 £3,000 all connect
ion between us seemed now dissolved I thought too ill of him to invite him to pembley or admit his Society in town in town I believe he chiefly lived but his studying the law was a mere pretense and being now free from all restraint his life was a life of idleness and dissipation for about 3 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 n
o difficulty in believing it were exceeding 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 intreaty or for resisting every repetition of it his resentment was in pr
oportion 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 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 s
ecrecy my sister who is more than 10 years my junior was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew Colonel Fitz William 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 Young in whose character we were most unhappily deceived and by her connivanc
e 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 elopment she was then but 15 which must be her excuse and after stating her imprudence I'm happy to add that I owed the knowledge of it to herself I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopment 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 Young was of course removed from her charge Mr Wickham's Chief object was unquestionably my sister's Fortune which is 30,000 but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong indu ement his revenge would ha
ve been complete indeed 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 equip me henceforth of Cruelty towards Mr Wickham I know not in what Manner under what form of falsehood he has 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 suspicions certainly not in your inclina
tion 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 Fitz William 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 me should make my ass
ertions 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 Endeavor to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning I will only add God bless you Fitz William Darcy chapter 36 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 be wel
l 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 whic
h 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 hay it was all pride and insolence b
ut 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 in this perturbed State of Mind with thoughts that could rest on nothing thing 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 Wickam
and commanded herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence the account of his connection with the pembley 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 H but when she read and reread with the closest attention the particulars immediately following of WS resigning all pretensions to the living of his receiving in lie so considerable a sum as £3,000 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 statemen
t 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 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 the extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay to 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 shy militia in which he had engaged at the persuasion of the young man who on meeting him accidentally in town had the renewed a slight acquaintance of his former way of life nothing had been known in hartfordshire 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 o
f 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 Endeavor 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 mo
re substantial good than the general approbation of the neighborhood 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 Fitz William and herself only the morning before and at last she was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitz William himself from whom she
had previously received the information of his near concern in all his cousins Affairs and whose character she had no reason to question at one 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 she perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation betwee
n Wickam and herself in their first evening at Mr Phillips's many of his Expressions were still fresh in her memory she was now 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 he 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 how differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned his attentions to mi
ss 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 behavior 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 he believed she had most incautiously shown every lingering struggle in his favor grew fainter and fainter and in furthe
r 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 latly 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 connection
s 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 some amiable feeling that had his actions been what Wickam 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 she grew absolutely ashamed of herself of nei
ther Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling that she had been blind partial Prejudice absurd how despicably have I 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 cander of my sister and gratified my vanity in useless or blameless distrust 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 Fol
ly 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 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 there 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 to give in the other he declared himself to have been 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 sensib
ility when she came to that part of the letter in which her family were mentioned in tones 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 the compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt it soothed b
ut it could not console her for the contempt which had been been thus 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 after wandering along the lane for 2 hours giving way to every variety of thought reconsidering events determining probabilities and re
conciling 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 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 Fitz William had been si
tting 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 affect concern in missing him she really rejoiced at it colonel Fitz William was no longer an object she could think only of her letter chapter 37 the two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning and Mr Collins having been in Waiting near The Lodges to make them his parting AB bance was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing in ver
y 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 Katherine and her daughter and on his return brought back with great satisfaction a message from her lady ship importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her 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 with the questions with which she amused herself their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party I assure you I feel it exceedingly said lady Catherine I believe nobody feels the loss of friend 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 rosing certainly increases Mr Collins had a compliment and an illusion to throw in here which were kindly Smiled On by the mother and daughter lady Catherine observed after dinner that Miss Bennett seemed out of spirits and immediately accounting for it herself by supposing that she did not like to
go home again so soon she added but if that is the case you must write to your mother to beg that you may stay a little longer Mrs Collins will be very glad of your company I'm sure 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 why at that rate you will have been here only 6 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 Bennett could certainly spare you for another fortnite but my father cannot he wrote last week to hurry my return 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 month 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 dorson does not object to the barouche box there will be very good room for one of you and indeed if the wea
ther should happen to be cool I should not object to taking you both as you are neither of you large you are all kindness Madam but I believe we must abide by our original plan 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 traveling 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 a young woman shoul
d 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 pembley and Lady an could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner I am excessively attentive to all those things you must send John with their young ladies Mrs Collins I am glad it occurred to me to mention it for it would really be discreditable to you to
let them go alone my uncle is to send a servant for us oh your uncle he keeps a manservant does he I'm very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things where shall you change horses oh Bromley of course if you mention my name at the Bell you will be attended to 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 forgo
tten 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 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 sh
e considered how unjust justly 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 Behavior there was a constant source of vexation and regret and in the unhappy defects of her family a subject of yet heavi
er 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 Endeavor 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 weakspot 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 Idol and vain while there was an officer in meritan they would flirt with him and while meritan was within a walk of long born they would be going there forever anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern and Mr Darcy's explanation by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinions heightened the sense of what Jane had lost his affecti
on 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 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 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 aresh when they parted lady Catherine with great condescension wished them a good journey and invited them to come to hunsford again next year and Mr Berg exerted herself so far as to courtesy and hold out her hand to both chapter 38 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 nece
ssary 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 favor 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 room 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 you spending your time unpleasantly 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 attention she had received must make her feel the obliged Mr Collins was gratified and with a more smiling solemnity replied it gives me the greatest 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 Katherine's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage in 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 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 you may in fact carry a very favorable report of us into harer my dear cousin I flatter myse
lf 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 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 entrance of 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 re
gretting 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 at length the Shay 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 long born in the winter and his compliments to mister and Mrs Gardner 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 of Rosings 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 Elizabeth made no objection the door was then allowed to be shut and the carriage drove off 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 a great many indeed said her companion with a sigh we have dined nine times at Rosings besides drinking tea there twice how much I shall have to tell Elizabeth privately added and how much I shall have to conceal their Journey w
as performed without much conversation or any alarm and within 4 hours of their leaving hunsford they reached Mr Gardner's house where they were to remain a few days Jane looked well and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had reserved D for them but Jane was to go home with her and at long born there would be leisure enough for observation it was not without an effort meanwhile that she could wait even for longor
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 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 chapter 39 it was the second week in May in which the three young ladies set out together from Grace Church Street for the town in hartfordshire and as they drew near the appointed in where Mr Bennett'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 upstairs these two girls had been above an hour in the place happily employed in visiting an op
posite milliner watching The Sentinel on guard and dressing a salad and cucumber after welcoming their sisters they triumphantly displayed a table set out with such cold meat as an in ladder usually affords exclaiming is not this nice is not this an agreeable surprise 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 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 colored 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 meritan and they are going in a fortnight are they indeed crie
d Elizabeth with the greatest satisfaction they are going to be en camped 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 mamama would like to go too of all things only think what a miserable summer else we shall have yes thought Elizabeth that would be a delightful scheme indeed and completely do for us at once good heaven Brighton and a whole Camp full of soldiers to us who have been ov
erset already by one poor Regiment of militia and the monthly balls of meritan now I've got some news for you said Lydia as they sat down to table what do you think it is excellent news Capital news and about a certain person that we all like Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other and the waiter was told that he need not stay Lydia laughed and said I 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 th
an I am going to say but he is an ugly fellow I'm 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 not it there is no danger of wickhams marrying Mary King there's for you she has gone down to her uncle at Liverpool gone to stay Wickam is safe and Mary King is safe added Elizabeth safe from a connection imprudent as to Fortune she is a great fool for going away if she liked him but I hope there is no strong attac
hment on either side said Jane I'm sure there is not on his I will answer for it he never cared three straws about her who could about such a nasty little freckled thing Elizabeth was shocked to think that however incapable of such coarseness of expression herself the coarseness of the sentiment was little other than her own breast had formerly harbored and fancied liberal 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 edition of kitties and Lydia's purchases were seated in it how nicely we're crammed in cried Lydia I'm glad I brought my Bonnet if it is only for the fun of having another band box 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 h
ave got a husband before you came back Jane will be quite an old maid soon I declare she is almost 3 and 20 Lord how ashamed I should be of not being married before 3 and 20 my aunt Phillips wants you so to get husbands you can't think she says Lizzy had better have taken Mr Collins but 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 chaperone you about to all the Bulls dear me we had such a good piece of fun the other da
y at Colonel forers Kitty and me were to spend the day there and Mrs forer promised to have a little dance in the even evening by the by Mrs forer and me are such friends and so she asked the two harringtons to come but Harriet was ill and so Penn was forced to come by herself and then what do you think we did we dressed up Chamberlain 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 forer and kitty and me except my aunt for we were f
orced 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 forer I thought I should have died and that made the men suspect something and then they soon found out what was the matter with such kind of histories of their parties and good jokes did Lydia assisted by Kitty's hints and additions Endeavor to amuse her companions all the way to
longor Elizabeth listened as little as she could but there there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name their reception at home was most kind Mrs Bennett rejoiced to see Jane in undiminished Beauty and more than once during dinner did Mr Bennett say voluntarily to Elizabeth I am glad you come back Lizzy 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 which occupied them lady Lucas was in quirin
g of Maria across the table after the welfare and poultry of her eldest daughter Mrs Bennett was doubly engaged on one hand collecting an account of the present Fashions from Jane who sat someway below her and on the other retailing them all to the younger Miss Lucas's 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 oh Mary said she I wish you had gone with us for we had such fun as we went along Kitty
and me Drew up all 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 lunch 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 hom
e we talked and laughed so loud that anybody might have heard us 10 miles off 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 me I should infinitely prefer a book but of this answer Lydia heard not a word she seldom listened to anybody for more than half a minute and never attended Ed to Mary at all in the afternoon Lydia was urgent wit
h the rest of the girls to walk to meritan and see how everybody went on but Elizabeth steadily opposed the scheme it should not be said that the Miss Bennetts 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 Wickam again and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible the Comfort to her 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 she had not been many hours at home before she found that their 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 chapter 40 Elizabeth's impat
ience 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 Miss Bennett's astonishment was soon lessened by the 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 tha
t 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 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 indeed 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 blame you oh no but you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham no I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did but you will know it when I have told you what happened the very next day she then spoke of the letter repeating the whole 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 labor to prove the probability of error and seek to clear one without involving the other 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 inclined to believe it all Mr Darcy but you shall do as you choose it was some time however before a smile could be extorted from Jane I do not know when I have been more shocked said she Wickam 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 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 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 poor Wickam there is such an expression of goodness in his countenance such an openness and gentleness in his manner there certainly was some great mismanagement in t
he education of those two young men one has got all the goodness and the other or the appearance of it I never thought Mr Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do 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 be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbli
ng on something witty Lizzy when you first read that letter I am sure you could not treat the matter as you do now indeed I could not I was uncomfortable enough I was very uncomfortable I may say unhappy and with no one to speak to of 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 how unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions in speaking of Wickam to Mr Darcy for now they do appear w
holly undeserved 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 acquaintance in general understand Wickham's character Miss Bennett paused a little and then replied surely there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully what is your own opinion that it ought not to be attempted Mr Darcy has not authorize
d 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 Endeavor 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 meritan to attempt to place him in an amiable light I am not equal to it Wickam will soon be gone and therefore it will not signify to anybody he what he really
is sometime hence it will be all found out and then we may Li laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before at present I will say nothing about it you are quite right to have his errors made public might ruin him forever he is now perhaps sorry for what he has done and anxious to reestablish a character we must not make him desperate 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 explained to her sister how sincerely she had been valued by his 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 incumbrance 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 M till it has lost all its value 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 at
tachment and from her age and disposition great greater steadiness than 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 urious to her own health and their Tranquility well Lizzy said Mrs Bennett one day what is your opinion now of this sad business of Jan's for my part I am determin
ed 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 is 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 I do not believe that he will ever live at netherfield anymore oh well it is just as he chooses nobod
y wants him to come though I shall always say that 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 but as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation she made no answer 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 their housekeeping I dare say no nothing at all a great deal of good management depend upon it yes yes they will take care not to outrun their income they will never be distressed for money well much good may it do them and so I suppose they often talk of having long born when your father is dead they look upon it quite as their own I dare say whenever that happ
ens it was a subject which they could not mention before me 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 chapter 41 the first week of their return was soon gone the second began it was the last of the regiment's stay in meritan and all the young ladies in the neighborhood were drooping a
pace the dejection was almost Universal the Elder Miss Bennetts 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 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 their affectionate mother
shared all their grief she remembered what she had herself endured on a similar occasion five and 20 years ago I am sure said she I cried for two days together when Colonel Miller's regiment went away I thought I should have broke my heart I am sure I shall break mine said Lydia if one could but go to Brighton observed Mrs Bennett oh yes if one could but go to Brighton but papa is so disagreeable a little seab bathing would set me up forever and my aunt Phillips is sure it would do me a great de
al of good added Kitty such were the kind of Lamentations resounding perpetually through long born house Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them but all sense of pleasure was lost in shame she felt a knew the justice of Mr Darcy's objections and never had she before been so much disposed to Pardon his interference in the views of his friend but the Gloom of Lydia's Prospect was shortly cleared away for she received an invitation from Mrs forer the wife of the colonel of the regiment to accompany
her to Brighton this invaluable friend was a very young woman and very lately mared married a resemblance in good humor and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other and out of their three months acquaintance they had been intimate too the Rapture of Lydia on this occasion her Adoration of Mrs forer the Delight of Mrs Bennett 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 callin
g for everyone's congratulations and laughing and talking talking with more violence than ever whilst the luckless kitty continued in The Parlor repining at her Fate In terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish I cannot see why Mrs forer should not ask me as well as Lydia said she though I am not her particular friend I have just as much right to be asked as she has and more too for I am two years older in vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable and Jane to make her resigned as f
or 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 Behavior the little Advantage she could derive from the Friendship of such a woman as Mrs fer and the pr
obability of her being yet more imprudent with such a companion at bright where the Temptations must be greater than at home he heard her attentively and then said Lydia will never be easy till she's 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 if you were aware said Elizabeth of the very great disadvantage to us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's ung
uarded and imprudent manner nay which has already Arisen from it I am sure you would judge differently in the affair already Arisen repeated Mr Bennett 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 and not worth a regret come let me see the list of the pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia's Folly indeed you are mistaken I have no such injuries to resent it is not
of peculiar but of General evils which I'm 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 16 be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and 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 is also comprehended she will follow wherever Lydia leads vain ignorant Idol and absolutely UNC controlled 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 Mr Bennett saw that her whole heart was in the subject and affectionately taking her hand said in reply 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 p
eace at longor if Lydia does not go to Brighton let her go then Colonel forer 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 authorizing us to l
ock her up for the rest of her life 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 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 beautious 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 had she known that 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 The Melancholy conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself but they were entirely ignorant of what had pass
ed and their raptures continued with little intermission to the very day of Lydia's leaving home 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 form of partiality entirely so she had even learned to detect in the very gentleness which had first delighted her an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary in his present Behavior to herself moreover she had a fresh source of disp
leasure for the inclination he soon testified of renewing those attentions 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 Repro contained in his believing that however long and for whatever cause his attentions had been withdrawn her vanity would be gratified a
nd her preference secured at any time by their renewal on the very last day of the regiment's remaining in meritan he dined with others of the officers at longor and so little was Elizabeth disposed to part from him in Good Humor that on his making some inquiry as to the manner in which her time had passed at hunsford she me mentioned Colonel Fitz Williams and Mr Dary having both spent three weeks at Rosings and asked him if he were acquainted with the former he looked surprised displeased alarm
ed 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 favor with an air of indifference he soon afterwards added how long did you say that he was at Rosings nearly three weeks and you saw him frequently yes almost every day his manners are very different from his cousins yes very different but I think Mr Darcy improves on acquaintan
ce indeed cried 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 a dress that he improves has he dained to add all of Civility to his ordinary style for I dare not hope he continued in a lower and more serious tone that he has improved in Essentials oh no said she in Essentials I believe he is very much what he ever was while she spoke Wickam 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 when I said that he improved on acquaintance I did not mean that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement but that from knowing him better his disposition was better understood wickhams 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 t
he gentlest of accents you who so well know my feelings towards Mr Darcy will readily comprehend how sincerely I must Rejoice that he is wise enough to assume even the appearance of what is right his pride in that direction may be of service if not to himself to many others for it must 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 j
udgment 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 Mr Borg which I am certain he has very much at heart 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 humor to indulge him the rest of the evening passed with the appearance on his sid
e 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 when the party broke up Lydia returned with Mrs fster to meritan 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 Bennett was diffuse in her good wishes for the Fel
icity of her daughter and impressive in her injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible advice which there was every reason to believe would be attended to and in the clamorous happiness of Lydia herself in bidding farewell the more gentle adurs of her sisters were uttered without being heard chapter 42 had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal Felicity or demestic comfo
rt her father captivated by Youth and beauty and that appearance of of good humor 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 forever and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown but Mr Bennett 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 Eliz
abeth however had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's Behavior as a husband she she had always seen it with pain but respecting his abilities and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself she endeavored 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 disadvan
tages 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 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 them through 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 looked forward 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 h
er 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 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 expecta
tions of pleasure realized a scheme of which every part promises Delight can never be successful and general disappointment is only warded off by the defense of some little peculiar vexation 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 new parasol which she would have described more fully but was obliged to leave off in a violent hurry as Mrs forer called her and they were going to the camp and from her correspondence with her sister there was still less to be leared for her letters to Kitty though rather longer were much too full of lines under the words to be made public after the first Fortnight or 3 weeks of her absence Health go
od humor and cheerfulness began to reappear at long born 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 Bennett was restored to her usual querulous Serenity and by the middle of June Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter meritan 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 mentio
n an officer above once a day unless by some cruel and malicious Arrangement at the war office another regiment should be quarted in meritan the time fixed for the beginning of their Northern tour was now fast approaching and a fortnite only was wanting of it when a letter arrived from Mrs Gardner which at once delayed its commencement and ciled its extent Mr Gardner 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 t
hat 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 northward than darbishire in that county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks and to Mrs Gardner 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 dovale or the peak 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 with the mention of darbishire there were many ideas connected it was impossib
le for her to see the word without thinking of pembley and its owner but she said she I may enter his County with impunity and Rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me 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 Gardner with their four children did at length appear at longor the children two girls of six and eight years old and two younger boys were to be left under the particula
r care of their cousin Jane who was the General favorite 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 the gardeners stayed only one night at long born and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement one enjoyment was certain that of suitableness as companions a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to Bear inconveniences cheerfulness to enhance ever
y pleasure and affection and intelligence which might Supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad it is not the object of this work to give a description of darer nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay Oxford Blenheim Warick kennworth Birmingham Etc are sufficiently known a small part of darbishire is all the present concern to the Litt toown of Lampton the scene of Mrs Gardner's former residence and where she had lately learned that some ac
quaintance still remained they bent their steps after having seen all the principal wonders of the country and within 5 miles of Lampton Elizabeth found from her aunt that pembley 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 Gardner expressed an inclination to see the place again Mr Gardner declared his willingness and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation 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 acquaintance are connected Wickham passed all his youth there you know Elizabeth was distressed she felt that she had no business at pembley and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it she must own that she was tired of great houses after going over so many she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains Mrs Gardner 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 Elizabeth said no more but her mind could not acques 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 i
nquiries as to the absence of the family were unfavorably answered accordingly when she retired at night she asked the chambermaid whether pembley 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 being now 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 w
as again applied to could readily answer and with a proper air of indifference that she had not really any dislike to the scheme to pembley therefore they were to go chapter 43 Elizabeth as they drove along watched for the first appearance of ply woods with some turbation and when at length they turned in at the lodge her spirits were in a high flutter 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 beaut
iful wood stretching over a wide extent 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 consider able Eminence where the wood ceased and the eye was instantly caught by pembley house situated on the opposite side of the 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 pembley might be something 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 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 in
to the dining parlor 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 from 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 othe
r 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 their proprietor but Elizabeth saw with admiration of his taste that it was neither gy nor uselessly fine with less of Splendor and more real Elegance than the furniture of Rosings and of this place thought she I might have been mistress with these rooms I might have now been familiarly acquainted instead of vi
ewing them as a stranger I might have rejoiced in them as my own and welcomed to them as visitors my uncle 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 this was a lucky recollection it saved her from something like regret she longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master were really absent but had not courage for it at length however the question was asked by her uncle and she t
urned away with alarm while Mrs Reynolds replied that he was adding but we expect him tomorrow with a large party of friends how rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own Journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day 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 mantlepiece her aunt asked her smilingly how she liked it the housekeeper came forward and told them it was the picture of a young
Gent gentleman the son of her late Master Steward who had been brought up by him at his own expense he's now gone into the army she added but I'm afraid he has turned out very wild Mrs Gardner looked at her niece with a smile but Elizabeth could not return it 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 8 years ago I have heard much much of your Master's fine person said Mrs Gardner looking at the
picture it is a handsome face but Lizzie you can tell us whether it is like or not Mrs Reynold's respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation of her knowing her master does that young lady know Mr Darcy Elizabeth colored and said a little and do not you think him a very handsome gentleman ma'am yes very handsome I'm sure I know none so handsome but in the gallery upstairs you will see a finer larger picture of him than this this room was my late Master's favorite room and these M
iniatures are just as they used to be then he was very fond of them this accounted to Elizabeth for Mr wickhams being among them Mrs Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy drawn when she was only 8 years old and is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother said Mr Gardner 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 tomor
row with him Mr Gardner whose manners were easy and pleasant encouraged her communicativeness by his questions and remarks Mrs Reynolds either from Pride or attachment had evidently great pleasure in talking of her master and his sister is your master much at pembley in the course of the year 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 except thought Elizabeth when she goes to Ramsgate if your master would mar
ry you might see more of him yes sir but I do not know when that will be I do not know who is good enough for him Mr and Mrs Gardner smiled Elizabeth could could not help saying it is very much to his credit I'm sure that you should think so I say no more than the truth and what 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've never had a cross word from him in my life and I
've known him ever since he was four years old 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 there are very few people of whom so much can be said you are lucky in having such a master 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 the
y who are good-natured when children are good-natured when they grow up and he was always the sweet tempered most generous-hearted boy in the world Elizabeth almost stared at her can this be Mr Darcy thought she his father was an excellent man said Mrs Gardner yes ma'am that he was indeed and his son will be just like him just as affable to the poor Elizabeth listened wondered doubted and was impatient for more Mrs Reynolds could interest her on no other point she related the subjects of the pic
tures the dimensions of the rooms and the price of the furniture in vain Mr Gardner 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 he is the best landlord and the best master said she that ever lived not like the wild young men nowadays who think think of nothing but themselves there is not one of his tenants o
r servants but what will give him a good name some people call him proud but I'm sure I never saw anything of it to my fancy it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men in what an amiable light does this place him thought Elizabeth this fine account of him whispered her aunt as they walked is not quite consistent with his behavior to our poor friend perhaps we might be deceived that is not very likely our Authority was too good on reaching the spacious Lobby above they were s
hown 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 pembley he is certainly a good brother said Elizabeth as she walked towards one of the windows 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 i
s sure to be done in a moment there is nothing he would not do for her 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 Dary in crayons whose subjects were usually more interesting and also more intelligible in the gallery there were many family portraits but they cou
ld have little to fix the attention of a stranger Elizabeth walked on in quest of the only face whose features would be known to her at last it arrested her and she beheld a striking resemblance of Mr Darcy with such a smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he 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 li
fetime there was certainly at this moment in Elizabeth's mind a more gentle sensation towards the original than she had ever felt in 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 it was in his power to bestow how much of good or evil mus
t be done by him every idea that had been brought forward by the housekeeper was favorable 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 when all of the house that was open to General inspection had been seen they returned downstairs and taking leave of the housekeeper w
ere consigned over to the gardener who met them at the hall door as they walked across the lawn 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 they were within 20 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 each 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 per perfect composure at least of perfect civility 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 in
sufficient 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 i
dea of the impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind the few minutes in which they continued together were some of the most uncomfortable of 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 long born and of her stay in darbishire so often and in so hurried a way as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts at length every idea seemed to fail him and after stand
ing a few moments without saying a word he suddenly recollected himself and took leave the others then joined her and expressed their 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 must it appear to him in what a disgraceful light might it not strike So Vain a man it might seem as if she h
ad 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 had they been only 10 minutes sooner they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination for it was plain that he was that moment arrived that moment Al lighted from his horse or his Carriage she blushed again and again over the perverseness of the meeting and his behavior so strikingly altered what could it mean that he should even speak to her was amazing but to sp
eak 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 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 pembley house whichever it might be where Mr Darcy then was she longed to know what at that moment was passing in his mind in what Manner he thought of her and whether in defian
ce of everything she was still dear to him perhaps he had been civil only because he felt himself at ease yet there had been that 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 at length however the remarks of her companions on her absence of Mind roused her and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself they entered the woods and bidding ad du to the river for a whi
le ascended some of the higher grounds whence 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 Gardner expressed a wish of going around the whole park but feared it might be Beyond a walk with a triumphant smile they were told that it was 10 Mi round it settled the matter and they pursued the accustomed circuit which brought them aga
in 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 Glenn allowed room only for the stream and a narrow walk amidst the rough Copus wood which barded it Elizabeth longed to explore its windings but when they had crossed the bridge and perceived their distance from th
e house Mrs Garder who was not a great 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 Gardner 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 advised aned 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 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 passed 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 fancie
d that Praise of pembley from her might be mischievously construed her color changed and she said no more Mrs Gardner was standing a little behind and on her pausing he asked her if she would do him the honor 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 surpri
se thought she when he knows who they are he takes them now for people of fashion 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 surprised 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 Gardner 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 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 c
ontinued in the neighborhood 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 Gardner who was walking arm in-arm with Elizabeth gave her a look expressive of her Wonder Elizabeth said nothing but it gratified her exceeding ly 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 me it ca
nnot be for my 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 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 Gardner who fatigued by the exercise of the morning found Elizabeth's
arm inadequate to her support and consequently preferred her husbands 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 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 tomorrow and indeed before we left Bell we understood that you w
ere 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 traveling they will join me early to tomorrow he continued and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you Mr Bingley and his sisters Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow her thoughts were instantly driven back to the time when Mr bingley's name had been last ment
ioned between them and if she might judge from his complexion his mind was not very differently engaged 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 Lampton the surprise of such an application was great indeed it was too great for her to know in what Manner she exceeded 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 further it was satisfactory it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made him think really ill of her 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 c
arriage Mr and Mrs Gardner were half a quarter of a mile behind 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 an embargo on every subject at last she recollected that she had been traveling and they talked of Matlock and dovale with great perseverance yet time and her aunt moved slowly and her patience and her ideas were nearl
y worn out before the Teta tet was over on Mr and Mrs Gardner'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 the the utmost politeness Mr Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage and when it drove off Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house 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 there is something a little stately in him to be sure replied her aunt but it is confined to his Heir 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 I was never more surprised than by his behavior 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 to be sure Lizzy said her aun
t he is not so handsome as Wickham or rather he has not Wickham's countenance for his his features are perfectly good but how came you to tell us that he was so disagreeable Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could said that she had liked him better when they met in Kent than before and that she had never seen him so pleasant as this morning 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 a
bout fishing as he might change his mind another day and warn me off his grounds Elizabeth felt that they had entirely mistaken his character but said nothing from what we have seen of him continued Mrs Gardner 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 unfavorable idea of his heart but to be sure the good lady who who showed us the house did give him a most flaming character I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes but he is a liberal master I suppose and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in Vindication of his behavior to Wickam 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 wickhams so amiable as they had been considered in hartfordshire 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 Mrs Garder was surprised and concerned but as they were now approaching the scene of her former Pleasures every i
dea 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 an intercourse renewed after many years discontinuance 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 think with Wonder of Mr Darcy's Civility and above all of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister chapter 44 Elizabeth had settled it that Mr Darcy would bring his sister to visit her the very day after her reaching pembley 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 own arrival at Lampton these visitors came th
ey had been walking about the place with some of their new friends and were just returned 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 lady in a ccle driving up the street Elizabeth immediately recognizing The Livery guessed what it meant and imparted no small degree of surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the honor which she expected her uncle and Aunt were all amazement and the embar
rassment 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 now 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 every moment increasing she was was quite amazed
at her own discomposure but amongst other causes of disqui she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favor and more than commonly anxious to please she naturally suspected that every Power of pleasing would fail her she retreated from the window fearful of being seen and as she walked up and down the room endeavoring to compose herself saw such looks of inquiring surprise in her uncle and Aunt as made everything worse 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 Lampton she had heard that Miss Dary 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 Mr Darcy was tall and on a larger scale than Elizabeth and though little more than 16 her figure was formed an
d her appearance womanly and graceful she was less handsome than her brother but there was sense and Good Humor 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 they had not been long together before Darcy told her that Bingley was also coming to wait on her and she had barely time to express her satisfaction and prepar
e for such a visitor when bingle'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 family and looked and spoke with the same good humored ease that he had ever done to Mr and Mrs Gardner he was scarcely a l
ess 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 admirati
on was evident enough 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 endeavored to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favor Bingley was ready Georgiana was eager and Darcy determined to be pleased in seeing Bingley her thoughts naturally flew to her sister and oh how arde
ntly 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 behavior 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 justif
y the hopes of his sister on this point she was soon satisfied and two or three little circumstances occurred a 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 de 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 8 months we have not met since the 26th of November when we were all dancing together at netherfield 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 all her sisters were at long born there was not much in the question nor in the preceding remark but there was a look and a manner which gave them meaning it was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr Darcy himself but w
henever she did catch a glimpse she saw an expression of general complacence and in all that he said she heard an accent so far removed from OT 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 cting 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-conquest of his Endeavors and when even the acquaintan
ce of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of netherfield and Rosings 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 Gardner and Miss Bennett to dinner at pembley before they left the country Miss Darcy though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations readily obeyed Mrs Gardn
er looked at her niece desirous of knowing how she 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 Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of se
eing Elizabeth again having still a great deal to say to her and many inquiries to make after all their hartfordshire 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 an
d aunt she stayed with them only long enough to hear their favorable opinion of Bingley and then hurried away to dress but she had no reason to fear Mr and Mrs Gardner'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 of Mr Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well and a
s 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 servants report without any reference to any other account the circle in hartfordshire 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 lampon 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 with respect to Wickham The Travelers soon fo
und that he was not held there in much estimation for though the chief of his concern with the son of his Patron were imperfectly understood it was yet a well-known fact that on his quitting darbishire he had left many debts behind him which Mr Darcy afterwards discharged as for Elizabeth her thoughts were at pembley 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 one in that mansion and she lay awake two wh
ole hours endeavoring 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 feelings and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier Nature by the testimony so highly in his favor and bringing forward his dispositio
n in so amiable a light which yesterday had produced but above all 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 meetin
g 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 excited 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 the renewal of his addresses it had been settled in the evening between the aunt and niece that such a striking civility as Miss dary's in coming to them on the very day of h
er arrival at pembley for she had reached it only to a late breakfast ought to be imit ated though it could not be equaled by some exertion of politeness on their side and consequently that it would be highly expedient to wait on her at pembley 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 Mr Gardner 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 p by noon chapter 45 convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy she could not help feeling how very unwelcome her appearance at pembley must be to her and was curious to know with how much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed 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 in this room they were received by Miss Dary 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 that embarrassment which though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong wrong would eas
ily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved Mrs Gardner and her niece however did her justice and pitied her by Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a courtesy and on there being seated a pause awkward as such pauses must always be succeeded for a few moments it was first broken by Mrs Ansley a gential agreeable looking woman whose Endeavor to introduce some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the ot
hers and between her and Mrs Garder 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 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 la
tter 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 gentleman 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 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 Ansley 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 al
l talk they could all eat and the Beautiful pyramids of grapes nectarines and peaches soon collected them round the table 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 dominate she began to regret that he came he had been some time with Mr Gardner who with two or three other gentlemen from th
e 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 behavior 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 I 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 pray Miss Eliza are not the shy militia removed from meritan they must be a great loss to your family 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 atta
ck she presently answered the question in a tolerably disengaged 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 ma
ke her betray a sensibility which might injure her in Darcy's opinion and perhaps to remind the latter of all the folies and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected with that core not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss dar's meditated elopment to no creature had it been revealed where secrecy was possible except to Elizabeth and from all bingle's connections her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it from that 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 Endeavor to separate him from Miss Bennett it is probable that it might add something to his Lively concern for the welfare of his friend Elizabeth's collected behavior 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 anymore 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 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 behavior and dress but Georgiana would not join her her brother's recommen
dation was enough to ensure her favor his judgment could not air 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 how very ill Eliza Bennett looks this morning Mr Darcy she cried I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since the winter she's grown so Brown and coarse
Louisa and I were agreeing that we should not have known her again however little Mr Darcy might have liked such an address he contented himself with cooly replying that he perceived no other alteration than her being rather tanned no miraculous consequence of traveling in the summer 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 once character there's not
hing 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 never could perceive anything extraordinary in them they have a sharp shrewish look which I do not like at all and in her Heir altogether there is a self-sufficiency without fashion which is intolerable 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 I remember when we first knew her in hartfordshire 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 she a beauty I should as soon call her mother a wit but afterward she seemed to improve on you and I believe you thought her
rather pretty at one time yes replied Darcy who could contain himself no longer but that was only when I first knew her for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsome IST women of my acquaintance 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 Mrs Gardner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their visit as they returned except what had particularly interested them both
the looks and behavior 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 Gardner thought of him and Mrs Garder would have been highly gratified by her niece's beginning the subject chapter 46 Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first arrival at Lampton and this disappo
intment had been renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there but on the third her repining was over 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 miss sent elsewhere Elizabeth was not surprised at it as Jane had written the direction remarkably ill 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 miss sent
must be first attended to it had been written 5 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 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 relat
es to poor IA an Express came at 12:00 last night just as we were all gone to bed from Colonel forer to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers to own the truth with Wickam 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'm 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 ov
er 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 12 as is conjectured but were not missed till yesterday morning at 8 the express was sent off directly my dear Lizzy they must have passed within 10 miles of us Colonel fer gives us a
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 without allowing herself time for consideration and scarcely knowing what she felt Elizabeth on finishing this 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 conclus
ion of the first 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 a 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 forer 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 gretag 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 farther for on entering tha
t place they removed into a Hackney coach and dismissed the shades 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 hartfordshire anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes and at the insn in Barnett and Hatfield but without any success no such people had been seen to pass through with the kindest concern he came on to longor and br
oke 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 he 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 ca
nnot 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'm not so selfish however as to press for it if inconvenience ad you 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'm not afraid of requesting it th
ough 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'm sure I know not but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way and Colonel forer is obliged to be at Brighton again tomorrow evening in such an exence 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 goodne
ss 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 enough 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 Gardner this m
oment on business that cannot be delayed I have not an instant to lose good God what is the matter cried he with more feeling than politeness then recollected himself I will not detain you a minute but let me or let the servant go after Mr and Mrs Gardner you are not well enough you cannot go yourself 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 br
eathless an accent as made her almost unintelligible to fetch his master and mistress home instantly 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 no I thank you she replied endeavoring to recover herself
there's nothing the matter with me I am quite well I am only distressed by some Dreadful news which I've just received from longor 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 youngest sister has left all her
friends has eloped has thrown herself into into the power of of Mr Wickam they are gone off together from Brighton you know him too well to doubt the rest she has no money no connections nothing that can tempt him to she is lost forever 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 learned to my own family had his character been known this c
ould not have happened but it is all all too late now I am grieved indeed cried Darcy grieved shocked but is it certain absolutely certain oh yes they left Brighton together on Sunday night and were traced almost to London but not Beyond they have certainly not gone to Scotland and what has been done what has been attempted to recover her my father has gone to London and Jane has written to beg my uncle immediate assistance and we shall be off I hope in half an hour but nothing can be done I kno
w 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 Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence when my eyes were open 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 much wretched wretched mistake Darcy made no answer he seemed scarcely to hear her and was walking up and down the room in Earnest meditation his brow contrac
ted his air gloomy Elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood it her power was sinking everything must 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 pation 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 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 afraid you have been long Desiring my absen
ce 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 you with vain wishes which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks this unfortunate Affair will I fear prevent my sisters having the pleasure of seeing you at pembley today oh yes be so kind as to apologize 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 he readily assured her of his secrecy again expressed his sorrow for her distress wished it her 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 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 mee
tings in darbishire 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 if gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection Elizabeth's change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty but if otherwise if the regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural in c
omparison 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 defense 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 authorize 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 ang
uish 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 all her feelings on this development while the contents of the first letter remained on 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 att
ached 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 elopment without the intention of the marriage she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey she had never perceived while the regiment was in hartfordshire that Lydia had any partiality for him but she was convinced
that Lydia had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody sometimes one officer sometimes another had been her favorite as their attentions raised them in her opinion her affections had been continually 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 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 s
o 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 until he entered the room the misery of her impatience was severe Mr and Mrs Gardner had hurried back in alarm supposing by the servants account that their niece was taken suddenly ill but satisfying them instantly on that head she eagerly communicated the cause of their summons readin
g the two letters aloud and dwelling on the postcript of the last with trembling energy though Lydia had never been a favorite with them Mr and Mrs Garder could not but be deeply affected not Lydia only but all were concerned in it and after the first exclamations of surprise and horror Mr Gardner readily 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 kly cried Mrs Gardner John told us Mr Darcy was here when you sent for us was it so yes and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement that is all settled 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 but wishes were vain or at best could serve only to amuse her in the the hurr
y 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 Lampton with false excuses for their sudden departure an hour however saw the whole completed and Mr Garder meanwhile having settled his account at the inn nothing remained to be done but to go
and Elizabeth after all 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 Long born chapter 47 I have been thinking it over again Elizabeth said her uncle as they drove from the town and really upon serious consideration I'm much more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does of the matter it appears to me so very unlikely that 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 fer his temptation is not adequate to the risk do you really think so cried Elizabeth brightening up for a moment upon my word said Mrs Gardner I begin to be of your uncle's opinion it is really too great a violation of
decency honor and interest for him to be guilty of it I cannot think so very ill of Wickam can you yourself Lizzy so wholly give him up as to believe him capable of it 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 in in the first place replied Mr Gardner there is no absolute proof that they are not gone to Scotland oh but they removing
from the Shay into a Hackney coach is such a presumption and besides no traces of them were to be found on the Barnet Road well then supposing them to be in London they may be there though for the purpose of concealment for no more exceptionable purpose it is not likely that money should be very abundant on either side and it might strike them that they could be more economic though less expeditiously married in London than in Scotland 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 attractions has she Beyond youth health and good humor that that could make him for her sake forgo every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well as to what restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the core might throw on a dishonor
able elopment 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 behavior from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family that he would do as little and think as little about it as any father could do in such a matter but can you think that Lydia
is so lost to everything but love of him as to consent to live with him on any other terms than marriage 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 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 12 month 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 meritan 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 Wickam has every charm of per
son and a dress that can Captivate a woman but you see that Jane said her aunt does not think so ill of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt of whom does Jane ever think ill and who is there whatever might be their former conduct that she would believe capable of such an attempt till it were proved against them but Jane knows as well as I do what Wickam really is we both know that he has been proplate in every sense of the word that he has neither Integrity nor honor that he is as fa
lse and deceitful as he is insinuating and do you really know all this cried Mrs Gardner whose curiosity as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive I do indeed replied Elizabeth coloring I told you the other day of his Infamous Behavior to Mr Darcy and you yourself when last at longor 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 worthwhile to relate but h
is lies about the whole pemy 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 but do does Lydia know nothing of this can she be ignorant of what you and Jane seem so well to understand 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 Fitz William I was i
gnorant of the truth myself and when I returned home the Shire was to leave meritan 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 anyone that the good opinion which all the neighborhood had of him should then be overthrown and even when it was settled that Lydia should go with Mrs fer the necessity of opening her eyes to his character never occurred to m
e that she could be in any danger from the deception never entered my head that such a consequence as this should ensue you may easily believe was Far Enough from my thoughts when they all removed to Brighton therefore you had no reason I I suppose to believe them fond of each other 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 core she was ready enough to admire him but so we all were every girl in or near meritan was out of her senses about him for the first two months but he never distinguished her 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 favorites it may be easily believed that however little of novelty could be added to their fears hopes an
d 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 their by the keenest of all anguish self-reproach she could find no interval of ease or forgetfulness they traveled as expeditiously as possible and sleeping one night on the road reached longor by dinner time the next day it was a comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied by l
ong expectations the little gardeners attracted by the sight of a shay 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 Elizabeth jumped out and after giving each of them a hasty kiss hurried into the vestibule where Jane who came running downstairs from her moth
er's apartment immediately met her 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 not yet replied Jane but now that my dear uncle is come I hope everything will be well is my father in town yes he went on Tuesday as I wrote you word and have you heard from him often we have heard only once he wrote me a few lines on Wednesday to say that he had arrived in safety and to give me his dire
ctions which I particularly begged him to do he merely added that he should not write again till he had something of importance to mention and my mother how is she how are you all my mother is tolerably well I trust though her spirits are greatly shaken she is upstairs 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 but you how are you cried Elizabeth you look pale how much you must have gone through her siste
r however assured her of her being perfectly well and their conversation which had been passing while Mr and Mrs Gardner 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 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 sang
uin 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 the marriage Mrs Bennett 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 against the villainous con
duct 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 be principally owing if I had been able said she to carry my point in going to Brighton with all my family this would not have happened but poor dear Lydia had nobody to take care of her why did the forers ever let her go out of their sight I'm 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 Bennett gone away and I know he will fight Wickam 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 they all exclaimed against such terrific ideas and Mr
Gardner 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 Bennett in every Endeavor for recovering Lydia 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 until we know that they are not married and have no design of marr
ying 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 Grace Church Street and then we may consult together as to what is to be done oh my dear brother replied Mrs Bennett 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 are not married already make them marry and as for wedding clothes do not let them wait for that but tell Lydia she shall hav
e as much money as she chooses to buy them after they are married and above all things keep Mr Bennett from fighting tell him what a dreadful State I am in that I am frightened 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 my 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 warehou
ses oh brother how kind you are I know you will contrive it all but Mr Gardner though he assured her again of his Earnest Endeavors in the cause could not avoid recommending moderation to her as well in her hopes as her fears and after talking with her in this manner till dinner was on table they left her to vent all her feelings on the housekeeper who attended in the absence of her her daughters though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real occasion for such a seclusion fr
om 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 one only of the household and the one whom they could most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject 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 ot
her from her tolet the faces of both however were tolerably calm and no change was visible in either except that the loss of her favorite sister or the anger which she had herself incurred in the business had given something 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 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 BAL of sisterly consolation 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 behavior towards the undeserving of the
other sex 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 in the afternoon the two Elder Miss Bennett 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 E
lizabeth considered as all but certain and Miss Bennett 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 forc to say had they no apprehension of anything before the alotment took place they must have seen them together forever Colonel forer did own that he had often suspected some partiality especially on Lydia's side but nothing to give him any a
larm I am so grieved for him his behavior was attentive and kind to the utmost he was coming to us in order to assure us of his concern before he had any idea of there not being gone to Scotland when that apprehension first got abroad it hastened his journey and was Denny convinced that Wickam would not marry did he know of their intending to go off had Colonel forca seen Denny himself yes but when questioned by him Denny denied knowing anything of their plan and would not give his real opinion
about it he did not repeat his persuasion of their not marrying and from that I am inclined to hope he might have been misunderstood before and until Colonel Forster came himself not one of you entertained a doubt I suppose of their being really married 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 they being in love with each other many weeks but not before they went to Brighton no I believe not and did Colonel Forster appear to think ill of Wickham himself does he know his real character I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickam as he formerly d
id he believed him to be imprudent and extravagant and since this sad Affair has taken place it is said that he left meritan greatly in debt but I hope this may be false oh Jane had we been less secret had we told what we knew of him this could not have happened 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 could Colonel forc to repeat the p
articulars of Lydia's note to his wife he brought it with him for us to see Jane then took it from her pocket book and gave it to Elizabeth these were the contents my dear Harriet you will laugh when you know where I am gone and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise tomorrow morning as soon as I am missed I'm going to Greta 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 longor 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 tonight 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 longor but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up goodbye give my love to Colonel for fer I hope you will drink to our good journey your affectionate friend Lydia Bennett 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 she was serious in the object of her journey whatever he might afterwards persuade her to i
t was not on her side A scheme of infamy my poor father how he must have felt it I never saw anyone so shocked he could not speak a word for full 10 minutes my mother was taken ill immediately and the whole house in such confusion oh Jane cried Elizabeth was there a servant belonging to it who did not know the whole story before the end of the day 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 endeavored 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 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 Mary and kitty have been very kind and would have shared in every fatigue I'm sure but I did not think it right for either of them Kitty is slight and delicate and Mary studies so much tha
t her hours of repose should not be broken in on my aunt Phillips came to longor 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 could be of use to us she'd better have stayed at home cried Elizabeth perhaps she meant well but under such a misfortune as this one cannot se
e too little of one's neighbors assistance is impossible condolence insufferable let them triumph over us at a distance and be satisfied she then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had intended to pursue while in town for the recovery of his daughter 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 fair from London and as he thought the circumstance of a gentleman and ladies 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 fair 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 chapter 48 the whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr Bennett 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 dilit 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 that they wou
ld have been glad to be certain Mr Gardner had waited only for the letters before he set off 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 Bennett to return to longor 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 jeel Mrs Gardner and the children were to remain in hartfordshire a few days longer as th
e former thought her presence might be serviceable to her nieces she shared in their attendance on Mrs Bennett 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 felt them all meritan seemed striving t
o blacken the man who but 3 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 honored 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 f
ormer Assurance of her sister's ruin still 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 Mr Gardner left long born 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 Grace Ch
urch Street that Mr Bennett had been to Epsom and claen before his arrival but without gaining any satisfactory information and that he was now determined to inquire at all the principle hotels in town as Mr Bennett thought it possible they might have gone to one of them on their first coming to London before they procured lodgings Mr Gardner 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 Bennett seem
ed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised to write again very soon there was also a postcript to this effect I have written to Colonel forer 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 the 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 essen
tial consequence at present we have nothing to guide us Colonel forer will I dare say do everything in his power to satisfy us on this head but on second thoughts perhaps Lizzie could tell us what relations he has now living better than any other person Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from when this deference for her Authority proceeded but it was not in her power to give any information of of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved she had never heard of his having had any re
lations 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 sanguin in expecting it the application was a something to look forward to every day at longor 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 first Grand object of every morning's impatience through letters whatever of go
od or bad was to be told would be communicated and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance but before they heard again from Mr Gardner 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 my dear sir I feel myself called upon by
our relationship and my situation in life to condo with you on the Grievous Affliction you are now suffering under of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from hartfordshire be assured my dear sir that Mrs Collins and myself sincerely sympathize 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 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 lenti justness of behavior in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence that though at the same time for the consolation of yourself and Mrs Bennett I'm inclined to think that her own disp
osition 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 pied in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs Collins but likewise by Lady Katherine 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 cond ascendingly says will connect themselves with such a f
amily 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 advise you then my dear sir to console yourself as much as possible to throw off your unworthy child from your affection forever and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offense I am Dear Sir etc etc Mr Gardner did not write again till he had received an answer from Colonel f
er and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send it was not known that Wickham had a single relation with whom he kept up any connection and it was certain that he had no near one living his former acquaintance 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 ve
ry 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 ,000 would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton he owed a good deal in the town but his debts of Honor were still more formidable Mr Garder did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the longb born family Jane heard them with with horror a Gamester she cri
ed this is wholly unexpected I had not an idea of it Mr Gardner 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 Endeavors he had yielded to his brother-in-laws intreaty 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 Bennett 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 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 as Mrs Gardner began to wish to be at home it was settled that she and her children should go to London at the same time that Mr Bennett came from it the coach therefore took them the first stage of their journey and brought its Master back to l
ongor Mrs Gardner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her darbishire 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 Gardner had formed of their being followed by a letter from him had ended in nothing Elizabeth had received none since her turn that could come from pembley the present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for the lowness of he
r spirits unnecessary nothing therefore could be fairly conjectured from that 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 when Mr Bennett 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 m
ade no mention of the business that had taken him away and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it it was not till the afternoon when he 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 that who should suffer but myself it has been my own doing and I ought to feel it you must not be too severe upon yourself replied Elizabeth you may well warn me a
gainst 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'm not afraid of being overpowered by the impression it will pass away soon enough do you suppose them to be in London yes where else can they be so well concealed and Lydia used to want to go to London added Kitty she's happy then said her father dry and her residence there will probably be of some duration then after a short silence he continued Lizzy I bear you no i
ll will for being justified in your advice to me last May which considering the event shows some greatness of mind they were interrupted by Miss Bennett who came to fetch her mother's tea this is a parade cried he 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 night cap and powdering gown and give as much trouble as I can or perhaps I may defer it till Kitty runs away I am not going to run away Papa said Kitty fretfully i
f I should ever go to Brighton I would behave better than Lydia you go to Brighton I would not trust you so near it as eastborn for 50 no kitty I've at least leared to be cautious and you will feel the effects of it no officer is ever to enter 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 10 minutes of every day in a rational manner
Kitty who took all these threats in a serious light began to cry well well said he do not make yourself unhappy if you are a good girl for the next 10 years I will take you to a review at the end of them chapter 49 two days after Mr Bennett'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 the
y approached her she said to Miss Bennett 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 what do you mean hill we have heard nothing from town dear Madam cried Mrs Hill in great astonishment don't you know there is an Express come for master from Mr Gardner he has been here this half hour and master has had a letter away ran the girls too eager to get in to have time for speech they ran through th
e vestibule into the breakfast room from then to the library their father was in neither and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother when they were met by the butler who said If you're looking for my master ma'am he is walking towards the little Cops 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 Jane who was not so ligh
t 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 oh papa what news what news have you heard from my uncle yes I've had a letter from him by Express well and what news does it bring good or bad what is there of good to be expected said he taking the letter from his pocket but perhaps you would like to read it Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand Jane now came up read it aloud said their father
for I hardly know myself what it is about Grace Church Street Monday August 2nd my dear brother at last I am able to send you some Tidings of my niece and such as upon the whole I hope 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 then it is as I always hoped cried Jane they are married Elizabeth read on 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 £5,000 secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister and moreover to enter into an engagement of allowing her during your life100 perom 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'm happy to say there will be some little money even when all his debts are discharged to settle on my niece in addit
ion 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 haggon for preparing a proper settlement there will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to town again therefore stay quietly at longor and depend on my diligence and Care send back your answer as soon as you can and be careful to write explicitly we have judged it best that my niece should be married from this ho
use of which I hope you will approve she comes to us today I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on yours Etc Edward Gardner is it possible cried Elizabeth when she had finished can it be possible that he will marry her Wickam is not so undeserving then as we have thought him said her sister my dear father I congratulate you and have you answered the letter said Elizabeth no but it must be done soon most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more time before he wrote
oh my dear father she cried come back and write immediately consider how important important every moment is in such a case let me write for you said Jane if you dislike the trouble yourself I dislike it very much he replied but it must be done and so saying he turned back with them and walked towards the house and may I ask said Elizabeth but the terms I suppose must be complied with complied with I'm only ashamed of his asking so little and they must marry yet he is such a man yes yes they mu
st 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 I am ever to pay him money my uncle cried Jane what do you mean sir I mean that no man in his proper senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as 100 a year during my life and 50 after I am gone that is very true said Elizabeth though it had not occurred to me before his debts to be discharged and something st
ill to remain oh it must be my uncle's doings generous good man I'm afraid he has distressed himself a small sum could not do all this no said her father Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than £1,000 I should be sorry to think so ill of him in the very beginning of our relationship £10,000 heaven forbid how is half such a sum to be repaid Mr Benet made no answer and each of them deep in thought continued silent till they reached the house their father then went to the library
to write and the girls walked into the breakfast room and they are really to be married cried Elizabeth as soon as they were by themselves how strange this is and for this 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 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 £10,000 or anything like it has been Advanced he has children of his own and may have more how could he spare half 10,000 if we are ever able to learn what wickhams debts have been said Elizabeth and how much is settled on his side on our sister we shall exactly know what Mr Gardner 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 c
ountenance is such a sacrifice to her Advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge by this time she's 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 we must Endeavor 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 has come to a right way of thinking their Mutual affectio
n 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 their conduct has been such replied Elizabeth as neither you nor I nor anybody can ever forget it is useless to talk of it 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 cooly replied just as you please may we take my uncle's letter to read to her take whatever you like and get away Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table and they went upstairs together Mary and kitty were both with Mrs Bennett one communication would therefore do for all after a slight preparation for good news the letter was read aloud Mrs Bennett could hardly contain herself as soon as Jane had read Mr Gardner's hope of Lydia's being being so
on 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 my dear dear Lydia she cried this is delightful indeed she will be married I shall see her again she will be married at 16 my good kind brother I knew how it wou
ld be I knew he would manage everything how I long to see her and to see dear Wickam too but the clothes the wedding clothes I will write to my sister Gardner 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 her eldest daughter endeavored to give some relief to the violence of these transports by
Leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr Gardner's Behavior laid them all under 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 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 pr
esents well I'm so happy in a short time I shall have a daughter married Mrs Wickam how well it sounds and she was only 16 last June My Dear Jane I'm in such a flutter that I'm 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 she was then proceeding to all the particulars of Calico muslin and cambrick 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 I will go to meritan said she as soon as am dressed and tell the good good news to my sister Phillips 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'm sure girls ca
n I do anything for you in meritan 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 marry at her wedding 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 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 chapter 50 Mr Bennett 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 d
one his duty in that respect Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of Honor 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 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 when first Mr Bennett had married economy was held to be perfectly useless for of course they were to have a son this son was to join in cutting off the intale 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 sun was to come and Mrs Bennett for many years after Lydia's birth had been certain that he would this event had at last been despa
ired of but it was then too late to be saving Mrs Bennett had no turn for economy and her husband's love of Independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income £5,000 was settled by marriage articles on Mrs Bennett 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 Bennett could have no hesitation in exceeding to the proposal before him i
n terms of grateful acknowledgement 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 fulfill the engagements that had been made for him he had never before supposed that could wiam 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 £10 a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them fo
r what with her her board and pocket allowance and the continual presence in money which passed to her through her mother's hands Lydia's expenses had been very little within that sum that it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side too was another very welcome surprise for his chief 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 form
er indolence his letter was soon dispatched for though dilit 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 the good news quickly spread through the house and with proportionate speed through the neighborhood it was born in the latter with decent philosophy to be sure it would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennett come upon
the town or as the happiest alternative being 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 meritan lost but little of their spirit in this change of circumstances because with such a husband her misery was considered certain it was a fortnight since Mrs Bennett 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 16 was now on the point of accomplishment and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendance of elegant nuptuals fine muslins new carriages and servants she was busily searching through the neighborhood for a proper situation for her daughter and without knowing or considering what their income migh
t be rejected many as deficient in size and importance hey Park might do said she if the goldings would 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 10 miles from me and as for pervis Lodge the attics are Dreadful her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the servants remained but when they had withdrawn he said to her Mrs Bennett before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughte
r let us come to a right understanding into one house in this neighborhood they shall never have admittance I will not encourage the imprudence of either by receiving them at long born a long dispute followed this declaration but Mr Bennett was firm it soon led to another and Mrs Bennett 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 Bennett
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 that she could believe possible she was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptuals than to any sense of Shame at her eloping and living with Wickam a fortnight before they took place 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 alotment they might hope to conceal its unfavorable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot she had no fear of its spreading far 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 wou
ld 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 impossible between them had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honorable 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 the man whom he so justly scorned from such a connection she could not wonder that he should
shrink the wish of procuring her regard which she had assured herself of his feeling in darbishire could not in rational expectations survive such a blow as this she was humbled she was grieved she repented though she hardly knew of what she became jealous of 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 t
hey should meet 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 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 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 wish
es 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 judgment information and knowledge of the world world she must have received benefit of Greater importance 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 how Wickam and Lyd
ia 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 Mr Gardner soon wrote again to his brother to Mr Bennett's acknowledgements he briefly replied with assurances 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 it was greatly my wish that he should do so so he added as soon as his marriage was fixed on and I think you will agree with me in considering a removal from that core as highly advisable both on his account and my nieces 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 enany 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 forer to inform him of our present arrangements and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr Wickam in and near Brighton with assurances of Speedy payment for which I have pledged mysel
f and will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to his creditors in meritan of whom I shall subjoin a list according to his information he has given in all his debt 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 longor and I understand from Mrs Gardner that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she leaves the South she is well and begs t
o be dutifully remembered to you and her mother yours Etc e Gardner Mr Bennett and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal from the Shire as clearly as Mr Gardner could do but Mrs Bennett 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 hartfordshire was a severe disappointment and besides it was such a Pity that Lydia should be take
n from a regiment where she was acquainted with everybody and had so many favorites she is so fond of Mrs forer 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 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 wishin
g 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 longor 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 should be able to show her married daughter in the neighborhood before she was banished to the north when Mr Bennett 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 chapter 51 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 t
hem and they were to return in it by dinner time their arrival was dreaded by the Elder Miss Bennetts and Jane Moore 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 they came the family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them Smiles decked the face of Mrs Bennett as the carriage drove up to the door her husband looked impenetrably grave her daughters alarmed anxious anxio
us uneasy 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 Wickam who followed his lady and wished them both Joy with an alacrity which showed no doubt of their happiness their reception from Mr Bennett to whom they then turned was not quite so cordial his countenance rather gained in austerity and he scarcely opened his lips the easy Assur
ance of the young couple indeed was enough to provoke him Elizabeth was disgusted and even Miss Bennett 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 around 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 Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself but his manner
s 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 color 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 neighborhood with a goodh humored 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 only think of its being 3 month
s she cried since I went away it seems but a fortnite I declare and yet there have been things enough happened in the time good gracious when I went away I'm 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 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 gay continued oh mama do the people hereabouts know I am mar
ried today I was afraid they might not and we overtook William ging in his ccle 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 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 parlor 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 a Jane I take your place now and you must go lower because I am a married woman it was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first her e and good spirits increased she longed to see Mrs Phillips the Lucas's and all their other neighbors and to hear herself called Mrs Wickham by each of them and in the meantime she went after dinn
er to show her ring and boast of being married to Mrs Hill and the two housemaids well mamama 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 mamama we did not all go very true and if I had my will we should but my dear Lydia I don't at all like your going such a w
ay off must it be so 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 part for them all I should like it beyond anything said her mother 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 I thank you for my share of the
favor said Elizabeth but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands their visitors were not to remain above 10 days with them Mr Wickam had received his commission before he left London and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight no one but Mrs Bennett 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 wa
s even more desirable to such as did think than such as did not 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 elopment 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 Lydia was exceedingly fond of him he was her dear Wickam on every occasion no one was to be put in competition with him he did everything best in the world and she was sure he would kill more birds on the 1st of September than anybody else in the country one morning soon after their arrival as she was sitting with her two Elder sisters she said to Elizabeth Li
zzy I never gave you an account of my wedding I believe you were not by when I told mamama and the others all about it are not you curious to hear how it was managed no really replied Elizabeth I think there cannot be too little said on the subject 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 11:00 my uncle and aunt and I were to go together and t
he 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 10 for I was thinking you may suppose of my dear Wickham I longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat well and so we breakfaste
d at 10 as usual I thought it would never be over for by the by 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 Theater 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 wh
en 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 10 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 Mr Darcy repeated Elizabeth in utter amazement oh yes he was to come there with Wickam you kn
ow but gracious me I quite forgot I ought not to have said a word about it I promised them so Faithfully what will Wickam say it was to be such a secret if it was to be a secret said Jane say not another word on the subject you may depend upon my seeking no further oh certainly said Elizabeth though burning with curiosity we will ask you no questions thank you said Lydia for if you did I should certainly tell you all and then Wickam would be so angry on such encouragement to ask Elizabeth was fo
rced to put out of her power by running away 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 noest light seemed most i
mprobable 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 dropped if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been intended 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 ve
ry cogent reasons to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary and then I must Endeavor to be satisfied with ignorance not that I shall though she added to herself and she finished the letter and my dear Aunt if you do not tell me in an honorable manner I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and strategems to find it out Jane's delicate sense of Honor 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 confidant chapter 52 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 Cops where she was least likely to be interrupted Ed 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 Grace Church Street September 6th my dear niece I h
ave just received your letter and shall devote this whole morning to answering it as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise what I have to tell you I must confess myself surprised by your application I did not expect it from you 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 your 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 on the very day of my coming home from longor 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 yours seems to have been he came to tell Mr Gardner that he had found out where your sister and Mr Wickham were and that he had seen a
nd talked with them both Wickham repeatedly Lydia once from what I can collect he left darbishire 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 Endeavor to remedy an evil which had been brought on by himself if he had another 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 we had and the consciousness of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us there is a lady it
seems a Mrs Young who was some time ago Governor 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 Young was he knew intimately acquainted with Wickam 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 wi
thout 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 ble 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 the 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 s
ituation 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 IA 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 sometime 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 con
versation with Wickham he easily learned had never been his design he confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on account of some debts of honor 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 Mr Darcy asked why he
did not marry your sister at once though Mr Bennett 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 they met several times for there was much to be discusse
d Wickham of course wanted more than he could get but at length was reduced to be reasonable everything being settled between them Mr Mr dar's Next Step was to make your uncle acquainted with it and he first called in Grace Church Street the evening before I came home but Mr Gardner 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 u
ncle and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former he did not leave his name until the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business 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 they met again on Sunday and then I saw him too it was not all settled before Monday as soon as it was the express was sent off to longor but our visitor was very obstinate I fancy Liz
zy that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all he has been accused of many faults at different times but this 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 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 further than yourself or Jane at most 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 £1,000 another thousand in addition to her own settled upon her and his commission purchased the reason why all this was to be done 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 this though I doubt whether his reserve or anybody's 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 another interest in the affair when all this was resolved on he returned again to his friends who were still staying at pembley 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 I believe I have now told you everything it i
s 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 he was exactly what he had been when I knew him in hartfordshire but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behavior while she stayed 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 giv
e you no fresh pain I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner representing to her 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 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 to say before how much I like him his behavior to us has in every respect been as pleasing as when we were in darbishire his understanding and opinions all please me he wants nothing but a little more liveliness and that if he marry prudently his wife may teach him I thought him very Sly he hardly ever mentioned your name but sness seems the
fashion 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 around the park a low feton with a nice little pair of ponies would be the very thing but I must write no more the children have been wanting me this half hour yours very sincerely M Gardner 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 gr
eatest 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 supplicatio
n 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 re
quired to depend on his affection for her for a woman who had already already refused him as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickam 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 t
he means of exercising it and though she would not Place herself was his principal inducement she could perhaps believe that remaining partiality for her might assist his Endeavors 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 everything 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 honor 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 she was roused from her seat and her Reflections by someone's approach and before she could strike into another path she was overtaken by Wickham I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble my dear sister said he as he joined her you certainly do she replied with a smile but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome I should be sorry indeed if it were we were always good friends and now we are better true are the the others coming out I do not know Mrs Benn
ett and Lydia are going in the carriage to meritan and so my dear sister I find from our uncle and Aunt that you have actually seen pembley she replied in the affirmative 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 yes she did and what did she say that you were gone into the army and
she was afraid had not turned out well at such a distance as that you know things are strangely misrepresented certainly he replied biting his lips Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him but he soon afterwards said I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month we passed each other several times I wonder what he can be doing there perhaps preparing for his marriage with Mr Borg said Elizabeth it must be something particular to take him there at this time of year undoubtedly did you see him while
you were at Lampton I thought I understood from the gardeners that you had yes he introduced us to his sister and do you like her very much 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'm very glad you liked her I hope she will turn out well I dare say she will she has got over the most trying age did you go by the village of kton I do not recollect that we did I mention it because it is the living which I ought to h
ave had a most delightful Place excellent parsonage house it would have suited me in every respect how should you have liked making sermons 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 I have heard from Authority which I thought is good that it was left you conditionally only and at the will of the present Patron you have yes there was something in that I Told You So from the first you may remember I did 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 you did and it was not holy without Foundat
ion you may remember what I told you on that point when first we talked of it they were now almost at the door of the house for she had walked fast to get rid of him and and unwilling for her sister's sake to provoke him she only said in reply with a goodh humored smile come Mr Wickham we are a brother and sister you know do not let us quarrel about the past in future I hope we shall be always of one mind she held out her hand he kissed it with affectionate gallantry though he hardly knew how to
look and they entered the house chapter 53 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 the Day of His and Lydia's departure soon came and Mrs Bennett 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 12mth oh my dear Lydia she cried when shall we meet again oh Lord I don't know not these two or 3 years perhaps write to me very often my dear as often as I can but you know married women have never much time for writing my sisters may write to me they will have nothing else to do Mr wickhams adus were much more affectionate than his wies he smiled looked handsome and said many pretty things he's as f a fellow said Mr Bennett as soon as they were out of the house as ever I saw he simper
s and smirks and makes love to us all I'm prodigiously proud of him I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law the loss of her daughter made Mrs Bennett very dull for several days I often think said she that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends one seems so forlorn without them 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 it is no such thing Lydia doe
s 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 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 s
everal weeks Mrs Bennett was quite in the fidgets she looked at Jane and smiled and shook her head by turns 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'm sure 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 may happen but that is nothing to us you know sister we agreed long ago never to m
ention a word about it and so it is quite certain he is coming you may depend on it replied the other for Mrs Nichols was in meritan last night I saw her passing by and went out myself on purpose to know the truth of it and and she told me that it was certainly true he comes down on Thursday at the latest very likely on Wednesday she was going to the butcher 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 Miss Bennett had not
been able to hear of his coming without changing color it was many months since she had mentioned his name to Elizabeth but now as soon as they were alone together she said I saw you look at me today 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 should 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'm afraid of myself but I dread other people's remarks Elizabeth did not know what to make of it had she not seen him in darbishire 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 with his friend's permission or being bold enough to come without it yet it is hard she s
ometimes thought that this poor man cannot come to a house which he has legally hired without raising all this speculation I will leave him to himself 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 the subject which had been so warmly canvased between their parents about a 12month ago was now brought
forward again as soon as ever Mr Bingley comes my dear said Mrs Bennett you will wait on him of course 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 his wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighboring gentlemen on his returning to netherfield it is an etiquette I despise said he if he wants our societ
y let him seek it he knows where we live I will not spend my hours in running running after my neighbors every time they go away and come back again well all I know is that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait on him but however that Shan prevent my asking him to dine here I am determined we must have Mrs long and the gings soon that will make 13 with ourselves so there will be just room at table for him consoled by this resolution she was the better able to Bear her husband's incivilit
y though it was very mortifying to know that her neighbors might all see Mr to Bingley in consequence of it before they did as the day of his arrival Drew near 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 I w
ish 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 Mr Bingley arrived Mrs Bennett through the assistance of servants contrived to have the earliest Tidings of it that the period of anxiety and fretfulness on her side be as long as it could she counted the days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent hopeless of seei
ng before but on the third morning after his arrival in hartfordshire she saw him from her dressing room window enter The Paddock and ride towards the house 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 there is a gentleman with him Mama Said Kitty who can it be some acquaintance or other my dear I suppose I am sure I d
o not know 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 good gracious Mr Darcy and so it does I vow well any friend of Mr Bingley will always be welcome here to be sure but else I must say that I hate the very sight of him Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern she knew but little of their meeting in darbishire and therefore felt for the awkwardness which must attend her sister in seeing him almost for the first t
ime 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 une easiness which could not yet be suspected by Jane to whom she had never yet had courage to show Mrs Gardner's letter or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him to J
ane he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused and whose merits 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 longor and voluntarily seeking her again was almost equal to what she had known on f
irst witnessing his altered behavior in darbishire the color which had been driven from her face returned for half a minute with an additional glow and a smile of delight added luster 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 let me first see how he behaves said she it will then be early enough for expectation she sat intently at work striving to be composed and without daring to lift up her eyes till anxiou
s 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 gentleman's appearing her color increased yet she received them with tolerable ease and with a propriety of behavior equally free from any symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complacence Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow and sat down again to her work with an eagerness which it did not oft
en 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 hartfordshire than as she had seen him at pembley 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 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 Bennett with a degree of Civility which
made her two daughters ashamed especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of her courtesy and address of his friend Elizabeth particularly who knew knew that her mother owed to the latter the preservation of her favorite daughter from IR remediable infamy was hurt and distressed to a most painful degree by distinction so ill applied Darcy after inquiring of her how Mr and Mrs Gardner did a question which she could not answer without confusion said scarcely anything he w
as not seated by her perhaps that was the reason of his silence but it had not been so in darbishire 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 could I expect it to be otherwise said she yet why did he come she was in no humor for conversation with anyone but himself and to him she had hardly courage to speak she inquired after his sister but could do no more it is a long time Mr Bingley Since You Went Away said Mrs Bennett he readily agreed to it I began to be afraid you would never come back again people did say you meant to quit the place entirely at melu
s but however I hope it is not true a great many ch changes have happened in the neighborhood 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 wasn't put in as it ought to be it was only said lately George Wickham Esquire to miss Lydia Bennett without there being a syllable said of her father or the place where she lived or anything it wa
s my brother Gardner's drawing up too and I wonder how he came to make such an awkward business of it did you see it 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 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 away from me they are gone down to Newcastle a place quite northward it seems and the
re 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 some friends though perhaps not so many as he deserves Elizabeth who knew this to be leveled 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 s
tay in the country at present a few weeks he believed when you've 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 Bennett's manner I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you and will save all the best of the covies for you Elizabeth's misery increased at such unnecessary such officious attention with the same Fair Prospect to Arise at present as had flattered them a year ago everything she was persuaded would be hastening t
o 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 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 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 rekindled 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 when the gentleman Rose to go away Mrs Bennett was mindful of her intended Civility and they were invited and engaged to dine at longor in a few days time 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 Bingley looked a lit
tle silly at this reflection and said something of his concern at having been prevented by business they then went away Mrs Bennett 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 10,000 a year chapter 54 as soon as they were gone Elizabeth walked out to recover her
spirits or in other words to dwell without interruption on those subjects which must deaden them more Mr Darcy's Behavior astonished and vexed her why if he came only to be silent grave and indifferent said she did he come at all she could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure 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 abou
t him 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 now said she that this first meeting is over I feel perfectly easy I I Know My Own Strength and I shall never be embarrassed Again by his coming I am glad he din here on Tuesday it will then be publicly seen that on both sides we meet only as common and indifferent acquaintance yes very indifferent inde
ed said Elizabeth laughingly oh Jane take care my dear Lizzy you cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever they did not see the gentleman again till Tuesday and Mrs Bennett in the meanwhile was giving way to all the happy schemes which the good humor and common politeness of Bingley in half an hour's visit had revived on Tuesday there was a large party assembled at longor 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 Elizabeth with a triu
mphant 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 his behavior 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 holy 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 behavior it gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast for she was in no cheerful humor 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 h
ow formal and cold was their manner whenever they did her mother's ungraciousness made the sense of what they owed him more pain ful 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 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 convers
ation than the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance anxious and uneasy the period which passed in the drawing room before the gentleman 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 if he does not come to me then said she I shall give him up forever the gentleman came and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes but alas the la
dies had crowded round the table where Miss Bennett 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 gentleman's approaching one of the girls moved closer to her than ever and said in a whisper the men Shan come and part us I am determined we want none of them do we Darcy had walked away to another part of the room she followed him with her eyes envied everyone to to whom he spoke ha
d scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee and then was enraged against herself for being so silly 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 abhorent to their feelings she was a little revived however by his bringing back his coffee cup himself and she seized the opportunity of saying is your si
ster at pembley still yes she will remain there till Christmas and quite alone have all her friends left her Mrs Ansley is with her the others have been gone on to scarber these three weeks 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 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 Wist 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 Mrs Bennett had designed to kee
p 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 well girls said she as soon as they were left to themselves what say you to the day I think everything 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 hch the soup was 50 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 oh Mrs Bennett we shall have 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 prodigious
ly Mrs Bennett in short was in very great spirits she had seen enough of bingle's behavior to Jane to be convinced that she would get him at last and her expectations of advantage to her family when in a happy humor were so far beyond reason that she was quite disappointed at not seeing him there again the next day to make his proposals it has been a very agreeable day said Miss Bennett to Elizabeth the party seemed so well selected so suitable one with the other I hope we may often meet again E
lizabeth smiled Lizzie you must not do so you must not suspect me it mortifies me I assure you that I have now learned 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 you are very cruel said her sister you will not
let me smile and are provoking me to it every moment how hard it is in some cases to be believed and how impossible in others but why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge 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 Confidant chapter 55 a few days after this visit Mr Bingley called again and alone his friend had left hi
m that morning for London but was to return home in 10 days time he sat with them above an hour and was in remarkably good spirits Mrs Bennett invited him to dine with them but with many expressions of concern he confessed himself engaged elsewhere next time you call said she I hope we sh be more lucky 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 can you come tomorrow yes he had no engagement at all for tom
orrow and her invitation was accepted with alacrity he came and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them dressed in Ran Mrs Bennett to her daughter's room in her dressing gown and with her hair half finished Crying Out My Dear Jane make haste and hurry down he is come Mr Bingley has come he is indeed make haste make haste here Sarah come to Miss Bennett this moment and help her on with her gown never mind Miss lizz's hair 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 upstairs half an hour ago Oh Hang Kitty what is she to do with it come be quick be quick where is your sash my dear but when her mother was gone Jane would not be prevailed on to go down without one of her sisters the same anxiety to get them by themselves was was visible again in the evening after tea Mr Bennett retired to the library as was his custom and Mary went upstairs to her instrument two obstacles of the five being thus removed Mrs Ben
nett sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Katherine 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 mamar what do you keep winking at me for what am I to do nothing child nothing I did not wink at you she then sat still 5 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 intreaty that she would not give into it in a few minutes Mrs Bennett half opened the door and called out Lizzy my dear I want to speak with you Elizabeth was forced to go 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 upstairs to sit in my dressing room Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother but remained quiet
ly in the hall till she and kitty were out of sight then returned into the drawing room Mrs Bennett's schemes for this day were in a ual Bingley was everything 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 he scarcely nee
ded an invitation to stay supper and before he went away an engagement was formed chiefly through his own and Mrs Bennett's means for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband 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 Bingley was punctual to his appointment and he and Mr Bennett 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 Bennett's invention w
as again at work to get everybody 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 but on her 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 B
ingley 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 around and moved away from each other would have told it all their situation was awkward enough but hers 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
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 it is too much she added by far too much I do not deserve it oh why is not everybody as happy 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 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 has 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 she then hastened away to her mother who had purposely broken up the card party and was sitting upstairs wi
th Kitty 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 and this said she is the end of all his friends anxious circumspection of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance the happiest wisest and most reasonable end in a few few minutes she was joined by Bingley whose conference with her father had been short and to the purpose where is your sister said he hastily
as he opened the door with my mother upstairs she will be down in a moment I dare say 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 it was an evening of no common Delight to them all the satisfaction of Miss Bennett's mind gave such a glow of sweet animation to her face as made her look handsomer than ever Kitty simpered and smiled and hoped her turn was coming soon Mrs Bennett 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 Bennett joined them at supper his voice and manner plainly showed how really happy he was not a word however passed his lips in illusion 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 Jane I congratulate you you will be a very happy woman Jane went to him instantly kissed him and thanked him for
his goodness 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 I hope not so imprudence or thoughtlessness in Money Matters would be unpardonable in me exceed their income My Dear Mr Bennett c
ried his wife what are you talking of why he has four or 5,000 a year and very likely more then addressing her daughter oh my dear dear Jane I so happy I'm sure I Shan 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 hartfordshire last year I thought How likely it was that you should come together oh he is the handsomest young man that ever was
seen Wickam Lydia were all forgotten Jane was beyond competition her favorite 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 Mary petitioned for the use of the library at netherfield and kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter Bingley from this time was of course a daily visitor at longor coming frequently before breakfast and always remaining till after
supper unless when some barbarous neighbor who could not be enough detested had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself obliged to accept 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 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 I suspected as much replied Elizabeth but how did he account for it 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 wh
en 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 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 dup of Miss bingley's pretended regard would you believe it Lizzy that when he went to town last November he really loved me and nothing but a persu of my being indiffere
nt would have prevented his coming down again he made a little mistake to be sure but it is to the credit of his modesty this naturally introduced a panag 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 I am certainly the most fortunate crea
ture 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 you as happy if there were but such another man for you if you were to give me 40 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 the situation of Affairs in the longb born family could not be lo
ng a secret Mrs Bennett was privileged to whisper it to Mrs Phillips and she ventured without any permission to do the same by all her neighbors in meritan the Bennetts 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 chapter 56 one morning about a week after bingle's engagement with Jane had been formed as he and the females of the family were sitting togeth
er in the dining room their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage and they perceived a Shay 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 neighbors 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 Bennett to avoid the confin
ement 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 Katherine de Borg they were of course all intending to be surprised but their astonishment was beyond their expectation and on the part of Mrs Bennett and kitty though she was perfectly unknown to them even inferior to what Elizabeth felt 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 Mrs Bennett 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 I hope you are well
Miss Bennett that lady I suppose is your mother Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was and that I suppose is one of your sisters yes Madam said Mrs Bennett delighted to speak to her lady Catherine she is my youngest girl but one my youngest of all is Lately married and my eldest is somewhere about the ground walking with a young man who I believe will soon become a part of the family you have a very small Park here returned lady Catherine after a short silence 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 this must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening in summer the windows are full West Mrs Bennett assured her that they never sat there after dinner and then added may I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr and Mrs Collins well yes very well I saw them the night before last 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 Mrs Bennett 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 Miss Bennett there seemed to be a prettiest kind of a little Wilderness on one side of your lawn I should be glad to take a turn in it if you will favor me with your company go my dear cried her mother and show her la
dyship about the different walks I think she will be pleased with the Hermitage 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 parlor and drawing room and pronouncing them after a short survey to be decent looking rooms walked on 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 cops Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable how could I ever think her like her nephew said she as she looked in her face as soon as they entered the cops lady Catherine began in the following manner you can be at no loss Miss Bennett to understand the reason of my journey hither your own heart your own conscience must tell you why I come Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment indeed you a
re mistaken Madam I have not been at all able to account for the honor of seeing you here Miss Bennett replied her ladyship in an angry tone you ought to know that I'm not to be trifled with but however insincere you may choose to be you shall will not find me 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 si
ster was on the point of being most advantageously married but that you that Miss Elizabeth Bennett would in all likelihood be soon afterwards United to my nephew my own nephew Mr Darcy though I know it must be a scandal 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 if you believed it impossible to be true said Elizabeth coloring with astonishment and disdain I
wonder you took the trouble of coming so far what could your ladyship propose by it at once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted you're coming to longor to see me and my family said Elizabeth cooly will be rather a confirmation of it if indeed such a report is in existence 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 I never heard that it was and can you likewise dec
lare that there is no foundation for it I do not pretend to possess equal friend anness with your ladyship you may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer this is not to be born Miss Bennett I insist on being satisfied has he has my nephew made you an offer of marriage your lhip has declared it to be impossible 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 s
elf and to all his family you may have drawn him in if I have I shall be the last person to confess it Miss Bennett 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 I'm entitled to know all his dearest concerns but you are not entitled to know mine nor will such Behavior as this ever induce me to be explicit let me be rightly understood this match to which you have the presumption to Aspire can never take place no n
ever Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter now what have you to say only this that if he is so you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me lady Catherine hesitated for a moment and then replied the engagement between them is of a peculiar kind from their infancy they have been intended for each other it was the favorite wish of his 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 is th
eir 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 tasset engagement with Mr Borg 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 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 f
rom it by knowing that his mother and Aunt wished him to marry Mr Borg you both did as much as you could in planning the marriage its completion depended on others if Mr Darcy is neither by Honor nor inclination confined to his cousin why is not he to make another choice and if I am that choice why may not I I accept him because honor decorum Prudence nay interest forbid it yes Miss Bennett interest for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends if you willfully act against the inclina
tions 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 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 obstinate headstrong girl I'm 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 Bennett 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 that will make your lhip situation at present more pitiable but it will have no effect on me 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 fathers from respectable honorable 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 in marrying your nephew I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere he is a gentleman I'm a gentleman's daughter so far we are equal true you are a gentleman's daughter but what was your mother who are your uncles and aunts do not imagine me ignorant of their condition whatever my connections may be said Elizabeth if your nephew does not object to them they can be nothing to you tell me once for all are you engaged to him though Elizabeth would not for the mere pur
pose of obliging Lady Catherine have answered this question she could but say after a moment's deliberation I am not lady Catherine seemed pleased and will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement I will make no promise of the kind Miss Bennett 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 received I shall not go away till you have given me the Assurance I require and I I certainly never 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 hav
e widely mistake en 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 further on the subject 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 elope
ment I know it all that the young man's marrying her was a patched up business at the expense of your father and uncle and is such a girl to be my nephew's sister is her husband who 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 pembley to be thus polluted 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 and she Rose as she spoke l
ady Catherine Rose also and they turned back her ladyship was highly incensed you have no regard then for the honor 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 lady Catherine I have nothing further to say you know my sentiments you are then resolved to have have him 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
you or to any person so wholly unconnected with me it is well you refuse then to oblige me you refuse to obey the claims of duty honor and gratitude you're determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends and make him the contempt of the world neither Duty nor honor nor gratitude replied Elizabeth has 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 were 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 and this is your real opinion this is your final resolve very very well I shall now know how to act do not imagine Miss Bennett that your ambition will ever be gratified I came to try you I hope to find you reasonable but depend upon it I will carry my point 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 Bennett I send no compliments to your mother you deserve no such attention I am most seriously displeased Elizabeth made no answer and without attempting to persuade her lady ship to return into the house walked quietly into it herself she heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded upstairs her mother impatiently met her at the door of her dressing room to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest her
self she did not choose it said her daughter she would go she is a very fine looking woman and her calling here was predic iously 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 meritan thought she might as well call on you I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you Lizzy Elizabeth was forced to give in a little falsehood here for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible chapter 5
7 the discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into could not be easily overcome nor could she for many hours learned 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 his being the intimate friend of Bing and her 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 neighbors 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 whi
ch she had looked forward to as possible at some future time in revolving lady Katherine'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 the marriage it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to her nephew and how he 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 she could do and it was certain that in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one 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 s
olid reasoning if he had been wavering before as to what he should do which had often seemed likely the advice and intreaty 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 if therefore an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a
few days 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 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 Bennett's curiosity and Elizabeth was spared from much t
easing on the subject 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 Lizzy said he I was going to look for you come into my room 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 explanation
s she followed her father to the fireplace and they both sat down he then said 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 Quest the color 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 un
determined 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 you look conscious young ladies have great penetration in such matters as these but I think I may defy even your sagacity to discover the name of your admirer this letter is from Mr Collins from Mr Collins and what can he have to say something very much to the purpose of course he begins with congratulations on the approaching nuptials o
f 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 Benne
tt after her eldest 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 can you possibly guess Lizzy who is meant by this this young gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way with everything 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 have you any idea Lizzy who this gentleman is but now it comes out my motive for cautioning you is as follows we have reason to imagine that his aunt Lady Katherine de Borg does not look on the match with a friendly eye Mr Darcy you see is the man now Lizzy I think I have surprised you could he or the lucases have pitched On Any Man within the circle of our acquaintance whose name would ha
ve 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 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 are you not diverted oh yes pray read on after mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last night she immediately with her usual conde
scension 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'm truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia
's sad business has been so well hushed up and and I'm 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 long born I should very strenuously have opposed it you ought certainly to forgive them as a Christi
an 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 situation and his expectation of a young Olive Branch but Lizzie you look as if you did not enjoy it you not going to be missish I hope and pretend to be affronted at an idle report for what do we live but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn oh cried Elizabeth I am exceedingly di
verted but it is so strange yes that is what makes it amusing had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothing but his perfect indifference and your pointed dislike make it so delightfully absurd much as I abominate writing I would not give up Mr Collins correspondence for any consideration nay when I read a letter of his I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickam much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law and pray Lizzy what said lady Catherine about th
is report did she call to refuse her consent 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 cruy 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 t
hat perhaps instead of his seeing too little she might have fancied too much Chapter 58 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 longor before many days had passed after lady Katherine's visit the gentleman arrived early and before Mrs Bennett 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 Bennett 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 too much afraid of him to talk Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution and perhaps he might be doing the same 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 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 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 Gardner was so little to be trusted 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 if you will 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 family owe me nothing much as I respect them I
believe I thought only of you 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 my affections and wishes are unchanged but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever 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 und
erstand 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 eyes 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 important she was to him made his affection every moment more valuable 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 learned 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 he
r journey to longor 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 Endeavors to obtain that promise from her nephew which she had refused to give but unluckily for her ladyship its effect had been exactly contrary wise 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 Elizabeth CED and laughed as she replied yes you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that after abusing you so abominably to your face I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations what did you say of me that I did not deserve for though your accusations were ill-founded formed o
n mistaken premises my behavior to you at the time had merited the severest Repro it was unpardonable I cannot think of it without abhorrence 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 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 confessed before I was reasonable enough to allow their Justice I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an impression I had not the smallest idea of there being ever felt in such a way I can easily believe bel
ieve it you thought me then devoid of every proper feeling I'm 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 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 Darcy mentioned his letter did it said he did it soon make you think better of me did you you on reading it give any credit to its cont
ents she explained what its effects on her had been and how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed 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 the 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 when I wrote that letter replied Dary I beli myself perfectly calm and cool but I am since convinced that it was written in a dreadful bitterness of spirit the letter perhaps began in bitterness but it did not end so the adue 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 fr
om 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 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 ignorance but with me it is not so painful Recollections will intrude which cannot which ought not to be repel
led 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 spoiled by my par 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 8 to 8 and 20 and such I might still have been but for you dearest loveliest Elizabeth what do I not owe you you told 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 plea
sed had you then persuaded yourself that I should indeed I had what will you think of my vanity I believed you to be wishing expecting my addresses my manners must have been in fault but not intentionally I assure you I I never meant to deceive you but my spirits might often Lead Me Wrong how you must have hated me after that evening hate you I was angry perhaps at first but my anger soon began to take a proper direction I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when we met at pembley
you blamed me for coming no indeed I felt nothing but surprise your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you my conscience told me that I deserve no extraordinary politeness and I confess that I did not expect to receive more than my due 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 attend
ed 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 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 Leed that his resolution of following her from darbishire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had Arisen from no oth
er struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend she expressed her gratitude again but it was too painful a subject to each to be dwelt on Father 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 what could have 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 earl
iest information of it I must ask whether you were surprised said Elizabeth not at all when I went away I felt that it would soon happen 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 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 i
mpertinent 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 Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his friend did you speak from your own observation said she when you told him that my sister sister loved him or merely from m
y information last spring from the former I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made her here and I was convinced of her affection and your Assurance of it I suppose carried immediate conviction to him 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 everything 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 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 chapter 59 my dear Lizzy where can you have been walking to was a question question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered the 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 s
he colored as she spoke but neither that nor anything else awakened a suspicion of the truth 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 overflow in mirth and Elizabeth agitated and Confused rather knew that she was happy than felt 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 at night she opened her heart to Jane though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennett's General habits she was absolutely incredulous here you are joking Lizzy this cannot be engage to Mr Darcy no no you shall not deceive me I know it to be impossible this is a wretched beginning indeed my sole dep
endence was on you and I'm 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 Jane looked at her doubtingly oh Lizzy it cannot be I know how much you dislike him you know nothing of the matter that 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 Miss Bennett still looked a
ll amazement Elizabeth again and more seriously assured her of its truth 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 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 very very very much nothing could giv
e 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 oh yes you will only think I feel more than I ought to do when I tell you all what do you mean well I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley I'm afraid you will be angry my dearest sister now be be serious I want to talk very seriously le
t me know everything that I'm to know without delay will you tell me how long you have loved him 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 pembley 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 Bennett had nothing further to wish now I 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 bingle'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 me how little did you tell me of what passed at Ply and Lampton I owe all that I know of it to another not to you Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy she had been unwilling to mention Bingley and the unsettl
ed 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 good gracious cried Mrs Bennett 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 an
d not disturb us with his company what shall we do with him Lizzie you must walk out with him again that he may not be in bingle's way 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 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 afterward said aloud Mrs Bennett have you no more Lanes hereabouts in w
hich Lizzie may lose her way again today I advise Mr Darcy and Lizzy and kitty said Mrs Bennett to walk to O Mount this morning it is a nice long walk and Mr Darcy has never seen the view it may do very well for the others replied Mr Bingley but I'm 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 upstairs to get ready Mrs Bennett followed he
r saying I am quite sorry Lizzy The 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 during their walk it was resolved that Mr Bennett's consent should be asked in the course of the evening Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mothers she could not determine how her mother would take it s
ometimes doubting whether that 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 vs of her disapprobation in the evening soon after Mr Bennett withdrew to the library she saw Mr Darcy rise also and fo
llow 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 she his favorite 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 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 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 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 have you any other objection said Elizabeth the your belief of my indifference 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 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 pay me by speaking of him in such terms Lizzie 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 you 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 you unable to respect your partner in life you know not what you are about Elizabeth still more affected was Earnest and solemn in her reply and at length by repeated assurances that Mr Darcy was really the obje
ct 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 but had stood the test of many month's suspense and enumerating with energy all his good qualities she did conquer her father's incredulity and reconcile him to the match 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 wor
thy to complete the favorable impression she then told him what Mr Darcy had volun arily done for Lydia he heard her with astonishment this is an evening of Wonders indeed and so Darcy did everything 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 would have paid him but these violent young lovers carry everything their own way I shall offer to pay him t
omorrow he will rant and storm about his love for you and there will be an end of the matter 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'm quite at leisure 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 oth
ers with tolerable composure everything was too recent for gayety 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 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 Bennett sat quite still and unable to utter a syllable nor was it under many many minutes that she could comprehen
d 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 good gracious Lord bless me only think dear me Mr Darcy who would 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 apologize for my having disliked him so much before I hope he will Overlook it dear dear Lizzy a house in town everything that is charming three daughters married 10,000 a year oh Lord what will become of me I shall go distracted this was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted and Elizabeth rejoicing that such an affusion Was Heard only by herself soon went away but before
she had been 3 minutes in her own room her mother followed her my dearest child she cried I can think of nothing else 10,000 a year and very likely more is as good as a Lord and a special license you must and shall be married by a special license but my dearest love tell me what dish Mr Darcy is particularly fond of that I may have it tomorrow this was a sad Omen of what her mother's Behavior to the gentleman himself might be and Elizabeth found that though in the certain possession of his warme
st affection and secure of her relations consent there was still something to be wished for but the morrow passed off much better than expected for Mrs Bennett 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 Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him and Mr Bennett soon assured her that he was Rising every hour in
his esteem I admire all my three sons-in-law highly said he Wickam perhaps is my favorite but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's chapter 60 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 you're going on charmingly when you had once made a beginning but what could set you off in the first place 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 had begun my beauty you had early withstood and as for my manners my behavior to you 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 for the liveliness of your mind I did 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 your approbation alone I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them 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 despise 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 know no actual good of me but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love was there no good in your affectionate Behavior to Jane while she was Ill at netherfield 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
quarreling 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 because you were grave and silent and gave me no encouragement but I was embarrassed and so was I you might have talked to me more when you came to dinner a man who had felt less might 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 would have gone on if you had been left to yourself I wonder when you would have spoken if I had not asked you my resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect too much 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 you need not distress yourself t
he moral will be perfectly Fair Lady Katherine's unjustifiable Endeavors 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 humor to wait for an opening of yours my aunt's intelligence had given me hope and I was determined at once to know everything Lady Katherine 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 n
etherfield for was it merely to ride to Long born and be embarrassed or had you intended any more serious consequences my real purpose was to see you 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 was still partial to Bingley and if she were to make the confession to him which I have since made shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her I am more likely to want 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 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 neglect did from an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr Darcy had been overrated Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs Gardner's long letter but now having that to communicate which she kne
w 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 I would have thanked you before my dear Aunt as I ought to have done for your long kind satisfaction detail of particulars but to say the truth I was too cross to write you supposed more than really existed but now suppose as much as you choose give a loose to your fancy indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will af
ford and unless you believe me actually married you cannot greatly he 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 no one with such Justice I am happier even than Jane she only smiles I laugh Mr Darcy se
nds you all the love in the world that can be spared from me you are all to come to pembley at Christmas yours Etc Mr dary's letter to Lady Katherine was in a different style and still different from either was what Mr Bennett sent to Mr Collins in return for his last dear sir 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 you're sincerely Etc
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 The Joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information was as sincere as her brothers in sending it fo
ur sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight and all her Earnest desire of being loved by her sister before any answer could arrive from Mr Collins or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife the longor 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 g
et 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 meet
ing frequently at St James's with very decent composure if he did shrug his shoulders it was not till s William was out of sight 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 Humor encouraged yet whenever she did 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 Eli
zabeth 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 th
eir family party at pembley chapter 61 happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs Bennett got rid of her two most deserving daughters with what delighted Pride she afterwards visited Mrs Bingley and talked of Mrs Darcy maybe guested 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 th
ough 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 Mr Bennett missed his second daughter exceedingly his affection for her Drew him oftener from home than anything else could do he delighted in going to pembley especially when he was least expected Mr Bingley and Jane remained at netherfield only a 12- month so near a vicinity to her mother and maritan relations was not desirabl
e even to his easy temper or her affectionate heart the darling wish of his sisters was then gratified he bought an estate in a neighboring County to darbishire and Jane and Elizabeth in addition to every other source of Happiness were within 30 Mi of each other 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 fro
m 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 Mary was the only daughter who remained at home and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs Bennett's bein
g 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 sister's Beauty and her own it was suspected by her father that she admitted to the change without much reluctance as for Wickam 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 hi
s ingratitude and falsehood had before been unknown to her and in spite of everything was not holy 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 my dear Lizzy I wish you Joy if you love Mr Darcy half so well as I do my dear Wickham you must be very happy it is a great comfort to h
ave you so rich and when you have nothing else to do I hope you will think of us I am sure Wickam 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 400 a year but however do not speak to Mr Darcy about it if you had rather not yours Etc as it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not she endeavored in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind such relief howe
ver as it was in her power to afford by the practice of what might be called economy in her own private expenses she frequent quently 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 thei
r 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 though Darcy could never receive him at pembley yet for Elizabeth's sake he assist
ed him further in his profession Lydia was occasionally a visitor there when her husband hband was gone to enjoy himself in London or bath and with the Bingley they both of them frequently stayed so long that even bingle's Good Humor was overcome and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage but as she thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at pembley she dropped all her resentment was fond than ever o
f Georgiana almost as attentive to Darcy as here to and paid off every AER of Civility to Elizabeth pembley 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 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 10 years younger than himself Lady Katherine 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 offense 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 pembley in spite of
that pollution which its Woods had received D not merely from the presence of such a mistress but the visits of her uncle and Aunt from the city with the gardeners 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 darbishire had been the means of uniting them the end this concludes this reading of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin if you enjoyed it please
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I must confess to being very pleasantly surprised by this reading. The voices were very good.
I love the photographs contained in this video..am enjoying my first AI listen !
Great job. I appreciate the amount of work put into this video. Keep it up !
Let the gentle lullaby of the night soothe everyone's weary souls. Embrace the darkness, for it holds the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Sweet dreams. UCkszU2WH9gy1mb0dV-11UJg/m8MfY4jbFsWJhL0PyouA2AkUCkszU2WH9gy1mb0dV-11UJg/m8MfY4jbFsWJhL0PyouA2AkUCkszU2WH9gy1mb0dV-11UJg/m8MfY4jbFsWJhL0PyouA2Ak
Thankyou for this beautiful long story UCkszU2WH9gy1mb0dV-11UJg/m8MfY4jbFsWJhL0PyouA2Ak
Glad I found this version
I love full voices audibooks!
These ads are killing it for me. Dors anyone here pay for youtube with no ads??
I want to thank you for a great job. I don't know how you did it, but it's great. I was very pleased with the professional subtitles. This makes it very easy to read. Many bloggers with millions of audiences don’t do this, but you tried. Thank you! I was also pleased with the pictures, especially nature. Some I'd love to hang on my wall! You did a great job!
A walk to remember ❤
This is actually very good and a lot easier to understand than the librovox version
no AI generated content for me, Thanks
I suppah love it❤
Ready for more Austen? Check out our full Jane Austen playlist, including Emma and more: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfauLGZOPKpt49xXmwWawmYR_pLkyrqk
5:13 The narration doesn't sound AI, I can even hear Mr. Bennett breath Don't know how it's done, but the others that use AI need to know the secret, the others I've heard sound awful Thanks for sharing
Mrs. Bennett is not annoying and neurotic enough. Her voice is too sensible. That's my bit of input, as a Brit.
4:51:57
Add subtitle please
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