BOOKS IN THE WORLD

Chapter 1.

IIt is a universally accepted truth that a single man with good wealth will definitely want a wife.

However little may be known the feelings or thoughts of such a person when he first enters the neighbourhood, the fact is so well established in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the real property of one or other of their daughters. ,

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” his lady said to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park has been let at last?{2},

Mr. Bennett replied that he had not.

“But it is,” she returned; "Because Mrs. Long just got here, and she told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet made no reply.

“Don’t you want to know who took it?” His wife shouted impatiently.

“  You  want to tell me, and I don't mind hearing it.”

"He came down to see the place."

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

This was invitation enough.

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield has been taken by a very rich young man from the north of England; He came in four carriages on Monday to see the place, and was so pleased with it that he immediately agreed with Mr. Morris; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and that some of his servants will be in the house by the end of the following week.{3},

"What is his name?"

"Bingley."

"Is he married or single?"

“Oh, single, my dear, of course! A single man of great fortune; Four or five thousand per year. What a great thing for our girls!”

“How so?  How could it affect them?”

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tired? You should know that I am thinking of marrying one of them.

"Does he intend to settle here?"

“Design?  Nonsense, how can you do such a thing!  But it is very possible that she may fall in love with one of them   and so you should meet her as soon as she arrives.”

“I don't see any opportunity for it. You and the girls can go - or you can send them yourself, which would probably be even better; "Since you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley will like you the best at the party."

“My dear, you flatter me. Certainly I have my share of beauty  ,  but I no longer pretend to be anything extraordinary. When a woman has five grown daughters, she should stop thinking about her beauty.

"In such cases, a woman often doesn't have much beauty to think about."

"But, my dear, you really ought to go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes to the neighbourhood."

“It is much more than what I am attached to, I assure you.”

“But consider your daughters. Just imagine what a setup it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go for this reason alone; Normally, you know, they don't make any new journeys.{4}Coming. Truly you must go, because if you do not go it will be impossible for us  to meet them  .”

“Surely you are being more honest than necessary. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very pleased to see you; And I will send a few lines from you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever of the girls he pleases—although I must say a good word for my little Lizzie.

“I want you not to do anything like this. Lizzie is not a little better than the others: and I am sure she is not half so pretty as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you   are always giving preference to him .

“They have nothing to recommend them,” he replied: “They are stupid and ignorant, like all the other girls; But Lizzie has more agility than her sisters.”

"Mr.  Bennet, how can you abuse your own children like this?  You take pleasure in tormenting me.  You have no pity on my poor nerves.

“You mistake me, my dear. I have great respect for your feelings. He is my old friend. I have at least heard you mention him thoughtfully these past twenty years.”

"Ah, you don't know what hurts me."

"But I hope you'll get over it, and live to see four thousand young people come into the neighborhood every year."

“Even if twenty such people come, we will not get any benefit, because you will not go to meet them.”

“Count on it, my dear, that when they turn twenty, I will come to meet them all.”

Mr. Bennet was such a strange mixture of quick wit, sarcastic humor, restraint, and capriciousness that three-twenty years' experience was insufficient for him.{5}Explain his character to his wife.  Developing  his mind was less difficult. She was a woman of mean understanding, little knowledge and uncertain nature. When she was dissatisfied, she felt like she was nervous. His life's work was to marry off his daughters: its consolation was visits and news.

Mister  . &  Mrs. bennett

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

{6}

 I hope Mr. Bingley likes it.

lesson Two.

R. The Bennets were among the first to wait on Mr. Bingley. He always intended to visit them, although to the end he always convinced his wife that he should not go; And he had no information about it till the evening after the meeting was over. Then it was revealed this way. Seeing his second daughter engaged in cutting a hat, he suddenly said to her, -

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzie."

"We are not able to know  what Mr. Bingley  likes," said her mother displeasedly, "because we are not supposed to meet."{7},

“But you forget, mother,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him at the Assembly, and Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.”

“I don't believe Mrs. Long would do something like that. He has two nieces. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman and I have no opinion about her.

“I have no more,” said Mr. Bennet; "And I'm glad to hear that you are not dependent on his services."

Mrs. Bennet determined not to answer; But, unable to control himself, he started scolding one of his daughters.

“For God's sake, don't cough so much, kitty! Have some mercy on my nerves. You cut them into pieces.”

"Kitty has no discretion in her cough," said her father; "She makes them sick."

"I don't cough for my own amusement," Kitty replied irritably. "When's your next ball, Lizzie?"

“Fortnight tomorrow.”

“Oh, so it is,” cried his mother, “and Mrs. Long doesn't come back till a day before; Therefore, it would be impossible for her to introduce him, as she herself would not know him.”

"Then, my dear, you may take advantage of your friend, and   introduce Mr. Bingley to him ."

“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; How can you be so annoying?”

“I respect your caution. A fortnight's introduction is certainly too little. By the end of a fortnight one cannot know what a person really is. But if  we  don't venture someone else will; And at last, Mrs. Long and her nieces must get their chance; And so,{8}Since she will consider it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it upon myself.

The girls started looking towards their father. Mrs. Bennet simply said, "Nonsense, nonsense!"

"What could that loud exclamation mean?" he cried. “Do you consider the forms of introduction and the stress placed on them to be nonsense?  I can't completely agree with you  there . What do you say, Mary? Because I know you are a young woman who thinks deeply, and reads great books, and extracts quotes.”

Mary wanted to say something very wise, but didn't know how.

"While Mary is adjusting her thoughts," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley."

"I'm fed up with Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.

 " Sorry to hear  that ;  but why didn't you tell me earlier?  If I had known so much this morning, I certainly wouldn't have called him.  This is very unfortunate;  but as I have actually visited, now we Can't avoid introduction.

The surprise of the ladies was exactly what he wanted – Mrs. Bennet's surprise was perhaps better than the rest; However when the first noises of happiness died down, she began to declare that this was what she had always expected.

“How nice of you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew that I must convince you eventually. I was sure you loved your girls too much to ignore such an acquaintance. Well, how happy I am! And it's such a good joke that you should have gone away this morning and not said a word about it until now."

"Now, Kitty, you can cough as much as you like," said Mr. Bennet; And, as he spoke, he left the room, tired of his wife's enthusiasm.{9}

“What a wonderful father you have, girls,” she said as the door closed. “I don't know how you will atone for his kindness; Or me too, for that matter. In our time of life, I can tell you, it is not so pleasant to make new acquaintances every day; But for your sake we will do anything. Lydia, my dear, although you are the youngest   , I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.

“Oh,” said Lydia firmly, “I am not afraid;  though I am the youngest   , yet I am the tallest.”

The remainder of the evening was spent in estimating how soon he would come to see Mr. Bennet, and determining when he should ask him to dinner.

"I'm the tallest{10},

He was riding on a black horse.

Chapter III.

However, whatever Mrs. Bennet, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject was enough to get any satisfactory account of Mr. Bingley from her husband. They attacked him in various ways, with naked questions, simple conjectures, and far-fetched speculations; But he escaped them all cleverly; and there they were{11}At last he was forced to accept second-hand intelligence from his neighbour, Lady Lucas. His report was very favourable. Sir William was very pleased with him. He was quite young, astonishingly handsome, extremely amiable, and, on the whole, meant to be with a large party at the next gathering. Nothing could be more fun than this! Being fond of dancing was a sure step towards falling in love; and the very liveliest hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.

Mrs. Bennet told her husband, "If I could see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, and all the rest equally well married, I would have nothing to wish for. "

In a few days Mr. Bingley came back to see Mr. Bennet and sat with him for about ten minutes in his library. He had hoped to see the young women about whose beauty he had heard so much; But he saw only his father. The women were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of discovering from an upper window that he wore a blue coat and was riding a black horse.

A dinner invitation was sent out soon after; And Mrs. Bennet had already planned the courses that would do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer came which postponed everything. Mr. Bingley had to be in town the next day, and was consequently unable to accept the honor of his invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disappointed. She could not imagine what business she might have in the city so soon after her arrival in Hertfordshire; And he began to fear that he would always be flying from place to place, and would never settle down in Netherfield as he should have. Lady Lucas allayed his fears a little by introducing the idea of{12}

"When the party entered"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Going to London only to have a big party for the ball; And soon a report came that Mr. Bingley was to bring with him twelve ladies and seven gentlemen to the meeting. Girls were sad at this number{13}Ladies; But he was consoled to hear the day before the ball that instead of twelve, he had brought from London only six, his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the drawing-room, it consisted only of five in all: Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was a good-looking and gentlemanly man: he had a pleasant face and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women of definite fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, looked like only a gentleman; But his friend Mr. Darcy soon attracted the attention of the room by his handsome, tall figure, handsome countenance, good manners, and the report, which was in general circulation within five minutes of his entrance, that he had every year There are ten thousand. The gentlemen declared him to be a fine man, the ladies declared that he was much more handsome than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked upon with great admiration until about half the evening, until his behavior was filled with disgust. What happened changed the situation. his popularity; Because he was found to be arrogant, above his own company, and above being pleased; And all his large estate in Derbyshire could not save him from having a most forbidding, unpleasant countenance, and worthy of comparison with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself known to all the principal people in the room: he was lively and uninterested, kept up every dance, was angry at the ball closing so early, and talked of giving one to himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities should speak for themselves. What a difference there is between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, refusing to be introduced{14}some other woman, and spent the rest of the evening wandering about the room, occasionally talking to someone on his own side. His character had been decided. He was the most arrogant, most unpleasant man in the world and everyone expected him never to be there again. Among those most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general conduct was expressed in special resentment by his insulting one of her daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had to sit for two dances due to the lack of gentlemen; And during that time, Mr. Darcy was standing close enough to overhear the conversation between her and Mr. Bingley, who had come from the dance for a few minutes and was pressing his friend to join in.

“Come, Darcy,” she said, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing alone like this foolishly. You danced much better.”

“I definitely won't. You know how much I hate it, unless I'm particularly familiar with my partner. In such a meeting, it would not be supportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is no woman in the room with whom standing would not be a punishment for me.”

Bingley cried, "For a kingdom I would not be so picky as you!" On my honor, I have never met such pleasant girls in my life as I did this evening; And many of them are, you see, unusually beautiful."

"  You  are dancing with the only pretty girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

“Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen!{15}But she has a sister sitting right behind you, who is very beautiful, and I bet, very attractive. Allow me to ask my partner to introduce you.”

"He is tolerable"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

"what do you mean?" And turning, he looked at Elizabeth for a moment, until, catching her glance, he withdrew his glance, and said in a cold tone, "She is tolerable: but so pretty to tempt me." No   ;  and I am not at present in the humor to give results to young women who are despised by other men.  You had better get back to yourself{16}Be friendly and enjoy her smile, because you're wasting your time with me."

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy went away; And Elizabeth had no very cordial feelings towards him. However, he told the story with great enthusiasm among his friends; Because she had a lively, playful nature, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

Overall the evening was enjoyable for the entire family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter greatly admired at the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice and her sisters had distinguished her. Jane was as satisfied with this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's happiness. Mary had heard herself referred to by Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; And Catherine and Lydia were so fortunate that they never had to be without partners, it was all they had ever learned to take care of a ball. So, they returned in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and where they were prominent residents. They find Mr. Bennet still awake. With a book, he was without regard to time; And on the present occasion he was very curious about the event of that evening which had given rise to such wonderful expectations. He hoped that all his wife's thoughts towards the stranger would be disappointed; But she soon discovers that she has a very different story to hear.

"Oh, my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we had a very delightful evening, a very excellent ball. I  wish you had been there.  Jane was so praised, nothing could be better .  Everyone said how good she looked;  and Mr. Bingley thought her quite pretty, and danced with her twice.  Just  think of  her , my dear: she{17}Actually danced with her twice; And she was the only creature in the room whom he asked a second time. First he asked Miss Lucas. I was very upset to see him standing with her; But, still, he did not admire her at all; Really, no one can, you know; And he seemed quite impressed with Jane while she was dancing. So he inquired who she was, and received introductions, and asked her about the next two. Then, at two thirds he danced with Miss King, and at two fourths with Maria Lucas, and at two fifths again with Jane, and at two sixths with Lizzie and  Boulanger--  "

“If she  had any pity for me  ,” cried her husband impatiently, “she would not have danced so much! For God's sake, don't say anything else about her partners. Oh, she sprained her ankle at the first dance!”

“Oh, my dear,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “I am very pleased with her. She is very beautiful! And his sisters are attractive women. I have never seen anything more beautiful than her dresses in my life. I dare say the lace on Mrs. Hurst's gown———”

Here he was interrupted again. Mr. Bennett objected to any description of the decoration. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy with much bitterness of feeling and some exaggeration.

“But I can assure you,” she continued, “that Lizzie  loses not much by not being to her liking  ; Because he's an extremely unpleasant, horrible man, not at all worth pleasing. So loud and so arrogant, that no one could bear him! He walked here, and he walked there, thinking of himself as very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you were there, my dear, giving him one of your set-downs. I hate that man so much.{18},

Chapter IV.

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, Jane, who had previously been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley, told her sister how much she admired him.

“He is exactly as a young man should be,” she said, “sensible, good-natured, lively; And I have never seen such a happy demeanor! So easy, with such great good breeding!”

“He is handsome too,” replied Elizabeth, “as a young man should be, if possible.” In this way his character is complete.”

“I was very pleased when he asked me to dance for the second time. I did not expect such praise.”

"Didn't you?  I  did for you.  But that's a big difference between us.  Compliments  always  surprise you,   never  me . What could be more natural than him asking you out again?  He can't help but look at you. couldn't{19}She was about five times more beautiful than every other woman in the room. No thanks to his bravery for this. Well, she certainly is very agreeable, and I give you permission to like her. You've liked a lot of stupid people."

"Dear Lizzie!"

“Oh, you know, you're usually very capable of liking people. You never find fault in anyone. In your eyes all the people of the world are good and friendly. I have never heard you speak bad about any person in my life.”

“I would like not to be hasty in condemning anyone; But I always speak what I think.”

“I know you do: and that  is  what creates wonder.  With  your good sense , being so conscientiously ignorant of the follies and nonsense of others! The candor effect is quite common; One meets him everywhere. But being candid without pretension or pretense, embracing the good in everyone's character and making it even better, and saying nothing about the bad, depends only on you. And so, do you like this guy's sisters too? Their manners are not like theirs.”

“Certainly not, at first; But when you talk to them they are very happy women. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep his house; And I'd be very wrong if we didn't find a very attractive neighbor in there."

Elizabeth listened quietly, but was not convinced: his behavior at the meeting was not generally pleasing; and with greater acuteness of observation and less delicacy of disposition than her sister, and with judgment, without drawing any attention to herself, she was much less inclined to acknowledge them. In fact, they were very nice women; When he was happy he was neither lacking in good humor nor in strength.{20}to agree where they chose to do so; But arrogant and proud. He was quite handsome; Was educated at one of the first private madrassas in the city; had property worth twenty thousand pounds; He had a habit of spending excessively and associating with high-ranking people; And so, they were entitled to think good about themselves and bad about others in every case. He was from a respectable family in the north of England; One circumstance made an even stronger impression on his memories than the fact that his brother and his property were acquired by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited a fortune of almost a million pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate but did not live to do so. Mr. Bingley also intended the same, and sometimes chose his county; But, since he was now provided with a good house and the freedom of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the naturalness of his nature, whether he would live out the remainder of his days at Netherfield. Will not spend, and will leave. To buy the next generation.

His sisters were very concerned about his own property; But although he was now established only as a lodger, Miss Bingley was by no means prepared to preside at his table; Nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less interested in taking his house as her own when it suited her. Mr. Bingley was not yet two years old when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to see Netherfield House. He watched it for half an hour and in that too; Was pleased with the condition and the main rooms, was satisfied with what the owner said in praise of it, and took it immediately.

There was a lot of stability between him and Darcy{21}Friendship, despite great opposition of character. Bingley was Darcy's favorite because of the simplicity, openness and flexibility of his nature, although no temperament could be more contrary to his own, and with his own temperament he never seemed dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's honour, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and the highest opinion of his judgment. In understanding, Darcy was superior. Bingley was not lacking in any way; But Darcy was clever. He was arrogant, shy and picky at the same time; And his manners, though well mannered, were not inviting. His friend benefited a lot in that regard. Bingley was sure that wherever he appeared he would be liked; Darcy was continuously committing crimes.

The way he talked about the Meryton Assembly was quite typical. Bingley had never met cheerful people or beautiful girls in his life; Everyone was extremely kind and attentive to him; There was no formality, no rigidity; Soon he felt familiar with the whole room; And as for Miss Bennet, he could not have imagined a more beautiful fairy. On the contrary, Darcy had seen a group of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he felt the slightest interest, and from none he received either attention or Only happiness. He acknowledged that Miss Bennet was beautiful; But she smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed this to happen; But still they admired her and liked her, and described her as a lovely girl, and one whom they should have no objection to getting to know more about. So Miss Bennet was established as a lovely girl; And his brother felt entitled by such praise to think of him as he chose.{22}

Chapter V.

A short distance from Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennetts were particularly close. Sir William Lucas formerly traded in Meryton, where he had built up a tolerable estate, and rose to the honor of knighthood by addressing the King during his mayorship. Perhaps, this distinction was felt too keenly. This made him disgusted with his profession and his residence in a small market town; and, leaving both of them, he went with his family to a house about a mile from Maryton, which was then Lucas Lodge; where he can think with pleasure of his own importance, and, free from business, occupy himself with being civilized to the whole world. For, though he was pleased with his position, it did not make him arrogant; On the contrary, he paid close attention to everyone. Inoffensive, friendly and obliging by nature, his presentation at St James's had humbled him.

Lady Lucas was a very nice lady, not like that{23}Clever enough to be Mrs. Bennet's valuable neighbor. He had many children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman of about twenty-seven years of age, was a close friend of Elizabeth.

It was absolutely necessary for Miss Lucases and Miss Bennets to meet to talk at a ball; And the morning after the meeting the former was brought to Longbourn to hear and communicate.

"  You've  made a good start to the evening, Charlotte," said Mrs. Bennet, with civil self-command, to Miss Lucas. "  You  were Mr. Bingley's first choice."

"Yes;  but he seemed to like his second one better."

"Oh, I mean you mean Jane, because he danced with her twice.  To be sure he  made it  seem as if he admired her - in fact, I believe he  did  - I have heard something about—but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Robinson.

“Perhaps you mean what I heard between him and Mr. Robinson: did I not mention it to you? Mr. Robinson asked him how he liked our Maryton assembly, and did he not think that there were a lot of beautiful women in the room, and  who  did he think the most beautiful? And his immediate reply to the last question was, 'Oh, the greatest Miss Bennet, no doubt: there can be no two opinions on that point.' ,

“On my word!  Well, it was pretty much decided, really – it seems – but, however, it may not be all that, you know.

Charlotte said, "  Eliza,  my words were more objective than yours   ." "Mr.  Darcy is not worth listening to like his friend, is he?  Poor Eliza!  Only  tolerable  ."

"I beg you won't put it into Lizzie's mind{24}I am troubled by his misbehavior, for he is such an unpleasant man that it would be quite a misfortune to like him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat near her for half an hour without opening his lips.

"Without opening your lips even once"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

“Are you absolutely sure, madam? Isn’t it a small mistake?” Jane said. "I have certainly seen Mr. Darcy talking to her."

“Hey, because after all he asked her how she felt{25}Netherfield, and he could not help answering her; But she said he seemed very angry when we talked to him.”

“Miss Bingley tells me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much except to his close acquaintances.   With  them he is remarkably agreeable.

“I don't believe a word of it, my dear. If he had agreed so much, he would have spoken to Mrs. Long. But I can imagine what it was like; Everyone says he eats with pride, and I dare say he had somehow heard that Mrs. Long did not keep a carriage, and she had to come to the ball in a hack carriage.

Miss Lucas said, "I don't mind him not talking to Mrs. Long, but I wish he had danced with Eliza."

"Another time, Lizzie," said her mother, "  if I were you I  wouldn't dance with him."

"I believe, madam, I can safely promise you that you  will never  dance with him."

Miss Lucas said, "His pride  does not hurt me  as much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it.  One cannot wonder that such a good young man, who had family, fortune, everything on his side, He thinks very well of himself.  If I can express it, he  has a right to be proud  .

"That is quite true," replied Elizabeth, "and I   could easily forgive  his arrogance, if he  had not offended mine ."

“Pride,” said Mary, who pleased herself at the soundness of her views, “I believe it to be a very common failing.  Everything I have read so far has convinced me that that this is very common indeed;  human nature is especially prone to it, and there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-satisfaction in respect of some quality, real or imaginary.  Vanity and Arrogance are different things, although these words are often{26}Used synonymously. A person can be arrogant without being arrogant. Pride has more to do with our opinion of ourselves; The pride that we have about what others think of us.”

“If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas, who had come with his sisters, “I should not care how proud I was.  I would have a pack of foxtails and a bottle of wine every day I will drink.

"Then you'll drink more than you should," said Mrs. Bennet. "And if I see you do that, I'll take your bottle straight away."

The boy protested that he should not do so; She kept declaring that she would do so; And this debate ended with the meeting itself.

{27}

Chapter VI.

Her Majesty's ladies of Longbourn soon became the ladies in waiting of Netherfield. The journey was returned in proper form. Miss Bennet's pleasing behavior grew out of the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; And although the mother was found intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth talking to, yet a desire to become better acquainted with them   was expressed to  the two eldest sisters. This attention was received with great pleasure by Jane; But Elizabeth still found his behavior exaggerated towards everyone, even her sister, and she did not like him; Although his kindness towards Jane, such as it was, had a value which arose, perhaps, from the influence of his brother's admiration. It was generally obvious that he  admired her  whenever they met ; And  it was equally clear to him  that Jane was yielding to the preference which he had from the beginning assumed for her, and was, in a way, very much in love; But she thought with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, because Jane was united with great strength of feeling, sobriety of temperament, and uniform cheerfulness of behaviour, which would protect{28}Suspecting him of impudence. She mentioned it to her friend Miss Lucas.

“It might, perhaps, be pleasant,” replied Charlotte, “to be able to impose upon the public in such a case; But sometimes being so protective is harmful. If a woman conceals her affection from its object with the same skill, she may lose the opportunity of healing him; And then it would be a weak consolation to consider the world equally in darkness. In almost every attachment there is so much gratitude or pride that it is not safe to leave any one to yourself.  We can  all start independently  —a little preference is quite natural; But very few of us have the heart to truly love without encouragement.  In nine cases out of ten, it is better to show  a woman more affection than she feels. Bingley undoubtedly likes your sister; But if she doesn't help him, he can never do anything like her."

“But she helps him, as much as her nature will allow. If  I  can understand his respect for her, he must be a really ordinary person who doesn't even discover it.

"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's nature as well as you do."

“But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not try to hide it, then she must find out.”

“Maybe he will, if he sees enough of her. Although Bingley and Jane meet frequently, it is never together for several hours; And as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible to employ every moment in conversing together. So Jane must make the most of every half hour in which he can get her attention. When she is safe from him, she will be free to love him as much as she wants.{29},

“Your plan is a good one,” replied Elizabeth, “where nothing is in question except the desire to be well married; And if I am determined to get a rich husband, or any husband at all, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; It is not working according to plan. Yet she cannot be sure of her own degree of self-respect or even of its rationality. She has known him only for a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Maryton; She saw him at his home one morning, and since then she has dined with him four times. This is not enough to understand his character.

“Not as you represent it. If she only ate with him   , she would only know whether he had a good appetite or not; But you must remember that it is also four evenings spent together—and four evenings can do a lot.”

"Yes: these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both liked Winged-uns better than Comers, but as to any other principal characteristic, I do not think much has come to light. "

“Well,” said Charlotte, “I wish Jane success with all my heart;  and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as she would have had within a twelvemonth. Until you are studying her character.  Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.  If the nature of the parties is so well known to each other, or already so similar, it will at least contribute to their happiness. Doesn't move forward.  Later on they always grow so much that they have to face their own troubles;  and it is better to know as little as possible about the faults of the person with whom you have to spend your life.{30},

“You make me laugh, Charlotte; But this is not the sound. You know this isn't right, and you would never act this way yourself."

Elizabeth, busy with Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, had no idea that she herself was becoming an object of interest in her friend's eyes. Mr. Darcy had at first hardly allowed her to look pretty: he had looked at her without admiring the ball; And when they next met, he looked at her only to criticize. But as soon as he made it clear to himself and his friends that there were hardly any good features in his face, he began to think that the beautiful expression of his dark eyes made it unusually intelligent. There were other equally disastrous successes in this quest. Although he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, yet he was forced to confess that her portrait was light and pleasing; And despite her claims that her mannerisms were not those of the fashionable world, he was taken by her effortless playfulness. Of this she was absolutely unaware: to her he was only a man who had not suited himself anywhere, and who she did not think handsome enough to dance with.

He began to desire to know more about her; And, as a step toward interacting with him yourself, participated in his conversations with others. Her doing this attracted his attention. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party had assembled.

"What does Mr. Darcy mean," she said to Charlotte, "by overhearing my conversation with Colonel Forster?"

"That is a question only Mr. Darcy can answer."

“But if he does it again, I'll definitely let him know I see what he's doing. he has a lot{31}A sarcastic look, and if I don't start with audacity myself, I'll soon be afraid of him.”

"The Appeal of Many" [  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Coming to them soon afterwards, though with no intention of speaking, Miss Lucas forbade her friend to mention such a subject, which immediately provoked Elizabeth to do so, she turned to him and said, -

"Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself unusually well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster about giving us a ball at Maryton?"

“With great energy; But this is a topic that always energizes a woman.{32},

"You're hard on us."

Miss Lucas said, "Soon  it will be his  turn to be teased." "I'm going to open the device, Eliza, and you know what happens next."

“You are such a strange creature as a friend!—always wanting me to play and sing in front of anyone! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been priceless; But as it is, I wouldn't really want to sit in front of people who should be used to hearing the best performers. However, at Miss Lucas's persistence he said, “Very well; If it must happen, it must happen.” and looking seriously at Mr. Darcy, "There's a very good old saying, with which everybody here is familiar – 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge,' – and I'll keep my breath to raise your song." "

His performance was pleasing, though by no means great. After a song or two, and before she could respond to the entreaty of many that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded on the instrument by her sister Mary, who, in consequence of being the only soloist in the family, Work done. He was determined to achieve knowledge and achievements and was always impatient to perform.

Mary had neither talent nor taste; And though vanity had applied to her, it had also given her an equally pedantic air and an arrogant manner, which would have been much more detrimental to the level of excellence to which she had reached. Elizabeth, spontaneous and unaffected, listened with much pleasure, although she was not playing so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concert, was delighted to be praised and gratified by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who eagerly joined in the dance with some lucas and two or three officers. One end of the room.{33}

Mr. Darcy, abandoning all conversation, stood beside them in silent indignation at the way the evening had passed, and was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he did not realize that Sir William Lucas was his neighbor, until Sir William said so. Not started :—

“What a charming entertainment this is for young people, Mr. Darcy! There's nothing like dancing, after all. I consider it one of the first improvements of sophisticated societies.

"Certainly, sir;  and it also has the advantage that it is in vogue in the less refined societies of the world: every savage can dance."

Sir William just smiled. After a pause, he said, watching Bingley join the group, "Your friend performs with pleasure." "And I have no doubt that you are adept at the sciences yourself, Mr. Darcy."

"You saw me dancing at Meryton, I believe, sir."

“Yes, indeed, and did not get any particular pleasure from this scene. “Do you often dance at St. James’s?”

"Never sir."

“Don’t you think that would be a fitting compliment to the place?”

"That's a compliment I would never pay in any place if I could avoid it."

“You have a house in town, I conclude?”

Mr. Darcy bowed.

“I once had the idea of ​​settling in the city myself, as I am fond of better society; But I was not entirely sure that the London air would agree with Lady Lucas.

He paused in hope of an answer: but his companion was unwilling to say anything; And at that very moment Elizabeth was moving towards them, he collided with her{34}The idea of ​​doing a very heroic deed, and called out to him, -

“My dear Miss Eliza, why aren't you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable companion. I'm sure you can't refuse to dance when you have so much beauty in front of you."  And, taking her by the hand, he gave it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was unwilling to take it, When she immediately withdrew, and said to Sir William with some dismay, -

“Actually sir, I have no intention of dancing at all. I beg you not to think that I have gone this way to beg for a companion.”

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested permission to take the honor from her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; Nor did Sir William move his purpose by his efforts at persuasion.

“You are so excellent at dancing, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you; And although this gentleman does not generally like entertainment, I am sure he can have no objection to obliging us for half an hour.”

" Darcy is perfectly polite," said Mr.  Elizabeth, smiling.

“He really is: but considering the temptation, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his decency; Who would object to such a companion?”

Elizabeth glanced sideways and turned away. Her resistance had not hurt him with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some decency, when Miss Bingley rebuked him thus, -

"I can guess the object of your reverence."

"I shouldn't imagine."

"You are considering how unbearable it would be{35}To spend many evenings like this,—in such society; And, actually, I absolutely agree with your opinion. I've never been more angry! The dullness of all these people, and yet the noiselessness, and yet the self-importance! How will I listen to your strictness on them!”

“Your guess is completely wrong, I assure you. My mind was more favorably engaged. I'm meditating on the great pleasure that two good eyes can give to a beautiful woman's face."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired him to tell her which lady had the credit for inspiring such thoughts. Mr. Darcy replied boldly,-

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" Over and over Miss Bingley. “I am completely surprised. Since when has she been such a favourite? And pray when will I wish you happiness?”

“That's exactly the question I expected you to ask. A woman's imagination is very strong; It goes from admiration to love, love to marriage in an instant. I knew you would be wishing for my happiness.”

“No, if you are so serious about it, I will consider the matter completely resolved. You will have a really charming mother-in-law, and of course she will always be with you at Pemberley.

She listened to him with complete indifference, while he chose to entertain himself in this manner; And as his patience assured him that everything was safe, his wisdom began to flow.{36}

A note for Miss Bennet.

Chapter VII.

R. Bennet's estate consisted almost entirely of an estate of two thousand per annum, which, unfortunately for his daughters, vested in default of a male heir in a distant relation; and his mother's fortune, though sufficient for his station in life, could not compensate for his want. his father was a{37}solicitor at Meryton, and he had left her four thousand pounds.

One of his sisters was married to Mr. Phillips, who was his father's clerk and succeeded him in his business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable field of business.

The village of Longbourn was only a mile from Meryton; The most convenient distance for young ladies, who were usually tempted three or four times a week to pay their duty to their aunt and visit a milliner's shop on the way. The two youngest children of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were especially frequent visitors to these meditations: their minds were more vacant than those of their sisters, and when nothing better was to be found, their morning hours were entertained. A trip to Maryton was necessary to conduct and present the conversation. Evening; And, generally, no matter how deprived of news the country was, he always managed to learn something from his aunt. Presently, indeed, the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood brought him both good news and joy; It was to last throughout the winter and its headquarters was at Meryton.

His meetings with Mrs. Phillips now resulted in the most interesting information. Every day something or the other was added to his knowledge about the names and connections of the officers. His residences did not remain a secret for long, and he eventually became known to the authorities himself. Mr. Phillips visited them all, and this opened up to his nieces a source of happiness previously unknown. They could not talk about anything other than the authorities; and Mr. Bingley's large estate, the mention of which excited his mother, was worthless in his eyes as opposed to the regimental disposition of a flag.{38}

One morning after hearing his views on the subject, Mr. Bennet said calmly, -

“From what I could gather from the way you talk, you are two of the stupidest girls in the country. I had my suspicions about it for some time, but now I'm convinced."

Catherine was dismayed and did not reply; But Lydia continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter with all indifference, and expressed her hope of meeting him during the day, as he was going to London the next morning.

“I wonder, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you are so ready to think your children fools. However, if I want to think even a little bit about someone's kids, it shouldn't be about my own kids.

"If my children are foolish, I must hope that I will always be wise."

“Yes;  but as it happens, they are all very clever.”

“This is the only point on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments would coincide in every respect, but I differ so far from you in considering my two youngest daughters as unusually stupid.

“My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the understanding of their father and mother. When they grow up to our age, I dare say they will think no more of the authorities than we do. I remember a time when I loved the red coat—and indeed, I still do at heart; And if any intelligent young colonel, with an income of five or six thousand a year, wants one of my girls, I will not refuse him; And I thought Colonel Forster looked very good that night in Sir William's regiment.{39},

"Mother," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not visit Miss Watson as often as they did when they first came;  now she often sees them standing in Clark's library."

At the footman's entrance Mrs. Bennet was prevented from answering with a note for Miss Bennet; It came from Netherfield, and the servant was waiting for a reply. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with joy, and she called out anxiously, while her daughter read, -

“Well, Jane, who is it? What is this about? what does he say? Well, Jane, hurry up and tell us; “Hurry up, my dear.”

"This is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.

"My dear friend,

“If you are not so kind as to dine with Louisa and me to-day, we shall be in danger of hating each other all our lives; Because the whole day's bickering between two women   can never end without a fight. Come as soon as possible after receiving it. My brother and the gentlemen have to dine with the officers. I am yours forever,

"  Caroline Bingley  ."

"With the authorities!" Lydia shouted: "I'm surprised my aunt  didn't tell us about  it ."

“Eating out,” said Mrs. Bennet;  “that's very unfortunate.”

"Can I have a car?" Jane said.

“No, my dear, you'd better get on your horse, because it looks like it's going to rain; And then you have to stay all night.”

“That would be a good plan,” said Elizabeth, “if you are sure they will not offer to send him home.{40},

“Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's carriage to Meryton; And the Hearsts don't have their own horses."

“I had more to do than go to coach.”

“But, my dear, your father cannot leave the horses, I am sure. They’re wanted at the farm, Mr. Bennet, aren’t they?”

joyful predictions

“They are wanted on the farm more often than I can get them.”

“But if you have found them today,” said Elizabeth, “my mother's purpose will be accomplished.{41},

At last he sought a confession from his father that the horses were engaged; So Jane had to leave on horseback, and her mother appeared at her door with cheerful predictions of an evil day. His hopes were answered; Jane had just been there for some time when it started raining heavily. Her sisters were uncomfortable with her, but her mother was happy. The rain continued without interruption throughout the evening; Jane certainly couldn't come back.

“It was really a lucky idea of ​​mine!” Mrs. Bennet said more than once, as if all the credit for making it rain belonged to her. However, he was not aware of the success of his plan until the next morning. Breakfast had just ended when one of Netherfield's servants brought the following note to Elizabeth:-

"My dearest Lizzie,

“I feel very unwell this morning, which, I think, may be attributed to my getting wet till yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my return home until I get better. He also insists that I see Mr. Jones - so don't be alarmed if you hear about him coming to me - and, apart from a sore throat and a headache, there is nothing much the matter with me.

"Yours, etc."

“Well, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, “if your daughter has an attack of the dangerous disease—if she dies—it will be a relief to know that all this pursuit To was Mr. Bingley's, and under your orders."

“Oh, I am not at all afraid of him dying. people do{42}Don't die from a minor cold. He will be well taken care of. As long as she's there, everything goes great. If I have a car, I will go and meet him.”

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, determined to go to him, although there was no carriage available: and as she was not a horseman, walking was her only option. He declared his resolution.

“How could you be so stupid,” his mother shouted, “to even think of such a thing in such filth! When you get there you won’t be worth looking at.”

"I'll be fit to see Jane – that's all I want."

“Is this a signal for me, Lizzie,” said her father, “to send the horses?”

“No, really. I don't want to postpone the hike. When there is a purpose, distance means nothing; Only three miles. I'll be back by dinner.”

“I admire your charitable activity,” said Mary, “but every impulse of feeling must be guided by reason; And, in my opinion, diligence should always be in proportion to necessity.

“We will go with you to Maryton,” said Catherine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their company and the three young women set out together.

"If we hurry up," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we can see something about Captain Carter before we go."

At Meryton they separated: the two youngest children repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued walking alone, crossing field after field at high speed, jumping over sloughs and puddles. Leaping, with impatient activity, and searching, with tired feet, dirty socks, and face glowing with the warmth of exercise, she came at last in front of the house.{43}

She was shown into the breakfast parlour, where everyone except Jane was assembled, and where her appearance caused great surprise. It was almost unbelievable to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley that they should have walked three miles so early in the day, and alone, in such dirty weather; And Elizabeth was convinced that they despised her for it. However, he was received very politely by them; And there was something even better than politeness in the conduct of his brothers – good humor and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst said nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration for the glow which the exercise had given to her complexion and doubts as to whether the occasion could have justified her coming so far alone. He was only thinking about his breakfast.

After his sister his inquiries were not answered very favourably. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though awake, was still very feverish, and not well enough to go out of her room. Elizabeth was glad that she was immediately taken to him; and Jane, who was prevented only by the fear of causing alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she looked forward to such a visit, rejoiced at his admission. However, that did not equate to much conversation; And when Miss Bingley left them together, she could not attempt anything but an expression of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness with which she had been treated. Elizabeth went to him quietly.

"The Apothecary Came"

When breakfast was over, the sisters also joined them; And Elizabeth herself began to like them, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed towards Jane. The apothecary came; and after examining his patient, as may be supposed, said that he had caught a severe cold, and that they should try for{44}Get better at it; Advised him to return to bed, and promised him some drafts. The advice was promptly followed, as the symptoms of fever increased and he began to suffer severe headaches. Elizabeth never left her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent; The gentleman was out, he really had nothing else to do.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and she said so very reluctantly. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she wanted only a little pressure to accept it, when Jane expressed so much anxiety at being separated from her that Miss Bingley had to convert the offer of the carriage into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the time being. Had to oblige. Elizabeth very gratefully agreed, and a servant was sent to Longbourn, to inform the family of her stay, and to bring back supplies of clothing.

{45}

Covering a screen.

Chapter VIII.

At five o'clock both women left to dress, and at half-past six Elizabeth was called to dinner. The civil inquiry which then ensued, and in the midst of which he had the pleasure to recognize the much superior pleading of Mr. Bingley, could not give a very favorable answer.{46}Jane was no better. Hearing this the sisters repeated three or four times how unhappy they were, how shocking it was to have a severe cold, and how much they disliked being sick themselves; and then thought no more of the subject: and his indifference to Jane, when not right before her, restored to Elizabeth the joy of all her original dislike.

Her brother, in fact, was the only person at the party whom she could respect with any decency. His concern for Jane was evident, and his attention to herself most pleasing; And they kept him from feeling so intrusive because he believed that other people understood him. Apart from him, no one else had taken much notice of him. Miss Bingley was greatly impressed by Mr. Darcy, her sister was much less impressed by him; And as for Mr. Hurst, near whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who confined himself only to eating, drinking, and playing cards, when he found that she preferred plain dishes to ragouts. , so he had nothing to say. His.

When dinner was over, she returned straight to Jane and as soon as she left the room Miss Bingley began to abuse her. Her conduct was described as very bad indeed, – a mixture of vanity and insolence: she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same thing, and added,-

“In short, apart from being an excellent walker, he has nothing to recommend him. I will never forget her look this morning. "She really looked almost wild."

“He really did, Louisa. I could barely hold my face. Coming at all is too pointless! Why would she be making a fuss   about the country  because her sister had a cold? His hair was very scattered, very tangled!{47},

“Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in the mud, I'm sure, and the gown that was pulled down to conceal it was not doing its job.'

“Your picture may be quite accurate, Louisa,” said Bingley; “But it all took a toll on me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked very nice when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat completely escaped my notice.

"  You  saw it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "And I imagine you  wouldn't want to see your sister  making such an exhibition."

"certainly not."

“Walking three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever, up to his ankles in the dirt, and alone, all alone! What could he mean by this? “It seems to me that this shows a disgusting kind of arrogant independence, indifference towards the decorum of the country and the city.”

Bingley said, "It shows his affection for his sister which is very pleasing."

"I fear, Mr. Darcy," said Miss Bingley in a half-whisper, "that this adventure has affected your appreciation of her beautiful eyes."

"Not at all," he replied: "they were brightened by practice." After this speech there was a short pause, and Mrs. Hurst resumed,—

"I have the utmost respect for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart that she would be well settled.  But with such a father and mother and so few relations, I Afraid there is no possibility.

“I think I heard you say that his uncle is a solicitor in Meryton?{48},

"Yes;  and they've got another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.

“That is capital,” continued her sister; And both of them laughed heartily.

cried Bingley, "if he  had enough uncles to fill all Cheapside  , it would not make him one iota less agreeable."

Darcy replied, "But that would greatly reduce her chances of marrying men of any opinion in the world."

Bingley made no reply to this speech; But his sisters consented to it heartily and indulged in their own pleasures for some time at the expense of their dear friend's indecent relations.

However, with a renewal of tenderness, he reached her room as soon as he left the dining-parlour, and sat with her until called to coffee. She was still very bad, and Elizabeth did not leave her until late in the evening when she had found the comfort of seeing her sleeping, and when she found it pleasant to go down stairs herself. On entering the drawing-room, he saw the whole party, and was immediately invited to join them; But suspecting that they were playing at a high level, she rejected it and excused herself to her sister, saying that she would amuse herself by staying downstairs with a book for a short while. Mr. Hurst looked at him with surprise.

"Do you prefer reading instead of cards?" They said; "He's rather eccentric."

"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "hates cards." He is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.

“I deserve neither such praise nor such condemnation,” he said, crying.{49}Elizabeth; "I'm not a great reader   , and I enjoy many things."

"I'm sure you'll enjoy looking after your sister," said Bingley. "And I hope seeing him get well soon will add to that."

Elizabeth thanked him heartily and then walked over to a table where some books lay. He immediately offered to bring him others; All that his library afforded.

“And I wish my collection to be large for your benefit and my own credit; But I am useless; And though I have not much, yet I have more than I saw.”

Elizabeth assured him that she could fit in perfectly with the people in the room.

“I am astonished,” said Miss Bingley, “that my father should have left so small a collection of books.  How delightful is your library at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!”

“It must be good,” he replied: “It has been the work of many generations.”

“And then you add a lot to it yourself – you're always buying books.”

"I cannot understand the neglect of the family library in such days."

"Neglect!  I am sure you will not neglect anything that can add to the beauty of that great place.  Charles, when you  build your house  , I wish it to be half as delightful as Pemberley.

"I want it to happen."

“But I would really advise you to do your shopping in that neighborhood, and get Pemberley for a type model. There is no better county in England than Derbyshire.{50},

"With all my heart: I would buy Pemberley if Darcy would sell it."

"I'm talking possibilities, Charles."

"At my word, Caroline, I should consider it more possible to obtain Pemberley by purchase rather than by imitation."

Elizabeth was so absorbed by all that was passing that she paid little attention to her book; And, soon putting it entirely aside, she went over to the card-table, and placed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister to watch the game.

"Has Miss Darcy grown much since the spring?" Miss Bingley said: "Will she be as tall as I am?"

“I think she will. She is now about the same height as Miss Elizabeth Bennet, or even taller.”

“How I look forward to seeing him again! I have never met anyone who made me so happy. Such a face, such behavior, and very skilled for her age! His performance on the pianoforte is excellent.

"It's amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young women can have the patience to be so accomplished like all of them."

“All young women succeed! What do you mean, my dear Charles?”

“Yeah, all of them, I think. They paint all the tables, cover screens and net purses. I hardly know anyone who can't do it all; And I'm sure I've never heard a young lady talked about for the first time without mentioning that she was very accomplished.

“There is a great deal of truth in your general list of accomplishments,” said Darcy. This term is used to describe many women who are not entitled to it in any way other than putting a net in a purse or covering a screen; but i'm far away{51}Agreeing with your assessment of women in general. I cannot boast that I know more than half a dozen people among my acquaintance who are really well off.”

"Nor do I, I'm sure," said Miss Bingley.

“Then,” said Elizabeth, “you must understand a great deal in your idea of ​​an accomplished woman.”

“Yes;  I understand a lot of it.”

“Oh, certainly,” cried his faithful assistant, “no one can be considered truly accomplished who does not go far beyond what is commonly found. To be worthy of  this word a woman must There must be a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and modern languages;  and, besides all this, there must be certain qualities in his bearing and manner of walking, in the tone of his voice, in his address and expressions, otherwise the words will be half as good. Will go.”

"It's all he must have," said Darcy; "And besides all this he must still add something more important to the improvement of his mind by means of extensive study."

“I am no longer surprised at your  knowing only  six accomplished women. Now I'm   surprised you know anything ."

"Are you so serious about your gender as to doubt the possibility of all this?"

“  I  have never seen such a woman.”  I have never seen such ability, taste, experimentation and elegance together as you describe .

Both Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley railed against the injustice of their implicit suspicion, and both were protesting that they knew several women who answered to this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order,{52}Bitter complaints about not paying attention to what was happening next. As soon as the conversation was over, Elizabeth quickly left the room.

“Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed for her, “is one of those young ladies who like to recommend themselves to the other sex by underestimating themselves;  and many With, I boldly say, it succeeds;  but, in my opinion, it is a trifling device, a very poor art.

“Doubtless,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, “there  is pettiness in all  the arts which women are sometimes ready to employ for the sake of wooing  . That's disgusting."

Miss Bingley was not satisfied enough with this answer to continue the subject.

Elizabeth again joins them only to say that her sister is in worse condition and she cannot leave her. Bingley insists on calling Mr. Jones immediately; While his sisters were convinced that no country advice could be of any use, they recommended an express to the city for one of the most eminent physicians. He would not have heard this; But she was not so reluctant to comply with her brother's proposal; And it was agreed that if Miss Bennet was certainly not better, Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; Her sisters announced that they were unhappy. However, they soothed their wretchedness by singing a duet after dinner; whereas for allaying her feelings she could find no better relief than directing her maid to pay every possible attention to the sick lady and her sister.{53}

Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters.

Chapter IX.

Elizabeth spent the chief part of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning she had the pleasure of being able to send from Mr. Bingley a tolerable answer to the inquiries received by a house-maid, and after some time from both the beautiful ladies who waited on her sisters. Used to do. Despite this amendment,{54}However, she requested a note be sent to Longbourn, expressing her mother's desire to meet Jane and decide for herself about her situation. The note was immediately sent, and its contents immediately complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, arrived at Netherfield shortly after the family breakfast.

If she had found Jane in any obvious danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very unhappy; But being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not worrisome, he had no desire for her immediate recovery, as an improvement in her health would probably remove her from Netherfield. Therefore, she will not listen to the offer to take her daughter home; Nor did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all appropriate. After sitting a while with Jane, in the presence and invitation of Miss Bingley, the mother and three daughters went to her in the breakfast parlor. Bingley met her in the hope that Mrs. Bennet would find Miss Bennet no worse off than she expected.

"Indeed I have, sir," was his reply. “She is too sick to be moved. Mr. Jones says we shouldn't think about moving him. Let us encroach on your kindness a little longer.”

"Fired!" cried Bingley. “It should not be thought about. I'm sure my sister won't hear about his removal."

“You may depend on it, madam,” said Miss Bingley, with cool civility, “that Miss Bennet will be given every possible attention during her stay with us.”

Mrs. Bennet expressed her appreciation profusely.

“I am sure,” she continued, “if it had not been for such good friends, I do not know what would have happened to her, for she is very sick indeed, and is suffering much, though she has the most patience in the world. with, which is always{55}Just like that, because she is, without exception, the sweetest person I have ever met. I often tell my other girls that they   are nothing to  him . You have a lovely room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect on that gravel walk. I don't know of any place in the country that equals Netherfield. I hope you will not think of giving it up in a hurry, although you have a short lease.

“Everything I do I do in a hurry,” he replied; “And so if I should resolve to leave Netherfield, I should probably leave in five minutes. However, at the moment I consider myself completely stable here.

"That's exactly what I should have thought of you," said Elizabeth.

"You're starting to understand me, aren't you?" He turned towards her and cried.

“Oh yes—I understand you completely.”

“I wish I took it as a compliment; But I'm afraid it's pathetic to see it so easily.”

"this is what happens. This doesn't mean that a deep, complex character is any more or less predictable than a character like you.

"Lizzie," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and don't run about in the wild way you have to do at home."

“I did not know before,” Bingley continued immediately, “that you were a study of character.  It must be an amusing study.”

“Yes;  but complex characters   are  the most entertaining. At least they have that advantage.”

"The country can normally supply only a small number of subjects for such studies," Darcy said. In a rural neighborhood you live in a very limited and unchanging society.{56},

"But people change themselves so much that there is always something new to see in them."

“Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of referring to a country neighbourhood. "I assure you that  a lot of this  is going on in the country as well as the city."

Everyone was surprised; And Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, silently turned away. Mrs. Bennet, who thought she had won over him completely, continued her conquests, -

“Except in shops and public places, I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country. "This country is very pleasant, isn't it, Mr. Bingley?"

“When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never want to leave it; And when I'm in the city, everything is the same. Each of them has its own advantages, and I can be equally happy in both.

“Hey, that's because your nature is right. But that gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed as if the country was nothing.”

“Actually, Mother, you are wrong,” Elizabeth said, blushing to her mother. “You have greatly misunderstood Mr. Darcy. He only meant that in the country one does not find such a variety of people as in the city, which you have to accept as true.

“Certainly, my dear, no one said there were; But as far as not meeting many people in this neighborhood, I believe there are few big neighborhoods. I know we eat with four-twenty families.”

Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his face. Her sister was less delicate, and directed her gaze towards Mr. Darcy{57}Very expressive smile. Elizabeth, wanting to say something that would change her mother's opinion, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas   had been at Longbourn since she came away.

“Yes, he called his father yesterday. Sir William is such a genial man, Mr. Bingley—isn't he? Such a man of fashion! So gentle and so easy! He always has something to say to everyone. This is my idea  of ​​good breeding  ; And those people who think themselves very important and never open their mouths make a big mistake in this matter.”

"Did Charlotte dine with you?"

“No, she will go home. I think she wanted about mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley,  I  always keep servants who can do their own work; My  daughters have been brought up differently. But everyone has to decide for themselves, and Lucas is a very nice kind of girl, I assure you. Too bad they're not pretty! Not that  I  understand   Charlotte  very clearly; But still she is our special friend.

Bingley said, "She seems a very pleasant young lady."

“Oh dear, yes; But you must have your own that much is clear. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and I envy Jane's beauty. I don't like to boast about my child; But of course, Jen – one doesn't often see someone better looking. Everyone says this. I don't trust my biases. When she was only fifteen, a gentleman at my brother Gardiner's house in the city loved her so much, that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, still, he did not do it. Perhaps he considered him very young. However, he wrote some verses on it, and they were very beautiful.{58},

"And so his affection ended," said Elizabeth impatiently. “I think there have been many cases that have been contained in a similar manner. I wonder who was the first to discover the efficacy of poetry in warding off love!”

 Darcy said, "I have always considered  poetry the food of love ."

“It can be of a good, strong, healthy love. Everything nourishes what is already strong. But if it is only a slight, slender sort of inclination, I am sure a good sonnet will starve it completely.

Darcy only smiled; And the general pause that followed made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should again expose herself. She wanted to speak, but couldn't think of anything to say; And after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began to thank Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, and also to apologize for troubling her with Lizzie. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answers, and forced his younger sister also to be civil and say what the occasion required. In fact, he played his part without much decorum, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards she ordered her carriage. At this signal, his youngest daughter threw herself forward. The two girls kept whispering to each other throughout the journey; And the result was that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley because he had promised to give a ball at Netherfield on his first visit to the country.

Lydia was a strong, well-bred girl of fifteen, with a good complexion and a cheerful face; She was the favorite of her mother, whose affection brought her into the public eye at an early age. He had high animal feelings, and a kind of natural self-restraint, which attracted the attention of those in authority to whom his uncle was good.{59}The dinner and his own easy behavior recommended him, which grew into assurance. Therefore, she was very similar to addressing Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and suddenly reminded him of his promise; He further said that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His mother was very pleased with his response to this sudden attack.

“I assure you that I am fully prepared to keep my engagement; And, when your sister has recovered, will you please tell us the day of the ball. But don’t you want to dance when she’s sick?”

Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh yes – it would be better to wait until Jane gets better; And by that time, most likely, Captain Carter will be at Meryton again. And when you   have given  your ball,” she added, “I will insist on them giving me one too. I will tell Colonel Forster that it would be a great shame if he did not do so.

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters went away, and Elizabeth immediately returned to Jane, and left her own behavior and that of her relatives to the observations of both the ladies and Mr. Darcy; However,  in spite of all the criticisms of Miss Bingley's good eyes,  the latter could not be forced to join in his  condemnation  .{60}

Chapter X.

His day passed like the previous day. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some of the morning hours with the invalid, who was slowly but surely improving; and, in the evening, Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing-room. However, the toilet table did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, sitting near him, was watching the progress of his letter, and diverting his attention by repeatedly sending messages to her sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at picket, and Mrs. Hurst was watching their game.

Elizabeth took up needlework, and enjoyed watching what happened between Darcy and her companion. The lady's constant compliments on his handwriting, or on the symmetry of his lines, or on the length of his letter, the perfect indifference with which he received her compliments, formed a curious dialogue, and was absolutely identical with her opinion of each. .{61}

"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!"

He did not answer.

"You write unusually fast."

“You are making a mistake.  I write slowly.”

“How many letters would you have had the opportunity to write in the course of a year! Business letters too! How disgusting I would think of them!”

"Then, it's fortunate that they come to my share rather than yours."

"Pray tell your sister I look forward to seeing her."

“I have already told him once as per your wish.”

“I'm afraid you don't like your pen. Let me fix it for you. “I repair pens remarkably well.”

"Thanks—but I always make up my own."

"How can you even write so much?"

He was silent.

"Tell your sister that I am very glad to hear of her improvements on the harp, and pray let her know that I am much flattered by her pretty little design for the table, and that I think it will be a great treat for Miss Grantley. Much better than the design.”

“Will you permit me to defer my enthusiasm until I write again? At present I do not have the scope to give him justice.”

“Oh, it has no consequences. I will meet him in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?

“They are usually tall; But whether it will always remain attractive is not my job to decide.

“For me it is a rule that a person who can write a long letter easily cannot write a bad one.”

Caroline's brother shouted, "It would not be fair to praise Darcy, for he  does not write with ease  ."{62}He studies a lot for four letter words. Don't you, Darcy?

"My writing style is very different from yours."

“Oh,” cried Miss Bingley, “Charles writes more carelessly than can be imagined.  He leaves out half his words, and erases the rest.”

“My thoughts flow so fast that I have no time to express them; This means that my letters sometimes give my correspondents no idea."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth, "must rescind the condemnation."

Darcy said, "There is nothing more deceitful than a pretense of politeness." It is often mere carelessness of opinion, and sometimes even veiled vanity.”

"And which of the two   do you call my latest piece of humility?"

“Indirect vanity; Because you are really proud of your faults in writing, because you regard them as proceeding from an intensity of thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not implausible, at least seems extremely interesting. The power to perform any task quickly is always highly valued by the master, and often regardless of imperfection of performance. When you said to Mrs. Bennet this morning, that if you ever decided to leave Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a kind of eulogy, praising yourself; And yet what is so admirable in a predicament that leaves much needed work unfinished, and that can bring no real benefit to you or anyone else?

“No,” cried Bingley, “that is too much, to remember in the night all the foolish things that were said in the morning.  And yet, on my honour, I believed him{63}I told the truth about myself, and I believe it right now. At least that's why I didn't adopt a character of unnecessary rashness just to show off in front of women.

“I dare say you believed it; But I am by no means convinced that you will go that fast. Your conduct will depend as much on chance as that of any man I know; And if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend says, 'Bingley, it would be better for you to stay till next week,' you would probably do so - you probably would not go - and, in other words, a month. Can wait till.

“You have only proved,” cried Elizabeth, “that Mr. Bingley did not do justice to his nature. You have now shown him more than he has shown himself.”

Bingley said, "I am extremely gratified that you have turned my friend's words into a compliment to the sweetness of my nature.  But I fear you are giving it a turn which the gentleman never intended;  for He would certainly think better of me if, under such circumstances, I would flatly refuse, and go away as fast as I could.

"Will Mr. Darcy consider the rashness of your original intention atoned for by your obstinacy in carrying it out?"

"At my word, I cannot explain the matter precisely – Darcy will have to speak for himself."

“You expect me to give an account of views which you wish to call my opinions, but which I have never accepted. However, allowing the matter to stand as you represent it, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who desires her return to the house,{64}And because of the delay in his plan, he has only desired it, asked for it without offering a single argument in favor of its propriety.”

" It is not a qualification for you to  easily accept  a friend's words ."

"Submission without conviction is not conducive to anyone's understanding."

“Mr. Darcy, it seems to me that you do not allow any influence of friendship and affection. Out of respect for the requester one often accepts the request immediately, without waiting for a reasoned argument. I am not speaking particularly of such a case as you have thought of, Mr. Bingley. Before discussing the wisdom of his behavior, perhaps, we should wait until the situation occurs. But in ordinary and common cases, between friend and friend, where one of them wishes to change the resolution of some very great moment from the other, should you think ill of that person for his compliance with the wish, debate This without waiting for it to be done?"

"Would it not be advisable, before proceeding further on this subject, to set forth with more precision the degree of importance attached to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy existing between the parties?"

"By all means," cried Bingley; "Let us hear all the details, not forgetting their comparative heights and sizes, for, Miss Bennet, it will be of greater importance in that argument than you will know.  I assure you that if Darcy had not been so much a taller man than I , then I should not have given him half so much respect.  I declare that on special occasions, and in, I do not know a more dreadful object than Darcy{65}special place; Especially at home, and on Sunday evenings, when he has nothing to do.”

Mr. Darcy smiled; But Elizabeth thought she could understand that he was angry, and so she restrained her laughter. Miss Bingley expressed her deep displeasure at his insult by reprimanding her brother for speaking such nonsense.

"I'm looking at your design, Bingley," said his friend. "You don't like any arguments and you want to shut it up."

"maybe I do. Arguments are much like disputes. I would be very obliged if you and Miss Bennet would defer your conversation till I come out of the room; And then you can say whatever you want about me.”

“What you are asking,” said Elizabeth, “is no sacrifice on my part; And Mr. Darcy finished his letter better.”

Mr. Darcy took his advice and finished his letter.

When that business was finished, he applied to Miss Bingley and Elizabeth to enjoy some music. Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the pianoforte, and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way, which the other politely and more sincerely negatived, she sat herself down.

Mrs. Hurst sang with her sister; And while they were thus employed, Elizabeth could not help noticing how often Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed on her, as he turned over some music-books which lay on the instrument. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be the object of admiration for so great a man, and yet that she should look upon him because he disliked her was all the more strange. However, she could only imagine that, after all, he attracted her attention because there was something more wrong and reprehensible about him, according to her true thoughts, than about any other person present.{66}This assumption did not trouble him. She liked him so much that she didn't care about his praise.

After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm with a lively Scotch air; And soon after this Mr. Darcy came to Elizabeth and said to her, -

"Don't you feel a great desire to take advantage of such an opportunity of reel dancing, Miss Bennet?"

She smiled, but did not answer. He repeated the question with some surprise at her silence.

“Oh,” she said, “I heard you before; But I couldn't immediately decide what to say in reply. I know, you wanted me to say 'yes' so that you could have the pleasure of disparaging my tastes; But I am always glad to overthrow such schemes and to betray a person to his premeditated contempt. Therefore, I have made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to do the reel dance at all; And now if you have the courage, despise me.”

"I really don't dare."

Elizabeth, expecting to humiliate him, was astonished at his bravery; But there was a mixture of sweetness and stoicism in her manner which made it difficult for her to offend anyone, and Darcy had never been so infatuated with a woman as he was with her. He truly believed that, had it not been for the inferiority of his contacts, he would have been in no danger.

Miss Bingley saw enough to be jealous, or suspicious of him; and his extreme anxiety for the well-being of his dear friend Jane was somewhat aided by his desire to be rid of Elizabeth.

She often tried to provoke Darcy to dislike his guest, by talking about their supposed marriage and planning his happiness in such an alliance.

"I hope so," she said, as they walked inside together.{67}Bushes the next day, “When this desirable event has occurred, you will give some hint to your mother-in-law, what will be the benefit of holding her tongue; And if you can do that, you can heal young girls from running afoul of the authorities. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, try to investigate that little thing, bordering on snobbery and impertinence, that your lady possesses.

"No - no;  stay where you are."

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

“Do you have anything else to offer for my domestic happiness?{68},

"Oh yes.  Put the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips in the gallery at Pemberley.  Put them next to your great-grandfather the judge.  You know, they are in the same profession, only in different spheres.  As for your Elizabeth As for the picture, you shouldn't try to take it, because what painter can do justice to those beautiful eyes?”

“Indeed, capturing his expression will not be easy; But their color and shape, and the eyelashes, which are so wonderful, can be imitated.''

At the same time he met Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth herself.

"I did not know you intended to come," said Miss Bingley, in some confusion, lest she might have been overheard.

"You treated us disgustingly badly," replied Mrs. Hurst, "by running away without telling us you were coming out."

Then taking Mr. Darcy's free hand, she left Elizabeth to walk alone. The path just admitted three. Mr. Darcy sensed his rudeness, and immediately said, -

“This march is not wide enough for our party. “We better go to the Avenue.”

But Elizabeth, who had no desire to live with them, answered laughingly, -

"No—no;  you remain where you are.  You are charmingly grouped, and appear to be in unusual advantage.  Accepting the fourth would spoil the picturesque.  Goodbye."

Then she ran away happily, wandering around, hoping to be home again in a day or two. Jane had already recovered so much that she intended to leave her room for a few hours that evening.{69}

Gathering fire.

Chapter XI.

The Ladies Removed After dinner Elizabeth ran to her sister, and finding her well protected from the cold, accompanied her into the drawing-room, where her two friends welcomed her with many pleasantries; And Elizabeth had never seen him so cheerful as during the hour that had passed before the gentlemen appeared. His powers of conversation were considerable. He could describe an entertainment with accuracy, tell an anecdote with humor, and laugh at his acquaintance with the Spirit.

But when the gentleman came in, Jane was not there{70}First item; Miss Bingley's eyes immediately turned to Darcy, and before he took several steps she had something to say to him. He addressed Miss Bennet directly with polite greetings; Mr. Hurst also paid him a little bow, and said he was "very pleased;" But Bingley's greetings remained broad and warm. He was full of happiness and attention. The first half hour was spent in lighting the fire, lest he would be troubled by changing rooms; And she went to the other side of the fireplace, as per his wish, so that she would be further away from the door. Then he sat down beside her, and hardly spoke to anyone else. Elizabeth, working in the opposite corner, watched all this with great pleasure.

When the tea was over Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the card-table - but to no avail. He had obtained private information that Mr. Darcy did not desire the card, and Mr. Hurst soon learned that his open petition had also been rejected. He assured them that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to him justifiable. Therefore, Mr. Hurst had nothing to do but spread himself on a sofa and fall asleep. Darcy picked up a book. Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, chiefly occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, would now and then join in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet.

 Miss Bingley was as much absorbed in watching Mr. Darcy's progress  through his book as in reading it herself; And she was constantly either making some inquiries, or looking at his page. However, she could not win him over in any conversation; He simply answered her question and read further. After all, she was quite tired of trying to entertain herself with her own book{71}Chosen only because it was her second volume, she let out a big yawn and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening like this! I declare, after all, there is no joy like reading! How sooner does one tire of anything than of a book! When I have my own home, I would be unhappy if I didn't have an excellent library.

No one gave any answer. He then yawned, threw aside his book, and cast his eyes around the room in search of some entertainment; When, hearing her brother mention a ball to Miss Bennet, she suddenly turned to him and said,—

"Goodbye Charles, are you really serious about meditating at the dance at Netherfield?  I would advise you to consult the wishes of the present party before you decide upon it;  if not there are some of us whose If a ball would be a punishment instead of happiness then I am very wrong.

“If you mean Darcy,” cried his brother, “he can sleep before he goes to bed if he likes; But as far as the ball is concerned, it is quite a settled thing and I will send my cards as soon as Nicholls has made enough white soup."

“I should like the balls much better,” he replied, “if they were played in a different manner; But there is something unbearably tedious in the general process of such a meeting. It would certainly be more logical if conversation was made the order of the day instead of dancing.

“Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say; But it won't be as close as the ball."

Miss Bingley made no reply, and immediately got up and started walking across the room. Her figure was beautiful, and she walked well; But Darcy, on whom it was{72}All were targeted, yet inflexibly studious. In the frustration of his feelings, he resolved to make another attempt; And, turning to Elizabeth, said,-

“Miss Eliza Bennet, I would like to persuade you to follow my example and go round the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting in the same position for so long.

Elizabeth was surprised, but immediately agreed. Miss Bingley was no less successful in the real object of her civility: Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could have been, and he closed his book unconsciously. He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, noting that he could imagine there were only two reasons for them walking up and down the room together, namely His joining them with any one objective would interfere. What could that mean? She was dying to know what he might mean – and she asked Elizabeth if she could understand him.

“Not at all,” was his reply; "But, depend on it, he means to be serious on us, and our best way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it."

However, Miss Bingley was unable to dissuade Mr. Darcy in anything, and therefore, continued to demand an explanation of her two motives.

"I don't mind explaining them at all," she said, as soon as he allowed her to speak. "Either you choose this mode of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and you have secret matters to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking : If the first, then I must fully attend your way;  and if the second, I can better admire you sitting by the fire.

"Oh, shocking!" Miss Bingley shouted. "I never heard{73}Anything so disgusting. How will we punish him for such speech?”

"Nothing's that simple, if you're inclined," Elizabeth said. “We can all harass and punish each other. Tease him-laugh at him. "As intimate as you are, you should know how to do it."

“But I don't  do  that despite my respect  . I assure you that my intimacy has   not taught  me this yet. Tease the calmness of nature and presence of mind! No. No; I think he may disregard us there. And as far as laughter is concerned, if you like, we will not expose ourselves by trying to laugh without any topic. Mr. Darcy can give himself a hug.

"Mr.  Darcy is not to be ridiculed!" cried Elizabeth.  “It is an unusual advantage, and unusual I hope it will continue, for it   would be a great loss to  me to have many such acquaintances. I love to laugh very much.”

“Miss Bingley,” he said, “I have been given much more credit than I should have done. The  wisest and best man,—rather, the wisest and best in his actions,—has been made ridiculous by a man so Whose first purpose in life is a joke.

“Certainly,” Elizabeth replied, “there are such people, but I hope I   am not one of  them . I hope I will never ridicule all that is wise or good.  Follies and nonsense, eccentricities and Inconsistencies  distract me, and I laugh at them whenever I can  .  But I believe they are exactly who you are without me."

“Maybe this is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often make a strong understanding an object of ridicule.”

“Like pride and arrogance.”

“Yes, pride is indeed a weakness. But pride – where there is real superiority of mind – pride will always be subject to good regulation.{74},

Elizabeth turned away to hide her smile.

“Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I think,” said Miss Bingley; “And pray what will be the result?”

“I am absolutely convinced that there is no fault in Mr. Darcy. He himself is its owner without any disguise.”

“No,” said Darcy, “I have made no such claim. I have a lot of mistakes, but I hope they make no sense. I dare not affirm my nature. I believe it is very low yielding; Certainly too little for the world's convenience. I cannot forget the follies and evils of others as quickly as I should, nor can I forget their crimes against me. My feelings defy every attempt to stir them. My nature would probably be described as angry. My good opinion once lost is lost forever.”

"  It  's really a failure!" Elizabeth screamed. “Incurable resentment  is  a shadow in a character  . But you have chosen your mistake well. I really  can't laugh  at this  . You are safe from me.”

"I believe that in every nature there is a tendency to some special evil, a natural defect, which even the best education cannot remove."

"And  your  fault is your tendency to hate everyone."

“And yours,” he replied, smiling, “is deliberately misunderstanding them.”

“Let us hear some music,” cried Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no part. "Louisa, you won't mind my waking Mr. Hurst."

His sister made not the slightest objection, and the pianoforte was opened; And after a few moments of reminiscing, Darcy was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying too much attention to Elizabeth.{75}

Chapter XII.

As a result of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote to her mother the next morning requesting that a carriage be sent for her during the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who anticipated that her daughters would remain at Netherfield until the following Tuesday, which would end Jane's week, could not at first bring herself to receive them cheerfully. Therefore, his answer was not favorable, at least not in accordance with Elizabeth's wishes, as she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent him word that she would probably not get the carriage before Tuesday; And it was added in her postscript, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed her to stay longer, she might very well leave them. However, Elizabeth was certainly against staying long.{76}Solution - Nor did he so expect that it would be asked; And, on the contrary, fearing to intrude herself unnecessarily long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage at once, and finally it was decided to refer to her original design of leaving Netherfield that morning. Must be known, and requested.

The communication excited several businesses of the concern; And they were told to wait at least until the next day to work on Jane; And his departure was postponed till tomorrow. Miss Bingley then regretted that she had proposed a delay; Because his jealousy and dislike towards one sister was greater than his affection towards the other sister.

The master of the house heard with great sorrow that they were to go away so soon, and tried again and again to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her—that she was not yet well; But Jane stood firm where she felt she was right.

This was welcome intelligence to Mr. Darcy: Elizabeth had been at Netherfield for a long time. He attracted her more than she wanted; And Miss Bingley  was rude to  him and irritated herself more than usual. He wisely resolved to be especially careful that no hint of admiration  should now  escape her—nothing that might raise him up with the hope of affecting her happiness; The wisdom is that, if such an idea were suggested, its behavior during the last day should play an important role in confirming or suppressing it. Persisting in his purpose, he spoke scarcely ten words to her during the whole Saturday: and though they were left alone for half an hour at a time, yet he kept to his book with all dutifulness, and even looked at her No.{77}

On Sunday, after the morning service, there was a consensual separation for almost everyone. Miss Bingley's civility towards Elizabeth eventually grew very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; And when they parted, after assuring the latter that he would always have an opportunity of seeing him at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing him most tenderly, he also shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave from the entire party with great enthusiasm.

His mother did not welcome him very warmly at home. Mrs. Bennet was surprised at his arrival, and thought it very wrong to give him so much trouble, and she was sure that Jane must have caught a cold again. But his father, though very brief in his expressions of joy, was genuinely glad to see him; He had realized his importance in the family circle. The conversation of the evening, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation and almost all its meaning by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

He found Mary, as always, deep in the deep bass and study of human nature; And there were some new quotes to admire and some new observations of threadbare morality to hear. Katherine and Lydia had a different kind of information for them. Much had been done, and much had been said in the regiment since last Wednesday; Several officers had recently dined with his uncle; A private was flogged; And indeed it was hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.{78}

Chapter XIII

I hope, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast the next morning, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, for I have reason to expect you to attend our family party. "

“Who do you mean, my dear? I know no one is coming, I'm sure, unless Charlotte Lucas calls; And I hope  my  dinner is good enough for him. I can't believe she sees this often at home.

"The man I'm talking about is a gentleman and a stranger."

Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. “A gentleman and a stranger! I am sure it is Mr. Bingley. Why, Jane—you never said a word about it—you rascal! Well, I'm sure I'll be very glad to see Mr. Bingley. But—good Lord! how unlucky! You won't get even a little fish today. Lydia, my dear, ring the bell. I need to talk to Hill right now.”

"This  is not Mr. Bingley  ," said her husband; "This is a man I've never seen in my entire life."

This caused general surprise; and he had{79}The joy of being curiously interrogated by his wife and five daughters at once.

After satisfying his curiosity for some time, he explained thus:— “About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I replied to it; Because I thought it was a matter of some delicateness, and required prompt attention. This is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who can throw you all out of this house whenever he wants after I die.”

“Oh, my dear,” cried his wife, “I can't bear to hear this. Pray don't talk about that disgusting man. I think it is the hardest thing in the world to have your property taken away from your own children; And I'm sure, if I were you, I should have tried long ago to do something about it."

Jane and Elizabeth attempt to explain Entel's nature to him. She had often attempted it before: but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; And she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling the estate away from the family of five daughters in favor of a man no one cared about.

“This is certainly a most unjust case,” Mr Bennett said. “And nothing can absolve Mr. Collins of the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you listen to his letter, perhaps you will be softened a little by the way he expresses himself.”

"No, I'm sure I wouldn't: and I think it was very impertinent and very hypocritical of him to write to you.  I hate such false friends.  Why couldn't he quarrel with you, as his Did father do it before that?”

“Why, indeed, it appears that there was some filial suspicion in his head, as you will hear.{80},

“Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,  15 October  .

"Dear Sir,

“The disagreement existing between you and my late respected father has always given me great uneasiness; And, ever since I had the misfortune to lose her, I have repeatedly wished to repair that breach: but, for some time, I have been restrained by my own doubts, fearing lest To me this seemed disrespectful to his memory. On good terms with anyone with whom he was always happy to have a disagreement.'' - 'There, Mrs. Bennet.' - ''However, my mind is now made up on the subject; Having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to have been distinguished by the patronage of the Honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Louis de Bourgh, whose generosity and beneficence have favored me for the valuable rectory of this parish . , where it will be my earnest endeavor to humble myself with grateful respect to her Ladyship, and to be always ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which have been instituted by the Church of England. Furthermore, as a pastor, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessings of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; And on these grounds I flatter myself that my present offers of good will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being in the next part of the Longbourn estate will be overlooked on your part, and you will have to decline the proposed olive oil. Will not be motivated. branch. I can do no more than be the means of causing injury to your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologize for it, at the same time assuring you of my readiness to make every possible amends to them; But after this. If you wouldn't mind including me{81}Your home, I propose the satisfaction of waiting for you and your family till four o'clock on Monday, the 18th of November, and will probably infringe your hospitality till Saturday night next, which I can do without any inconvenience, As Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on Sundays, provided some other chaplain is appointed to perform that day's duty. Dear Sir, I respectfully congratulate your wife and daughters, your well-wisher and friend.

"  William Collins  ."

"So, at four o'clock, we may expect this peace-making gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, folding the letter. “On my word, he appears to be an extremely conscientious and polite young man; and will, I have no doubt, prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so kind as to let him visit us again.

“However, there is some sense in what he says about girls; And, if he is willing to make any amendments to them, I will not be the one to discourage him.

"Although it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what manner he intends to make us the atonement he thinks we are entitled to, the willingness is certainly to his credit."

Elizabeth was chiefly impressed by his extraordinary respect for Lady Katherine and his gracious intention to christen, marry, and bury his parishioners when necessary.

“I think he would be a strange person,” she said. “I can't kick him out. There is something very pretentious about his style. And what could he mean by apologizing for being in the sequel? We cannot assume that he would help it if he could. “Could he be a sensible man, sir?”

"No my dear;  I don't think so.  I have high hopes{82}Finding it to be quite the opposite. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter that bodes well. I am anxious to see him.”

“From the point of view of structure,” said Mary, “his letter does not appear to be defective. The idea of ​​the olive branch is probably not entirely new, yet I think it is well expressed.

Neither the letter nor its author were of any interest to Catherine and Lydia. It was almost impossible that his cousin should come in a red coat, and it was now some weeks since he had enjoyed the society of a person of any other colour. As for his mother, Mr. Collins's letter had dispelled most of her ill-will, and she was preparing to look upon him with a degree of sobriety, which astonished her husband and daughters.

Mr. Collins was punctual and the whole family welcomed him very politely. Mr. Bennet said very little indeed; But the women were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins neither needed encouragement, nor was himself inclined to remain silent. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-twenty years. His air was solemn and stately, and his manners very formal. They had not been sitting long before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having such a fine family of daughters, saying he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this case, fame fell short of the truth; And he added, that seeing them all well disposed in marriage in due time, he had no doubt about it. This bravery did not please some of his listeners; But Mrs. Bennet, who quarreled without praise, replied very readily,—

“You are very kind sir, I am sure; And I wish with everyone{83}My heart can prove it; Otherwise they will become quite destitute. Things are decided in very strange ways.

"Perhaps, you point out the implications of this property."

“Ah, sir, I do indeed. It's a sad affair for my poor girls, you must confess. It's not that I  want to find fault  with you , because I know that such things happen by accident in this world. “No one knows what will happen to the estates once they are incorporated.”

“I am very sensible of the difficulty of our white cousins, madam, and could say much on the subject, but I am wary of looking too far ahead and hastening. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to praise them. I will say no more at present, but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted——”

He was interrupted by an invitation to dinner; And the girls smiled at 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 admired; And his appreciation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart but for his appalling notion of seeing all this as her future property. The dinner was also, in turn, highly praised; And he wanted to know which of his white cousins ​​owed its culinary excellence. But here he was corrected by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him, with some firmness, that he was very capable of being a good cook, and that her daughters were not to do any work in the kitchen. He apologized for displeasing her. In a soft voice she said she was not hurt at all; But he kept apologizing for about three and a half hours.{84}

Chapter XIV

At dinner Mr. Bennet said almost nothing; But when the servants were withdrawn, she thought the time had come to have some conversation with her guest, and so she introduced a subject in which she hoped he would shine, seeing that he was very much under her tutelage. Felt lucky. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attentiveness to his wishes and consideration for his comfort appeared remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have made a better choice. Mr. Collins praised him in kind words. This subject elevated him far beyond the usual seriousness of behaviour; And with the most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life seen such behavior in a person of rank—so much friendliness and condescension as he had experienced from Lady Catherine herself. She was very happy to accept both the sermons which she had already had the honor of preaching. He had also asked her to dine at Rosings twice, and had only called on him the day before, on a Saturday, to make his pool of quadrille in the evening. He knew that many people regarded Lady Catherine with pride, but  he  had never seen in her anything but amiability. She always spoke to him as she would to any other gentleman; He expressed no objection to his joining the society of his neighborhood, nor to his occasionally leaving his parish.{85}To visit my relatives for a week or two. He was also kind enough to advise her to marry as soon as possible, provided she chose judiciously; and had once visited him in his humble ashram, where he fully approved of all the changes he was making, and even promised to make some suggestions himself, - Some shelves in the rooms above.

“I'm sure it's all very fair and civilized,” said Mrs. Bennet, “and I dare say she is a very amiable lady. It is a pity that great women are generally not like her. Does she live with you, sir?”

"The garden in which my humble residence stands is separated by only a lane from Her Ladyship's residence, Rosings Park."

“I think you said she was a widow, sir? Does he have any family?”

"She has an only daughter, heiress to Rosings and a very extensive estate."

"Ah," cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she's better than many girls.  And what kind of a young lady is she?  Is she pretty?"

“She really is the most charming young lady. Lady Catherine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh far surpasses the handsomest of her sex; Because there is something in her features which identifies a girl of distinguished birth. Unfortunately her physical constitution is defective, which has prevented her from making that progress in many accomplishments in which she might otherwise have failed, as I have been informed by the lady who supervised her education, and who still Lives together. But she is perfectly amiable, and is often ready to drive by my ordinary residence in her little phaeton and ponies.{86},

“Has he been presented? I don't remember her name among the women in the court.

“His depressed state of health prevents him from living in the city; And by this means, as I myself told Lady Catherine one day, the British Court has been deprived of its brightest ornament. Her Ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; And you can imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to women. I have more than once observed Lady Catherine wishing that her charming daughter had been born a duchess; and that instead of giving him results, he would be adorned with the highest office. These are such little things as please her Ladyship, and it is a kind of attention which I consider myself particularly bound to pay.

"You judge very correctly," said Mr. Bennett. “And it is a pleasure for you that you have the talent to flatter politely. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions come from momentary impulse, or are the result of previous study?

“They arise mainly from what is going on at the time; And although I sometimes amuse myself by suggesting and arranging such little beautiful compliments as may be suitable for ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied as possible.

Mr. Bennett's expectations were fully fulfilled. His cousin was as absurd as he had expected; And she listened to him with the utmost pleasure, maintaining at the same time the most determined composure of countenance, and expecting no partner in her pleasure, except occasionally glancing towards Elizabeth.

However, by tea time the dose was sufficient, and{87}Mr. Bennet was glad to conduct his guest again into the drawing-room, and when the tea was over, to invite him

"Protested
that he never read novels" HT February 94

For women to read aloud. Mr. Collins immediately consented, and a book was prepared; But upon looking it up (for everything it was declared to be from a circulating library){88}He started back up and apologized, protesting that he never read novels. Kitty glared at her, and Lydia said. Other books were prepared, and after some deliberation he chose "Fordyce's Sermons." As soon as she opened the volume, Lydia became nervous; And before he had read three pages with very dull seriousness, she interrupted him and said, -

“Do you know, mother, that my Uncle Phillips talks about putting Richard away? And if he does so, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt herself told me this on Saturday. I'll go down to Meryton tomorrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."

Lydia was told by her two eldest sisters to control her tongue; But Mr. Collins, very angry, put aside his book and said, -

“I have often observed how little maidens are interested in books of a serious nature, even if they are written entirely for their benefit. It surprises me, I admit; Because undoubtedly nothing can be more beneficial for them than education. But I will not insult my young cousin anymore.”

Then, turning to Mr. Bennet, he introduced himself as his opponent at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepts the challenge, considering that he has acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own little amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologized in the most civilized manner for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not happen again if he resumed his book; But Mr. Collins, after assuring him that he bore no ill-will towards his young cousin, and that his conduct should never be considered disrespectful, sat down with Mr. Bennet at another table and sat down for backgammon. Got ready.{89}

Chapter XV.

R. Collins was not an intelligent man, and his lack of nature was little aided by education or society; Most of his life was spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; And although he belonged to one of the universities, he only took the prerequisites there without making any useful acquaintanceship. The subjection in which his father brought him up had originally given him great humility; But this was now largely offset by the self-conceit of a feeble mind, living in retirement, and the resulting feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. When Hunsford's residence was vacant, a fortunate chance recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh; and the respect he felt for her high position, and his reverence for her as his patroness, combined with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and as a rector. With her authority in him, he made her completely a mixture of pride and obedience, self-importance and humility.

Now that he had a good house and sufficient income, he intended to marry; And he also had his wife in his sights as he sought a reconciliation with the Longbourn family.{90}The intention was to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as popular reports had depicted them. This was his plan of atonement to inherit his father's property; And he thought of it as an excellent one, full of merit and appropriateness, and extremely generous and unselfish on his part.

Seeing them there was no change in his plan. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his ideas, and disestablished all his strict notions of what was due to seniority; And she  was his default choice  for the first evening  . However, the next morning, a change was made; In a quarter of an hour's conversation with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast   , the conversation began from her parsonage-house, and naturally her hopes were confirmed, that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced in her behalf, very Amidst the polite smiles and general encouragement, a warning to the same Jane on whom he had focused. "As far as her  younger  daughters were concerned, she did not want to say anything—she could give no positive answer—but she  did not know of any prejudice  ;—her  “He should just mention the eldest daughter – he felt it was obligatory for him to hint that she was very likely to be engaged.”

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth – and this was soon accomplished – while Mrs. Bennet tended the fire. Elizabeth, equal to Jane in birth and beauty, became her successor.

Mrs. Bennet cherished the hint, and trusted that she might soon marry the two daughters; And the man about whom she could not bear to talk the day before was now high in her kindness.

Lydia didn't intend to walk to Maryton{91}Got it: Every sister except Mary agreed to go with him; and Mr. Collins was to attend them at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and to keep his library; For there Mr. Collins had followed them after breakfast, and there they would be connected nominally with one of the largest folios of the collection, but in reality to Mr. Bennet, talking about his house and garden at Hunsford. Will keep doing. Such actions greatly disturbed Mr. Bennet. In his library he was always assured of comfort and peace; And though, as he said to Elizabeth, he was ready to meet foolishness and vanity in every other room of the house, he was kept free from them there: hence, his civility, Mr. Collins, was allowed to join in with his daughters. She was most prompt in inviting me. In their walk; And Mr. Collins, being really more suitable for a walker than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his big book and go.

With nothing ostentatious on his part, and in the civil consent of his cousins, his time was passed until he entered Maryton. Then the younger ones   did not pay attention towards  him . His eyes immediately roamed the street in search of officers, and indeed nothing short of a very smart bonnet, or indeed a new muslin in the shop window, could make him miss them.

But every lady's attention was soon drawn to a young man whom they had never seen before, very gentlemanly looking, walking with an officer on the other side of the road. That officer was the same Mr. Denny whom Lydia had come to inquire about his return from London and who he had bowed to as he passed. Everyone was stunned by the air of the stranger, everyone wondered who he could be; And Kitty and Lydia, if possible, determine{92}To find out, he went across the road on the pretext of wanting something in the shop opposite, and fortunately had just climbed the sidewalk when the two gentlemen, turning back, reached the same place. Mr. Denny addressed him directly, and asked permission to introduce him to his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him from the city the day before, and who, he was pleased to say, had accepted a commission in his entourage. Have done. It was exactly as it should be; Because the young man wanted only the regiment which could make him completely attractive. Her appearance was in her favor: she had all the best elements of beauty, a good face, a good figure, and a very pleasing address. The introduction was followed by a pleasant readiness for conversation on his part – a readiness at the same time completely correct and simple; And the whole party was still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses attracted their attention, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the road. Recognizing the women in the group, the two gentlemen walked straight up to them and resumed normal civility. Bingley was the principal spokesperson and Miss Bennet was the principal object. He was then, he said, going to Longbourn for the purpose of interrogating him. Mr. Darcy confirmed this with a bow, and was beginning to resolve not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when he was suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger; and Elizabeth, when she saw the faces of both of them, as they looked at each other, was all astonished at the effect of the meeting. Both changed color, one looked white, the other red. After a few moments Mr Wickham touched his hat – a greeting which Mr Darcy intended to return. What could this mean?{93}It was impossible to imagine; It was impossible not to delay in knowing this.

In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without paying any attention to what happened, took his leave and went on with his friend.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham accompanied the girls to the door of Mr. Phillips's house, and then greeted him, despite Miss Lydia's insistence that they come in, and even after Mrs. Phillips vomited. parlor window, and loudly endorsed the invitation.

Mrs. Phillips was always pleased to see her nieces; And the two eldest, from their recent absence, were especially welcome; and she was curiously surprised at his sudden return home, for, as his own carriage had not brought him, she should not have known anything about it, had she not seen Mr. Jones's shopboy in the street, who had told him that he was not to send any more drafts to Netherfield, as Miss Bennets had come away, when Jane's introduction of him to her had professed her civility towards Mr. Collins. She welcomed him with her best politeness, which he returned with even greater, apologizing for his intrusion, without any former acquaintance with her, whom he could not prevent himself from flattering, though, the young His relationships with women who introduced him to his notice could be justified. Mrs. Phillips was quite surprised at such abundance of good breeding; But her musings about the one stranger were soon ended by exclamations and inquiries about the other, for, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought her from London, And that was to be a lieutenant{94}---Commission in Shire. She had, she said, been watching him for the past hour as he walked up and down the street, and if Mr. Wickham had come forward, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation; But unfortunately no one now passed the windows except a few officers, who became "foolish, disagreeable persons" in comparison to the stranger. Some of them were to dine with Phillips the next day, and his aunt promised her husband to meet Mr. Wickham, and extended an invitation to him also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to; And Mrs. Phillips protested that they would have a nice relaxing noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little hot food afterwards. The prospect of such happiness was very exciting, and they parted in mutual goodwill. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies as he left the room, and with unwearied civility he was assured that they were entirely unnecessary.

As they walked home, Elizabeth told Jane all that she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; But although Jane might have defended either or both of them if they had appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behavior than her sister.

On his return Mr. Collins greatly gratifies Mrs. Bennet by praising Mrs. Phillips's courtesy and politeness. He protested that, excepting Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more beautiful woman; For he had not only welcomed her with the utmost courtesy, but had also explicitly included her in the invitation for the next evening, although at first this was completely unknown to him. Something or the other, he believed, could be attributed to his relationship with her, but still he had never received so much attention in his entire life.{95}

Chapter XVI.

No objection was made to the engagement of the young people to their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples about leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for an evening during his visit were constantly resisted, the coach taking him and his five cousins. informed the opportune hour for Meryton; And the girls had the pleasure of hearing about Mr. Wickham as they entered the drawing-room{96}Accepted his uncle's invitation, and were in the house again.

When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins had leisure to look around and admire, and he was so impressed with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared that perhaps he had almost Must have thought. In the little summer breakfast parlor of Rosings himself; A comparison which at first did not give much satisfaction; But when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was, and who owned it, when she had only heard the description of one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone was worth eight hundred pounds, then He felt the full force of the admiration, and could hardly have objected to the comparison with the housekeeper's room.

Describing to him all the magnificence of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode, and the improvements he had made in it, he was happily employed until The gentleman did not join them; and he found a very attentive listener in Mrs. Phillips, who increased her opinion of his result with every thing she heard, and who resolved to sell it all among her neighbors as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not hear their cousins, and who had nothing to do but wish for an instrument and examine their indifferent imitations of the china on the mantel-piece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. . It ended eventually, though. The gentlemen approached: and when Mr. Wickham came into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither looked at him before, nor thought of him since, with the slightest uneasiness.{97}Inappropriate praise. -The officers of the shire were generally very reliable, gentlemanly men, and the best of them belonged to the present party; But Mr. Wickham was as superior to them all in personality, countenance, air, and manners, as he was  to the broad  -faced, stuffy Uncle Phillips, breathing port wine, who stood behind him in the room. Had come.

"--Shire Officer"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Mr. Wickham was the jovial man to whom almost every woman looked, and Elizabeth too{98}the happy woman beside whom he finally sat; and the spontaneous manner in which he immediately entered into conversation, though it was only a wet night, and at the prospect of rainy weather, made him feel that the most common, the most dull, the most perplexing subject could be made interesting by it. Is. Speaker's skill.

With rivals such as Mr. Wickham and the authorities vying for notice of the fair, Mr. Collins had fallen into insignificance; For young women he was certainly nothing; But he still had a kind listener in Mrs. Phillips, and because of his attentiveness, he had coffee and muffins in abundance.

When the card tables were laid out, he got the opportunity to oblige by sitting down to whistle in return.

“I know very little about the game at the moment,” he said, “but I would love to improve myself; Because in my state of life--" Mrs. Phillips was very grateful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.

Mr. Wickham did not play at whim, and was cheerfully welcomed at another table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed to be a danger that Lydia would completely take him under her control, for she was such a determined talker; But being also extremely fond of lottery tickets, her interest in the game soon increased to such an extent that she became so eager to place bets and shout after the prize that no one paid any attention to her. In keeping with the general demands of the game, Mr. Wickham had leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very desirous of listening to him, though she did not expect to be told primarily what she wanted to hear. Could, the history of her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. He did not even dare to mention that gentleman. his curiosity, how{99}Sometimes, there was unexpected relief. Mr. Wickham himself introduced the topic. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving his answer, hesitantly asked how long Mr. Darcy had lived there.

“About a month,” said Elizabeth; And then, not wishing to leave the subject, added, "He is, I understand, a man of very large property in Derbyshire."

"Yes," replied Wickham; “His property there is a great property. Clear ten thousand per year. You could not meet anyone who would be able to give you more information in this regard than I can - for I have been connected, in a special way, with his family since childhood.

Elizabeth couldn't help but be surprised.

“You may be as surprised, Miss Bennet, by the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday, as you might imagine, at such a claim. “Are you very familiar with Mr. Darcy?”

“As much as I want to be,” Elizabeth said warmly. "I've spent four days in the same house with him, and I think he's very unpleasant."

 "I have no right to give  my opinion," said Wickham , "as to their agreeing or otherwise." I am not qualified to create a form. I have known him too long and too well to be an impartial judge. It is impossible  for me  to remain impartial  . But I believe that your opinion of them will generally be surprising—and, perhaps, you will not find it so strongly expressed anywhere else. Here you are in your family.

“On my part I  say no more here  than I can in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not liked at all in Hertfordshire. everyone has it{100}Hated his pride. You won't find anyone speaking more favorably of him."

"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a brief interruption, "that he or any man should not be judged beyond their deserts; But I believe   this does not happen to  him often. The world has become blind to his fortunes and consequences, or frightened by his high and impressive manners, and sees him only as he wishes to be seen.

"  Even with the slightest acquaintance I  should consider him an angry man."

Wickham merely shook his head.

"I wonder," he said on his next occasion of speaking, "whether he is likely to remain much longer in this country."

“I don't know at all; But  when I was at Netherfield I heard  nothing of his going away  . I hope that your plans in favor of ——shire will not be affected by its being in the neighbourhood.”

“Oh no—I can't afford to   be driven away  by Mr. Darcy. If  he  If he wants to avoid meeting  me then he must go. We do not have friendly relations, and meeting him always hurts me, but I have  no reason to stay away from him  , but what can I tell the whole world - a feeling of great abuse, and the most painful when meeting him. Regrets are what they are. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men, and the truest friend I ever had; And I can never live with this Mr. Darcy without my soul being saddened by a thousand tender memories. His behavior towards me has been despicable; But I truly believe I can forgive her anything and everything rather than disappoint her hopes and dishonor her father's memory.{101},

Elizabeth found interest in the subject increased, and she listened to him with her whole heart; But its fragility prevented further investigation.

Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general subjects, Maryton, the neighbourhood, society, he seemed exceedingly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter, especially, of gentle but very sensible gallantry. with.

"It was the prospect of continued society and good society," he continued, "which was the main inducement for me to enter the Shire.  It is the most respectable, agreeable party I know;  and my friend Denny introduced me to their present Further tempted by the description of the quarters and the very good attention and excellent acquaintanceship procured by Meryton.  My own society is essential to me.  I am a despondent man, and my soul will not endure solitude.  I  have employment and society. Should have been  .  Military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it worth while. The  Church  should have been my vocation  —I have been brought up for the Church;  and if that gentleman had been pleased about whom we Speaking of which, right now, I should have the most valuable life.”

"In fact!"

“Yes—the late Mr. Darcy gave me in his gift the next presentation of the best life. He was my godfather and was very attached to me. I can't do justice to his kindness. He intended to take great care of me, and thought he had done so; But when he fell alive, he was given somewhere else.”

"good heavens!" Elizabeth screamed; "But   how can  this be? How can his wishes be disregarded? Why didn't you seek legal redress?{102},

“The terms of the will were so informal that I had no expectations from the law. A respectable man could not doubt the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it—or to regard it only as a conditional recommendation, and claimed that I had acted extrajudicially, indiscreetly, in short, by doing nothing at all. All claims are lost or nothing. What is certain is that the living was vacated two years ago, just when I was of age to possess it, and it was given to another man; And it is no less certain, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve losing it.  I have a warm nature, and I may have expressed my opinion openly  about him  and  to him at times. I can't remember anything worse than this. But the truth is that we are completely different people and he hates me.

“This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly humiliated.”

“At some point he  will - but this  It won't happen by  me . Unless I forget his father, I cannot disregard him or   expose him .''

Elizabeth respected him for such sentiments, and as he expressed them, thought them more beautiful than ever.

“But what,” he said after a pause, “what could be his motive? What could have motivated him to behave so cruelly?”

“An absolute, strong dislike of me – a dislike which I can attribute in part to jealousy. If the late Mr. Darcy had liked me less, his son would have been able to bear with me better; But his father's unusual attachment to me, I believe, troubled him very early in life. He did not have the temperament to tolerate the kind of competition we were facing, the kind of preference that was often given to me.{103},

"I did not think Mr. Darcy so bad—though I never liked him, I did not think so bad of him—I thought he generally despised his fellow creatures, but suspected that Such malicious vengeance, such injustice, such inhumanity!

However, after a few minutes' consideration, he continued, “I remember  one  day at Netherfield he boasted about his intolerance of resentment, his unforgiving nature. “His nature must be terrible.”

“I would not trust myself on this subject,” replied Wickham; "  I  can hardly be there for her."

Elizabeth again fell into deep thought and after a while said, "To treat your godson, your friend, your father's favorite, this way!" She could have added, "Also a young man,  like you  , whose very face might indicate your affability." But he satisfied himself—"And one, too, who was probably his own companion from childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the most intimate manner."

“We were born in the same parish, in the same park; We spent much of our youth together: residents of the same house, sharing the same pastimes, the same parental cares. My  father began his life in the profession which is attributable to your uncle, Mr. Phillips; But she gave up everything to serve the late Mr. Darcy and devoted all her time to the care of the Pemberley estate. Mr. Darcy respected her the most, he was her closest, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged that he was under the greatest obligations to my father's active supervision; And when, just before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise{104}I am confident that he  considered it a debt of gratitude as well as affection towards me  .

"how strange!" Elizabeth screamed. "how disgusting! I wonder if this Mr. Darcy's pride has not made him just for you. If there be no better motive, he should not have been so proud of being dishonest, - I should call it dishonest.

“It  is wonderful  ,” replied Wickham; “For almost all his works can be looked upon with pride; And Gaurav has often been his best friend. This has united him more closely with virtue than with any other sentiment. But none of us are consistent; And in his behavior towards me there were impulses stronger than pride.”

“Would such a despicable ego as his ever have done him any good?”

"Yes;  this has often led him to be generous and generous;  to give away his money freely, to display hospitality, to aid his tenants, and to relieve the poor.  Family pride and  filial  pride, for he feels very Proud of what his father was, that he has done so.  Not wanting to dishonor his family, degenerate from popular virtue, or lose the influence of the House of Pemberley, is a powerful motive. There  is also a brotherly pride in him   , combined with brotherly   affection. This, together, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister;  and you will hear him crying out generally, as the most attentive and kindest of brothers.

"What kind of girl is Miss Darcy?"

he shook his head. “I wish I could call him friendly. It pains me to speak ill of Darcy; But he's a lot like his brother, very, very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and happy, and was extremely affectionate with me; And I have devoted hours and hours to his entertainment{105}Mention. But now he is nothing to me. She is a pretty girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, and, I understand, very accomplished. His home since his father's death has been London, where a lady lives with him, and superintends his education.

After several pauses and several trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not help returning once more to the beginning and saying, -

“I am surprised by her intimacy with Mr. Bingley. How could Mr. Bingley, who himself seems to be good-humored, and, I believe, really amiable, be friends with such a person? How can they be compatible with each other? “Do you know Mr. Bingley?”

"no way."

“He is a sweet-natured, friendly, charming person. He can't know what Mr. Darcy is."

"Perhaps not;  but Mr. Darcy can please where he pleases.  He does not want merit.  If he thinks it worth his while he can be a conversation-worthy fellow.  Among those who are his equal in all respects , he is a very different person from the less prosperous than he is.  His pride never leaves him;  but with the rich he is generous-minded, just, honest, rational, honorable, and, perhaps, agreeable, - of fortune and image. Gives permission to do something or the other.

Soon afterwards the whist party broke up, the players gathered around another table, and Mr. Collins took his place between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. General inquiries about his success were made by the latter. It wasn't great; He had lost every point; But when Mrs. Phillips began to express her concern at this, he very seriously assured her that it was not in the least important; that he{106}She treated the money as a trivial matter and requested that she not make herself uncomfortable.

“I know well, madam,” said he, “that when people sit at the card table they must take a chance of these things, and happily I am not in such circumstances that five shillings are no object. I can make it. Of course, there are many people who can't say the same; But, thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I have gone far beyond the necessity of small talk.”

Mr. Wickham's attention was attracted; And after observing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relatives were very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh.

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” he replied, “has lately given him a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced, but he certainly did not know her long.

“You certainly know that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters; As a result she is the aunt of the present Mr. Darcy.

“No, actually, I didn't. I knew nothing of Lady Catherine's relations. “I had never heard of its existence until the day before yesterday.”

"His daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will inherit a very large estate, and it is thought that she and her cousin will unite both properties."

This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss Bingley. Indeed all his attention would be in vain, his affection for his sister and his own praise would be vain and useless, if he were already devoted to another.

"Mr.  Collins," said she, "speaks very well of both Lady Catherine and her daughter;  but, from some particulars{107}That he has told her of her Ladyship, I suspect that her gratitude misleads her; And that, despite being his protector, she is an arrogant, arrogant woman.

Wickham replied, "I'm sure they're both quite well." “I have not seen him for many years; But I remember well that I never liked him and that his behavior was dictatorial and insolent. She has a reputation for being remarkably intelligent and clever; But I believe that she derives a part of her abilities from her position and fortune, some from her official manner and the rest from the pride of her nephew, who chooses that everyone associated with him should have a first-class understanding. .

Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very reasonable explanation of it, and they continued to converse with mutual satisfaction until at dinner the cards were exhausted, and the rest of the ladies had their share of Mr. Wickham's attentions. The noise of Mrs. Phillips's dinner party prevented any conversation, but her manners recommended her to all. Whatever he said, he said well; And whatever he did, he did decently. Elizabeth left with her head full. All the way home she could think of nothing but Mr. Wickham and what he had said to her; But as he was leaving he did not even have time to mention her name, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins remained silent even once. Lydia continued talking about the lottery tickets, about the fish she had lost and about the fish she had won; and Mr. Collins, describing the civility of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, protested that they took no notice at all of their loss at Whis, counting all the dishes at dinner, and repeatedly dreading the That he mobbed his cousins, and did much more than he says he could manage well before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House.{108}

Glad to see my dear friend again.

Chapter XVII.

Elizabeth asks Jane the next day what happened between her and Mr. Wickham. Jane listened with surprise and anxiety: she did not know how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of the honor of Mr. Bingley; And yet it was not in his nature to question the authenticity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The prospect of his actually enduring such cruelty was enough to interest all her tender feelings; And so there was nothing left to do but think well of them both, defend the conduct of each, and attribute whatever could not otherwise be explained to accident or mistake.{109}

“They both have,” she said, “I would venture to say that they have been deceived in some way or other, of which we can have no idea. Interested parties may have made misrepresentations to each other. In short, it is impossible for us to guess the causes or circumstances which might have driven them apart, without actual fault on both sides.

“Very true indeed; And now, my dear Jane, what do you have to say on behalf of those interested who may possibly be in the business?  Clean  them too , otherwise we will be forced to think bad about someone.”

“Laugh all you want, but you won't make me laugh if you disagree with me. My dearest Lizzie, but consider how disgraceful it is for Mr. Darcy to treat his father's favorite person in this way—for whom his father had promised to provide. this is impossible. No man of ordinary humanity, no man who has any value for his character, can be capable of this. Could his closest friends betray him so much? Oh no."

“I can more easily believe the confidence being imposed on Mr. Bingley than that Mr. Wickham should fabricate such a history of his as he gave me last night; Names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it is not so, let Mr. Darcy refute it. Besides, there was truth in his look.”

“It's really hard—it hurts. No one knows what to think.”

"I beg your pardon; - no one knows what to really think."

But Jane could only think with certainty on one point, that Mr. Bingley, if it  had been forced upon  her ,{110}You will have to suffer a lot if the matter becomes public.

The two maidens were called from the bush, where this conversation was going on, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they were talking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters had come to Netherfield to give their personal invitation to the long-expected ball, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. Both women were overjoyed to see their dear friend again, said it was so long since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she was doing with herself since their separation. He paid little attention to the rest of the family; Avoid Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, don't say much to Elizabeth, and don't say anything to others. They soon moved again, rose from their seats with an activity that surprised his brother, and quickly ran away as if anxious to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.

The prospect of the Netherfield Ball was a great delight to every woman in the family. Mrs. Bennet decided to consider it given in appreciation of her eldest daughter, and was particularly pleased to receive an invitation from Mr. Bingley himself rather than a formal card. Jane imagined a pleasant evening in the company of her two friends, and in the presence of her brother; And Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a lot with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's appearance and manners. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia was less dependent on any one event, or any particular person; Although each of them, like Elizabeth, wanted to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only companion who{111}could satisfy them, and a ball, at any rate, was a ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she had no reluctance to do so.

She said, "While I can have my morning for myself, that's enough." I believe that occasionally indulging in evening activities is not a sacrifice. Society has a claim on all of us; And I consider myself one of those who consider intervals of recreation and entertainment desirable to everyone.

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion, that although she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, yet she could not fail to ask him if he wished to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he If he did so, would he consider it appropriate to do so? Join in the evening entertainment; and she was astonished to find that he held no suspicions upon his head, and was far from fearing rebuke from the Archbishop or Lady Catherine de Bourgh by daring to dance.

“I by no means disagree, I assure you,” he said, “that such a ball, given by a young man of character to respectable people, can have any evil tendencies; And I myself am so far from objecting to dancing that I would hope to be honored by the hands of all my white cousins ​​during the evening; And I, Miss Elizabeth, take this opportunity of requesting you especially for the first two dances; A preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect.”

Elizabeth felt completely involved. He had solemnly proposed to be engaged by Wickham for the same dances; And to put Mr. Collins in his place!—there had never been a worse time for his vitality. wasn't there{112}However, please help with this. Mr. Wickham's joy and the force of his happiness were a little delayed, and Mr. Collins's proposal was accepted as best it could be. She was not that pleased with his bravery, because it brought up the idea of ​​doing something else. Now she first realized that  she  had been chosen among her sisters as worthy to become mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and to assist in erecting a quadrille table at Rosings in the absence of more worthy visitors. This idea soon reached conviction, as he saw her increasing civilities towards him, and heard his frequent attempts to praise her intelligence and liveliness; And though she was more surprised than satisfied herself with this effect of his charms, it did not take long for her mother to perceive that the prospects of their marriage   were exceedingly favorable to  her . However, Elizabeth chose not to accept the hint, as she was well aware that any answer could result in a serious dispute. Mr. Collins will probably never make this proposal, and until he does, it is useless to quarrel about it.

If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and discuss, young Miss Bennets would have been in a miserable state at this moment; For, from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there was such a period of rain that at one time they were prevented from going to Meryton. No aunt, no official, no news could be discovered; Shoe-roses for Netherfield were obtained by proxy. Even Elizabeth must have faced some trial of her patience in the weather, which completely suspended the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; And nothing less than a dance on Tuesday could make such Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays tolerable to Kitty and Lydia.{113}

Chapter XVIII.

ILL entered Elizabeth Netherfield's drawing-room, and looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the group of redcoats assembled there, of whose presence she had never suspected. The certainty of meeting her was not checked by any of those memories which would not have unduly worried him. She had dressed with more care than usual, and prepared in high spirits to conquer whatever was not left in her heart, believing that it could be conquered during the evening. but in one{114}The sinister suspicion immediately arose that he had deliberately been excluded from the invitation extended by the Bingleys to the officials, for Mr. Darcy's pleasure; And although this was not actually the case, the full fact of his absence was recited by his friend Mr. Denny, to whom Lydia had eagerly applied, and who told her that Wickham had to go to town on business the day before. was bound for, and not yet returned; Adding with a significant smile, -

"I don't think his business would have called him away just now, if he hadn't wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here."

This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was captured by Elizabeth; And, as she was assured that Darcy was no less responsible for Wickham's absence if her first guess had been justified, every feeling of resentment against the former was so intensified by immediate disappointment, that she resorted to polite inquiry. Could barely respond with tolerable civility. He contacted directly to make it. With Darcy there was attention, forbearance, patience, a blow to Wickham. She was against any kind of conversation with him, and turned away from him with a somewhat malicious attitude, which she could not completely overcome even in talking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality had provoked her.

But Elizabeth was not created for malice; And though every prospect of his own being destroyed for the evening, it could not long hold on his spirits; and, after confiding all her sorrows to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a voluntary change for her cousin's oddities, and to tell her of her special notices. Became capable. However, the first two dances brought a return to crisis: they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, strange and serious,{115}Apologizing instead of being present, and often taking a wrong step without knowing about it, gives him all the embarrassment and misery that an obnoxious partner for a few dances can give. The moment of freedom from him was blissful.

She danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking about Wickham, and hearing that he was universally liked. When they dance was over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was conversing with her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy, who so surprised her in his application for her hand that, Without knowing what she was doing. Did, he accepted it. He immediately went away again, and she became distressed at his 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 with whom one agrees, with whom one is bent upon hating!  Do not wish such evil upon me.”

However, when the dance resumed, and Darcy came to her to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her, in a whisper, not to be an ordinary person, and to fancy her for Wickham. Allowed to make her appear unpleasant in a man's eyes. Time of its result. Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set, astonished at the dignity with which she arrived at being allowed to stand before Mr. Darcy, and equally astonished to see her neighbors reading . They stood for some time without saying anything; And she began to imagine that their silence would last during two dances, and at first, she resolved not to break it; Until suddenly it occurred to him that forcing him to talk would be a major punishment for his partner,{116}He made some light observations on the dance. He replied, and then became silent. After pausing a few minutes, he addressed him a second time, with these words—

“Now  it's your turn  to say something , Mr. Darcy. I  talked about dancing, and  you  should make some comment on the size of the room, or the number of couples.

He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wanted to say to him should be said.

"Well;  that answer will serve for the present.  Perhaps, by and by, I may see that private balls are more pleasant than public balls;  but  now  we can keep quiet."

"Do you talk to the rules while you dance?"

"Sometimes.  One must speak a little, you know.  It would seem strange to be completely silent for half an hour together;  and yet,  for the benefit of  some people , conversation should be so arranged that they have to speak as little as possible." I am in trouble.

"Are you consulting your own feelings in the present matter, or do you imagine that you are gratifying my feelings?"

“Both,” replied Elizabeth hotly; “Because I have always observed a great similarity in the state of our minds. Each of us is of an unsociable, quiet nature, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will astonish the whole room, and  with the complete utterance of a proverb handed down to posterity Will go  .

He said, "I'm sure it bears no particular resemblance to your own character." “How close it  may be  to me , I cannot pretend to say. You  undoubtedly consider it a faithful picture.

"I shouldn't be judged on my performance."

He did not answer; And they were silent again until he asked her if she had started dancing.{117}And her sisters did not often walk to Meryton. He replied yes; And, unable to resist the temptation, said, "When you met us there the other day, we were making a new acquaintance."

The effect was immediate.  A deep shadow of  hauteur spread  across his face , but he did not say a word; And Elizabeth, though blaming herself for her weakness, still could not go on. Darcy spoke at length, and said in a measured manner, -

“Mr.  Wickham is blessed with such genial manners as is  sure to make  him friends  ; Whether he may be equally capable of  maintaining them is less certain.

"He is so unlucky that he has lost your friendship," Elizabeth insisted, "and in such a way that he may suffer for the rest of his life."

Darcy did not answer and wanted to change the subject. At that moment Sir William Lucas came closer to them, which meant passing through the set to the other side of the room; But, having Mr. Darcy in mind, he stopped, with superior manners, to admire her dancing and her companion.

“Indeed, my dear sir, I am extremely satisfied; Such excellent dance is not often seen. It is clear that you belong to the first division. Allow me, however, to say that your fair companion does not offend you: and I should hope that this pleasure will be repeated again and again, especially when a certain desirable event occurs, my dear Miss Eliza (looking at her sister and Bingley Putting) will take place. What kind of congratulations will come then! I appeal to Mr. Darcy; But I won't interrupt you, sir. You will not thank me for keeping me away from the charming conversation of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also reproaching me.{118},

“It is not often that such a wonderful dance
is seen.”

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Darcy had hardly heard the latter part of this address; But Sir William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his eyes, with a very serious expression, were directed towards Bingley and Jane, who were dancing together. However, soon collecting himself, he turned to his companion and said, -

“I forgot what we were talking about because of Sir William's interruption.{119},

“I don't think we were talking at all. Sir William couldn't resist two people in the room who had little to say about themselves. We’ve already tried two or three topics without success, and I can’t even imagine what we’ll talk about next.”

"What do you think about books?" He said smiling.

"Books—oh no!—I am sure we never read alike, or with the same feelings."

“I'm sorry you think that way; But if so, then at least there can be no dearth of subject matter. We can compare our different opinions.

“No—I can't talk about books in the ball-room; My mind is always full of something else.”

“  The present  always keeps you busy with such scenes—does it?” He said doubtfully.

"Yes, always," he replied, without knowing what he said; For her thoughts had strayed far from the subject, as soon after she appeared suddenly exclaiming, “I remember I heard you once say, Mr. Darcy, that you seldom forgave;— That your resentment, once aroused, was unattainable.  I believe you  are very cautious with regard to  its creation ?"

“I am,” he said in a firm voice.

"And never let yourself be blinded by prejudice?"

"I hope not."

“It is imperative, especially for those who never change their opinions, that they be safe in deciding the right way in the first place.”

“May I ask what the purpose of these questions is?”

“Only  for your portrayal of the character  ,” he said, trying to disguise his seriousness. "I'm trying to figure it out."

“And what is your success?{120},

she shook her head. “I don't get along at all. I hear such different stories about you that I am very surprised.”

“I can easily believe,” he replied seriously, “that the reports may vary greatly with regard to me; And I may wish, Miss Bennet, that you would not make a sketch of my character at this time, for fear that the performance would do credit to either of them.

"But if I don't adopt your likeness now, I'll never get another chance."

“I will never prevent any pleasure of yours,” he replied coldly.  He said no more, and they went into another dance and parted in silence; Dissatisfied on each side, though not in equal measure; For there was in Darcy's bosom a tolerably powerful feeling towards her, who soon forgave her, and vented out all his anger against another.

They had just parted when Miss Bingley came towards him and, with an expression of civil contempt, asked him thus, -

“So, Miss Eliza, I hear you're very happy with George Wickham? Your sister is talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand questions; And I suppose that young man, among his other communications, forgot to tell you that he was the son of old Wickham, steward of the late Mr. Darcy. However, as a friend I advise you not to implicitly believe all his claims; As to Mr. Darcy's ill-use of him, that is entirely false: on the contrary, he has always been remarkably kind to him, although George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy very scandalously . I don't know the details, but I know very well that Mr. Darcy does not at all{121}blame; that he could not bear to hear mention of George Wickham; And although my brother thought he could not avoid including her in his invitation to the authorities, he was extremely glad to find that she had got herself out of the way. His coming to the country is really the most humiliating thing, and I wonder how he can dare to do this. Miss Eliza, I pity you for this discovery of your favourite's crime; But really, given his lineage, no one could have expected better.”

Elizabeth said angrily, "His crime and his lineage appear to you to be one and the same." "For I hear that you are accusing him of nothing worse than being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and  of this  , I can assure you, he himself informed me."

"I beg your pardon," replied Miss Bingley, turning away sneer. “Sorry for my interference; It meant kind.”

“Insolent girl!” Elizabeth said to herself. “If you expect such a minor attack to sway me then you are sorely mistaken. I see nothing in it except your own willful ignorance and Mr. Darcy's malice. He then sought out his eldest sister, who had undertaken to interrogate Bingley on the same subject. Jane met her with a smile of such sweet self-satisfaction, a glow of such happy expression, that it showed how satisfied she was with the events of the evening. Elizabeth read his feelings at once; And, at that moment, the yearning for Wickham, the resentment against her enemies, and everything else, lost ground to the hope of Jane's happiness being in the best way possible.

“I want to know,” she said, whose face was no less smiling than her sister's, “what you have learned.”{122}About Mr. Wickham. But perhaps you have become so pleasant as to think of a third person, in which case you can be assured of my forgiveness.

“No,” replied Jane, “I have not forgotten him;  but I have nothing satisfactory to tell you.  Mr. Bingley does not know his whole history, and is absolutely ignorant of the circumstances which have chiefly has offended Mr. Darcy;  but he will vouch for his friend's good conduct, honesty, and honor, and is fully convinced that Mr. Wickham deserves even less attention from Mr. Darcy than he has received;  and I Sorry to say that, according to his own and his sister's description, Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man.  I fear he has been very indiscreet, and deserves to lose Mr. Darcy's respect."

"Mr.  Bingley himself does not know Mr. Wickham."

"No;  he never saw him till the next morning at Meryton."

“Then this description is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am completely satisfied. But what does he say about the living?”

"He does not remember the circumstances exactly, although he has heard about them more than once from Mr. Darcy, but he believes that it was  left to him only  conditionally."

"I have no doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity," said Elizabeth warmly, "but you must excuse me for not being convinced by mere assurances." I dare say that Mr. Bingley's defense of his friend was very able; But as he is ignorant of many parts of the story, and has learned the rest from the friend himself, I will still venture to think of both gentlemen as I did before.

Then he turned the sermon into a more gratifying{123}To each his own, and on which there can be no difference of feelings. Elizabeth listened with pleasure to Jane's pleasant, though modest, hopes as to Bingley's honour, and did all in her power to increase her confidence in it. With Mr. Bingley himself involved, Elizabeth retreats from Miss Lucas; After he had answered the question to the delight of his last companion, Mr. Collins came up to him, and told him, with great enthusiasm, that he was so fortunate as to have made the most important discovery.

“I have discovered,” he said, “by a strange accident, that there is now in the room a close relative of my chaperone. I heard the gentleman himself mention to the young lady who graces this house the names of his cousin, Miss de Bourgh, and her mother, Lady Catherine. How amazingly things like this happen! Who would have possibly thought of my meeting Lady Catherine de Bourgh's nephew at this gathering! I am very grateful that this discovery was made in time for me to express my respect to him, which I am now going to do, and I trust that he will forgive me for not having done so earlier. I must apologize for my complete ignorance regarding this matter.

"You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy?"

"Indeed I do.  I would apologize to him for not doing so earlier.  I believe he is Lady Catherine's  nephew  .  It will be in my power to assure her that her Ladyship was quite well off last night."

Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a plan; Assuring him that Mr. Darcy would consider it impertinent to address him without introduction{124}Freedom, instead of praising your aunt; It was not at all necessary that any notice be given to either party, and if it were so, it should have been the senior Mr. Darcy to initiate the introduction. Mr. Collins listened to her with the determination he desired, 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 understanding, but allow me to say that there must be a wide difference between the established forms of ceremony among the common people and who control the clergy;  for, allow me to observe that I regard the clerical office as equal in dignity to the highest office in the state—provided that proper modesty of behavior is at the same time maintained.  Therefore, You must allow me on this occasion to follow the dictates of my conscience, which prompts me to do what I see as duty.  Forgive me for neglecting to benefit from your advice, which will be my constant guide on every other subject, although in the matter before us I consider myself more fitted for education and habitual study to judge what is right, than a young lady like you;'” and bowing he turned to  Mr. Leaving her to attack Darcy, whose advances she welcomed with eagerness, and whose surprise at being thus addressed was very evident. Her cousin began her speech with a solemn salutation, and though she could not hear a word of it, she felt as if she heard it all, and she heard in the movement of her lips "Pardon," "Hunsford." ,” and saw the words “lady.” Catherine de Bourgh."  It was infuriating to see her exposing herself to such a man.  Mr. Darcy was glaring at her{125}restrained surprise; and when at last Mr. Collins permitted him to speak, he replied with an air of remote civility. Mr. Collins, however, was not discouraged from speaking again, and Mr. Darcy's contempt seemed to increase in abundance with the length of his second speech; and at the end of this he bowed only slightly to her, and passed on the other side: Mr. Collins then returned to Elizabeth.

“I have no reason, I assure you,” he said, “to be dissatisfied with my reception. Mr. Darcy seemed very pleased with this attention. He answered me with the utmost civility and even complimented me, saying that he was so convinced of Lady Catherine's understanding that he was sure she could never do anyone any undue favour. This was really a very beautiful idea. Overall, I am very happy with him.”

Since Elizabeth was no longer interested in moving forward, she focused her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the pleasant reflection which his observations gave rise to made him perhaps as happy as Jane. She found herself settled in the same house, with all the hospitality that a marriage of true affection can provide; And under such circumstances, she felt capable of attempting to like Bingley's two sisters also. He clearly saw that his mother's views were inclined in the same way, and he resolved not to go near her, lest she should hear too much. Therefore, when they sat down to dine, he considered it a most unfortunate deformity that placed them within each other; And she was very distressed to see her mother talking openly, frankly, to that one person (Lady Lucas), and about nothing else but her hope that Jane would soon marry Mr. Bingley. . It was a lively subject, and Mrs. Bennet{126}I was not feeling tired while counting the advantages of the match. His being such a charming young man, and so rich, and living only three miles from them, were the first points of self-satisfaction; And then it was a great relief to think how much both sisters loved Jane, and how certain it was that she should desire the relation as much as she could. Besides, it was such a promising thing for her younger daughters, because Jane's marriage was such a big deal that they had to get in the way of other rich men; And, finally, at that period of her life it was so pleasant to entrust her single daughters to the care of her sister, that she was not obliged to go into more company than she liked. It was necessary to make this situation a matter of joy, as this is the etiquette on such occasions; But no one was less likely than Mrs. Bennet to find comfort in staying at home at any time in her life. He concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas would soon be equally fortunate, although clearly and triumphantly believing that there was no probability of it.

Elizabeth vainly endeavored to check the intensity of her mother's words, or to persuade her to describe her happiness in a low audible whisper; To her indescribable irritation she could understand that the chief of it had been heard by Mr. Darcy, who was sitting opposite her. His mother scolded him for only talking nonsense.

“What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should fear him? I am sure that we have no special civility among him that we should be obliged to say anything which  he  does not like to hear.”

“Oh my God, madam, speak down. What advantage can you get from angering Mr. Darcy? By doing this you will never recommend yourself to his friend.{127},

However, no matter what she said, it had no effect. His mother also expressed her views in the same sensible tone. Elizabeth blushed and blushed again with embarrassment and irritation. She could not help casting her eyes again and again upon Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what she was afraid of; Even though he was not always looking at her mother, she was sure that his attention was always towards her. The expression on his face gradually changed from angry contempt to calm and steady seriousness.

However, ultimately Mrs. Bennet had nothing more to say; and Lady Lucas, who had long been yawning at the repetition of delights which there was no possibility of sharing, was given up to the comfort of cold ham and chicken. Elizabeth now started reviving. But the interval of peace did not last long; For when the dinner was over, there was talk of singing, and he was very sad to see Mary, after very little entreaty, preparing to oblige the company. By many meaningful glances and silent persuasions he endeavored to prevent such evidence of compassion,—but in vain; Mary will not understand them; Such an opportunity to perform was a joy for him and he started his song. Elizabeth's eyes were fixed on him with the most painful sensations; And he watched with impatience his progress through several verses, which had a very bad reward at their end; For Mary, having received, amid the thanks of the table, a hint of hope that she might again be prevailed upon to take their side, after a pause of half a minute another started. Mary's powers were by no means suitable for such a display; His voice was weak and his behavior affected. Elizabeth was in pain. He looked at Jane to see how she bore it; But Jane was very calm{128}Talking to Bingley. She looked towards her two sisters, and saw them making derisive signs at each other and at Darcy, who, however, remained impenetrably grave. She looked to her father to intervene, lest Mary continue singing all night. She took the hint, and, when Mary finished her second song, said loudly, -

“He'll do great, kid. You have pleased us for a long time. Give time to other girls to perform.”

Mary, although pretending not to hear, was somewhat disappointed; And Elizabeth, sorry for him, and sorry for her father's speech, feared that her concern was of no use. Now applications were given to other people of the party.

"If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I would, I am sure, have great pleasure in providing the company with a broadcast;  for I consider music to be a very innocent amusement, and is perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman.  However, I do not mean to say that it might be advisable to devote too much of one's time to music, for surely other things also have to be given attention.  A The rector of a parish has much to do.  First, he must make such an arrangement for the tithes as will be advantageous to him and not offensive to his patrons.  He must write his own sermons;  and what time remains will be devoted to his parish duties. and it will not be too much for the care and improvement of his accommodation, which cannot be excused from making him as comfortable as possible.  And I do not think it a trifle that he should be treated with an attentive and amiable attitude towards every one. should keep, especially towards those towards whom he has his preference.  I cannot acquit him of that duty;  nor could I think better{129}Of a man who should never miss an opportunity to testify to his respect for anyone connected with the family. And by bowing to Mr. Darcy he concluded his speech, which was delivered so loudly that it was heard across half the room. Many stared—many smiled; But no one seemed happier than Mr. Bennet, while his wife seriously complimented Mr. Collins for speaking so intelligently, and half-heartedly remarked to Lady Lucas that he was a remarkably clever, good-natured man. Were young men. ,

It seemed to Elizabeth, that if her family had made an agreement to expose themselves as little as possible during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their part with more feeling, or with better success; And she was glad for Bingley and her sister to think that some part of the exhibition had escaped her notice, and that her feelings were not too distressed by the folly she might have seen. However, it was bad enough that his two sisters and Mr. Darcy had such an opportunity to ridicule their relationship; And she could not determine whether the gentleman's silent contempt, or the ladies' insolent smile, was more intolerable.

The rest of the evening provided little entertainment for him. He was vexed by Mr. Collins, who stood firm on his side; And though he could not prevail upon him to dance with her again, yet he put it out of his power to dance with others. In vain he urged her to stand with someone else, and offered to introduce him to any of the young ladies in the room. He assured her that, as far as dancing was concerned, he was absolutely indifferent to it; His chief object was, with delicate attention, to recommend himself to her; and that{130}Therefore, one should decide to stay close to him the whole evening. There was no debate on such a project. She got her greatest relief from her friend Miss Lucas, who often attended her, and good-naturedly kept Mr. Collins's conversations to herself.

She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice: though he often stood at a very short distance from her, quite aloof, he never came near her to speak. She realized that this was the likely outcome of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and she was happy with it.

The Longbourn party was the last of all the companies to depart; and by a trick of Mrs. Bennet's he had to wait a quarter of an hour for his carriage after everyone else had gone, which gave him time to see how heartily some of the family saw him off. Mrs. Hurst and her sister hardly spoke except to complain of fatigue, and were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves. He rejected Mrs. Bennet's every attempt at conversation, and by doing so, caused an uproar throughout the party, which received little relief from Mr. Collins's long speeches praising Mr. Bingley and his sisters. the grandeur of his entertainments, and the hospitality and politeness that marked his behavior towards his guests. Darcy said nothing. Mr. Bennet was enjoying the scene equally calmly. Mr. Bingley and Jane stood together, a little separated from the rest, and talking only to each other. Elizabeth maintained a stoic silence like Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley; And even Lydia was so tired that she would occasionally exclaim "Lord, I am so tired!" She was not able to say anything more than the exclamation. With a violent yawn.{131}

When at last they rose to take their leave, Mrs. Bennet was exceedingly civil, expecting to meet the whole family soon at Longbourn; and addressed himself especially to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how much he would please him to eat a family dinner with him at any time, without the ceremony of formal invitation. Bingley was completely grateful; and he was prompt in availing himself of the earliest opportunity of waiting for her after her return from London, where he was to visit for a short time the next day.

Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied; and left the house under the delightful persuasion that, allowing the necessary preparations for settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she would doubtless see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four months. Of the marriage of another daughter to Mr. Collins she thought with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure. Elizabeth was his least favorite of all his children; And though the man and the match  were good enough for her  , the value of each was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield.{132}

"To reassure you in the most lively language."

Chapter XIX.

The next day he opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his declaration in the form. Resolving to do it without loss of time, as his leave of absence extended only till the next Saturday, and with no feeling of scruples in troubling himself even at this time, he set about it in a very orderly manner. did, all observances which he considered a regular part of the business. Mrs. Bennet, upon finding Elizabeth,{133}And one of the little girls present, soon after breakfast, addressed the mother in these words,—

"May I hope, madam, for your interest in my fair daughter Elizabeth, when I beg the honor of a private audience with her this morning?"

Before Elizabeth had time to do anything more than blush with surprise, Mrs. Bennet immediately replied, -

"Oh dear!  Yes, of course.  I'm sure Lizzie will be very pleased—I'm sure she can't mind.  Come, Kitty, I want you upstairs." And as she finished her work and was leaving quickly, Elizabeth called out, -

“Dear madam, don't go. I beg you not to go. You'll have to excuse me, Mr. Collins. He couldn't have anything to say to me that no one needed to hear. I am going away myself.

“No, no, nonsense, Lizzie. I wish you could stay where you are.” And when Elizabeth was about to run away with really troubled and embarrassed looks, she said, "Lizzie, I  insist you stay with Mr. Collins and listen  ."

Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction; And a moment's consideration also made her sensible that it would be wisest to end it as quickly and as quietly as possible; she sat down again, and, by continued employment, tried to conceal those feelings which Were divided between distress and amusement. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty went away, and as they went away Mr. Collins began, -

“Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, far from doing you any harm, rather enhances your other perfections. Had it not been for so much reluctance   , you would have been less friendly in my eyes; But let me assure you that I have your respected mother's permission for this address.{134}You can hardly doubt the intent of my discourse, though your natural humility may lead you to dissection; My attention is so marked that there can be no mistake. As soon as I entered the house, I chose you as my future life partner. But before I get carried away by my feelings on the subject, it would perhaps be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying—and, besides, for coming to Hertfordshire with the intention of choosing a wife, as I Certainly did.

The thought of Mr. Collins, with all his composure, running away from his feelings, brought Elizabeth so close to laughing that she could not use the short pause he gave her in any attempt to stop it, and she to continue, -

“My reasons for marrying are, first of all, I think it is the right thing for every priest in easy circumstances (like me) to set the example of marriage in his parish; Secondly, I am sure it will greatly increase my happiness; And, thirdly, which I probably should have mentioned earlier, this is the special advice and recommendation of the great lady I have the honor of calling my mentor. Twice she agreed to give me her opinion on the subject (without even being asked!); And it was on Saturday night, just before we left Hunsford,—amidst our pool in the quadrille, when Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool,—when she said, 'Mr. Collins, you have to get married. Pastors like you must marry. Choose well,   choose a gentle woman for  me  and  yourself ; Let him grow up to be an active, useful type of person, not having a higher education, but capable of earning a good income from a small income. This is my advice. Find such a woman as quickly as possible, bring her to Hunsford, and{135}I will go to meet him. By the way, my fair cousin, allow me to observe that I do not count the notice and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as one of the least advantages in my power. You will find his conduct beyond anything I have described; And I think your intelligence and liveliness, must be acceptable to him, especially when accompanied by silence and respect, which will inevitably excite his rank. So much for my general intentions in favor of marriage; It remains to be explained why my thoughts were directed towards Longbourn rather than my neighbourhood, where I assure you there are many amiable young ladies. But the truth is, being the heir to this estate after the death of your honored father (who, however, may live many years), I cannot content myself without resolving to choose a wife from one of his daughters. Could do. , so that their loss may be as little as possible if the sad event should occur – which, however, as I have already said, may not happen for many years. This has been my aim, my dear cousin, and I am pleased with myself that it will do me no less to esteem you. And now I have nothing left but to reassure you in the most lively language of the violence of my affection. I am entirely indifferent to fate, and will make no demands of that nature on your father, for I know well that it could not be complied with; And a thousand pounds of the 4 per cent, which will not be yours till after your mother's death, is all you can ever be entitled to. Therefore, on that head, I will equally remain silent: and you may assure yourself that no unjust reproach will ever pass my lips when we are married.

Now it was absolutely necessary to interrupt him.

“You are in too much of a hurry, sir,” she shouted. "You forget this{136}I did not answer. Let me do it without wasting any time. Please accept my thanks for the praise you are giving me. I am very sensible of the respect of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do anything else than reject them.”

“I need not yet learn,” replied Mr. Collins, waving his hand formally, “that it is common for young ladies to decline the addresses of a man whom they secretly wish to accept. are, when he first applies for their favour;  and sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time.  Therefore, I am in no way discouraged by what you have just said, and would hope that May I take you to the altar for a long time.

“At my word, sir,” cried Elizabeth, “your expectation after my announcement is extraordinary.  I assure you that I am not one of those young ladies (if there are such young ladies) who are so bold as to ask a second time. Risk your happiness by going.  I am absolutely serious in my refusal.  You  have not been able to make me happy  and I am sure that I am the last woman in the world who   will be able to do so  to you . No, if your friend Lady Catherine will let me Had she known, I am sure she would have found me unfit for the position in every respect.

“Was it certain that Lady Catherine would think so,” said Mr. Collins, very seriously—“but I cannot imagine that her Ladyship would disapprove of you at all.  And you may be sure that when I should have to see her again If I had the honor I would speak in the highest terms of your politeness, thrift and other amiable qualities.

“In fact, Mr. Collins, all my praise would be unnecessary. You have to allow me to decide for you, and{137}Congratulate me for believing what I say. I wish you to be very happy and very rich, and will do everything in my power to prevent you from being otherwise, by rejecting your hand. By making me the offer, you will have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings in relation to my family, and may, without self-disgrace, take possession of the Longbourn estate whenever it falls. Therefore, this matter can be considered finally resolved.” And thus speaking she would have risen and gone out of the room, if Mr. Collins had not addressed her thus, -

“When I next have the honor of speaking to you on this subject, I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer than you have yet given me; Although I am far from accusing you of cruelty, for I know that it is the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and, perhaps, you have yet to encourage my suit. That much has been said to be in keeping with the true humility of a woman's character.

“Really, Mr. Collins,” cried Elizabeth, with some warmth, “you have astonished me very much. If what I have said so far may seem to you as an encouragement, I don't know how to express my denial in a way that will convince you that it is one.

“You must allow me to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that my rejection of my addresses is certainly only words. My reasons for believing this are briefly these: - I do not think that my hand deserves your approval, or that the establishment I can present would be any other than highly desirable. My position in life, my relations with De Bourgh's family, and my relations with your family, the circumstances are in my favor; and you should take{138}Consider further that, despite your diverse attractions, it is by no means certain that another proposal of marriage will ever be made to you. Unfortunately your part is so small that it will probably overpower the effect of your beauty and amiable abilities. Therefore, I must conclude that you are not serious in rejecting me, I would choose to attribute it, according to the common custom of elegant ladies, to your desire to increase my love by suspense.

"I assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions about the kind of elegance that is involved in tormenting an honorable man. I would  rather be appreciated for being considered honest than for  what you have shown me in your proposals. I thank you again and again for the honors you have bestowed upon me, but it is utterly impossible to accept them.  My emotions prevent it in every way.  Can I speak plainly?  I no longer think of you as a beautiful woman. Understand that someone who intends to upset you rather speaks the truth from your heart as a rational being.

"You're equally attractive!" He shouted with a strange feeling of bravery; “And I am confident that, when approved by the express authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail to be acceptable.”

To such persistence in deliberate self-deception Elizabeth made no reply, and withdrew immediately and silently; The determination, that if he persisted in regarding her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement, he should apply it to his father, whose negativity can be stated in a way that should be decisive, and whose behavior At least cannot be mistaken as their affection and affection. a beautiful woman.{139}

Chapter XX.

R. Collins was not long left to silent contemplation of his successful love; As soon as Mrs. Bennet, wandering about in the vestibule to wait for the end of the conference, saw Elizabeth open the door and walk briskly down the stairs, she entered the breakfast room and greeted him and both Gave. She herself spoke warmly of the happy prospect of their close association. Mr. Collins received and returned these good wishes with equal pleasure, and then proceeded to relate the details of their interview, with the result that he believed he had every reason to be satisfied, as to the refusal which his cousin had given him. Had done, that would happen naturally. flows from her shy humility and the genuine fragility of her character.{140}

However, this information shocked Mrs. Bennet: she would have been equally satisfied that her daughter wanted to encourage him by opposing his proposals, but she did not dare to believe it, and by saying so herself Couldn't stop it.

"But depend on it, Mr. Collins," he continued, "that Lizzie will be explained to.  I will speak to her directly about it myself.' She is a very stubborn, foolish girl and does not know her own interests,  but I  will tell her this  .”

“Forgive me for interrupting you, madam,” cried Mr. Collins; "But if she is really stubborn and stupid, I don't know whether she would be a very desirable wife for a man in my position, who naturally seeks happiness in the state of marriage. So,  if She really persists in rejecting my suit, so perhaps it would be better not to force her to accept me, for, if liable to such defects of temperament, she will not contribute much to my happiness. Can give.

Mrs. Bennet said worriedly, "Sir, you greatly misunderstand me." “Lizzie is just stubborn in matters like these. In everything else she is as good-natured a girl as she ever was. I'll go straight to Mr. Bennet, and we'll settle it with him very soon, I'm sure."

She did not give him time to answer, but immediately ran to her husband and shouted as they entered the library, -

“Oh, Mr. Bennet, you are urgently wanted; We are all in turmoil. You must come and marry Lizzie to Mr. Collins, for she has sworn that she will not want him; And if you don't hurry up he will change his mind and   not get it .{141},

As soon as she came in, Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from the book, and fixed them on her face with a calm indifference, which was not in the least changed by her communication.

When she finished her speech she said, "I have not had the pleasure of understanding you." "which one do you mean?"

“Mr Collins and Lizzie's. Lizzie announces that she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzie.

“And what should I do on this occasion? "It seems a hopeless business."

“Talk to Lizzie about it yourself. Tell her that you are insisting on marrying her.

“Let him be called down. She will listen to my opinion.”

Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was called into the library.

“Come here, child,” her father said crying. “I have called you for an important task. I understand that Mr. Collins has proposed to you. Is it true?"

Elizabeth replied that it was.

“Very well—and you have rejected this proposal of marriage?”

"I have, sir."

"Very well.  Now we come to the point.  Your mother insists on you accepting it.  Doesn't it, Mrs. Bennet?"

"Yes, otherwise I'll never see her again."

“You face an unhappy choice, Elizabeth. From this day you will have to become a stranger to either of your parents. If you don't marry Mr. Collins   your mother will never see you again and if you  do  I will never see you again.{142},

Elizabeth could not help smiling at this conclusion of such a beginning; But Mrs. Bennet, who had convinced herself that her husband regarded the affair as he wished, was extremely disappointed.

“Mr. Bennet, what do you mean by talking like that? You promised me that  I would insist on marrying her  .”

“My dear,” her husband replied, “I have two small favors to ask. First, that you will allow me to make free use of your understanding on the present occasion; And, secondly, of my room. I would be happy to have a library as soon as possible.”

However, yet, despite disappointment from her husband, Mrs. Bennet does not give up. He spoke to Elizabeth frequently; He was coaxed and threatened by turns. She attempted to secure Jane in her own interests, but Jane, with all possible gentleness, refused to interfere; And Elizabeth responded to his attacks, sometimes with genuine sincerity, and sometimes with playful gaiety. Although his methods differed, however, his determination never changed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins was reflecting in solitude on what had passed. He thought so well of himself that he did not understand what motive his cousin could refuse him; And though his pride was hurt, he was not hurt in any other way. His respect for her was entirely imaginary; and the prospect of his being the object of his mother's reproach prevented him from feeling any remorse.

While the family was in this dilemma, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the day with them. In the vestibule he met Lydia, who, flying up to him, shouted in a half-whisper, "I'm glad you came, because it's so much fun here!  What do you think has happened?{143}Morning? Mr. Collins has made Lizzie a proposal, and she won't accept it."

"They entered the breakfast room."

Charlotte had scarcely time to reply, before she was joined by Kitty, who had come to tell her the same news; And as soon as they entered the breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, she began to talk on this subject, imploring Miss Lucas for her mercy, and asking her to oblige her friend Lizzie to comply with the wishes of her family. Urged to persuade. , “Pray, my dear miss{144}Lucas,” she said sadly; “For there is no one for me, no one takes part with me; I am used cruelly, no one realizes my weak feelings.”

Charlotte's reply escaped Jane and Elizabeth's admission.

“Well, there she comes,” continued Mrs. Bennet, “looking as careless as can be, and no more concerned about us than if we were at York, provided she could have her way. But  I Tell you, Miss Lizzie, if you go on rejecting every proposal of marriage like this, you will never find a husband - and I'm sure I don't know who will support you when your father dies.  I  won't be able to keep you—and that's why I warn you.  I've done it to you since today.  I told you in the library, you know, that I should never talk to you again, and you tell me my You'll get just as good as  I. I don't enjoy talking to disrespectful children.  Not that I really enjoy talking to anyone.  People who suffer from anxiety complaints like I do have a hard time talking. There's no particular interest.  No one can tell what's wrong with me!  But it always happens.  People who don't complain never get pity."

His daughters continued to listen to this outpouring in silence, realizing that any attempts to placate or placate them would only increase the irritation. Therefore, she continued talking without interruption to any of them, until they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered more stately than usual, and upon seeing whom, she said to the girls, -

“Now, I insist that you, all of you, hold your tongues, and let Mr. Collins and I have a little conversation together.{145},

Elizabeth quietly left the room, followed by Jane and Kitty, but Lydia remained adamant and determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, who was detained first because of the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries about herself and her whole family were very subtle, and then because of a little curiosity, she took the opportunity of going to the window and pretending not to hear. Satisfied myself. Mrs. Bennet began the approximate conversation in a sad voice as follows:-

"Oh, Mr. Collins!"

"My dear madam," he replied, "let us remain silent forever on this matter.  Far be it from me," he said in a voice now showing his displeasure, "to express displeasure at the behavior of my daughter To do. It  is the duty of us all to renounce inevitable evils: the peculiar duty of a young man who has been as fortunate as I in early preference;  and, I believe, I have resigned myself to  feeling perhaps a doubt about my positive happiness. No less than when my fair cousin honored me with her hand;  for I have often observed, that resignation is never so perfect, as when the declined blessing has to some extent lost its value in our estimation. I  hope you will not regard me as showing any disrespect to your family, my dear madam, by thus withdrawing your pretense in favor of your daughter, allowing yourself and Mr. Bennet to interfere with your authority in my Without appreciating the request. On behalf of.  I fear that my conduct may be objectionable because I have received my disapproval from the lips of your daughter rather than from yours; But we are all liable to make mistakes. I certainly meant well by the whole thing. My object has been to secure for myself an amiable companion, with an eye to the benefit of your whole family; And if my  conduct  has been even slightly condemnable, I apologize.{146},

Chapter XXI.

The discussion of Mr. Collins's proposal was now almost over, and Elizabeth had only to suffer uncomfortable feelings to attend to it, and sometimes some irritable allusion from her mother. As for the gentleman himself,  his  feelings were expressed primarily, not from embarrassment or disappointment{147}By trying to avoid him, but by harshness of behavior and angry silence. He rarely spoke to her; and the diligent attention, which he was so sensible of himself, was transferred for the remainder of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility of listening was a seasonal relief to them all, and especially to her friend.

There was no lessening of Mrs. Bennet's bad humor or poor health yesterday. Mr. Collins was in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth hoped that his anger might shorten her journey, but it had no effect on her plans. He always had to go on Saturday, and on Saturday he still had to stay.

After breakfast, the girls head to Meryton to ask if Mr. Wickham has returned, and to lament his absence from the Netherfield Ball. He joined them on entering the city, and conducted them to their aunt, where their regrets and annoyances and everyone's concerns were thoroughly discussed. However, to Elizabeth, he willingly admitted that the necessity of his absence  was self-imposed  .

"I found," said he, "as the time drew nearer, I had better not see Mr. Darcy;—to be in the same room, to have the same party with him for so many hours, would perhaps be more than I could bear." Am, and these scenes may be unpleasant to more people than to me.”

He greatly appreciated her tolerance; And they had leisure to discuss it fully, and to all the compliments which they paid each other in a civilized manner, when Wickham and another officer went back to Longbourn with them, and during the walk they especially Took care of him. His going with them had a double advantage: he felt all the praise given to himself;{148}and this was most acceptable as an opportunity of introducing him to his father and mother.

"went back with them"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Soon after his return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; It came from the Netherlands, and opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of beautiful, small, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a woman's fair, flowing hand; And Elizabeth saw her sister's face change as she read it, and saw her concentrate on certain passages. Jane soon remembered herself; and putting the letter away, tried, with her usual cheerfulness, to engage in general conversation: but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which diverted her attention even from Wickham; And as he and his companion took their leave, a look from Jane invited him to follow her up. When they got to their room, Jane took out her letter and said, "This is from Caroline Bingley: what is it?"{149}Samilit has surprised me a lot. By this time the whole party has left Netherfield, and is heading towards the town; And no intention of coming back again. You'll hear what she says."

He then read aloud the first sentence, containing the information that he had resolved to go straight to the city with his brother, and that he meant to dine that day in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst's house stood. The next was in these words:—'  ' '  I do not regret what I will leave in Hertfordshire by leaving your society, my dearest friend; But we will hope, at some time in the future, that we shall enjoy many of the benefits of that blissful intercourse we have known, and meanwhile may ease the pain of separation by very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for this. Elizabeth  listened to these lofty expressions with all the insensibility of disbelief; And though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing really to be mourned in it: it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley from remaining there; And as to the loss of their society, she was convinced that Jane should soon cease to look upon it as her enjoyment.

“It is unfortunate,” he said after a pause, “that you will not be able to see your friends before you leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness which Miss Bingley hopes for may arrive earlier than she anticipates, and that the blissful intercourse which you have known as friends, as sisters and Will renew with even greater satisfaction? Mr. Bingley will not be detained by them in London.

“Caroline has said definitively that no team will be returning to Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you.{150}

“  When my brother left us yesterday, he thought that the business which took him to London might be over in three or four days  ; But as we are sure that this cannot be so, and are also convinced that when Charles reaches the city he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have decided to follow him there, so that he may Don't feel obliged to spend your free time in a comfortable hotel. Many of my acquaintances are already there for the winter: I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of joining the crowd, but I am disappointed by it. I sincerely hope that your Christmas in Hertfordshire will be full of the gaiety that usually attends that season, and that your beauty will be so great that you will not feel the loss of the three of which we will deprive you.'

"From this it is clear," said Jane, "that he will not return now this winter."

"It is only clear that Miss Bingley does not mean that she  should do so  ."

"why would you think that? It must be his own work; He is his own master. But you  don't know  everything . I  will read to you the passage that particularly offends me  . I  will not have any complaint  with you . 'Mister. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; And to confess the truth,  we  could hardly be less anxious to meet him again. I really do not think that Georgiana Darcy is her equal in terms of beauty, grace and achievements; and the affection she arouses in Louisa and me is made still more interesting by the hope that we dare to entertain her as our sister. I don't know whether I have ever told you before of my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without telling them, and I am sure you will not respect them.{151}Inappropriate. My brother already praises him very much; She will now have the opportunity again and again to see him on the most intimate level; Everyone in his relationship desires the relationship as much as he does; And a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles the most capable of winning any woman's heart. With all these circumstances in favor of an attachment, and with nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dear Jane, in anticipating an event which will secure the happiness of so many?'  What do you think of  this sentence , my dear Lizzie?"  said Jane, as soon as she finished it.  "Is it not clear enough?  Does it not plainly declare that Caroline expects neither that  she is fully convinced of her brother's indifference;  and that if she suspected the nature of my feelings towards her she would (extremely merciful!) keep me on my guard  . But can there be any other opinion?”

“Yes, it is possible; Because mine is completely different. Will you listen to it?”

“Very willingly.”

“You will get it in a few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you and wants her to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in hopes of keeping him there, and tries to convince you that she doesn't care about you.

Jane nodded.

“Really, Jane, you should believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection; I am sure Miss Bingley cannot do that: she is not such a simple person. Had she seen Mr. Darcy even half this love for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the matter is this:—we are not rich or grand enough to deserve them; and he is{152}The more anxious to obtain Miss Darcy for his brother, from the belief that when  one  inter-marriage has taken place, he may have less trouble in obtaining another; In which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed if Miss de Bourgh would get out of the way. But, my dear Jane, you cannot seriously imagine it, for Miss Bingley tells you that her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, that he  is a little less sensible of your merits than  he was when he Had bid farewell to you on Tuesday; Or that it would be within his power to make her understand that he loves her friend more than he loves you.

“If we think alike of Miss Bingley,” replied Jane, “your representation of all this may be quite easy to me.  But I know that the foundation is unjust.  Caroline is incapable of knowingly deceiving anyone;  And in this case I can only hope that she herself has been deceived.”

"That's right.  You could not begin with a more pleasant thought than this, for you will not take solace from my words: believe that he has been deceived in every way.  You have now fulfilled your duty to him, and now Don't worry."

“But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even at the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends all wish him to marry somewhere else?”

“You have to decide for yourself,” Elizabeth said. "And if, after mature deliberation, you find that the sorrow of abandoning his two sisters is equal to the joy of being his wife, then I advise you to refuse him by all means."

“How can you say that?” Jane said, smiling softly; “You must know that, although I should have been extremely saddened at his rejection, I could not hesitate.{153},

“I didn't think you'd do that; And that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with more compassion."

“But if he does not return again this winter, my choice will never be necessary. A thousand things can come to light in six months.

The idea of ​​his not returning was treated with extreme contempt by Elizabeth. It seemed to him merely a suggestion of Caroline's tasteful wishes; And she could not imagine for a moment that those desires, no matter how openly or artfully expressed, could influence a young man so completely independent of everyone else.

Whatever he felt on the subject, he presented it to his sister as forcefully as possible, and soon she had the pleasure of seeing the pleasant effect it had. Jane's nature was not hopeless; And she was gradually led to hope, though sometimes a doubt of affection overpowered the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield, and answer every desire of her heart.

They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the family's departure, without being concerned about the gentleman's conduct; But even this partial communication worried her greatly, and she lamented that it was extremely unfortunate that the women had to go away, just as they were all being so intimate together. However, after lamenting this somewhat, she was consoled by the thought that Mr. Bingley would soon be back again, and would soon dine at Longbourn; And the conclusion of all was the spontaneous declaration, that, although she was only invited to the family dinner, she would take care of two full courses.{154}

Chapter XXII.

His Excellency the Bennetts was engaged to dine with the Lucases; And then, during the head of the day, Miss Lucas was so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took the opportunity to thank him. "It keeps him in good humor," she said, "and I'm more grateful to you than I can express."

Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and this amply repaid her for the small sacrifice of her time. It was very friendly; But Charlotte's kindness extended far beyond Elizabeth's imagination:—its object was to secure Mr. Collins' addresses, by attracting them to her own, from any return. Such was Miss Lucas's plan; and the appearances were so agreeable, that when they parted in the night, he would have felt almost certain success had he not left Hertfordshire so soon. But here he did injustice to the fire and independence of her character; This caused him to run out of Longbourn House the next morning{155}The admirable cunning, and haste of Lucas Lodge to throw himself at his feet. He was anxious to avoid the sight of his cousins, in the belief that, if they saw him go, they would not fail to guess his intention, and he was unwilling to learn of the attempt until Until its success becomes known in the same way; However, feeling almost safe, and with reason, Charlotte was tolerably encouraging, he had been comparatively confident since the incident of Wednesday. However, his reception was extremely flattering. As he was walking home Miss Lucas saw him from an upper window, and immediately came out accidentally to meet him in the street. But he had no courage to hope that so much love and eloquence would be waiting for him there.

In the short time that Mr. Collins's long speeches allowed, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; And when they entered the house, he earnestly besought her to name the day which would give her the greatest happiness among men; And although such urges should be forgiven for the moment, the woman had no desire to meddle with his happiness. The folly with which nature had favored him must have protected his courtship from any charm which might make a woman desire its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who had accepted him only out of a pure and disinterested desire for an establishment, did not care how quickly that establishment was obtained.

Sir William and Lady Lucas were immediately applied for their consent; And it was given the most delightful urgency. Mr. Collins's present circumstances made him the most suitable spouse for his daughter, to whom he could bestow so little a fortune; And his prospects of future wealth were extremely fair. Lady Lucas began to directly calculate the matter with more interest than ever{156}

"So much love and eloquence"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

The former were excited about how long Mr. Bennet might live; and Sir William gave it as his definite opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should take possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should attend St. James's. In short, the whole family was very happy on this occasion. became little girls{157} Expected to  come out a year or two earlier than they otherwise might have; And the boys find relief from their fears of dying in the form of an old maid of Charlotte's. Charlotte herself was patient. He had understood his point and had time to think about it. His views were generally satisfactory. Mr. Collins, of course, was neither sensible nor agreeable: his society was irritable, and his attachment to them must be imaginary. But still he will be her husband. Without thinking too much about men or marriage, marriage had always been her object: it was the only respectable provision for well-educated young women of little property, and, uncertain though it might be in giving happiness, would save them from want. Should be the most enjoyable means of. This preservative he had now received; And at the age of twenty-seven, despite never being beautiful, she felt all the good fortune of it. The least favorable circumstances in business came as a surprise to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued more than that of any other person. Elizabeth would be surprised, and perhaps blame him; And although her resolve was not to waver, such a rejection must hurt her feelings. He resolved to give him the information himself; And so Mr. Collins was charged not to give any hint of what had happened to any of the family, when he returned to Longbourn for dinner. The promise of secrecy was, of course, very conscientiously given, but it could not be fulfilled without difficulty; Because the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth on his return into such direct questions as to require some ingenuity to avoid them, and he was at the same time making great self-sacrifices, because he was anxious to publish his rich love. Was.

Since he had to start his journey very early tomorrow{158}To see someone from the family, the ritual of taking leave was performed when the women left for the night; and Mrs. Bennet said, with great politeness and cordiality, how glad she would be to see him again at Longbourn, whenever, on account of his other engagements, she might chance to meet him.

“My dear madam,” he replied, “this invitation is especially gratifying, because it is just what I was hoping to receive; And you can be sure I will take advantage of it as soon as possible.”

They were all astonished; And Mr. Bennet, who could never have wished for so soon a return, said immediately,—

“But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapproval here, my good sir? “It is better to neglect your relations than to risk displeasing your patron.”

"My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly indebted to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend on me that I will not take so important a step without her Ladyship's consent."

“You can't be too careful. Risk anything rather than incur his displeasure; And if you think that the matter may arise on your coming to us again, which I think is highly probable, then remain quietly at home, and be satisfied that  we  will commit no offence.”

“Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is greatly excited by this affectionate attention; And, relying on this, you will shortly receive a letter of thanks from me for this, as well as every other mark of your respect, during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my white cousins, although my absence will not last so long as to render it necessary, I will now take the liberty of wishing them their health and happiness, except my cousin Elizabeth.{159},

With reasonable civility, the women then retreated; They were all equally surprised to learn that he contemplated an early return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand that he had thought of giving his address to one of his little girls, and that Mary might have agreed to accept him. He estimated her abilities much higher than those of all others: there was a solidity in her ideas which often impressed him; And though she was not so clever as himself, yet he thought that, if encouraged by such an example as hers to study and improve himself, he might make a very pleasant companion. But the next morning all such hopes were gone. Miss Lucas called shortly after breakfast and, in a private conference with Elizabeth, recounted the incident of the day before.

During the last day or two the possibility of Mr. Collins falling in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth's mind: but this possibility seemed almost as remote as she herself could encourage it; And consequently her surprise was so great that at first the bounds of propriety were broken, and she could not restrain herself from shouting, -

“Got engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte, impossible!”

The stoic countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded while telling her story had here produced a momentary confusion upon receiving a direct rebuke; However, as it was no more than he expected, he soon recovered his composure, and calmly replied, -

“Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins was capable of having a good opinion of any woman, as he was not so happy as to be successful with you?{160},

But Elizabeth now remembered herself; and, making a strong effort towards it, was able to assure her, with tolerable firmness, that she was very grateful for the possibility of their relationship, and that she wished him all imaginable happiness.

"I see what you feel," replied Charlotte; "You will be surprised, very surprised, that quite recently Mr. Collins wanted to marry you.  But when you have had time to consider all this, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done.  I am romantic I am not, you know.  I never was.  I only ask for a comfortable home;  and, considering Mr. Collins's character, relations, and condition of life, I believe my chances of happiness with him are just as fair. That's more than most people can claim upon entering the state of marriage.

Elizabeth answered quietly, "No doubt;" And, after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not live long; And then Elizabeth was left to contemplate what she had heard. It took her a long time to come to terms with the idea of ​​such an unsuitable couple. The strangeness of Mr. Collins making two proposals of marriage within three days was nothing compared to what she was now accepting. She always felt that Charlotte's views on marriage were not exactly the same as hers; But she could not have imagined that when called to action, she would sacrifice every better feeling for worldly gain. The picture of Mr. Collins's wife Charlotte was the most outrageous! And to the pain of seeing a friend disgrace himself and sink his honor, was added the sad conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in what he had chosen.{161}

"To protest would be completely wrong."

Chapter twenty-third.

Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, pondering over what she had heard, and doubting whether she was authorized to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, whom his daughter had Sent to announce your engagement to the family. While praising them very much, and with much self-satisfaction at the possibility of a connection between the houses, he revealed{162}The matter,—not only surprising to the audience, but also incredible; Mrs. Bennet, more firmly than politely, protested that he would be entirely wrong; And Lydia, always alert and often rude, shouted loudly, -

"Good God!  Sir William, how can you tell such a story?  Don't you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzie?

Nothing less than the decency of a courtier could have tolerated such behavior without anger: but Sir William's good nature got him out of it all; And though he asked permission to be positive of the correctness of his information, yet he listened to all his insolence with the most tolerant courtesy.

Elizabeth feeling that it was her duty to relieve her of so unpleasant a situation, she now proceeded to corroborate her account, by mentioning her former knowledge of it to Charlotte herself; and endeavored to restrain the exclamations of her mother and sisters, with the earnestness of congratulating Sir William, in which she readily joined in with Jane, and made various remarks on the happiness which might be expected. The match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and Hunsford's convenient distance from London.

In fact, Mrs. Bennet was very powerful and unable to say much while Sir William was there; But as soon as he left them, his emotions ran wild. At first, she remained in disbelief about the entire affair; Secondly, he was certain that Mr. Collins had been included; Third, he was convinced that they would never be happy together; And, fourth, that the match may break. However, two conclusions{163}From all the obvious conclusions were drawn: one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of all the mischief; And second, she herself was brutally used by them all; And during the rest of the day she concentrated mainly on these two points. Nothing could console him and nothing could satisfy him. Nor did his anger end that day. A week passed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding: a month passed before she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude; And many months passed before she was able to forgive her daughter.

Mr. Bennet's feelings on this occasion were much calmer, and as he felt they were of the most agreeable kind; It gratified him, he said, when he discovered that Charlotte Lucas, whom he thought tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and even more foolish than his daughter!

Jane confessed that she was a little surprised by the match: but she said less of her surprise than of her heartfelt wish for their happiness; Nor could Elizabeth persuade him to consider it impossible. Kitty and Lydia were far from jealous of Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; And it did not affect him in any other way than as a news spreading in Maritsan.

Lady Lucas could not have been insensitive to the triumph of being able to respond to Mrs. Bennet with the comfort of having a daughter well married; And she called at Longbourn more often than usual to tell him how happy she was, although Mrs. Bennet's sour words and bad-natured remarks might have been enough to drive away the happiness.

There was a restraint between Elizabeth and Charlotte which kept them mutually silent on this subject; And Elizabeth believed as no one could truly believe{164}To ever exist among them again. His disappointment in Charlotte made him more affectionate towards his sister, of whose honesty and modesty he was convinced that his opinion could never be shaken, and for whose happiness he felt day by day more anxious. It became so, for Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard of his return.

Jane had sent Caroline a prompt reply to her letter, and she was counting the days until she could expect to hear again. Mr. Collins's promised letter of thanks arrived on Tuesday, addressed to his father, and written with all the sincerity of gratitude which twelve months' residence in the family would have inspired. Having revealed his conscience to that head, he proceeded, with many enthusiastic expressions, to inform them of his pleasure in receiving the affection of his amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was only for the benefit of her society. It was from the point of view of enjoyment. He was prepared to conclude by wishing to see them again at Longbourn, where he hoped he would be able to return on Monday fortnight; For Lady Catherine, he added, approved of their marriage so heartily, that she desired it to take place as soon as possible, which she trusted, with her amiable Charlotte, to make him the happiest of men. There would be an undeniable argument for naming the day.

Mr. Collins's return to Hertfordshire was no longer a joy to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was just as ready to complain about it as her husband. It was very strange that he came to Longbourn instead of Lucas Lodge; It was very inconvenient and extremely troublesome. She hated having guests at home, when her health was so indifferent, and lovers were the most unpleasant of all people. Such were Mrs. Bennet's gentle murmurs, and she gave way{165}Mr. Bingley's continued absence only caused more trouble.

Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable with the subject. Days passed without bringing any other news of him, except the report which soon became prevalent at Maryton that he would not come to Netherfield all the winter; a report which greatly infuriated Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to refute as a most scandalous lie.

Even Elizabeth began to fear – not that Bingley was indifferent – ​​but that her sisters would succeed in keeping him away. Unwilling to admit an idea so destructive to Jane's happiness and so insulting to her lover's stability, she could not prevent its repeated recurrence. The united efforts of his two cruel sisters and his ardent friend, aided by the charms of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London, might, he feared, be too much for the strength of his attachments.

As for Jane,  her  anxiety under this secret was, certainly, more painful than Elizabeth's: but whatever she felt she was inclined to conceal; And so, the subject was never mentioned between him and Elizabeth. But as no such politeness would deter her mother, scarcely an hour passed in which she did not talk about Bingley, express her impatience for his arrival, or even ask Jane to admit it. She didn't say that if he didn't come back then she should use herself very badly. , Jane's steady gentleness was required to bear these attacks with tolerable calmness.

Mr. Collins returned most of the fortnight on Monday, but his reception at Longbourn was not so generous as it had been on his first introduction. However, he was so happy that he did not need to pay much attention; And,{166}Fortunately for others, the business of courtship largely spared them from his company. He spent the main part of each day at Lucas Lodge, and sometimes he returned to Longbourn just in time to apologize for his absence before the family went to bed.

"  Whenever she spoke in a low voice  "

Mrs. Bennet was indeed in a very pitiable condition. The mere mention of anything relating to the match sent her into agony of humiliation, and wherever she went she was sure to hear it discussed. The sight of Miss Lucas was disgusting to him. He as his successor in that house{167}Looked at him with jealous hatred. Whenever Charlotte came to visit them, she said she was anticipating the time of the occupation; And whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, she was convinced that he was talking about the Longbourne estate, and her determination to get herself and her daughters out of the house as soon as Mr. Bennet died. Were taking. She complained bitterly about all this to her husband.

“Indeed, Mr. Bennet,” she said, “it is so hard to think that Charlotte Lucas will ever become mistress of this house, that  I  Must be forced to make way for  him , and live to see him take my place!”

“My dear, don't give in to such depressing thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that  I  may become a survivor.

This was not much consolation to Mrs. Bennet; And, so, instead of giving any answer, she went on as before.

“I can't bear to think that he should have all this wealth. If it was not for the purpose, I should have no objection to it.

“What shouldn't you mind?”

“I shouldn't feel bad about anything.”

"Let us be grateful that you have been spared such a state of insensitivity."

“Mr. Bennet, I can never be grateful for anything. I am unable to understand how anyone can have the conscience to snatch away property from his own daughters; And all this for Mr. Collins too! Why should he get  it more than anyone else  ?”

"I leave it to you to decide," said Mr. Bennet.{168}

Chapter XXIV.

ISS Bingley's letter arrived and the doubts were put to rest. The first sentence consisted of an assurance that they were all settled in London for the winter, and ended with her brother's regret at not having found time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before leaving the country.

Hope is gone, completely gone; And when Jane turned her attention to the remainder of the letter, she found nothing to give her any consolation, except the author's supposed affection. In this the praise of Miss Darcy was prominent. Many of his attractions were again in the news; And Caroline happily boasted of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the fulfillment of those wishes which had been expressed in her last letter. She wrote with great pleasure about her brother's stay in Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned enthusiastically some of Darcy's plans regarding new furniture.{169}

Elizabeth, to whom Jane soon told the main thing about all this, heard this in silent indignation. Her heart was torn between concern for her sister and resentment toward everyone else. To Caroline's claim that her brother was partial to Miss Darcy, she gave no credit. That he was really fond of Jane, he had no more doubt of it than he had ever done before; And as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, of that spontaneity of nature, that want of just solution, which now made her the favorite of her designing friends. Made him a slave, and led him forward. Sacrifices his happiness to the wishes of his inclinations. However, if his own happiness were the only sacrifice, he would be allowed to play in whatever manner seemed best; But his sister was involved because she thought he would be wiser himself. In short, it was a topic that could be pondered over for a long time and to no avail. She couldn't think of anything else; And yet, whether Bingley's honor had really perished, or been suppressed by the interference of his friends; whether he knew of Jane's attachment, or whether it escaped his observation; Whatever the case may be, though his opinion of her must have been materially affected by the difference, his sister's position remained the same, her peace equally injured.

A day or two passed before Jane mustered up the courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; But at last, after nagging longer than usual about Netherfield and his master, on Mrs. Bennet leaving them together, she could not help saying,—

“I wish my dear mother had more control over herself! She has no idea how much pain she causes me by constantly thinking about her. but not me{170}repine. This cannot go on for long. He will be forgotten and we will all go back to the way we were before.”

Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredible curiosity, but said nothing.

"You doubt me," said Jane, coloring a little; “Actually, you have no reason. He may live in my memory as the friendliest man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing to hope for or fear, and nothing to reproach. Thank God I didn't feel  that  pain  . So, a little time—I will definitely try to do better——”

She soon said in a strong voice, "I am at once consoled that it is no more than an imaginary mistake on my part, and that it has done no harm to anyone else but me."

"My dear Jane," said Elizabeth, "you are very nice.  Your sweetness and selflessness are truly angelic;  I don't know what to say to you.  I feel as if I never did you justice, or Didn’t love you as much as you deserve.”

Miss Bennet eagerly disapproved of all extraordinary abilities, and admired her sister's warm affection.

“No,” said Elizabeth, “that's not fair. You  want the whole world to be respectable, and you feel hurt if I speak ill of anyone. I only  Want to think  of you as perfect , and you have set yourself against it. Don't be afraid of me going overboard, encroaching on your prerogative of universal goodwill. you need not. There are very few people I truly love, and even fewer of whom I think well. The more I look at the world the more dissatisfied I become with it; and every day confirms my conviction of the inconsistency of all human characters and of the little dependence that can be placed on appearance.{171}Either of ability or of understanding. I recently found two examples: one I won't mention, the other is Charlotte's wedding. This is beyond measure! It is beyond measure in every respect!”

“My dear Lizzie, do not give place to such feelings. They will ruin your happiness. You do not make sufficient allowance for differences of situation and temperament. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability and Charlotte's prudent, stable character. Remember he is one of a big family; This is the most deserving pair as far as destiny is concerned; And for everyone's sake, be prepared to believe that she might feel something like respect and honor for our cousin.

“To oblige you, I will try to believe almost anything, but such a belief cannot benefit anyone else; If I were sure that Charlotte had any respect for him, I should think worse of her understanding than I now think of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is an arrogant, pompous, narrow-minded, foolish man: you know he is, as well as I do; And like me you should also realize that the woman who marries him does not have the right way of thinking. You wouldn't defend her, even if it was Charlotte Lucas. You will not, for the sake of one person, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor attempt to convince yourself or me that selfishness is prudence, and happiness is insensitivity to danger to safety.

"I think your language is very strong in talking about both," replied Jane; “And I hope you'll be convinced of that by seeing them happy together. But this is too much. You have pointed out something else. You   mentioned  two examples. I cannot misunderstand you, but dear Lizzie, I beg you  not to trouble me by thinking of that person{172}To blame, and to say that your opinion of him is gone. We should not be so ready to consider ourselves intentionally injured. We should not expect a lively young man to always be so alert and cautious. Often it is nothing but our own pride that deceives us. Fancy praise of women means much more than that.”

"And men take care that they should."

“If it is deliberate, they cannot be justified; But I have no idea that there is as much design in the world as some people imagine.”

Elizabeth said, "I am far from holding Mr. Bingley responsible for designing any part of his conduct." “But, without planning to do wrong or make others unhappy, error can occur and suffering can occur. Thoughtlessness, a willingness to pay attention to other people's feelings, and a desire for solutions will do the trick.”

“And do you blame it on any of them?”

“Yes;  for the last one.  But if I go on I will displease you by saying what I think of people you respect.  Detain me while you can.”

“Then, do you believe that his sisters have an influence on him?”

“Yes, together with your friend.”

"I can't believe it.  Why should they try to impress her?  They can only wish for her happiness;  and if he's obsessed with me, no other woman can keep him safe."

“Your first position is false. They may wish for more than just his happiness: they may wish for an increase in his wealth and results; They probably want him to marry a girl who has money, great connections and all the glory.”

“No doubt they wish him to choose Miss Darcy,” replied Jane; "But it could be better{173}More emotions than you expect. They've known him longer than they've known me; No wonder they love him better. But, whatever his own wishes, it is very unlikely that he should have opposed his brother's wishes. What sister would feel free to do that, unless there was something very objectionable? If they had believed that he was attached to me they would not have tried to separate us; If that were the case then they would not have been successful. By assuming such affection, you force everyone to do unnatural and wrong things and make me sad the most. Don't bother me with this idea. I'm not ashamed of being at fault - or, at least, it's minor, it's nothing compared to what I should feel in thinking badly of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, the light in which it can be understood.”

Elizabeth could not resist such a desire; and from this time Mr. Bingley's name was rarely mentioned among them.

Mrs. Bennet still wondered and regretted his non-return; And though hardly a day passed when Elizabeth did not describe it vividly, yet there was very little probability that she would ever consider it with less confusion. His daughter attempted to explain to him that she did not herself believe him, that his attention to Jane was only the effect of a general and momentary liking, which ceased when he no longer saw her; But although the possibility of the statement was accepted at the time, he had the same story to repeat every day. The greatest consolation for Mrs. Bennet was that Mr. Bingley would be ill again in the summer.

Mr. Bennett took the matter differently. "So, Lizzie," he said one day, "I think your sister has fallen madly in love.  I congratulate her.  That's what a girl likes after she's married{174}Be crossed in love sometimes. This is something to think about and it gives him a kind of uniqueness among his peers. When is your turn going to come? You will hardly be able to bear being ahead of Jane for long. Now is your time. There are enough officers in Maryton to disappoint all the young women in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a happy man and will make you very happy.”

“Thank you sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We shouldn't all hope for Jane's good fortune.

“True,” said Mr. Bennet; "But it's comforting to think that no matter what happens to you, you have a loving mother who will always make the most of it."

Mr. Wickham's Society was instrumental in relieving the gloom which the late events of late had cast upon many of the Longbourn family. He saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added the suggestion of the general unreserved. All that Elizabeth had already heard, her claims upon Mr. Darcy, and all that she had suffered from him, was now openly confessed and publicly publicized; And everyone was delighted to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they knew anything about the matter.

Miss Bennet was the only creature who could believe that there could be any accidental circumstances in the case unknown to Hertfordshire society: her gentle and steady candor always demanded allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes; But Mr. Darcy was condemned by everyone else as the worst man.{175}

Chapter XXV.

After spending a week in plans of love and pleasure, Mr. Collins was summoned by his amiable Charlotte on Saturday's arrival. The pain of separation, however, might have been lessened by the preparations for the reception of his bride, for he had reason to hope that, soon after his next return to Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed which would make him most happy. of men. He bid farewell to his relations at Longbourn with the same solemnity as before; Wished the health and happiness of his white cousins ​​again, and promised to deliver another letter of thanks to their father.

The following Monday, Mrs. Bennet was delighted to welcome her brother and his wife, who had come, as usual, to celebrate Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanly man, far superior to his sister in temperament as well as in education. The women of the Netherlands would have found it difficult to believe that a man who made a living by trading and tending his own warehouses could be so nice and friendly. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was friendly and intelligent.{176}A beautiful woman, and a great favorite of her Longbourne nieces. There was a very special respect between the two elders, and especially him. They often stayed with him in the city.

Mrs. Gardiner's first part of business, on her arrival, was to deliver her gifts and describe the latest fashions. When this was done, his role was less active. It was his turn to listen. Mrs. Bennet had many complaints to tell, and much to complain about. They had all been very ill-used since he last saw his sister. His two daughters were about to get married, and after all there was nothing to it.

"I don't blame Jane," she continued, "if Jane had got Mr. Bingley she would have had it.  But, Lizzie!  oh, sister!  it is very hard to think that if it had not been for her own deformity , then she would by this time have been Mr. Collins's wife.  He made her a proposal in this very room, and she rejected him.  The result is that a daughter of Lady Lucas will be married before me, and the Longbourn estate will forever That's kind of where it's at.  The Lucases are really very efficient people, sister.  They're all for what they can get.  I'm sorry to say this about them, but that's the way it is.  In their own family like that. To be despised and to have neighbors who think of themselves before anyone else makes me very nervous and deeply troubled.  However, your coming at this time is the greatest relief, and you will keep us going for a long time. I'm glad to hear what you have to say about the sleeves.

Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the news had already been given, made a mild reply to her sister during her correspondence with Jane and Elizabeth, and, out of pity for her nieces, turned the conversation.

Then when she was alone with Elizabeth, she started talking more{177}on this subject. "It seems that this would have been a desirable match for Jane," she said. “I'm sorry it closed. But these things happen very often! A young man, 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 Such uncertainties occur very often.

"Offended two or three young women"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

“An excellent consolation in its own way,” said Elizabeth; “  but it  will not do for  us . We do not become victims by accident.{178}It is not often that the interference of friends will induce a young man of independent fortune to think no longer of a girl with whom only a few days before he was violently in love.”

"But that expression of 'violence in love' is so worn out, so ambiguous, so uncertain, that I find very little information about it. It is  often applied to feelings which arise only from half an hour's acquaintance are, as well as on real, strong attachment.  Pray,  how violent was Mr. Bingley's love  ?"

“I never saw a more promising inclination; He was becoming quite inattentive to other people and was completely lost in it. Every time they met it was more definite and remarkable. At his own ball he angered two or three young women by not asking them to dance; And I myself spoke to him twice but got no reply. Could there be better symptoms than this? Isn’t common rudeness the essence of love?”

"Oh yes!  That kind of love I think she must have felt.  Poor Jane!  I feel sorry for her, because because of her nature, she won't get over it immediately.  It  would have been better with  you , Lizzie;  you Would have laughed already.  But do you think he would be persuaded to move back with us?  A change of scene might be useful – and perhaps a little respite from home might be as useful as anything.

Elizabeth was extremely pleased with this proposal, and was convinced by her sister's ready acceptance.

“I hope,” continued Mrs. Gardiner, “that no consideration of this young man will influence him. We live in such a different part of the city, all our relations are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is quite impossible for them to meet, unless she Didn't actually come to meet him.{179},

“And  that  is absolutely impossible; For he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy will no longer oblige him to call on Jane in such a part of London! My dear aunt, how can you think of this? Mr. Darcy might, perhaps,  have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street  , but he would hardly have thought that a month's bathing would suffice to purify him of its impurities, if he had once entered it; And, relying on it, Mr. Bingley never moves without her."

"So much the better.  I hope they won't meet at all.  But doesn't Jane correspond with her sister?  She  won't be able to help calling.

"She'll skip the introduction altogether."

But, despite the certainty with which Elizabeth affected to put this point, as well as the fact that Bingley was prevented from seeing Jane, what was still more interesting was that she felt a curiosity on the subject, which Upon investigation he was assured that he had not done so. Consider this completely disappointing. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that her affection might be rejuvenated, and the influence of her friends might be successfully countered by the more natural influence of Jane's charms.

Miss Bennet gladly accepted her aunt's invitation; And the Bingley family at the same time had nothing else in her thoughts as she had expected; Caroline was not living in the same house with her brother, she could sometimes spend a morning with him, without any danger of seeing him. Without it.

The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn; And with Phillips, Lucas and the officers, there was never a day when it was not engaged. Mrs. Bennet had arranged so carefully for the entertainment of her brother and sister that they never once sat down to a family dinner. When the engagement was for the house,{180}Some officers always formed part of it, of whom Mr. Wickham was certainly one; And on these occasions Mrs. Gardiner, who had become suspicious of Elizabeth's warm praise of her, looked narrowly at them both. From what she saw, without guessing that they were seriously in love, their preference for each other was so obvious that it made her a little uneasy; and he resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before leaving Hertfordshire, and to represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such an attachment.

To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had a means of providing pleasure, unconnected with her ordinary powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, she had spent much time in the same part of Derbyshire where she lived. Therefore, he had many common acquaintances; And, though Wickham had been there very little since the death of Darcy's father, five years before, yet it was not in her power to give him fresh information about his former friends, as much as she was in the way to obtain.

Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and knew the late Mr. Darcy well by character. As a result, there was an inexhaustible topic of discussion here. By comparing her memories of Pemberley with the minute details Wickham could give, and praising the character of its late owner, she was pleasing both him and herself. On becoming acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's conduct towards him, he tried to remember something of that gentleman's distinguished nature, when he was quite a boy, that might agree with it; And at last she believed it as she remembered that she had heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy spoken of before as a very arrogant, bad-tempered boy.{181}

"Will you come and meet me."

Chapter XXVI.

Rupees. Gardiner's warning to Elizabeth was punctual and mercifully given at the first favorable opportunity of speaking to her alone: ​​after honestly telling her what she thought, she proceeded thus:—

“You are a very sensible girl, Lizzie, not to fall in love just because you have been warned against it; And, so, I'm not afraid to speak out. Really, I want you to be careful. Do not involve yourself, or attempt to involve him, in that affection which would render the will of fortune so indiscriminate. I have   nothing to say against  him : he is a very interesting young man; And if he had the luck he should have had, I should think you couldn't do better. But as it is—you shouldn't let your imagination run away with you. You{182}Make sense, and we all hope you'll use it. I am sure your father will depend on  your  determination and good conduct  . You must not disappoint your father.”

“My dear aunt, this is really a serious matter.”

"Yes, and I hope to inspire you to be just as serious."

“Well, then, you don't need to be worried in any way. I'll take care of myself and Mr. Wickham too. If I can stop it he won't love me.

"Elizabeth, you're not being serious now."

"I'm sorry.  I'll try again.  At the moment I'm not in love with Mr. Wickham;  no, I certainly am not.  But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I have ever seen—and If he really gets attached to me - I believe it would be better if he did not.  I see indiscretion in it.  Oh,  that  disgusting Mr. Darcy!  My father's opinion of me is the most important thing to me great honour;  and I should be sorry to lose it.  However, my father is partial to Mr. Wickham.  In short, my dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be the instrument of making any of you unhappy;  but since we Seeing every day, that where there is affection, young people, by immediate want of fortune, are seldom prevented from entering into relations with each other, I feel wiser than so many of my fellow creatures. How can I promise to be there if I am tempted, or how will I know when it would be wise to resist?  So, the only promise I can make to you is that you will not rush. I wouldn't be too quick to consider myself his first object. I won't have any desires when I'm with him. In short, I will do my best.

“Maybe it would also be good if you discouraged him from coming here too often. At least you  shouldn't remind your mom to invite him  .

“Just like I did that day,” Elizabeth said deceitfully.{183}conscious smile; “Very true,  it would be wise for me to avoid  it . But don't think that he is always here. It's because of you that he has been invited so many times this week. You know my mother's thoughts about the need for constant companionship for your friends. But in reality, and on the basis of my honor, I will try to do what seems wisest to me; And now I hope you're satisfied."

Her aunt assured her that she was; And Elizabeth, thanking him for the kindness of his gestures, parted, – a wonderful example of giving advice without resentment on such a matter.

Mr. Collins returned to Hertfordshire soon after being left by the Gardiners and Jane; But, as he had taken up his residence with the Lucases, his arrival caused no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. Her wedding was now fast approaching; And he had by now resigned himself to it as the inevitable, and even said repeatedly in a bad-tempered tone that he "  wished  they were happy." Thursday was the wedding day, and on Wednesday Miss Lucas took leave of him; And when she rose to take leave, Elizabeth, embarrassed by her mother's ungrateful and reluctant good wishes, and sincerely impressed with herself, went out of the room with her. As they descended the stairs together, Charlotte said,-

“I shall count on hearing from you often, Eliza.”

"  That  you certainly will."

“And I have one more favor to ask. Will you come and meet me?”

"I hope we shall meet often in Hertfordshire."

“I am unlikely to leave Kent for some time. So, promise me to come to Hunsford.”

Elizabeth could not refuse, although she hoped for some pleasure in this journey.{184}

"My father and Maria are to come to me in March," said Charlotte, "and I hope you will consent to join the party.  Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome to me as they both." '

The wedding took place: the bride and groom left the church door for Kent, and everyone had, as usual, much to say or hear on the subject. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend, and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had been before: it was impossible to be as unreserved. Elizabeth could never address him without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was gone; And, although determined not to be sloppy as a reporter, it was for what was rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters were received with considerable curiosity: eager to know how she would talk about her new home, how she would like Lady Katherine, and how happy she would dare herself to be; However, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly as she would have thought. She wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded by comforts, and said nothing that she could not admire. The house, the furniture, the neighborhood and the streets, everything was to his liking and Lady Catherine's behavior was most friendly and helpful. This Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings was arguably softened; And Elizabeth felt that she would have to wait for her 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 that it would be in her power to say something about the Bingleys.{185}

For this second letter his impatience was rewarded as impatience usually is. Jane had been in town a week without seeing or hearing from Caroline. However, he accounted for this by assuming that his last letter from Longbourn to his friend had been lost by some accident.

"My aunt," he continued, "is going to that part of the town to-morrow, and I will take opportunity of calling at Grosvenor Street."

When the journey was paid for he wrote again, and that he had seen Miss Bingley. “I did not think Caroline was in spirits,” were his words, “but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for not giving her any notice of my coming to London. So,  I was right;  my last The letter had never reached him.  Of course, I inquired of his brother  . He was well, but so busy with Mr. Darcy that he hardly ever saw him.  I found that Miss Darcy was to come to dinner: I wish I could see him.  My visit was not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out.  I dare say I shall soon see them here."

Elizabeth shook her head at this letter. This led her to believe that Mr. Bingley could only know that his sister was in town.

Four weeks passed, and Jane heard nothing from him. He tried to convince himself that he did not regret it; But she could no longer remain blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning for a fortnight, and finding a new excuse for him every evening, the visitor at last appeared; But the short duration of her stay, and, what is more, the change in her manner, will not allow Jane to deceive herself any longer. The letter she wrote to her sister on this occasion proves what she felt:{186},

"I am sure that my dearest Lizzie will be unable to wince, in her better judgment, at my expense, when I confess to myself that Miss Bingley has completely deceived me in my regard. But,  my Dear sister, although this incident has proved you right, if I still insisted on what his behavior was, my belief was as natural as your suspicion  . The reason for the desire is not at all understandable;  but, if the same circumstances were to occur again, I am sure I would be deceived again.  Caroline did not visit me till yesterday;  and meanwhile I have received no note, no line. Millie.  When she arrived, it was clear that she took no pleasure in it;  she made a short, formal apology for not calling earlier, did not say a word about her desire to meet me again, and in every case She had changed so much that when she left I was absolutely determined not to continue seeing her any more..  I feel sorry for her, though I can't help but blame her. He did a great wrong by separating me; I can safely say that every progression of intimacy started from her end. But I pity her, because she must feel like she's doing something wrong, and because I'm sure it's because of her brother's concern. I don't need to explain myself any further; And although  we  know that this anxiety is absolutely unnecessary, yet if she felt it, it would easily become the cause of her behavior towards me; And he is so fond of his sister that whatever anxiety she may feel on her behalf is natural and friendly. However, now I am not surprised that he has such a fear, because if he cared about me at all, we would have met long ago. He knows of my being in town, I am sure, from what he himself said; And yet, from the way he talks it seems,{187}As if she wanted to convince herself that she was actually partial to Miss Darcy. I can not understand it. If I were not afraid to judge harshly, I should be tempted to say that there is a strong tinge of duplicity in all this. I will endeavor to drive away every sad thought, and think only of that which will make me happy, your affection and the unfailing kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear from you soon. Miss Bingley said something about his never returning to Netherfield, about his leaving the house, but not with any certainty. It would be better if we don't mention it. I am very glad that you have such pleasant accounts of our friends at Hunsford. Pray go with Sir William and Maria to visit them. I'm sure you will be very comfortable there.

"Yours, etc."

This letter caused Elizabeth some distress; But her spirits returned, for she thought that Jane would at least no longer be betrayed by her sister. All hopes from my brother were now completely gone. She would not even desire any renewal of his attentions. His character sank at every review of it; And, as a punishment to him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, he sincerely hoped that he might soon marry Mr. Darcy's sister, because, according to Wickham, she loved him very much. She will regret what she threw away.

At this time Mrs. Gardiner reminded Elizabeth of her promise regarding that gentleman and gave her the necessary information; And Elizabeth had something to send that would give satisfaction to her aunt instead of herself. His obvious partisanship had diminished, his attention span had gone, he was someone else's admirer. elizabeth was{188}She was alert enough to see it all, but she could see it and write about it without any pain. His heart was slightly touched, and his pride was satisfied with the belief that if fate had permitted  she  would have been his only choice. The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most remarkable attraction of the young lady to whom he was now agreeing himself; But Elizabeth, who was perhaps less outspoken in this matter than Charlotte, did not quarrel with her for her desire of independence. On the contrary, nothing could be more natural; And, despite being able to admit that she had to make some struggle to give him up, she was ready to consider it a wise and desirable measure for both of them, and could very sincerely wish him to be happy.

All this was accepted by Mrs. Gardiner; And, after describing the circumstances, she proceeded thus:—"I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been more deeply in love; for if I had really experienced  that pure and exalted passion Had I done so, I should at present hate his name, and wish him evil in every way.  But my feelings are not only  cordial towards him  , but also impartial towards Miss King.  I have not been able to find out that I hate her at all, or that I am not at all prepared to consider her a very good girl. There  can be no love in all this.  My vigilance has been impressive;  and although I certainly should have become a more interesting object of acquaintance, had I been distractedly in love with her, I cannot say that I regretted my comparative insignificance.  Importance can sometimes be bought very dearly.  Kitty and Lydia her They take defection more to heart than I.  They are young to the ways of the world, and not yet open to the dreadful belief that handsome young men must have something to live for as well as the field.{189},

"on the stairs."

ChapterXXVII.

There is no greater event in the Longbourne family, and otherwise January and February passed in a somewhat more varied, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, manner than the walks to Maryton. The march was to take Elizabeth to Hunsford. He had not thought very seriously about going there at first; But Charlotte soon discovers that the plan was up to her,{190}And he gradually learned to consider it himself with greater pleasure as well as with greater certainty. The absence had increased his desire to see Charlotte again, and his hatred of Mr. Collins had diminished. There was innovation in the plan; And since, with such a mother and such uncaring sisters, the home could not be faultless, a little change was not in itself unwelcome. Additionally, the trip will give her a glimpse of Zen; And, in short, as the time approached, he would be very sorry for any delay. However, everything went smoothly, and was eventually settled according to Charlotte's first sketch. He was to accompany Sir William and his other daughter. Improvements to a night out in London were added over time, and the plan became as perfect as a plan could be.

The only pain was that of leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, and when it came to that, he liked her going so little, that he asked her to write to him, and almost promised to answer his letter. .

The parting between him and Mr. Wickham was entirely amicable; Even more in his favor. His present pursuit could not allow him to forget that Elizabeth was the first to excite and attract his attention, the first to listen and pity, the first to praise; and in the manner of saying goodbye to her, wishing her every pleasure, reminding her what he expected of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting her opinion of him—her opinion of everybody—always. would match, there was an urge, and interest, that he felt he should always treat her with the most sincere respect; and she parted from him with the conviction that, whether married or unmarried, he should always be to her an amiable and pleasing ideal.{191}

The next day his companions were not of the kind to consider him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas and his daughter Maria, a good-natured girl, but as empty-headed as myself, had nothing to say that was worth listening to, and they were listened to with as much joy as the rattle of a carriage. Was. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but she had known Sir William a long time. He could not tell him anything new about his presentation and the wonders of knighthood; And like his knowledge, his civilizations were also gone.

It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they started it so early that they reached Gracechurch Street by noon. As they approached Mr. Gardiner's door, Jane was standing at the drawing-room window and watching their arrival: when they entered the corridor, she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, with her She looked at his face seriously, pleased to see him healthy and as cute as ever. On the stairs there was a group of little boys and girls, whose eagerness of their cousin's presence would not permit them to wait in the drawing-room, and whose shyness, because they had not seen her for twelve months, prevented them from coming down. Was stopping. It was all joy and kindness. The day passed very happily; In the morning bustle and shopping, and in the evening cinemas.

After this Elizabeth agreed to sit near her aunt. His first subject was his sister; And she was more saddened than surprised to hear, in answer to her subtle inquiry, that though Jane always struggled to support her spirits, there were periods of despair. However, it was reasonable to expect that they would not continue for long. Mrs. Gardiner also gives her details of Miss Bingley's visit to Gracechurch Street, and of the repeated conversations between Jane and her at different times.{192}Which proved that the former had, in his heart, given up acquaintance.

Mrs. Gardiner then consoles her niece on Wickham's abandonment, and compliments her on bearing it so well.

"But, my dear Elizabeth," he continued, "what kind of a girl is Miss King?  I should be sorry to think of my friend as a mercenary."

“Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference between a selfish and a prudent motive in matrimonial matters? Where does wisdom end and greed begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of her marrying me, because it would be unwise; And now, because he's trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he's a mercenary.

“If you would only tell me what kind of girl Miss King is, I would know what to think.”

“I believe she is a very nice kind of girl. I don't know of any harm to him."

"But she paid no attention to it at all until her grandfather's death made her mistress of this estate?"

“No – why should he do that? If it was not acceptable for him  to receive my  affection because I had no money, what chance could there be of loving a girl for whom he did not care, and who was equally poor?

"But it seems indecent to draw attention to her so soon after this incident."

“In distressed situations a person does not have time for all the elegant etiquette that other people might follow. If  he  doesn't object to it then   why should we ?"

"  Don't oppose him."  Doesn't justify  it . It simply shows that he himself is lacking something – emotion or feeling.{193},

“Okay,” cried Elizabeth, “take it as you like. He  will be a mercenary, and  she  will be a fool.”

“No, Lizzie, that's  not what I  choose. You know, I should be sorry to think ill of a young man who has lived in Derbyshire so long.'

“Oh, if that's all, then I have a very poor opinion of the young people living in Derbyshire; And his close friends who live in Hertfordshire are not much better. I am fed up with them all. Thank heaven! I am going tomorrow where I will find a man without a single good quality, who has neither the courtesy nor the sense to recommend him. After all, only foolish men are capable of knowing.”

“Take care, Lizzie; That speech strongly tastes of disappointment.

Before being separated by the play's conclusion, she has the unexpected pleasure of an invitation to go on a pleasure tour with her uncle and aunt, who he had proposed to in the summer.

“We have not decided how far it will take us,” said Mrs. Gardiner; “  but perhaps, to the lakes.”

No plan could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and the acceptance of her invitation was most prompt and grateful. "My dear, dear aunt," she cried ecstatically, "what a joy!  what a pleasure!  You give me new life and strength.  Goodbye to despair and spleen.  What are men to rocks and mountains?  Oh, we in the transport How many hours we will spend!  And when we  return we  will not be like other travelers without an accurate idea of ​​anything.  We will know   where we have been – we  will remember  what we have seen.  Lakes, mountains in our imaginations And the rivers will not meet together;  nor, when we attempt to describe any particular scene, will we begin to quarrel about its relative position. Let  our  first efforts be less disagreeable than those of ordinary travellers  .{194},

"At the door."

Chapter XXVIII.

Every thing in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; And his soul was in a state of joy; For he saw his sister so well that all fears as to her health were over, and the prospect of her northern visit was a source of constant joy.

As they turned from the high road to the lane leading to Hunsford, every eye was looking for the parsonage, and every turn was expecting to see it. The yellowness of Rosings Park was their limit on one side. Elizabeth smiled remembering all that she had heard about its inhabitants.

At last the parsonage could be seen. Garden{195}The slope towards the road, the house standing in it, the green bushes and the laurel hedge, everything announced that they were coming. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the little gate which led a short gravel walk to the house, amid the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they all came out of the car, happy to see each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the utmost pleasure, and when Elizabeth found that she was so cordially received, she became the more gratified by her visit. She immediately noticed that there had been no change in her cousin's behavior since her marriage: his formal civility was the same as before; And he stopped him for a few minutes at the gate to listen and satisfy all the questions of his family. Then, without any further delay than to point out the cleanliness of the entrance, they were conducted into the house; And as soon as they were in the parlor he welcomed them a second time, with ostentatious formality, into his humble abode, and repeated from time to time all his wife's offers of refreshment.

Elizabeth was ready to see him in all his glory; And she could not help thinking that in displaying the good proportions of the room, its aspect, and its furniture, she addressed herself especially to him, as if she wished to make him feel that in refusing him she had What is lost? Although everything seemed clean and comfortable, yet she was unable to satisfy him with any sigh of repentance; And she looked at her friend with surprise, wondering how happy she could be with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said anything that might justly embarrass his wife, which certainly was not seldom, she involuntarily turned her eyes upon Charlotte. Once or twice he felt a slight blush; but charlotte in general{196}Didn't listen wisely. After sitting for a long time, admiring every article of furniture in the room, from sideboard to fender, giving an account of his journey and everything that happened in London, Mr. Collins invited him to take a walk in the garden. . , which was large and well laid out, and in the cultivation of which he himself took part. Working in his garden was one of his most honorable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the composure with which Charlotte spoke of the healthfulness of exercise, and encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through each walk and cross walk, and barely allowing them an interval to say their compliments, every scene was pointed out with a subtlety that completely outstripped beauty. He could count the fields in every direction, and tell how many trees were in the farthest grove. But of all the views of which his garden, or country, or state could be proud, none could compare with the prospect of Rosings, an open space among the trees bordering the park in front of his house. Was provided by. It was a beautiful modern building, situated on rising ground.

From his garden, Mr. Collins would have taken them around his two meadows; But the women had no shoes to withstand the remnants of white frost, so they turned back; and while Sir William was with them, Charlotte took her sister and friend to the house, perhaps extremely happy at having the opportunity of showing it off without the help of her husband. It was relatively small, but well built and comfortable; and every thing was furnished and arranged in a neat and coherent manner, all of which Elizabeth attributed to Charlotte. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was indeed a very relaxed atmosphere{197}All the while, and to Charlotte's obvious pleasure, Elizabeth believed that she must often be forgotten.

He had already learned that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was talked about again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joined in and said, -

"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honor of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh at church on the coming Sunday, and I need not say that you will be pleased with her. She is entirely amiable  and gracious, and I do not doubt , but you will be honored with a portion of her notice when the service is over.  I have no hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation during your stay here, with which she will honor us will.  Her behavior towards my dear Charlotte is charming.  We dine at Rosings twice every week, and we are never allowed to walk home.  Her Ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us.  Tell me  Must  , one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several.

"Lady Katherine is indeed a very respectable, sensible woman," said Charlotte, "and a most attentive neighbor."

“Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is a woman whom no one can respect too much.

The evening was spent mainly in talking Hertfordshire news and retelling what had already been written; And when it ceased, Elizabeth, in the privacy of her chamber, had to take notice of Charlotte's degree of satisfaction, understand her address in guidance, and be patient with her husband, and confess that all this Was very well done. He also had to anticipate how his journey would pass, the quiet periods of his usual employment, the troublesome interruptions{198}Mr. Collins, and the gaiety of his intercourse with Rosings. A lively imagination soon sorted everything out.

About the middle of the next day, as she was getting ready to go into her room, a sudden noise from downstairs seemed to throw the whole house into confusion; And, after listening a moment, he heard someone running quickly upstairs and calling loudly after him. He opened the door, and on the landing-place met Maria, who cried out breathlessly with excitement, -

"In conversation with women"

[Copyright 1894 by George Allen.]

“Oh, my dear Eliza! Pray, hurry up and come to the dining room, for such a scene is to be seen there! I won't tell you what it is. Hurry up, and come down this instant.{199},

Elizabeth asked useless questions; Maria wouldn't say anything more than that; And they ran down to the dining room across the street, in search of this wonder; They were two women, stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.

"And is that all?" Elizabeth screamed. "I had at least hoped that the pigs had come into the garden, and there is nothing here but Lady Catherine and her daughter!"

“Come! "My dear," said Maria, quite surprised by the mistake, "this is not Lady Catherine." The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other is Miss de Bourgh. Just look at him. She is quite a small creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small!”

“It is extremely rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in this kind of wind. Why doesn’t she come in?”

“Oh, Charlotte says she rarely does that. It is the greatest favor when Miss de Bourgh comes.”

"I like the look of it," Elizabeth said, swayed by other thoughts. “She looks sick and crooked. Yes, she will do great for him. She will make him a very good wife.”

Both Mr. Collins and Charlotte were standing at the gate, talking to the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high amusement, was stationed at the door, in solemn contemplation of the greatness before her, and constantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that way.

Overall there was nothing else to say; The women went ahead, and the rest returned into the house. As soon as Mr. Collins saw the two girls, he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by telling them that the whole party had been asked to dine at Rosings the next day.{200}

“You have given me a treasure,” said Lady Catherine.

Chapter XXIX.

As a result of this invitation, R. Collins' victory was complete. The power to display the grandeur of his patronage before his surprised visitors, and to let them see his civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he wanted; And to be given the opportunity of doing so so soon was such an example of Lady Catherine's condescension as she did not know how to praise adequately.

“I confess,” he said, “that I should not have been at all surprised at her Ladyship asking us on Sunday{201}Have tea and spend the evening at Rosings. Based on my knowledge of his sociability, I expected this to happen. But who could have imagined such attention? Who could have thought that so soon after your arrival we should receive an invitation (an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) to dine there?”

"I am less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "by the knowledge of what the manners of great people really are, which my position in life has permitted me to acquire." Regarding the court, such examples of elegant reproduction are not uncommon.

There was hardly any discussion of anything other than his visit to Rosings throughout the day or the next morning. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them as to what to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and such a sumptuous dinner might not completely overpower them.

As the women were separating for the toilet, she said to Elizabeth, -

“My dear cousin, do not make yourself uncomfortable with your attire. Lady Catherine does not require from us that beauty of dress which she herself and the daughter becomes. The only advice I would give you is to wear only those clothes which are best among the rest – there is no occasion for more than that. Lady Catherine won't think badly of you just because you wear clothes. She likes to maintain the dignity of rank.

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors to advise them to get ready quickly, as Lady Catherine had a great objection to being kept waiting for her dinner. Such horrifying accounts of her ladyship and her lifestyle terrified Maria.{202}Lucas, who had little habit of company; and she awaited her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had waited for his presentation at St. James's.

Since the weather was nice, they took a pleasant walk of about half a mile in the park. Each park has its own beauty and its own possibilities; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased, though she could not be as pleased as Mr. Collins had hoped the view would be, and was a little impressed by his calculation of the windows on the front of the house, and their relation. The cost of complete glazing was originally paid for by Sir Louis de Bourgh.

As they ascended the hall stairs, Maria was becoming more and more anxious every moment, and even Sir William did not look entirely calm. Elizabeth's courage did not let him down. He had heard nothing about Lady Catherine that spoke dreadfully of her as having any extraordinary talent or miraculous virtue, and he thought that she could only look upon the grandeur of money and position without any trepidation. .

From the antechamber, which Mr. Collins had described as having a cheerful air, fine proportions, and ready ornaments, they passed through a vestibule past the servants to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson sat. Her Ladyship, with great graciousness, rose to welcome him; And as Mrs. Collins had settled with her husband that the office of introduction should be hers, this was duly done, without any apology or thanks, which she might have thought necessary.

Despite his stay at St. James's, Sir William was so completely amazed by the grandeur of his surroundings, that he had just enough courage to take in much of the{203}Bow low, and sit in your seat without saying anything; And her daughter, frightened, almost losing her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself at full level with the scene, and could look calmly at the three women before her. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with clear features, who might once have been beautiful. His air was not cordial, nor was his manner of welcome such that his visitors would forget their low class. She was not made formidable by silence: but whatever she said was said in such an authoritative tone that it reflected her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and, from observation that day, she believed that Lady Catherine was exactly as she had portrayed herself.

When, after examining the mother, in whose face and gait she soon saw some resemblance to Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes to her daughter, she almost joined Maria's surprise at finding her so thin and so small. Could have happened. There was no similarity in height or appearance between the women. Miss de Bourgh was pale and ill: her features, though not distinct, 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 her, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes. Was.

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to a window to admire the view, Mr. Collins appearing to tell them of its beauty, and Lady Catherine politely informing them that it would be nice to see it in the summer. Deserved better.{204}

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and all the things on the plate which Mr. Collins had promised; And, as he had likewise predicted, he took his seat under the table, by her Ladyship's wish, and seemed to think that life could do no greater. He carved, ate, and admired with delight; And each dish was appreciated first by himself, and then by Sir William, who was now so well as to repeat whatever his son-in-law said, in the way that surprised Elizabeth that Lady Katherine would do it. Can bear. But Lady Catherine seemed satisfied with his excessive praise, and gave the kindest smiles, especially when any dish at table proved new to her. The party did not talk much. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she sat between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh—the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter of whom never said a word to her during the whole dinner. . Mrs. Jenkinson was employed mainly to observe how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressuring her to try any other dishes and fearing that she would become unwell. Maria thought of avoiding the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.

When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was nothing to do but listen to Lady Catherine's conversation, which she did without interruption until coffee arrived, giving her opinion on every subject in a manner so decisive as to prove that she was her The decision was not disputed. She inquired familiarly and minutely about Charlotte's domestic concerns, and gave her considerable advice as to the management of them all; told him how everything should be regulated{205}He created his own small family and instructed them to take care of his cows and chickens. Elizabeth found that this great woman had nothing in her mind that could give her the opportunity to exercise authority over others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she asked a variety of questions of Maria and Elizabeth, but especially of the latter, of whose relations she knew least, and of Mrs. Collins she observed that He was a very gentlemanly person. , she is a very nice girl. He asked her at different times how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than her, whether any of them were likely to get married, whether they were beautiful, where they were educated, what car her father owned. Were, and what was his mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the shamelessness of his questions, but she answered them with great restraint. Lady Catherine then looked, -

“Your father's estate is on Mr. Collins, I suppose? For your sake,” turning to Charlotte, “I am glad of it; But otherwise I do not see any opportunity to expropriate property from the women class. This was not considered necessary in the family of Sir Louis de Bourgh. “Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?”

"Little."

“Oh, we will be glad to hear from you someday. Our tool is a capital tool, possibly even better - you'll try it someday. Do your sisters play and sing?”

"One of them does."

“Why didn't you all learn? You all should have learned. Miss Webbs plays all, and her father's income is not as good as yours. do you draw?"

"No,not at all.{206},

"What, none of you?"

"Not one."

"it's so weird. But I guess you had no chance. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the good of the owners.”

"My mother wouldn't mind, but my father hates London."

"Has your governess abandoned you?"

"We never had any governance."

“No rule! How was this possible? Five daughters grew up in a home without a governess! I have never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”

Elizabeth could hardly help but smile as he assured her that this had not happened.

“Then who taught you? Who took care of you? Without governance, you must have been neglected.

“Compared to some families, I believe we were; But those of us who wanted to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to study, and we had all the masters we needed. “Those who chose to remain inactive can certainly do so.”

“Oh, there is no doubt about it: but a system of government will prevent this; And if I had known your mother, I should have strongly advised her to start a business. I always say that nothing can be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nothing except a regime can give it. It's amazing how many families I have been a means of providing for in this way. I'm always glad to find a young person in good shape. Mrs. Jenkinson's four nieces are most happily situated through me; And just a few days ago I recommended another young man who was{207}Just accidentally told me, and the family is quite happy with that. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you about Lady Metcalfe calling me yesterday to thank me? He finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady Catherine,' he said, 'you have given me a treasure.' “Do you have a little sister out there, Miss Bennet?”

“Yes, madam, all.”

"Everyone!  What, all five out at once?  Very strange!  And you are only in second place.  The younger ones get married before the older ones get married!  Your younger sisters must be very young?"

“Yes, my youngest child is not sixteen years old. Perhaps  she  is too young to be in company. But really, madam, I think it would be very difficult for the younger sisters should they not get their share in society and amusements, as the elder sisters may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last born has as much right to the joys of youth as the first born. And be kept behind for  such  a purpose  ! I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or humility of mind.”

“At my word,” said her Ladyship, “you give your opinion too decidedly for a person so young.  Pray, what is your age?”

“With three younger sisters growing up,” Elizabeth replied, smiling, “your Ladyship can hardly expect me to be master of it.”

Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth herself suspected that she was the first creature who had dared to trifle with so dignified insolence.

"You can't be more than twenty, I'm sure, - so you don't need to hide your age."

“I'm not one-twenty.{208},

When the gentlemen had joined them and the tea was over, the card tables were laid. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; And since Miss De Bourgh chose to play in the casino, both girls had the honor of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson in preparing her party. His table was extremely stupid. Hardly a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her apprehension of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or too much or too little light. A lot was passed on to the other table. Lady Catherine was speaking generally - pointing out the mistakes of three other people, or telling some anecdote of her own. Mr Collins's job consisted of agreeing with everything her Ladyship said, thanking her for every fish won and apologizing if she thought she had won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memories with anecdotes and great names.

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they wanted, the tables were broken up, a carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, which was gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party gathered around the fire to listen to Lady Catherine describe what the weather would be like for them tomorrow. By these instructions he was summoned by the arrival of the coach; And with many speeches of thanks on the part of Mr. Collins, and many thanks on the part of Sir William, he went away. As soon as they left the door, Elizabeth was called upon by her cousin to give her opinion of what she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made even more favorable than it actually was. But her praise, though it caused him 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.{209}

Chapter XXX.

IR William stayed in Hunsford for only a week; But his journey was so long that he was convinced that his daughter was in the most comfortable conditions, and had such a husband and such a neighbor as was not often found. When Sir William was with her, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to taking her out on his errands, and showing her the country: but when he left, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was grateful to find that that because of those changes he did not see his cousin any more; for most of the time between breakfast and dinner he now spent either in working in the garden, or in reading and writing and looking out of the window in his book-room, which faced the street.{210}The room where the women sat was towards the back. Elizabeth was at first surprised that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlor for general use; It was a room of a better size, and had a pleasant aspect: but he soon saw that his friend had an excellent reason for what he did, for Mr. Collins would doubtless have been much less in his apartment if they had been in the same Would have been sitting in a lively room; And he gave the credit for this arrangement to Charlotte.

From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were grateful to Mr. Collins for information as to what carriages ran, and how often, especially Miss de Bourgh drove in her phaeton, which she Never failed to inform them. Although this happened almost every day. She did not often stop at the parsonage, and have a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but seldom managed to get out.

Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and very few days passed in which his wife did not find it necessary to go in the same manner; And until Elizabeth remembered that other family lives might have to be dealt with, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Occasionally he was honored by a call from Her Ladyship, and during these visits whatever was happening in the room did not escape his observation. He examined their employment, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; A fault was found in the arrangement of the furniture, or negligence on the part of the housekeeper; And if she accepted any refreshments, it seemed that she did so only to find that Mrs. Collins's stores of meat were too large for her family.{211}

Elizabeth soon realized, that although this great lady was not on the commission of peace for the county, she was the most active magistrate in her own parish, whose smallest concerns were communicated to her by Mr. Collins; And whenever any of the cottagers became quarrelsome, disgruntled, or very poor, she would rush into the village to settle their differences, soothe their complaints, and scold them in good faith and abundance.

"He never failed to inform them"

Meal entertainment at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for Sir William's loss, and had only one card-table in it{212}In the evening, every such entertainment was a replica of the one before. His other engagements were less frequent, as the neighborhood lifestyle was generally beyond Collins' reach. However, this was no bad thing for Elizabeth, and on the whole she spent her time quite comfortably: there was half an hour's pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine at the time of the year, that she often enjoyed the great outdoors. Used to take. Of doors. Her favorite walk, and where she often went when others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which was on that side of the park, where there was a good sheltered path, which no one but herself valued, and where he thought he was beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.

In this quiet manner the first fortnight of his journey soon passed. Easter was approaching, and the week before was going to add something new to the family at Rosings, which should be important in such a small circle. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks; And although there were not very many people among her acquaintance whom she did not like, her arrival would give a new opportunity of looking into their roving parties, and she might be surprised to see how much Miss Bingley's plans were directed towards her. Disappointing were her behavior towards her cousin, to whom she was apparently determined by Lady Catherine, who spoke of her arrival with the greatest satisfaction, speaking of her in the highest terms of admiration, and seemed almost angry to learn that he was already frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.

His arrival was soon known at the parsonage; For Mr. Collins had been walking all morning looking at the lodge opening in Hunsford Lane,{213}

"The gentleman was with them."

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Assurance of this as soon as possible; and, as soon as the carriage turned into the park, after making his bow, walked quickly home with great intelligence. The next morning he went to Rosings to pay his respects. Lady Catherine's two nephews were in need of her, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him Colonel Fitzwilliam, younger son of his uncle, Lord ---; And, to the great surprise of the whole party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentleman was with him. Charlotte had seen him crossing the street from her husband's room{214}Immediately running to another, told the girls what honor they could expect, and said, -

“Eliza, I can thank you for this bit of civility. "Mr. Darcy never comes early enough to wait for me."

Elizabeth had barely time to deny her right to the compliment before the doorbell rang, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who commanded, was about thirty years of age, not handsome, but a most gentlemanly man in person and address. Mr. Darcy looked as he was accustomed to look in Hertfordshire, and complimented Mrs. Collins with his usual composure; And whatever his feelings towards his friend, he met her with restraint in every way. Elizabeth simply expressed her courtesy to him, without saying a word.

Colonel Fitzwilliam entered directly into the conversation with the readiness and ease of a good man, and spoke in a very pleasant manner; But her cousin, after giving Mrs. Collins a little perusal of the house and garden, remained sitting for some time without speaking to anyone. At last, however, their civility became so aroused that they inquired of Elizabeth about the health of her family. He answered her in the usual manner; And, after pausing a moment, added,-

“My eldest sister has been in the city for these three months. “Did you never see him there?”

She had a fuller sense than he ever had: but she wanted to see if he would give any sense of what had happened between Bingley and Jane; And she thought he looked a little confused when he replied that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was not pursued further and the gentleman left soon after.{215}

Chapter XXXI.

The courtesy of Olonel Fitzwilliam was much admired in the parsonage, and all the ladies felt that he should add greatly to the happiness of their engagement at Rosings. It was, however, a few days before he had received any invitations there, for as long as there were visitors in the house they could not be needed; And till Easter-day, about a week after the arrival of the gentlemen, they were not given such honours, and then they were told to come there in the evening when they left the church. For the past week he had seen little of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam called{216}During that time she visited the Parsonage more than once, but she saw Mr. Darcy only in church.

The invitation was, of course, accepted, and at the proper time they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her Ladyship received him civilly, but it was evident that his company was by no means so agreeable when she could get no one else; And indeed, she was almost engrossed in talking to her nephews, talking to them, especially Darcy, more than to anyone else in the room.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed genuinely pleased to see them: anything at Rosings was a welcome relief to him; And besides, Mrs. Collins's pretty friend liked her very much. He now sat down beside her, and talked with such ease about Kent and Hertfordshire, traveling and living at home, new books and music, that Elizabeth had never before been so well entertained in that room; And he conversed with such vigor and fluency as to attract the attention of Lady Katherine herself, as well as Mr. Darcy. His  eyes turned towards them quickly and frequently with a look of curiosity; And after a little while her Ladyship shared this sentiment, it was more openly confessed, for she did not hesitate to exclaim,—

“What are you saying, Fitzwilliam? what you're talking about? What are you saying, Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is.”

“We were talking about music, madam,” he said, when he became unable to avoid the answer.

"The music of!  Then pray speak aloud.  It is my delight in all subjects.  If you are talking about music I must have my share in the conversation.  I believe there are many such There are fewer people who have more truth{217}The enjoyment of music by itself, or better the natural taste. If I had ever learned, I should have been very proficient. And Anne would have done the same, had her health permitted her to apply. I am sure he would have performed with great pleasure. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?”

Mr. Darcy affectionately praised his sister's efficiency.

Lady Catherine said, "I am very glad to hear such a good description of him." “And pray on my behalf to tell her that if she does not practice very much, she cannot hope to excel.”

“I assure you, madam,” he replied, “that he does not need such advice. She practices constantly.”

"So much the better.  It cannot be overstated;  and when I next write to her, I will urge her not to neglect it at any cost.  I often tell young ladies that any excellence in music must be sustained cannot be acquired without practice.  I have told Miss Bennet many times that she will never really play well unless she takes much practice;  and although Mrs. Collins has no instrument, yet She is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. You  know, she will be in no one's way in that part of the house."

Mr. Darcy looked a little embarrassed by his aunt's misbehavior and made no reply.

When the coffee was finished, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth that he had promised to play with her; And she sat directly near the machine. He pulled a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half the song, and then spoke to her other nephew as before; until he moved away from her, and proceeded towards the pianoforte with his usual thoughtfulness, steadying himself in the same{218}So that the face of the impartial artist can be fully seen. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause turned to him with a staunch smile, and said, -

“Mr. Darcy, you mean to scare me by coming in this state to listen to me. But I will not panic, although your sister  plays very well  . There is a stubbornness in me that I can never afford to be intimidated by the wishes of others. My courage always increases with every attempt to intimidate me.”

“I will not say that you are mistaken,” he replied, “for you could not really believe me to entertain any intention of scaring you; And I have had the privilege of knowing you long enough to know that you sometimes take great pleasure in expressing opinions that are not really your own.

Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will give you a very beautiful impression of me, and will teach you not to believe a word I say. I have been particularly unlucky in meeting a man capable of exposing my true character, in that part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very generous of you to mention all that you knew about my loss in Hertfordshire—and, allow me to say, it is very impolite also—as it would give me the opportunity to take revenge. He is provoking others, and such things may come to light which will shock your relatives.

“I'm not afraid of you,” he said, smiling.

"Pray let me hear what you have to charge him with," shouted Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I need to know how he behaves around strangers."

“Then you will listen—but prepare for something much bigger{219}Horrible. You must know that I first saw him at a ball in Hertfordshire - and at this ball, what do you think he did? He only did four dances! I'm sorry to cause you pain, but that's the way it was. He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were rare; And, to the best of my knowledge, there was more than one young lady sitting around in search of companionship. You cannot deny this fact, Mr. Darcy.

"At that time I did not have the honor of knowing any woman in the Assembly other than my own party."

"True;  and no one can ever be introduced into the ball-room.  Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what shall I play next?  My fingers await your orders."

"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better if I had asked for introductions, but I am unfit to recommend myself to strangers."

“Shall we ask your cousin the reason?” said Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Shall we ask him why an intelligent and educated man, and one who has lived in the world, should be unqualified to recommend himself to strangers?”

“I can answer your question,” said Fitzwilliam, “without applying to him.  That is because he will not give himself trouble.”

"I certainly don't have the talent that some people have," said Darcy, "of interacting easily with people I've never met before." I cannot catch the tone of their conversation, or take the interest in their concerns, as I often do.”

Elizabeth said, "My fingers don't move on this instrument in the same exquisite way that I see many women do.  They don't have the same strength or intensity, and they don't produce the same expression.  But then I have{220}Always assumed it was my own fault – because I didn't bother to practice. Not that I don't consider my  fingers capable of better execution than any other woman's  .''

“You are absolutely right,” said Darcy, smiling. You have made better use of your time. No one accepts the privilege of hearing that you can think anything. “Neither of us perform in front of strangers.”

Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking about. Elizabeth immediately started playing again. Lady Catherine came closer and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy, -

“If Miss Bennett had practiced more, her playing would not have been at all wrong and she might have had the advantage of the London Masters. She has a very good sense of fingering, although her taste is not on par with Anne's. “Had Anne’s health permitted her to learn, she would have been a delightful artist.”

Elizabeth looked at Darcy, to see how cordially he agreed to her cousin's praise: but neither at that moment nor at any other moment could she discern any sign of love; and by his whole conduct towards Miss de Bourgh he gave Miss Bingley the consolation that, if she  had been his  relative, he would probably have been equally likely to marry her.

Lady Katherine continued her comments on Elizabeth's performance, adding several instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received him with all the toleration of civility; and at the request of the gentlemen she remained on the instrument until her Ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home.{221}

Chapter XXXII.

Next morning Elizabeth was sitting alone, and writing to Jane, while Mrs. Collins and Maria went on business into the village, when she was startled by the ringing of a bell at the door, the sure sign of a visitor. Since he had heard of no carriage, he thought it unlikely to be Lady Katherine; and was putting under that suspicion{222}She put away her half-finished letter, that she might escape all irrelevant questions, when the door opened, and to her great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and only Mr. Darcy, entered the room.

He also seemed surprised to find her alone, and apologized for his intrusion, telling her that he had considered all the women within himself.

Then they sat down, and when he was questioned after Rosings, he seemed in danger of being plunged into complete silence. Therefore, it was absolutely necessary to think something; And remembering him in this emergency  when  she had last seen him in Hertfordshire, and being anxious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty departure, she said,—

“How come you all left Netherfield so suddenly last November, Mr. Darcy! It must have been a very pleasant surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you all behind him so soon; Because, if I remember correctly, he left the day before. I hope she and her sisters were all right when you left London?”

"Perfect, I thank you."

He found that he had no other answer to offer; And, after a short pause, added,-

"I think I understand that Mr. Bingley has no plans of ever returning to Netherfield again?"

“I never heard him say that; But it is possible that he may spend very little time there in the future. “She has many friends, and she is at a time of life when friends and engagements are constantly increasing.”

“If he wishes to remain in Netherfield for a very short period of time, it would be better for the neighborhood if he left the place altogether, because then we could possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did not take{223}The house is as much for the convenience of the neighborhood as for his own convenience, and we must hope that he will keep or leave it on the same principle.

"I should not be surprised," said Darcy, "if he should give it up soon after any offer of a worthy purchase was made."

Elizabeth did not answer. She was afraid to talk to her friend for too long; And, having nothing else to say, he now resolved to leave the trouble of finding the subject to her.

She took the hint and soon began to say, “This looks like a very comfortable house. I believe that Lady Catherine made a great contribution to this when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford.'

"I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have given her kindness a more grateful object."

"Mr.  Collins appears to have been very fortunate in his choice of wife."

"Yes, indeed;  his friends may be very happy that he has met one of the few sensible women who would have accepted him, or if accepted would have made him happy.  My friend has very good sense— Although I'm not sure I'd consider marrying Mr. Collins the wisest thing she's ever done.  However, she seems perfectly happy;  and, from a judicious point of view, it's certainly a very good match for her. Is.

"It will be very pleasant for him to settle within such easy distance of his family and friends."

“Do you call this easy distance? It’s about fifty miles.”

“And what's fifty miles of good road? A little more than half a day's journey. “Yeah, I call it a pretty easy distance.”

"I should never have considered the distance{224}“ The benefits of the match   ,” Elizabeth shouted. "I should never have said that Mrs. Collins  had settled down with her family  ."

“It is testament to your love for Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the neighborhood of Longbourn, I think, would appear too far away.

There was a kind of smile as he spoke, which Elizabeth understood; He must have assumed she was thinking of Jane and Netherfield, and she replied, blushing, -

“I don't mean to say that a woman cannot settle very close to her family. Far and near must be relative and depend on many different circumstances. Where one has the good fortune to make the cost of travel insignificant, distance is no longer a bad thing. But  that is not the case  here . Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not enough to warrant frequent trips - and I am sure that my friend would not call herself  nearer to her family  at less than half  the present distance  .

Mr. Darcy pulled his chair a little towards her and said, “  You  cannot have the right to such a strong local attachment. You  can't stay at Longbourn forever."

Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of feeling; He pulled back his chair, picked up a newspaper from the table and, glancing at it, said in a cold voice, -

"Are you happy with Kent?"

A brief dialogue on the subject of the country began, quiet and brief on both sides – and soon ended with the entrance of Charlotte and her sister, who had just returned from their walk. The tete  -a-tete  took him by surprise. Mister.{225}Darcy explained the mistake which had led him to attack Miss Bennet, and, after sitting a few more minutes, went away without saying anything more to anyone.

"With his aunt"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

{226}

“What could this mean?” Charlotte said, as he walked away. “My dear Eliza, he must love you, otherwise he would never have called us in this familiar manner.”

But when Elizabeth pointed out their silence, it seemed very unlikely that it would happen even according to Charlotte's wishes; and, after various conjectures, they could at last believe that their journey would proceed with the difficulty of doing anything, which was more than probable at the time of the year. All the field games had ended. Within doors were Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard table, but gentlemen cannot always remain within doors; And the proximity of the parsonage, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or the people who lived in it, gave both cousins ​​a temptation from this period of walking there almost every day. They would call at different times in the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and sometimes with their aunt. It was clear to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he enjoyed their society, a persuasion which certainly recommended him the more; and Elizabeth was reminded of his satisfaction in living with her, as well as his obvious admiration of her former favourite, George Wickham; And although, on comparing them, he observed that Colonel Fitzwilliam had less charming softness in his manners, he believed that he might have the best informed mind.

But why Mr. Darcy came to the Parsonage so frequently was more difficult to understand. This could not have been for the sake of society, for he would often sit together for ten minutes without opening his lips; And when he spoke, it seemed to be an effect of necessity rather than choice—a sacrifice for the sake of propriety, not pleasure for its own sake. He{227}Rarely appeared actually animated. Mrs. Collins didn't know what to say about that. Colonel Fitzwilliam's occasional laughter at his folly proved that he was generally different from what his own knowledge of him could not tell him; And as she wished to believe that it alters the effects of love, and what her friend Eliza does the object of that love, she set herself to work seriously to find it out: whenever they Rosings, and he saw her whenever he came. Hunsford; But did not achieve much success. He certainly looked at his friend very intently, but the expression of that look was controversial. It was a serious, steady look, but he often doubted whether there was much praise in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing more than an absence of mind.

She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; And Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the subject, because there was danger of raising expectations, which could only end in disappointment; For in his opinion there was no doubt that all his friend's dislike would disappear, if he would admit that it was in his power.

In his kind plans for Elizabeth, he sometimes planned to marry her to Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was, beyond comparison, a most cheerful man: he certainly admired her, and her position in life was most worthy; But, to balance these advantages, Mr. Darcy enjoyed considerable patronage in the church, and his cousin could receive no patronage at all.{228}

“Upon looking up.”

Chapter XXXIII.

More than once Elizabeth, during her walks in the park, unexpectedly met Mr. Darcy. He felt all the maladies of depravity that would take him where no one else had taken him; and, to prevent this from happening again, took care in the first place to inform him that this was his favorite haunt. So, how could this happen a second time, it was very strange! Yet it happened, and so did the third one. This seemed to be a deliberate misfortune, or a voluntary atonement; For on these occasions it was not merely some formal inquiry and an awkward pause and then walking away, but he actually found it necessary to turn back and walk away with her. He never said much, nor did he trouble himself to talk or listen much; But it struck him during his{229}The third revealed that he was asking some strange unrelated questions – about her happiness in living at Hunsford, about her love of solitary walks, and about her opinion of Mr. and Mrs. Collins's happiness; And while talking about the Rosings, and she didn't quite understand the house, she hoped she   would stay  there too whenever she came to Kent. It seemed so from his words. Might his thoughts include Colonel Fitzwilliam? He thought that, if it meant anything, it must be meant as an indication of what might arise in that quarter. This troubled her a little, and she was quite glad to find herself at the front gate of the parsonage.

One day while walking she was busy re-reading Jane's last letter and considering some passages which proved that Jane had not written in spirits, when, instead of being surprised again by Mr. Darcy, she Looking up, he saw that Colonel Fitzwilliam was meeting him. Quickly putting the letter away and smiling, he said, -

“I didn't know you ever walked this way.”

“I am visiting the park,” he replied, “as I usually do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are  you going too far?”

"No, I should have turned in a moment."

And accordingly she turned, and they walked together towards the parsonage.

"Are you sure you will leave Kent on Saturday?" He said.

“Yes—if Darcy doesn't put it off again. But I am under him. He arranges business as per his wish.”

“And if he is not able to make himself happy in the arrangement, he at least enjoys the power of choice to the fullest. I{230}I don't know anyone who enjoys the power to do as he pleases more than Mr. Darcy."

Colonel Fitzwilliam replied, "He likes his way very well." “But we all do that. It's just that he has better means of getting it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak with emotion. You know, a little son must be trained to self-sacrifice and dependence.

“In my opinion, Karna's younger son could know very little about any of this. Now, seriously, what have you learned about self-sacrifice and dependence? When have you ever been prevented from going to a place of your choice or buying something of your choice due to lack of money?

“These are domestic questions – and perhaps I cannot say that I have experienced many difficulties of that nature. But in overweight cases I may face shortage of money. Younger sons cannot marry wherever they want.”

"Unless they like lucky women, which I think they often do."

"Our spending habits make us too dependent, and there aren't many people in my life who could marry without paying attention to money."

“Is this,” Elizabeth thought, “is this for me?” And she was impressed by this idea; But, collecting himself, he said in a lively voice, “And pray, what is the usual price of a young son of an earl? Unless elder brother is very ill, I think you will not ask for more than fifty thousand pounds.”

He replied to her in the same style and the topic was dropped. To break the silence which might lead him to think that she might be affected by what had passed, he said immediately afterwards,{231},

"I suppose your cousin brought you with him chiefly to keep someone close to him.  I'm surprised he doesn't marry to ensure that kind of permanent facility.  But, perhaps, his sister is also present. I do the same;  and, since she is under his sole care, he can do with her whatever he pleases."

“No,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, “it is an advantage which he must share with me.  I join him under the guardianship of Miss Darcy.

“Are you really? And pray tell, what kind of parent do you make? Does your charge give you a lot of trouble? Young women of her age are sometimes a bit difficult to handle; And if she has the true Darcy spirit, she may prefer to get her own way.

As she spoke, she noticed that he was looking at her seriously; And the manner in which she immediately asked him why he thought he might have any trouble with Miss Darcy convinced her that she was, in some way or another, very close to the truth. He replied directly,-

“You don't need to be afraid. I never heard anything bad about him; And I dare say he is one of the most well-organised creatures in the world. She is a great favorite of some of the ladies of my acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. I think I heard you say you know them.

“I know him a little. Her brother is a pleasant, gentle man—he's a very good friend of Darcy's."

“Oh yes,” Elizabeth said casually—“Mr.” Darcy is exceptionally kind to Mr. Bingley and cares deeply for him."

“Take care of him! Yes, I really believe that Darcy  takes care of him at the points  where he wants care the most.{232}From what he told me during our visit, I think Bingley was very grateful. But I must apologize to him, because I have no right to believe that Bingley was that person. It was all guesswork.”

"what do you mean?"

"This is a situation which Darcy certainly would not normally want to go into, as it would have been an unpleasant thing if it had reached the woman's family."

“You can depend on me not to mention it.”

“And remember that I have no particular reason to believe that it is Bingley. All he said to me was this: that he congratulated himself on having recently saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other details; And I only suspected that it was Bingley, believing him to be the kind of young man who could do things like that, and knowing that they had been together all the previous summer.

"Did Mr. Darcy tell you his reasons for this intervention?"

"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the woman."

"And what art did he use to separate them?"

“He didn’t talk to me about his art,” Fitzwilliam said, smiling. "He only told me what I've told you now."

Elizabeth did not answer and walked forward, her heart filled with indignation. After observing her for a bit, Fitzwilliam asked her why she was so thoughtful.

“I'm thinking what you're telling me,” she said. “Your cousin's conduct is not in keeping with my feelings. Why did he have to become a judge?{233},

“You are willing to call his interference disrespectful?”

“I do not understand what right Mr. Darcy had to judge of the propriety of his friend's inclinations; Or why, on his own judgment alone, he was to determine and direct the manner in which that friend was to be happy. But," he recalled himself saying, "since we do not know any details, it is not fair to condemn him. It should not be assumed that there was much affection in the matter.

“This is no unnatural supposition,” said Fitzwilliam; "But it very sadly diminishes the honor of my cousin's victory."

This was said in jest, but it seemed to her so much a picture of Mr. Darcy, that she did not trust herself to answer; And, so, changing the conversation suddenly, talked about different matters until they reached the parsonage. There, shut up in her room, as soon as her visitor had passed her by, she could think without interruption of all that she had heard. It should not be supposed that any person other than those with whom she was associated could have meant it.  There cannot be  two people in the world  on whom Mr. Darcy has such an immense influence. That he was concerned about the steps being taken to separate Mr. Bingley and Jane, he never doubted; But he always attributed their principal design and arrangement to Miss Bingley. However, if his own pride did not mislead him, he  was the reason for all that Jane had endured, and still continues to endure  – her pride and cynicism are the reason. He had for a time ruined every hope of happiness of the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; And no one can say what lasting evil he may have done.{234}

The words of Colonel Fitzwilliam were, “There were some very strong objections against the lady;”  and perhaps these were strong objections, from one of her uncles who was a lawyer in the country, and another who was in business in London.

“As for Jane herself,” said she, “there can be no possibility of objection,—all beauty and goodness as she is! Her  understanding was excellent, her mind superior and her manners charming.  Nor anything against my father. could also be urged, who, notwithstanding some peculiarities, has abilities which Mr. Darcy himself need not despise, and a respectability to which he will probably never reach.  When he thought of his mother, Indeed her confidence diminished a little;  but she would not allow that any objection would be of any  solid  importance with Mr. Darcy, of whom she was convinced that his pride was outweighed by the lack of importance in his friend's relations to his prudence. would give a deeper wound than the lack of it;  and at last, she became entirely convinced that he was governed partly by this worst kind of pride, and partly by a desire to retain Mr. Bingley for his sister.

The excitement and tears produced by the subject caused headaches; And towards evening the situation grew so much worse that, together with her reluctance to see Mr. Darcy, it made her decide not to go with her cousins ​​to Rosings, where they were engaged to take tea. Mrs. Collins, seeing that she was really unwell, did not press her to go, and as much as possible prevented her husband from pressing her; But Mr. Collins could not conceal his suspicion of Lady Catherine's displeasure at his staying at home.{235}

Chapter XXXIV.

When they went away, Elizabeth, as if intending to ingratiate herself as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for his employment to examine all the letters which Jane had sent her since her stay in Kent. wrote. There was no real grievance in them, nor was there any revival of past events,{236}Or any communication of present suffering. But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a desire for that happiness which was used to characterize his style, and which proceeded from a peace of mind at ease with itself and a kind disposition towards all. Was. It is rarely cloudy. Elizabeth looked at each sentence expressing a thought with uneasiness, with an attention which she had hardly received when read for the first time. Mr. Darcy's shameful boast about how much grief he was capable of causing made her realize her sister's sufferings even more deeply. There was some consolation in the thought that her visit to Rosings was about to end the next day, and what was still greater, that in less than a fortnight she would be again with Jane herself, and able to contribute to the recovery of her spirits. Will be capable, all that love could do.

She could not think of Darcy leaving Kent without thinking that her cousin was to go with him; But Colonel Fitzwilliam made it clear that he had no intention of doing so, and, even if he agreed, he had no intention of being unhappy with them.

While sorting out the issue, she suddenly woke up to the sound of the doorbell; And his spirits were slightly alarmed by the thought that it was Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in the evening, and might now come especially to inquire about him. But this thought soon died out, and had such a different effect on her spirits, that she was very surprised when she saw Mr. Darcy come into the room. Hastily he immediately began to inquire after her health, and expressed his desire to hear that she was better. She answered him with cool civility. He sat for a few moments and then got up and walked away{237}About the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but did not say a word. After several minutes of silence, he came towards her in an agitated manner and began thus:-

“I struggled in vain. This won't do. My feelings will not be suppressed. You have to allow me to tell you how much I admire you and how much I love you.”

Elizabeth's surprise was beyond expression. She kept looking, coloring, doubting and remaining silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and there immediately followed the acknowledgment of all that he felt and had long felt for her. He spoke well; But there were other feelings besides those of the heart which deserve to be described in detail, and he was never more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of inferiority, his sense of degradation, the judgment about family constraints which had always resisted inclination, were pervaded with a warmth that seemed not to be due to the consequences he was injuring, but to his suit. Not very likely to recommend.

Despite her deep dislike, she could not be insensible to the appreciation of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not change for a moment, at first she was sorry for the pain she had received; He lost all compassion in anger, until angered by her subsequent language. However, she tried to prepare herself to answer him with patience when she should have done so. He concluded by seeing her as representing the strength of that attachment which he had found impossible to conquer despite all his efforts; and expressing the hope that he would now be rewarded with the acceptance of her hand. As soon as he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt about a favorable answer. He  spoke  of apprehension and worry  , but his face expressed genuine security. such a situation{238}Can only cause more trouble; And when he stopped, color rose to his cheeks and he said, -

“In cases like this, I believe it is the established way to express a sense of obligation for the feelings, even if they may be unequivocally returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I   could  feel gratitude, I would thank you now. But I can't do that—I've never wanted your good opinion, and you've certainly given it very reluctantly. I'm sorry that I hurt someone. However, this is most likely unintentional, and I hope it will be short-lived. The feelings of which you tell me have long prevented the acceptance of your honour, there may be little difficulty in overcoming them after this explanation.

Mr. Darcy, who was leaning against the mantel-piece with his eyes fixed on her face, seemed to her at her words not less with displeasure than with surprise. His complexion turned pale with anger and his mental turmoil was visible on his face. He struggled for the appearance of restraint, and would not open his lips until he believed he had achieved it. This pause was terrible to Elizabeth's feelings. At last, in a voice of forced calmness, he said, -

“And that is the answer I have the honor to expect!  Perhaps, I would like to know why I have been rejected in this way, despite  so little  effort at civility. But its importance is small.”

“May I also ask,” she replied, “why, with such a clear intention to hurt and humiliate me, you chose to tell me that you were being held against my will, against my reason, and even Do you like me even against my character?  If I was rude  was that no excuse for being rude  ?  But I have other provocations.  You know I have.{239}If my own feelings were not against you, if they were indifferent, or even favorable, do you think that any consideration would induce me to accept a person who would, possibly forever, ruin one's happiness? What has been the means to do this, dearest sister?”

As soon as she said these words, Mr. Darcy's complexion changed; But the feeling was short, and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she continued, -

“I have every reason to think badly of you.  No motive can excuse the unjust and generous work  you did there . You dare not, you cannot deny that you are at the head of separating them from each other, making the one an object of condemnation of the world for capriciousness and instability, the other an object of ridicule for disappointed hopes. , if not the only means. To involve both of them in the most serious kind of suffering.”

She paused, and saw, without the slightest indignation, that he was listening with an expression which showed that there was no feeling of remorse upon him. Even he looked at her with an impressed disbelieving smile.

"Can you deny that you did this?" he repeated.

Then calmly he replied, “I have no desire to deny that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success  . I have been kinder to myself than I have been to myself.  " 

Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection, but its meaning did not escape her, nor was it likely to console her.

“But it is not only this matter,” he continued, “on which my dislike is based. took it a long time ago{240}The place, my opinion of you is decided. Your character appeared in the recital I received from Mr. Wickham several months ago. What do you have to say on this topic? In what imaginary act of friendship can you defend yourself here? Or what misrepresentation can you impose on others here?”

"You take a deep interest in that gentleman's concerns," said Darcy in a less calm tone and with increased colour.

"Who knows what his misfortunes have been, which could help in feeling an interest in him?"

"His misfortune!" Darcy repeated contemptuously,—"Yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed."

“And about your punishment,” cried Elizabeth with energy; “You have reduced him to his present poverty—comparative poverty. You have withheld benefits that you should have known they were designed for. You have deprived him of the best years of his life, of a freedom that was no less than his desert. You have done it all! And yet you may treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and ridicule.

“And this,” cried Darcy, walking briskly into the room, “is your opinion of me! This is the guess you catch me in! I thank you for explaining this completely. According to this calculation, my faults are truly enormous! But, perhaps,' he said, going on, pausing as he walked, and turning to her, 'these crimes might perhaps have been overlooked, had your ego not been hurt by my honest confession of those infidelities Hoti, who had for a long time prevented me from making any serious plans. These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I, with more policy, concealed my struggles, and{241}flattered you into believing you were inspired by my unworthy, unblemished inclinations; By logic, by thinking, by everything. But I hate all forms of disguise. Nor am I ashamed of my feelings. They were natural and just. Can you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your relations? - Should I congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose position in life is decidedly lower than mine?

Elizabeth felt herself becoming more angry every moment; Yet he tried his best to speak with composure when he said, -

"You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you believe that the manner of your announcement affected me in any other way than that it caused me the anxiety which I would have felt in refusing you, if you had behaved more gentlemanly "

He saw him starting here; But she said nothing, and she continued,-

"There is no possible way you could have offered me your hand in a way that would have tempted me to accept it."

Then his surprise was evident; And he looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and dispassion. She went away,-

“From the very beginning, from the first moment, I might almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressed me with the complete conviction of your arrogance, your conceit and your selfish disregard for the feelings of others, such as Forming the basis of disapproval on which subsequent events have created such an immovable dislike;  and not having known you a month ago, I thought you were the last man in the world whom I would agree to marry. Can.{242},

“You have said a lot, madam. I understand your feelings very well and now I am only ashamed of my feelings. Forgive me for wasting so much of your time, and please accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.

And with these words he hurried out of the room, and Elizabeth the next moment heard him open the front door and walk out of the house. The turmoil in his mind had now become very painful. She did not know how to support herself, and, from genuine weakness, sat and cried for half an hour. His astonishment, considering all that had passed, increased with every review. That she should receive a marriage proposal from Mr. Darcy! That he should have loved her for so many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the objections which had prevented his friend from marrying his sister, and which must have appeared with equal force at least in his case, was almost incredible. ! It was gratifying to inadvertently inspire such deep affection. But his pride, his disgusting pride, his shameless acceptance of what he had done in relation to Jane, his unforgivable assurance in accepting it, though he could not justify it, and the unkind manner in which he mentioned Mr. Wickham, His cruelty towards her which she had not attempted to deny, was soon overcome by the pity which the thought of her attachment had excited for a moment.

She remained absorbed in very excited thoughts until the sound of Lady Catherine's carriage made her realize how unequaled she was to withstand Charlotte's observation, and hurried her to her room.{243}

“I called myself after hearing it.”

Chapter XXXV.

Elizabeth woke up the next morning with the same thoughts and meditations that had finally led her to close her eyes. She had not yet recovered from the surprise of what had happened: it was impossible to think of anything else; and, being entirely unfit for employment, he resolved to expose himself to airs and exercise immediately after breakfast. She was proceeding straight for her favorite walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, she turned into the lane which led her away from the turnpike road. Used to go. The paleness of the park still bordered one side, and she soon passed a gate and went into the field.

After walking two or three times along that part of the street, she was tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at the gate and look into the park. The five weeks spent in Kent had made a great difference to the country, and every day was adding to the greenness of the early trees. He{244}On the point of continuing his walk, when he caught a glimpse of a gentleman in the garden at the edge of the park: he was moving in that direction; And the fear of it being Mr. Darcy was keeping her straight back. But the man who stepped forward was now close enough to see her, and called her name as he stepped forward eagerly. She had turned away; But hearing a voice calling herself, though in a voice which proved that it was Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the gate. By that time he had reached there also; and, holding out a letter, which he readily took, said with haughty calm, "I have been wandering about the garden for some time in the hope of meeting you. Will  you do me the honor of reading that letter?" And then, bowing a little, turned again towards the garden, and was soon out of sight.

With no expectation of happiness, but with the most intense curiosity, Elizabeth opened the letter, and to her surprise, she saw an envelope containing two sheets of letter paper, very closely followed. The envelope was filled just like that. Making his way down the street, he started it again. It was dated from Rosings at eight in the morning, and was as follows:-

“Do not be alarmed by the receipt of this letter, from the apprehension that it may contain a repetition of those sentiments, or a renewal of those proposals which were so odious to you last night. I write without any intention of causing you pain or humiliating myself, focusing on desires which cannot be so soon forgotten for the happiness of both; And all the hard work that went into drafting and reading this letter might have been spared if my character had not been required to write it.{245}Read more. Therefore, you must pardon the independence with which I ask for your attention; I know your feelings will grant it reluctantly, but I demand it from your justice.

“Two crimes of very different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you accused me of last night. The first mention was that, without regard to the feelings of either of them, I had separated Mr. Bingley from your sister, and the second, that I, in disregard of various claims, with disregard to honor and humanity, had ruined the immediate prosperity of and destroyed Mr. Wickham's prospects. Knowingly and willingly gave up the companionship of my youth, my father's favorite favourite, a young man who hardly depended on anything else but our protection, and who was brought up with an expectation of the exertion of To abandon would be a depravity, which cannot be compared with the separation of two young persons, whose affection had only a few weeks to develop. But from the severity of the blame which was so generously offered last night, respecting each circumstance, I will hope to be safe in the future, when the following account of my actions and their motives will be read. If, in my explanation of them, which is due to me, I need to relate to feelings that may be offensive to you, I can only say that I am sorry. The requirement must be complied with, and further waivers would be absurd. I had not been long in Hertfordshire, when I observed, like others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young lady in the country. But I had no suspicion of any serious attachment to her until the evening of the dance at Netherfield. I had often seen her making love before. On that ball, while I had{246}The honor of dancing with you, I was first introduced to by the casual information of Sir William Lucas, that Bingley's attention to your sister had given rise to the general expectation of their marriage. He described it as a definite event about which only time could be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behavior carefully; And then I understood that his partiality for Miss Bennet was greater than I had ever seen in him. I saw your sister also. His appearance and manners were as open, cheerful, and charming as ever, but without any sign of special respectability; and I remained convinced, by the inquiry of the evening, that though he gladly attracted her attentions, she did not invite him to any participation of emotion. If  you  have not made a mistake here, then  I  too must have made a mistake. Your superior knowledge of your sister should make the latter probable. If so, if I have been misled into causing her pain by making such a mistake, then your resentment is not unwarranted. But I will not hesitate to say that the calmness of your sister's countenance and air was such that the most acute observer could believe that, however amiable her disposition, she was not likely to easily touch her heart. It is certain that I was inclined to believe his indifference; But I would venture to say that my investigations and judgments are generally not influenced by my hopes or fears. I didn't believe she would be indifferent because I wanted it; I believed it with impartial faith, as truthfully as I desired with reason. My objections to marriage were not the only ones which I confessed last night that in my own case required the utmost power of passion to overcome them; The desire for contact cannot be as great an evil to my friend as it is to me. but there were{247}Other reasons for dislike; Those causes, which still existed, and were present in equal measure in both instances, I endeavored to forget myself, because they were not immediately before me. These reasons must be explained, even if briefly. The situation of your mother's family, objectionable though it was, was nothing compared to that total lack of propriety, betrayed so often, almost equally, by yourself, by your three younger sisters, and sometimes even by your father. Given: - Forgive me, - It hurts me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the faults of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, you must be consoled to consider that you conduct yourself in such a way as to avoid any part of such condemnation. Doing is no less than a compliment which is generally given. It is respectful to the spirit and nature of both you and your eldest sister. I will only say further that what happened that evening confirmed my opinion on all sides, and increased every temptation which might have induced me first to rescue my friend from what I consider a most unhappy relationship. Believed. He left Netherfield for London the very next day, as I am sure you will remember, with plans to return soon. Now the part I have acted has to be explained. The uneasiness of her sisters was as excited as mine: the coincidence of our feelings was soon discovered; and, understanding that no time was to be lost in separating our brother, we soon decided to join him directly in London. We went accordingly – and there I readily set about explaining to my friend some of the evils of such a choice. I described them and applied them faithfully. But even if his decision was wavered or delayed because of this objection, I do not believe that{248}Let us suppose that but for the assurance of your sister's indifference, which I had no hesitation in giving, the marriage might ultimately have been prevented. At first she believed that he would return her affection with true, if not equal, respect. But Bingley has great natural humility, and has more dependence on my judgment than on his own. Therefore, it was not very difficult to convince him that he had deceived himself. To persuade him against returning to Hertfordshire, when the sentence was carried out, was hardly the work of a moment. I can't blame myself for doing so much. There is a part of my conduct in the whole matter which I do not consider with satisfaction; This is because I was pleased to adopt artistic means to conceal from them the fact that your sister was in the city. I knew it myself, as Miss Bingley knew it; But his brother is still unaware of this. Perhaps, it is possible that they may have met without any ill consequences; But I did not feel his respect was so low that I could see him without any danger. Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me. However, it has been done, and it has been done for the best. I have nothing more to say on this subject, no apologies. If I have hurt your sister's feelings it has been unintentional; And although the motives which ruled me may seem to you naturally inadequate, I have not yet learned to condemn them. - As to that other, more weighty charge of wounding Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by putting it forward. You keep his full relation with my family. I am unaware of the specific  allegations  he  has made against me; But I can undoubtedly call more than one witness to the truth of what I will tell.{249}Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who for many years had the management of all the properties at Pemberley, and his good conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally induced my father to serve him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was generously bestowed. My father supported him at school and then at Cambridge; The most important help, because his own father, always poor because of his wife's extravagance, would have been unable to give him the education of a gentleman. My father was not only fond of the society of this young man, whose manners were always charming, but his opinion of him was also the highest, and expecting the Church to be his vocation, he intended to help him in it. As for me, it's been many, many years since I first started thinking about them in a completely different way. The evil inclinations, the lack of principle, which he was careful to protect from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape the observation of a young man of almost his own age, and who had the opportunity of observing him at inopportune moments, which Mr. Darcy could not. Here I will pain you again - only you can tell to what extent. But whatever feelings Mr. Wickham may have aroused, a doubt as to their nature will not prevent me from uncovering his true character. This also adds another purpose. My wonderful father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was so constant that in his will he specifically recommended me to promote his advancement in the best way that his profession would permit, and if he took the command, he wanted That a valuable family will probably become his as soon as he becomes free. there was also a legacy{250}thousand pounds. His own father lived as long as my father; and within half a year of these events Mr. Wickham wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking the order, he hoped to expect from me some more immediate pecuniary advantage in return for the preference for him. It should not be considered unfair, due to which he could not get any benefit. He had some intention, he said, of studying law, and I should have known that the interest of a thousand pounds would be a very inadequate support of it. Instead of trusting him, I wanted him to be honest; But, at any cost, he was completely ready to accept their proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham should not become a clergyman. So the business was settled quickly. He resigned all claims to assistance in the Church, had it been possible that he would ever have been in a position to obtain it, and accepted three thousand pounds in return. It seemed as if the entire relationship between us had ended. I thought so ill of him as not to invite him to Pemberley, or accept his society in the town. I believe he lived mainly in the city, but his study of law was merely a pretense; And now free from all bondage, his life was one of idleness and dissipation. For nearly three years I heard very little about him; But on the death of the incumbent, who was designed for him, he again applied to me by letter for presentation. He assured me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, that their circumstances were extremely bad. He had found law a most unprofitable study, and had now fully decided on his being appointed, if I had presented him to the people in question—which he had confidence in, there could be no doubt. , for he was well assured that I had no other man to support me, and that I could not forget the intentions of my reverend father. you would hardly blame me{251}To refuse to comply with this solicitation, or to resist every repetition of it. His resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances – and he was undoubtedly as violent in his abuse of me towards others as he was in his condemnation of me. After this period, every form of acquaintance was lost. How he lived, I don't know. But last summer it again came to my attention in a most painful way. Let me now mention a circumstance which I would myself rather forget, and which no less obligation than the present one would induce me to disclose to any human being. Having said this, I have no doubt about your confidentiality. My sister, more than ten years my junior, was left under the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and me. About a year ago, he was taken from school, and an establishment was made for him in London; And last summer she went to Ramsgate with the lady who presided over it; And there went Mr. Wickham also, doubtless by design; For it was proved that there was a previous acquaintance between him and Mrs. Young, of whose character we were most deceived; and by her connivance and assistance he had so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart had retained such a strong impression of her kindness to him as a child, that she had persuaded herself to believe in love and escape. Was persuaded to give consent. She was only fifteen years old then, which would be her excuse; And having pointed out his indiscretion, I am happy to say that I have knowledge of it myself. I unexpectedly joined them a day or two before the intended escape; And then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of ​​grieving and humiliating a brother whom she looked upon almost as a father, confessed the whole thing to me. Can you imagine?{252}How I felt and how I acted. Respect for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public display; But I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who immediately departed, and Mrs. Young was definitely removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object was undoubtedly my sister's property, which amounts to thirty thousand pounds; But I cannot avoid admitting that the hope of taking revenge on me was a strong motive. His revenge would have been truly complete. Madam, this is a faithful account of every incident in which we have been involved together; And if you do not entirely reject it as a lie, I hope you will acquit me of cruelty to Mr. Wickham. I don't know in what manner, what kind of lie he has imposed on you; But his success perhaps should not be surprised, since you were already ignorant of everything relating to both of them. It may not be in your power to investigate, and certainly not in your power to doubt. You may perhaps wonder why all this was not told to you last night. But then I was not adept enough in myself to know what could be revealed or what should be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can especially appeal to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our close connection and constant intimacy, and even to one of the executors of my father's will In form, each particular has been unavoidably familiar. Of these transactions. If  your hatred towards me  makes  my claims redundant , you cannot be prevented from believing my cousin for the same reason; And in order to have the possibility of consulting him, I will try to find an opportunity to put this letter in your hands by early morning. I would just add, God bless you.

“  Fitzwilliam Darcy. ,
{253}

Chapter XXXVI.

Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect that it would contain a renewal of his proposals, she had no expectation of any of its contents. But such as they were, it may well be estimated how eagerly she went through them, and how many opposite feelings they aroused. It was difficult to define his feelings while reading. At first she was surprised to find that he considered any apology within his power; and it was firmly explained to him, that he could have no explanation to give, which the feeling of shame would not conceal. with a strong bias{254}Contrary to everything he had said, he began to describe what had happened at Netherfield. She read so avidly that she almost lost her power of understanding; And because of her impatience to know what the next sentence might bring, she was unable to pay attention to the meaning of the sentence before her eyes. He immediately proved her belief about her sister's insensitivity wrong; And his actual description of the worst objections to the match enraged him so much that there was no desire even to do him justice. He expressed no regrets for what he had done which gave him satisfaction; His style was not remorseful, but arrogant. It was all arrogance and arrogance.

But when after this subject came Mr. Wickham's description—when he read with somewhat clear attention a relation of events which, if true, must overthrow every cherished opinion as to its value, and which with him Has such a worrying relationship. His own history—his feelings were even more intensely painful and more difficult to define. Astonishment, apprehension and even fear oppressed him. She wanted to completely discredit it, repeatedly shouting, "It must be a lie!  It can't be!  It would be the biggest lie!" - And when she had read the whole letter, though knew nothing of the last page or two, she quickly put it away, protesting that she would not pay attention to it, that she would never look at it again. .

In this disturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could not rest on anything, she went on; But this would not happen: in half a minute the letter was opened again; And collecting himself as best he could, he again began a careful observation of everything relating to Wickham, and commanded himself to examine the meaning of every sentence. account of their relationship with{255}The Pemberley family were exactly as they themselves described them; and the kindness of the late Mr. Darcy, though she did not at first know its extent, was equally in agreement with her own words. By now each text confirmed the other; But when it came to the will, the difference was huge. What Wickham had said about survival was fresh in his memory; And as she remembered his words, it was impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the other, and, for a few moments, she consoled herself that her wishes were not mistaken. But when she carefully read and reread the account of Wickham's renouncing all claims to a living and receiving in return a sum as large as three thousand pounds, she was again forced to hesitate. He wrote the letter, weighed every circumstance impartially—discussed the probability of every statement—but met with little success. Only rhetoric remained from both sides. He read again. But every line proved more clearly that the case, which she believed impossible that any artifice could so present as to render Mr. Darcy's conduct less than infamous, capable of such a turn Which would make him completely innocent.

The profligacy and general extravagance with which he took the utmost care not to accuse Mr. Wickham shocked him; All the more so because she could not bring any proof of its injustice. He had never heard of him before his entry into the shire militia, in which case he was engaged in persuading a young man who, meeting him by chance in the town, had there renewed a brief acquaintance. Nothing was known about his former way of life in Hertfordshire, except what he told{256}

"Random meeting in the city"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

she herself. As far as his real character is concerned, if the information were within his control, he would never have felt like interrogating her. His face, voice and behavior immediately made him the possessor of every virtue. She tried to remember some example of goodness, some distinguishing trait of honesty or benevolence, which might protect her from Mr. Darcy's attacks; or at least, by the vigor of virtue, atone for those accidental errors under which she would endeavor to classify what Mr. Darcy had described as the indolence and vice of many years' continuance. But no such memory could make him friends. She could see him immediately before her, in every charm of air and address, but she remembered nothing better than the general approval of the neighborhood and respect for his social powers.{257}Got him into trouble. After pausing on this matter for a long time, he then continued reading. but alas! The story which followed, of his designs on Miss Darcy, received some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel Fitzwilliam and him only the morning before; and at last he was referred, for the truth of every particular, to Colonel Fitzwilliam himself—from whom he had previously received information of his close concern in all the affairs of his cousin, and whose character he had no reason to question. At one time she had almost resolved to apply to him, but the awkwardness of the application put a halt to the idea, and ultimately vanished entirely from the belief that Mr. Darcy had ever made such a proposal. Would not have taken the risk had he not been well. Assured confirmation of his cousin.

She remembered well everything about the conversation between Wickham and her on the first evening at Mr. Phillips's. Many of his expressions are still fresh in his memory. Now  she  was struck by the impropriety of such communication with a stranger, and wondered how she had escaped it before. He saw the imprudence of pursuing himself as he did, and the inconsistency of his profession with his conduct. She remembered that he had claimed that he had no fear of meeting Mr. Darcy—that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but he   must keep  his word; Yet he avoided the Netherfield ball the very next week. She also remembered that until the Netherfield family had left the country, she had not told her story to anyone but herself; But after his departure it started being discussed everywhere; Then he had no courage, no hesitation to sink Mr. Dark{258}Y's character, although he assured him that respect for the father would always prevent him from exposing the son.

How differently everything with which he was concerned now appeared! His attention to Miss King was now the result of mere and disgusting mercenary thoughts; And the mediocrity of his fortunes proved no longer the restraint of his desires, but his eagerness to understand anything. His conduct towards herself could no longer have any tolerable purpose: either she was deceived as to her fate, or he was gratifying her vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had for the most part. Was shown carelessly. Every long struggle in his favor grew fainter and fainter; And in further justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago professed his innocence in the matter; - that, proud and haughty as her behavior was, he had never done so during their entire acquaintance - an acquaintance which had afterwards brought them very close, and given her a kind of intimacy with his manners. - saw anything that pointed him to be unprincipled or unjust - anything that pointed him to irreligious or immoral habits; - that he was respected and valued among his own relations; - Even Wickham had allowed her the qualification of a brother, and she had often heard him speak so lovingly of his sister as to prove that he was disposed to some friendly feeling. is capable; - That was his point; the actions were exactly what Wickham had represented them to be, so such a grave violation of everything could hardly have been concealed from the world; And the friendship between a man capable of this and a man so amiable as Mr. Bingley was beyond comprehension.

She grew absolutely ashamed of herself nobody's{259}Neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she was blind, biased, absurd.

“What a despicable thing I have done!” she cried. “I, who have prided myself on my understanding! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often scorned my sister's generous candor, and gratified my vanity in idle or innocent distrust. How humiliating is this discovery! Still, what an insult! If I had been in love I could not have been more blinded than this. But pride, not love, has been my foolishness. Pleased by the liking of the one, and hurt by the neglect of the other, I have, at the very beginning of our acquaintance, promoted prejudice and ignorance, and removed reason where either of them was concerned. Until this moment, I had never known myself.”

From herself to Jane, from Jane to Bingley, her thoughts were so much in one line that she soon remembered that Mr. Darcy's explanation  seemed very inadequate  ; And he read it again. The impact of the second observation varied widely. How could she refuse to give credit to his claims in the one case, which she was bound to give in the other? He declared himself to be entirely without doubt as to his sister's attachment; And she couldn't help remembering what Charlotte's opinion had always been. Nor could she deny the appropriateness of his description of Jane. He felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were little displayed, and that there was a constant modesty in her air and manners, which was not often united with great sensitivity.

When she reached the part of the letter in which her family was mentioned in such a disparaging, yet qualified, tone of reproach, her feeling of shame was severe. {260}The justice of the charge compelled him too much to deny it; and the circumstances to which he particularly referred, such as the passing of Netherfield's ball, and the confirmation of his first rejection, could not have made a stronger impression on his mind than they did.

His praise for himself and his sister was not unusual. This brought solace, but it could not console him for the contempt which was self-inflicted by the rest of his family; And as she considered that Jane's disappointment was, in fact, the work of her nearest relations, and reflected how much damage must have been done to the reputation of both by such impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything. Which he had never seen before.

After wandering in the street for two hours, giving way to all sorts of thoughts, reconsidering events, determining possibilities, and adjusting myself, as well as he, to such a sudden and so significant change Due to fatigue, and his long missed absence, he eventually had to return home; And she entered the house with a desire to appear as happy as ever, and with a resolution to suppress such thoughts as would render her unfit for conversation.

He was immediately told that two gentlemen from Rosings had called during his absence; Mr. Darcy came, only for a few minutes, to take leave, but Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with her for at least an hour, expecting her return, and almost intending to follow her until she was found. Had decided. Elizabeth  could influence his  concern for her disappearance  ; She was really pleased with it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no longer an object. She could only think about her letter.{261}

"His Farewell Tribute."

Chapter XXXVII.

His Excellency's two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning; and Mr. Collins was waiting near the lodge, to bid them farewell, when, after a sad scene, he was able to bring them home in very good health and in as tolerable spirits as could have been expected. Happened recently in Rosings. He then turned to Rosings to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return, with great satisfaction, a message came back from her Ladyship, showing that she felt herself so languishing that she was very anxious to have them all dine with her.{262}

Elizabeth could not look at Lady Katherine without remembering that, if she had chosen it, she might by this time have been presented as her future niece; Nor could she imagine without smiling what her Ladyship's indignation might have been. “What would he have said? How would he have behaved?” These were the questions with which he entertained himself.

His first subject was the decline of the Rosings Party. "I assure you, I feel it intensely," said Lady Catherine. “I believe that no one feels the lack of friends as much as I do. But I am especially attached to these young men; And I know they are very attached to me! He was extremely sad to leave! But they are always like that. The dear Colonel kept his spirits up patiently to the end; But Darcy felt it most intensely—more, I think, than in the previous year. “His affection for Rosings definitely increases.”

Mr. Collins had a compliment and a hint to give here, at which mother and daughter smiled fondly.

After dinner Lady Catherine noticed that Miss Bennet seemed to be in a bad mood; And immediately calculating it himself, assuming that he did not like going home again so soon, he added,-

“But if that is the case, then you will have to write a letter to your mother requesting that you stay a little longer. I'm sure Mrs. Collins will be very pleased with your company.

Elizabeth replied, "I am very grateful to your Ladyship for your kind invitation." “But it is not in my power to accept it. I'll have to be in town next Saturday."

“Why, at that rate, you'll have only been here six weeks. I expected you to stay for two months. I told Mrs. Collins this before you came. There can be no occasion for this{263}You are leaving so soon. Mrs. Bennet can certainly spare you another fortnight.”

“But my father can't do that. He wrote last week to hasten my return.

"Dawson"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

“Oh, if your mother can do this then your father can definitely leave you. Daughters are never that important to a father. And if you  will stay a month longer  , it will be in my power to escort one of you to London, for I am going there in the beginning of June,{264}for a week; And as Dawson has no objection to the barouche-box, there will be very good room for one of you - and, indeed, if the weather should be cold, I should have no objection to taking both of you, Because neither of you are bigger than you.”

“You are all very kind, madam; But I believe we should follow our original plan.

Lady Catherine looked resigned. "Mrs.  Collins, you must send a servant with them.  You know I always speak my mind, and I can't stand the idea of ​​two young women traveling alone.  It is extremely inappropriate.  You must send someone Should try to send.  I dislike this kind of thing more than anything in the world.  Young ladies should always be given proper protection and care according to their station in life.  When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I It was decided to have two servants with her.  Miss Darcy, daughter of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Lady Anne, could not have come across with any other decorum.  I pay more attention to all those things than is necessary. ' You will have to send John away with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins.  I am glad it occurred to me to mention it;  for it  would be a real disgrace to you to let them go alone  ."

"My uncle has to send a servant for us."

"Oh!  Your uncle!  Keeps servants, doesn't he?  I'm so glad you've got someone who thinks about those things.  Where will you change horses?  Oh, Bromley, of course.  If you'll mention my name at the bell , then you will be heard.

Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask regarding their visit; And since she did not answer them all attention was required herself – which was Elizabeth{265}It is considered lucky for him; Or, with her mind so busy, she may have forgotten where she was. Contemplation should be reserved for solitary hours: whenever she was alone, she acknowledged it as the greatest relief; And not a day went by when she did not go for a solitary walk, in which she could indulge in all the joy of unpleasant memories.

Mr. Darcy's letter was a proper way of getting to know him by heart. He studied every sentence; And his feelings towards its author sometimes varied greatly. When she remembered the manner of his address, she was still full of indignation: but when she thought how unjustly he had condemned and insulted her, her anger was turned upon herself; And his despairing feelings became objects of compassion. His affection aroused gratitude, his general character commanded respect: but she could not accept him; Nor could she for a moment regret her refusal, or feel the slightest desire to ever see him again. His own past conduct, had been a constant source of irritation and regret: and the unhappy faults of his family, were a subject of still greater sorrow. He was disappointed with the treatment. Her father, content with laughing at them, never made any effort to curb the wild frolics of his youngest daughters; and his mother, being very far from his conduct, was entirely insensible to evil. Elizabeth had repeatedly united with Jane in an effort to stop the indiscretions of Katherine and Lydia; But when he was supported by his mother's kindness, what possibility could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and entirely under Lydia's guidance, was always insulted by her advice; And Lydia, self-willed and careless, would hardly listen to them. They were ignorant, inactive and useless.{266}When there was an officer in Meryton, they flirted with him; And since Meryton was within walking distance of Longbourn, they were going there forever.

Anxiety on Jane's part was another prevalent concern; And Mr. Darcy's explanation, by restoring Bingley to all his former good thoughts, increased the feeling of what Jane had lost. His affection proved genuine, and his conduct free from all blame, so long as no one could connect with the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How sad then was the thought that, from a position so desirable in every respect, so full of advantage, so hopeful of happiness, Jane had been deprived of it by the foolishness and indecency of her own family!

When to these reminiscences be added the development of Wickham's character, it may easily be believed that happy spirits who had formerly seldom been sad, were now so much affected that it was almost impossible for them to appear tolerably happy. It had become impossible.

During the last week of his stay at Rosings his engagements were as frequent as before. The previous evening was spent there; and her Ladyship again inquired closely about the details of her journey, gave her instructions as to the best method of packing, and placed so much emphasis on the necessity of storing the gowns in the sole correct manner that Maria, on her return Felt obliged to finish all the morning's work and pack his trunk afresh.

When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great kindness, wished him a good journey, and invited him to visit Hunsford again next year; And Miss de Bourgh made so much effort to be polite and extended her hand to both of them.{267}

"The rise of his feelings."

Chapter XXXVIII.

On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others arrived; And he took the opportunity of paying for the seceding citizenships which he considered unavoidably necessary.

“I do not know, Miss Elizabeth,” said he, “whether Mrs. Collins has yet come to us and expressed her feelings of your kindness; But I'm pretty sure you won't leave home without receiving their thanks for it. The favor of your company is greatly felt, I assure you. We know how little there is to tempt anyone into our humble abode. our simple way{268}The mode of living, our small rooms, a few menial jobs, and all that we see of the world, would make Hunsford very dull for a young lady like you; But I hope you will consider us grateful for this kindness, and that we have done everything in our power to prevent you from wasting your time unpleasantly.

Elizabeth was eager for his thanks and assurance of happiness. He had spent six weeks very happily; And the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind attention she received,  should make her  feel obliged. Mr. Collins was satisfied; and replied with more smiling seriousness, -

“I am extremely glad to hear that you have spent your time without any unpleasantness. We definitely tried our best; And with the greatest good fortune it is in our power to introduce you to a much better society, and from our connection with the Rosings, the frequent means of changing the humble domestic scene, I think we may please ourselves that your Hunsford The journey may not be entirely troublesome. Our position in relation to Lady Catherine's family is indeed one of extraordinary advantage and blessing, which very few can claim. You see what level we are at. You can see how hard we are working there. In truth, I must confess, that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not consider any of the persons living in it worthy of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.

Words were inadequate to express his feelings; And he was obliged to wander about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite decency and truth in a few short sentences.

“Indeed, you can bring very favorable reports about us{269}In Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I please myself, at least, that you will be able to do so. You have been daily witness to Lady Catherine's extreme attention to Mrs. Collins; And overall I'm sure it doesn't sound like your friend said anything unfortunate - but it might be best to keep quiet about the issue. My dear Miss Elizabeth, I just want to assure you that I can sincerely wish you equal happiness in your marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have the same mind and the same way of thinking. There is a most remarkable similarity of character and ideas in every thing between us. It feels like we were made for each other.”

Elizabeth could safely say that where this was so, it was a great happiness, and with equal sincerity she could add that she firmly believed in and rejoiced in her domestic happiness. However, he was not sorry that his lessons were interrupted by the entrance of the woman from whom they originated. Poor Charlotte! It was sad to leave him in such a society! But he chose it with open eyes; And although he was obviously sorry that his visitors had to leave, he did not ask for mercy. His house and its housekeeping, his parish and its poultry, and all the concerns dependent on them had not yet lost their charm.

Within a short time the car arrived, the trunks were packed, the parcels were placed in it and it was said that it was ready. After an affectionate parting between the friends, Mr. Collins takes care of Elizabeth in the carriage; And as they walked through the garden, he addressed her with his best respect towards all her family, his thanks for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his admiration for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. Was . then he handed over{270}Maria followed him in, and the door was about to close, when he suddenly reminded them with some nervousness that they had hitherto forgotten to leave a message for the women of Rosings.

"They forgot to leave a message."

“But,” he continued, “I will certainly wish you to pay him my humble respects, with your grateful thanks for his kindness to you while you have been here.”

Elizabeth made no objection: then the door was allowed to be closed, and the carriage drove off.{271}

"good gracious!" After a few minutes of silence, Maria shouted, “It seems like it's only been a day or two since our first visit! And yet so many things have happened!”

“There are quite a few, actually,” his companion said with a sigh.

“We have dined nine times at Rosings, plus had tea there twice! How much I have to tell!”

Elizabeth said privately, "And how much I have to hide!"

Their journey passed without much conversation, or any alarm; and within four hours of leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's house, where they were to remain some days.

Jane looked well, and amidst the various engagements Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits, which her aunt's kindness had reserved for her. But Jane was to go home with him, and there would be ample leisure for observation at Longbourn.

Meanwhile, it was not without effort that she could even wait until Longbourn before telling her sister about Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know that she had the power to reveal that would surprise Jane exceedingly, and, at the same time, would satisfy so much of her own vanity that she was not yet capable of reasoning, that of openness. For there was such a temptation as nothing could win, but she was in a state of indecision as to what she should communicate, and her fear, if she once entered upon the subject, would be to hasten to repeat something of Bingley's Will be done, due to which his sister may suffer further.{272}

“How well we are filled.”

Chapter XXXIX.

It was the second week of May, in which three young women set out together from Gracechurch Street for the town of --- in Hertfordshire; And, as they approached the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's carriage was to meet them, they immediately perceived, as a sign of the coachman's punctuality, that both Kitty and Lydia were looking out from the dining-room upstairs. These two girls had been at that place for more than an hour, happily doing the job{273}Going to the milliner opposite, watching the guard, and dressing the salads and cucumbers.

After welcoming his sisters, he triumphantly displayed a table laden with as much cold meat as is usually found in the storeroom of an inn, and exclaimed, “Is it not good? Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?”

“And we mean to treat you all,” said Lydia; “But you have to lend us the money, because we just spent our money on the shop there.” Then showing her purchases she said, “Look here, I have bought this bonnet.” I don't think it's very pretty; But I thought I had to buy it, otherwise. As soon as I get home I'll tear it into pieces and see if I can make it better.

And when her sisters called it ugly, she said, quite indifferently, “Oh, but there were two or three very ugly people in the shop; And when I have bought some pretty colored satin to freshen it up, I think it will be very bearable. Besides, it won't mean much what anyone wears this summer, after the Shires have left Maryton, and they are leaving in a fortnight.'

"Are they really?" Elizabeth cried with extreme satisfaction.

“They are going to camp near Brighton; And I want Papa to take us all there for the summer! This would be a very tasty plan, and I dare say it would cost almost nothing. Mom will want to have a go at everything too! Just think how miserable our summer would be otherwise!”

“Yes,” thought Elizabeth; “  It  will be a delightful plan indeed, and will be at once a complete success for us. good heaven! Brighton and a whole bunch of soldiers, for us, who have already been impressed by a poor regiment of militia and Meryton's monthly balls!{274},

"Now I've got some news for you," Lydia said, as they sat down at the table. "What do you think?  It's excellent news, important news, and about a certain person we all like."

Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, and the waiter was told he didn't need to wait. Lydia laughed, and said,-

“Hey, it's like your formality and discretion. You thought the waiter shouldn't listen, as if he cared! I dare say that he often hears worse things than what I am about to say. But he is an ugly man! I'm glad he's gone. I have never seen such a long chin in my life. Well, but now for my news: it's about dear Wickham; Very nice of the waiter, isn't it? There's no risk in marrying Mary King of Wickham—it's for you! She has gone to her uncle in Liverpool; Went to live. Wickham is safe."

"And Mary King is safe!" Elizabeth added; "Safe from indiscreet regard to fate."

"If she likes him, she's a big fool to walk away."

"But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side," said Jane.

“I'm sure there   's nothing on  it . I would answer this, he never cared for her. Who  would think of such a thing with such nasty little freckles  ?”

Elizabeth was astonished to think that, though she herself  was incapable of such rudeness of expression,  But the vulgarity of  feeling was nothing more than her own breast which she had previously cherished and conceived generously!

As soon as everyone had eaten and the elders had paid, the carriage was called for; and, after some maneuver, the whole party, with all their boxes, workbags and parcels, and the unwanted addition of Kitty and Lydia's shopping, was seated in it.{275}

“How well we are filled!” Lydia screamed. “I'm glad I brought my bonnet, if only for the amusement of having another band-box! Well, now let's just be all cozy and comfortable, and keep talking and laughing all the way home. First and foremost, let's hear what's happened to you all since you left. Have you seen any handsome man? Have you ever been molested? I was very hopeful that one of you would have found a husband before I came back. I declare that Jane will soon be quite an old maid. She is almost three and a half years old! God! How ashamed I should be of not getting married before three and a half years! My Aunt Phillips wants you to find a husband beyond your dreams. She says that Lizzie would have been better off if she had taken Mr. Collins; But  I  don't think it would have been any fun. God! How I would love to marry any of you first! And then I  'll take  you to all the balls  . Dear me! The second day we had a great time at Colonel Forster! Kitty and I were to spend the day there, and Mrs. Forster had promised a little dancing in the evening; (Goodbye, Mrs. Forster and I  are such  friends!) And so she asked both Harringtons to come: but Harriet was ill, and so Penn was forced to come alone; And then, what do you think we did? We dressed Chamberlain in women's clothes, on purpose to appear as a woman, - just think what fun it would be! Nobody knew about it but the Colonel and Mrs. Forster, and Kitty and I, except my aunt, because we were forced to borrow one of her gowns; And you can't imagine how good he looked! When Denny, and Wickham, and Pratt, and two or three other men came in, they didn't know him at all. God! How I laughed! And so did Mrs. Forster. I felt like I should have died. and  it  created men{276}There was some suspicion, and then they soon found out what was the matter.

With such a history of her parties and good jokes Lydia endeavored, with the aid of Kitty's prompts and additions, to amuse her companions as far as Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as possible, but could not avoid the frequent mention of Wickham's name.

His welcome at home was extremely kind. Mrs. Bennet was pleased to see Jane in intact beauty; And during the dinner Mr. Bennet volunteered to say to Elizabeth more than once,——

"I'm glad you're back, Lizzie."

Their party in the dining room was large, for almost all Lucas had come to meet Maria and hear the news; And there were various subjects which occupied them: Lady Lucas was inquiring from Maria across the table about the welfare and husbandry of her eldest daughter; Mrs. Bennet was doubly busy, on the one hand collecting accounts of current fashions from Jane, who sat a little below her, and, on the other, retailing them all to young Miss Lucas; And Lydia, in a louder voice than anyone else, was telling anyone who would listen about the various pleasures of the morning.

“Oh, Mary,” she said, “I wish you had gone with us, for we would have had so much fun!  As we went along, Kitty and I pulled down all the curtains, and pretended there was no one in the coach;  And if Kitty had not been sick, I should have gone all the way;  and when we got to George's, I think we behaved very well, for we gave the other three the best cold lunch in the world, and If you had gone, we would have treated you as well{277}Very. And then when we left, how much fun it was! I thought we should never have boarded the coach. I was ready to die laughing. And then all the way home we were so happy! We talked and laughed so loudly that someone from ten miles away could have heard us!”

To this, Mary replied very seriously, “My dear sister, it is not in my power to depreciate such pleasures. They will undoubtedly suit the breadth of the female mind. But I accept that he  will have no attraction for  me . I should like a book infinitely.

But Lydia never heard a word of this answer. She rarely listened to anyone for more than half a minute, and never paid any attention to what Mary said.

In the afternoon Lydia was in a hurry to walk to Meryton with the rest of the girls, and see how everyone got on; But Elizabeth steadfastly opposed this plan. It should not be said that Miss Bennetts could not have remained at home for half a day before the officers pursued her. There was another reason for his opposition also. She was afraid of seeing Wickham again, and resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The consolation he felt at the near removal of the regiment   was truly beyond expression. In a fortnight he was to leave, and once gone, he hoped there would be nothing more to trouble him because of her.

He had not been home many hours when he found that the Brighton plan, to which Lydia had hinted to him at the inn, was under constant discussion between his parents. Elizabeth saw firsthand that her father had no intention of yielding; But at the same time his answers were so vague and evasive that his mother, though often disappointed, was never disappointed in his ultimately succeeding.{278}

Chapter XL.

Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be restrained; And resolving to suppress every detail respecting her sister, and preparing to surprise her, she brought about the chief of the scene between Mr. Darcy and herself the next morning.

Miss Bennet's surprise was soon tempered by the stronger sister's partiality, which made any admiration of Elizabeth seem entirely natural; And all surprise was soon lost in other emotions. He regretted that Mr. Darcy should have expressed his sentiments in such a manner as to render him unfit to recommend him; But even more than that she was sad for the grief that her sister's refusal would have caused her.

“He was wrong to be so confident of success,” he said, “and he certainly should not have come forward; But consider how much this must have increased his disappointment.{279},

“Indeed,” replied Elizabeth, “I am heartily sorry for that; But he has other feelings too which will probably soon drive away his respect for me. However, you don’t blame me for refusing him?”

"You'll be blamed!  Oh no."

“But you blame me for speaking so warmly of Wickham?”

"No-I don't know what you said was wrong."

“But you  will know it  when I tell you what happened the very next day.”

He then spoke about the letter, repeating its entire contents so far as they concerned George Wickham. What a shock this was to poor Jane, who would have willingly gone around the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind as was collected here in one person! Nor was Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, able to console her for such a discovery. He labored conscientiously to prove the possibility of error, and endeavored to remove the one without involving the other.

“That won't do,” said Elizabeth; “You'll never be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your pick, but you should be satisfied with only one. There is such an amount of talent among them; Just enough to make a good kind of man; And recently there has been a lot of change in this. For my part, I am inclined to believe all this at Mr. Darcy's word, but you will do as you please."

However, it took some time to wrest a smile from Jane.

“I don't know when I was more shocked,” he said.  “Wickham, too bad! This is almost an old belief.{280}And poor Mr. Darcy! Dear Lizzie, just consider what she must have had to endure. What a disappointment! And with the information of your wrong opinion too! And I have to tell such things about my sister! It really hurts, I'm sure you feel that way too.”

“Oh no, seeing you so perfect my pity and compassion have all vanished. I know you will do him so much justice that I am becoming more indifferent and indifferent every moment. Your abundance saves me; And if you continue to mourn for her for much longer, my heart will become as light as a feather.”

“Poor Wickham! She has such a look of goodness on her face! So much openness and gentleness in his behavior.”

“There was certainly some major mismanagement in the education of both those young men. In one there is all the goodness, and in the other there is all its form.”

"I never thought Mr. Darcy  was so weak in his  looks as you thought."

“And yet I intended to be unusually clever so I decided to take a dislike to him for no reason at all. It's such an inspiration to one's talent, such an opening to one's intellect, to have that kind of dislike. Someone may abuse continuously without saying anything; But one cannot keep laughing all the time without saying something funny to someone occasionally.”

“Lizzie, when you first read that letter, I am sure you could not have taken the matter as well as you do now.”

“Actually, I couldn't. I was very uncomfortable, I was very uncomfortable—I can say unhappy. And I had no one to talk to about what I felt, no one to console me, and tell me I wasn't so weak, and{281}Vain, and worthless, as I knew I had! Oh, how I wanted you!”

"How unfortunate that you should have used such a strong expression in speaking to Mr. Darcy about Wickham, as he now  appears entirely inept.  "

"Certainly.  But the misfortune to speak with bitterness is the most natural consequence of the prejudices which I have been encouraging. There  is one point on which I desire your advice.  I wish to be told whether I should make my acquaintance Whether Wickham's character should be explained in general or not.

Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, “Surely there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is your own opinion?”

“This should not be attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorized me to make his communications public. On the contrary, every particular relative of his sister was to be kept to himself as much as possible; And if I try to deceive people about the rest of his conduct, who will believe me? The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent that half the good people of Meryton would die if they attempted to place him in a sociable place. I am not equal to this. Wickham will soon be gone; And, therefore, no one here will know what he really is. All this will be known some time from now, and then we can laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it sooner. At present I will not say anything about this.

"You are absolutely right.  Making his mistakes public could ruin him forever.  Now, perhaps, he regrets his actions, and is eager to reestablish his character.  Should not be done.”

This relieved Elizabeth of her mental turmoil.{282}Conversation. She had got rid of two mysteries which had oppressed her for a fortnight, and had confidence in Jane as a willing listener whenever she wished to talk again about either of them. But there was still something hidden behind, which Vivek had refused to reveal. She did not dare to tell him the second part of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor dare to explain to her sister how sincerely her friend valued her. Here was the knowledge in which no one could participate; And she was sensible that nothing short of a complete understanding between both parties could justify her in getting rid of this last bond of mystery. "And then," she said, "if that very improbable event should ever occur, I will only be able to tell what Bingley himself can tell in a more agreeable manner.  Freedom of communication cannot be mine unless he gives all his Don't lose the value!”

Now, settled at home, she was at leisure to observe the true state of her sister's spirits. Jane was not happy. She still had a very tender affection for Bingley. Having never before imagined love herself, there was in her relation all the warmth of a first attachment, and, from her age and temperament, more constancy than a first attachment often appears; And she valued his memory so intensely, and liked him more than every other man, that all her good sense, and all her attention to the feelings of her friends, were necessary to prevent the indulgence of those regrets which It would have been detrimental to his own health and his peace.

“Well, Lizzie,” said Mrs. Bennet one day, “  what do you think now  of this sad business of Jane’s  ?” For my part, I am committed to never talking to anyone about it again. I told this to my sister Phillips the other day. But I couldn't figure out whether Jane saw anything in it{283}London. Well, he's a very unworthy young man – and I don't think there's the least chance in the world of getting him now. There is no talk of him returning to Netherfield in the summer; And I have questioned everyone there is a possibility of knowing.”

"I have decided never to talk about it again."

{284}

"I don't believe he'll ever live in Netherfield."

"Oh well!  It's as he chooses.  No one wants him to come;  although I will always say that he treated my daughter very badly;  and, if I were him, I would not tolerate it.  Well, my consolation is that I'm sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then she will regret her actions.

But as Elizabeth could not be consoled by any such expectation, she made no answer.

“Well, Lizzie,” her mother continued immediately after, “and so the Collinses live very comfortably, don't they?  Well, well, I only hope it lasts.  And what kind of table they keep?  I dare say Charlotte is an excellent manager.  If she is half as fast as her mother, she is saving enough.  I dare say   there is nothing extraordinary in her housekeeping. Is .''

"No, absolutely nothing."

“A great part of good management depends on this. Yes, yes. They  will take care that their income does not end. They  will never be worried about money. Well, they will benefit greatly from this! And so, I think, they often talk about being longborn after your father died. They treat it absolutely as their own, I dare say, whenever it happens.”

"It was a topic they couldn't bring up to me."

"No;  it would be strange if they did.  But I have no doubt that they often talk about it among themselves.  Well, if they could be comfortable with having property that is not legally theirs , it would be even better.  I  should be ashamed of that which was imposed only on me.{285},

"When Colonel Miller's Regiment Went."

Chapter XLI.

The first week of his return passed quickly. The second one started. It was the last stay of the regiment at Meryton, and all the young ladies of the neighborhood were dancing with joy. Disappointment was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennets, alone, was still able to eat, drink, sleep, and carry on her usual business. He was often reprimanded for this insensitivity by Kitty and Lydia,{286}Whose own suffering was extreme, and who could not understand such hard-heartedness in anyone in the family.

"Good heavens!  What are we to become?  What are we to do?" May they often cry out in the bitterness of sorrow. "How can you smile like that, Lizzie?"

His loving mother shared all his sorrow; He remembered what he himself had endured on a similar occasion five-twenty years ago.

“I'm sure,” she said, “when Colonel Miller's regiment left I cried for two days. I felt like I should have gotten my heart broken.”

"I'm sure I  'll break mine  ," Lydia said.

"If only one could go to Brighton!" observed Mrs. Bennet.

“Oh yes!—if one could go to Brighton! But Papa is very unpleasant.”

"A little sea-bathing will cure me forever."

"And my Aunt Phillips is sure it  will do me  a lot of good," said Kitty.

Such lamentations were constantly echoing in Longbourn House. Elizabeth tried to distract him; But all the feeling of happiness was lost in shame. She felt afresh the justice of Mr. Darcy's objections; And never before had she been so willing to forgive her interference in her friend's thoughts.

But the gloom of Lydia's prospect soon vanished; for he had received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This precious friend was a very young woman, and she had recently been married. The similarity in good humor and good spirits had recommended him and Lydia to each other, and  from their three months' acquaintance they The two  had become close  .{287}

It is difficult to describe Lydia's excitement on this occasion, her respect for Mrs. Forster, Mrs. Bennet's delight, and Kitty's sorrow. Completely indifferent to her sister's feelings, Lydia flew about the house in restless excitement, calling everyone to congratulate her, and laughing and talking with more violence than ever; While the luckless kitty remained in the parlor regretting her fate because her accent was irritating.

"I don't see why Mrs. Forster  shouldn't ask me  and Lydia," she said, "though I  'm not  her special friend  . I have as much right to ask as she has, and even more, Because I'm two years older."

Elizabeth tried in vain to rationalize it and Jane forced her to resign. As for Elizabeth herself, the invitation was so far from arousing in her such feelings as those of her mother and Lydia that she considered it a death-warrant of all possibility of common sense for the latter; And such a step would seem disgusting to her, had it been known, she would not have been able to stop herself from secretly advising her father not to let her go. She represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general behaviour, the little benefit she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs. Forster, and the possibility of her being even more indiscreet with such a companion in Brighton, where the temptation should be from home. be bigger. He listened to her attentively, and then said, -

"It will never be easy for Lydia unless she exposes herself in any public place or other, and we can never expect her to do so at such little expense or inconvenience to her family. As it stands under the present circumstances."

“If you were aware,” said Elizabeth, “about the very great{288}Given the harm to all of us which must arise from public notice of Lydia's insensitive and injudicious manner, nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you will decide differently in this case.

"Already up!" Mr. Bennet repeated. "What!  Has he frightened off some of your lovers?  Poor little Lizzie!  But don't cast down.  Such irascible youths, who cannot bear to be associated with the slightest absurdity, are not to be pitied.  Come, let me help those pitiful “Let me see the list of comrades who have been sidelined because of Lydia’s foolishness.”

“Actually, you are wrong. I don't have any injuries that make me angry. These are not unique things, but are common evils about which I am now complaining. Our importance, our reputation in the world, the wild instability, must be tempered by the assurance and disdain of all restraint which marks the character of Lydia. Sorry, because I have to speak clearly. If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble to check her ardent spirits and teach her that her present activities are not the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of correction. His character will be determined; And she, at the age of sixteen, would be the most determined flirt who has made herself and her family look ridiculous; - A flirt, that too in the worst and lowest degree of flirtation; A tolerable figure, without any charms beyond youth; and, from the ignorance and emptiness of his mind, is utterly unable to shake off any part of that universal contempt which would excite his anger for praise. Kitty is also included in this danger. Wherever Lydia leads she will follow. Vain, ignorant, passive, and completely out of control! O my dear father, can you believe that wherever he is known he will not be condemned and despised, and that his sisters will not often join in the insults?{289},

Mr. Bennet saw that his whole heart was in the matter; And, lovingly holding her hand, said in reply, -

“Don't make yourself uncomfortable, my dear. Wherever you and Jane go, you should be respected and valued; And having one or two, or dare I say, three, very stupid sisters won't put you at any less advantage. If Lydia doesn't go to Brighton we'll have no peace in Longbourn. Then let him go. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep him from any real mischief; And fortunately she is too poor to become an object of prey for anyone. Even as a casual flirt he would have less value in Brighton than here. Officers will find women better worthy of their notice. So, let's hope that his being there will teach him his insignificance. At any rate, his condition cannot get much worse without us giving him the power to lock him up for life.”

Elizabeth had to be satisfied with this answer; But his own opinion remained the same and it left him disappointed and regretful. However, it was not in his nature to increase his irritation by paying attention to them. She was confident in doing her duty; And to fret over inevitable evils, or to increase them by worry, was no part of his nature.

If Lydia and her mother had known the essence of her meeting with her father, their indignation would hardly have found expression in their united instability. In Lydia's imagination, the trip to Brighton contained every possibility of earthly happiness. With the creative vision of his imagination he saw the streets of that gay bath-house covered with officers. He found himself the subject of attention of tens of thousands of people, and many of them as yet unknown. He saw the camp in all its glory: it{290}The tents were spread out in beautiful uniformity of lines, filled with the young and gay, and bright with red; And, to complete the scene, she found herself sitting under a tent, softly flirting with at least six officers at once.

"Flirting gently"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

If she had known that her sister wanted to remove her from such possibilities and such realities, what would have been her feelings? Only his mother could understand him, who must have felt much the same way. It was Lydia's visit to Brighton that consoled her for her sad conviction that her husband never intended to go there himself.

But they were completely ignorant of what had passed;{291}And their excitement continued, with little interruption, until the day of Lydia's leaving home.

Elizabeth was now going to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having been with her so often since her return, the excitement had largely died down; The former partisan movement completely so. He had also learned to recognize that in the gentleness that had first delighted him, there was an affection and equality amid hatred and weariness. Moreover, in his present behavior towards himself, he had a fresh source of resentment; To inclinations she soon testified to a renewal of those attentions which had marked the early part of their acquaintance, which after something had passed could only serve to excite her. He lost all concern for her, finding himself chosen as the object of such useless and insignificant gallantry; and while she continued to suppress it, she could not but feel the rebuke implicit in her belief, that no matter how long, and for what cause, her attentions were diverted, her vanity would be gratified, and His priority, at any time, will be secured by them. Renewal.

On the last day of the regiment's remaining stay at Maryton, he dined with other officers at Longbourn; and Elizabeth was not prepared to part from him so easily that, when he made some inquiries as to how she had spent her time at Hunsford, he mentioned her spending three weeks at Rosings with both Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy. , and asked him if he was acquainted with the former.

He looked surprised, displeased, worried; but, with a moment's recollection, and a returning smile, replied, that he had often seen her before; And, seeing that he was a very gentlemanly man, asked her how she liked him. his reply was full of warmth{292}His gratitude. With a look of indifference, he said immediately afterwards, "How long did you say he was in Rosings?"

"About three weeks."

“And you saw him again and again?”

"Yes, almost every day."

"Her manners are very different from her cousin's."

“Yes, very different; But I think Mr. Darcy improves with acquaintance."

"In fact!" cried Wickham, with a look that could not escape him. “And pray may I ask—” But examining himself, he said in a gay tone, “is it known that he improves?  Has he determined to add any civility to his usual style? ?  For I dare not hope," he continued in a slower and more serious tone, "that he has necessarily become better."

"Oh no!" Elizabeth said. "Essentially, I believe, he is exactly the same as he ever was."

As she spoke, Wickham seemed not to know whether to rejoice at her words or to disbelieve their meaning. There was something in his face that made her listen with apprehensive and anxious attention, while he continued, -

“When I said that he had improved by acquaintance, I did not mean that his mind or conduct were in a state of improvement; But, by knowing him better, his nature could be better understood.”

Wickham's alarm now appeared in increased color and excitement; He remained silent for a few minutes; So much so, overcoming his embarrassment, he turned to her again, and said in the most polite tone, -

"You, who know well my feelings towards Mr. Darcy, will easily understand how sincerely glad I should be that he should be so intelligent as to admit even{293} The manifestation  of what is right  . His pride in that direction, if not to himself, may be useful to many others, as it may help them to avoid such dirty misconduct as I have suffered. I am only afraid that the kind of caution you allude to, I imagine, is only adopted when meeting his aunt, by whose good opinion and judgment he is much astonished. I know, whenever they were together, his fear of her was always there; And the match with Miss de Bourgh may be accounted for in a large part of his desire to carry on, and I am sure he has it very well in his heart.”

At this Elizabeth could not suppress her smile, but she replied with a slight bow of her head. She saw that he wanted to engage her on the old subject of her complaints, and she had no pleasure in involving him. The rest of the evening passed with general cheerfulness on his part  ,  but no further attempts were made to alienate Elizabeth; And at last they parted with mutual civility and probably a mutual desire never to meet again.

When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to Maryton, from where they were to leave early the next morning. The separation between him and his family was noisy rather than pitiful. Kitty was the only one who shed tears; But she cried out of irritation and jealousy. Mrs. Bennet was extensive in her good wishes for her daughter's well-being, and effusive in her injunctions that she should not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible,—advice which there was every reason to believe would be heeded. ; And, in the joy of Lydia's departure, the more tender farewells of her sisters were said without being heard.{294}

"The Arrival of the Gardiners."

Chapter XIII.

Elizabeth's opinion, taken from her own family, could not form a very pleasant picture of marital happiness or domestic comfort. Her father, attracted by youth and beauty, and by the presence of that good humor which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose feeble sense and illiberal mind, very early in their marriage, All real affection for him had gone away.{295}Respect, honor and trust are lost forever; And all his thoughts about domestic happiness were gone. But Mr. Bennet was not of the disposition to find consolation for the disappointment which his own imprudence brought about in any of those pleasures which often console unfortunate people for their folly or their vices. He was fond of the country and books; And it was from these tastes that his chief pleasures arose. He owed his wife very little, for her ignorance and stupidity had contributed to his amusement. This is not the kind of pleasure a man would normally want to give his wife; But where other powers of entertainment are lacking, the true philosopher will profit by what is given.

However, Elizabeth was never blind to the unfairness of her father's behavior as a husband. He had always looked at it with pain; But respecting her abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavored to forget those things which she could not ignore, and to remove from her thoughts the frequent violations of marital obligation and decorum. Which exposed his wife to his own contempt. Boy, that was disgusting. But he had never felt so strongly as now the harm caused to children by such an unsuitable marriage, nor was he ever fully aware of the evils arising from such a misunderstanding of talents. Was aware of – talents that can be used properly. At least he has preserved the honor of his daughters, even if he is unable to raise his wife's mood.

While Elizabeth rejoiced at Wickham's departure, she found no other reason for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. His parties abroad were less diverse than before; And his mother was at home and{296}the sister, whose constant lamentations over the dullness of everything around her brought genuine gloom into their domestic circle; And, though Kitty might in time recover her natural sense, as the disturbances of her brain were removed, her other sister, who by her nature could anticipate great evil, was likely to be harsh in all her foolishness and reassurance. There was a possibility of a double threat situation like water-site and camp. On the whole, therefore, he found, as had seldom been found before, that the event which he had awaited with impatient desire, when it occurred, did not bring all the satisfaction which he had promised himself. As a result, it became necessary to name some other period for the beginning of real hospitality; Let there be some other point on which his desires and hopes may be fixed, and, enjoying again the joy of anticipation, console himself for the present, and be prepared for another disappointment. Her visit to the lakes was now the subject of her happiest thoughts: it was her best consolation for all those inconvenient hours which the discontent of her mother and Kitty had made inevitable; And had she been able to get Jane involved in the plan, every part of it would have been perfect.

“But it's fortunate,” he thought, “that I have something to yearn for. If all the arrangements are complete, my disappointment will be certain. But here, carrying with me a constant source of regret in my sister's absence, I can hope that all my hopes of happiness will be fulfilled. A plan whose every part promises happiness can never succeed; And the general disappointment can only be relieved by the avoidance of some small pesky irritation.”

When Lydia left she promised to write a lot{297}often and very closely to his mother and kitty; But her letters were always long expected, and always very short. All that his mother had was nothing more than the fact that they had just returned from the library, where so-and-so had visited them, and where she had seen such beautiful jewelery which drove her quite wild. Was; that she had a new gown, or a new canopy, which she would have described in more detail, but that she was obliged to go away in violent haste on account of Mrs. Forster's calling, and that they were going to the camp; And there was still much to be learned from her correspondence with her sister, for her letters to Kitty, though long, contained too many lines beneath words to be made public.

After the first fortnight or three weeks of his absence, health, good humor and cheerfulness began to appear again at Longbourn. There was a happy aspect in everything. Families who had been in town for the winter returned again, and summer decorations and summer engagements began. Mrs. Bennet was restored to her usual strange calmness; and by the middle of June Kitty was so well recovered that she was able to enter Maryton without tears,—an event of such happy promise that it gave Elizabeth hope, that by the next Christmas she would be so tolerably fair that Not to mention that the officer would be sent up once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the War Office, another regiment should be posted to Meryton.

The time appointed for the commencement of his northern tour was now rapidly approaching; and only a fortnight was scarce, when a letter arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and reduced its extent. Mr Gardiner will be prevented from opening a business for a fortnight in July,{298}and will have to be in London again within a month; And as there was very little time left to go so far, and to see as much as they proposed, or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had created, they were determined to leave the lakes. were forced to opt for a more contracted tour; And, according to the present plan, they were to go no further north than Derbyshire. Sufficient quantities could be seen in that county to occupy their three weeks' chief; And for Mrs. Gardiner it had a particularly strong attraction. The town where he had previously passed some years of his life, and where he was now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of his curiosity as all the famous beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.

Elizabeth was greatly disappointed: she had set her heart on seeing the lakes; And yet thought it must have been enough time. But it was his job to be content – ​​and certainly it was his nature to be happy; And everything soon became right again.

There were many thoughts associated with the mention of Derbyshire. It was impossible for him to look at the word without thinking of Pemberley and his master. “But certainly,” she said, “I can enter his county without any penalty, and plunder some of his scarred spurs, without him knowing I was there.”

The period of expectation had now doubled. Four weeks were to pass before his uncle and aunt arrived. But he died, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, attended Longbourn. The children, two girls aged six and eight and two little boys, were to be left in the special care of their cousin Jane, who was the general favourite, and who had a steady spirit and sweetness of{299}The temperamental nature adapted him to take care of them in every way - teaching them, playing with them and loving them.

The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set out the next morning with Elizabeth in search of novelty and entertainment. One pleasure was certain – that of suitability as a companion; A suitability which includes health and disposition to endure inconveniences – cheerfulness to extend every pleasure – and affection and intelligence, which it can supply amongst ourselves when there are disappointments abroad.

It is not the purpose of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor to describe the notable places through which its route passes—Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, etc., which are sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is currently a cause of concern. At the little town of Lambton, which was the former residence of Mrs. Gardiner, and where he had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained, he bent his steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country; And within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth learned from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct path; Nor more than a mile or two from it. Talking about her passage the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed a desire to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner announced his wish, and Elizabeth was applied for her approval.

“My dear, wouldn't you like to see the place you've heard so much about?” His aunt said. “That too a place with which many of your acquaintances are associated. You know, Wickham spent all his youth there.

Elizabeth was distressed. he felt he didn't have{300}business at Pemberley, and was obliged to admit a reluctance to see it. She must admit that she was tired of big houses: after seeing so many, she really took no pleasure in nice carpets or satin curtains.

Mrs. Gardiner misused her stupidity. “If it were merely a splendidly furnished house,” said he, “I should not care about it myself; But the grounds are delightful. “They have some of the best wood in the country.”

Elizabeth said nothing more; But his mind could not agree. On seeing the place the possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy immediately arose. That would be awesome! She blushed at the very thought; And thought that instead of taking such a risk, it would be better to talk openly to my aunt. But there were objections against it; And finally he decided that this might be the last resource if his personal inquiries about the family's absence were unfavorably answered.

Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chamberlain if Pemberley was not a very nice place, what was the name of its owner, and, without any worry, whether the family had gone out for the summer? The final question was followed by a very welcome negative message; And now her alarm was removed, she was at leisure to feel too much curiosity to see the house herself; and when the next morning the subject was revived, and applied to her again, she could answer easily, and with reasonable indifference, that she had really no dislike to the plan.

Therefore, he had to go to Pemberley.{301}

“Guessing about the date.”

Chapter XIII.

Elizabeth, as they advanced, watched with some dismay the first appearance of Pemberley Woods; And when at last they came to the lodge, his spirits were in high spirits.

The park was very large, and contained a variety of land. They entered one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful forest extending far and wide.

Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired every remarkable place and viewpoint. They climbed slowly for half a mile, and then found themselves on the top of a considerable elevation, where the wood stopped, and immediately the eye fell upon Pemberley House, which stood on the opposite side of the valley from which the road led.{302}Some accidental wounds. It was a large, handsome stone building, well standing on high ground, and backed by a range of high wooded hills; And in front a stream of some natural importance flowed large, but without any artificial show. Its edges were neither formal nor artificially decorated. Elizabeth was happy. He had never seen a place for which nature had done so much, or where natural beauty was so little affected by any strange taste. They all praised him warmly; And at that moment it seemed to her that being Pemberley's mistress might be something!

They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and walked toward the door; and, while examining the nearest aspect of the house, all his apprehension of meeting its owner came back. She was afraid that the maid might have made a mistake. On applying to see the place he was admitted to the hall; And Elizabeth, while they were waiting for the housekeeper, found time to wonder where she was.

The servant of the house came; A respectable-looking elderly woman, much less well-to-do and more civilized than he had imagined to find her. They followed him into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well-appointed, beautifully furnished room. Elizabeth, after inspecting it a little, went to a window to enjoy its prospect. The wooded hill from which they had descended was a beautiful thing, taking on a sudden intensity from a distance. Every aspect of the land was good; And she gazed with delight at the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered along its banks, and the curves of the valley as far as she could see. As they moved to other rooms, these objects took up different positions; But{303}Beauties were visible from every window. The rooms were high and beautiful, and their furniture corresponded to the fortune of their owner; But Elizabeth, admiring his taste, observed that it was neither gaudy nor vainly fine,—it had less pomp and more genuine beauty than Rosings's furniture.

“And of this place,” she thought, “I might have been the mistress! I am probably familiar with these rooms by now! Instead of seeing them as a stranger, I could be happy to see them as I was, and welcome my uncle and aunt as visitors. But, no,” remembering myself, “that can never happen; My uncle and aunt would have lost to me; “I should not have been allowed to invite them.”

It was a lucky memory – it saved him from anything resembling regret.

She wanted to ask the housekeeper if his master was really absent, but she did not have the courage to do so. However, ultimately this question was asked by his uncle; and she turned away frightened, while Mrs. Reynolds replied, that he was; He added, "But we hope he will come tomorrow with a big party of friends." How delighted Elizabeth was that her own journey was not delayed even a day under any circumstances!

Now his aunt called him to see a picture. She came closer and saw Mr. Wickham's picture hanging among many other miniatures over the mantel-piece. His aunt smilingly asked him how he liked it. The housekeeper came forward, and told them that it was a picture of a young gentleman, the son of his late master's manager, who had been brought up by him at his own expense. “He has gone into the army now,” he added; “But I'm afraid he's become too wild.{304},

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could not return it.

“And he,” said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another miniature, “is my master—and just like him. It was drawn about eight years ago at the same time as the other one."

“I have heard much of your master's fine personality,” said Mrs. Gardiner, looking at the picture; “  It is a handsome face. But, Lizzie, you can tell us whether you like it or not.

This information of knowing her master increased Mrs. Reynolds' respect for Elizabeth.

"Does the young lady know Mr. Darcy?"

Elizabeth added the color, and said, "A little."

“And don’t you consider him a very handsome gentleman, madam?”

“Yes, very beautiful.”

“I'm sure  I  don't know anyone so beautiful; But you'll see an even better, larger photo of him in the gallery above. This room was my late master's favorite room, and these miniatures are as they were then. He loved them very much.”

This was Elizabeth's reason for Mr. Wickham being among her.

Mrs. Reynolds then turned her attention to Miss Darcy when she was only eight years old.

"And is Miss Darcy as beautiful as her brother?" Mr. Gardiner said.

“Oh, yes—the most beautiful young woman I ever saw; And so skillful! She plays and sings all day long. In the next room there is a new instrument for her—a gift from my master: she will come here with it tomorrow.

Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were easy and pleasant,{305}His questions and comments encouraged her communication skills: Mrs. Reynolds, either out of pride or attachment, clearly took great pleasure in talking about her boss and his sister.

"Will your master be at Pemberley during the year?"

“Not as much as I could wish, sir: but I dare say he can spend half his time here; And Miss Darcy is always downstairs in the summer months.

“Except,” thought Elizabeth, “when she goes to Ramsgate.”

“If your master marries, you will be able to see more of him.”

"Yes sir;  but I don't know   when  that will be. I don't know who is good for that."

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth couldn't help saying, "It's a great credit to him, I'm sure, that you should think so."

The other replied, "I say nothing more than the truth, and what will anyone who knows it say." Elizabeth thought this was going too far; And when the housekeeper said, "I've never had him do a cross word in my life, and I've known him since he was four years old."

This was the most extraordinary praise of all the others, completely contrary to his views. It was her firm opinion that he was not a person of good nature. Her intense attention was awakened: she began to desire to hear more; And was grateful to her uncle for saying this, -

“There are very few people about whom so much can be said. You are lucky to have such a guru.”

“Yes, sir, I know I am. If I go through the world I can't find anyone better than this. but i always have{306}It has been observed that people who are good-natured in childhood are also good-natured when they grow up; And he was always the sweetest-natured, most generous-hearted boy in the world.

Elizabeth almost stopped looking at him. "Could it be Mr. Darcy?" He thought.

“His father was an excellent man,” Mrs. Gardiner said.

“Yes, madam, he indeed was; And his son will be exactly like him—exactly kind to the poor.”

Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient for more. Mrs. Reynolds could not interest him on any other issue. He spoke in vain about the subjects of the paintings, the dimensions of the rooms and the cost of the furniture. Mr. Gardiner, greatly astonished at the kind of family prejudice to which he attributed his master's excessive admiration, soon turned to the subject again; And as they climbed the grand staircase together, she was filled with energy over his many virtues.

“He's the best landlord and best boss ever,” she said, “He's the best landlord and best boss ever.” Not like those wild youths of today, who think of nothing but themselves. He has no tenants or servants, but what a good name he would have. Some people call him arrogant; But I'm sure I never saw any of this. In my opinion, it's just because he doesn't rattle like other youngsters."

"What a favorable light this puts him in!" Elizabeth thought.

“This nice description of him,” whispered his aunt as they walked, “does not correspond to his behavior towards our poor friend.”

"Perhaps we may have been deceived."

“It is very unlikely; Our rights were very good.{307},

On reaching the spacious lobby upstairs, they were shown a very handsome sitting-room, recently furnished with more elegance and lightness than the apartments below; and he was informed that this was only done to give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had last liked the room at Pemberley.

“He certainly is a good brother,” Elizabeth said, moving toward a window.

Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight when she should enter the room. “And it's always like that with him,” she added. “Whatever can bring happiness to his sister will definitely be done in a moment. There's nothing he won't do for her."

The picture gallery and two or three principal bedrooms remained to be shown. There were many good paintings in the East: but Elizabeth knew nothing of art; And as was already visible below, he had willingly turned to looking at some of Miss Darcy's drawings in crayon, the subjects of which were generally more interesting, and also more intelligible.

There were many family portraits in the gallery, but they were too few to attract the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth moved forward in search of the only face whose features she knew. At last it arrested her - and she saw a wonderful likeness of Mr. Darcy, with such a smile on the face, as she sometimes remembered when she looked at him. She stood before the picture for several minutes in serious contemplation, and before leaving the gallery she returned to it again. Mrs. Reynolds informs him, that it was taken during his father's lifetime.

Certainly at this time, Elizabeth was in{308}There was, in his mind, a more tender feeling for the original than he had ever felt at the height of their acquaintance. The praise paid to him by Mrs. Reynolds was of no mean nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise of a wise servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master she thought of how many people's happiness lay under her guardianship! How much happiness or sorrow was in his power to give! What good or bad he might have done! Every idea brought forward by the householder suited his character; And as she stood before the canvas on which she was represented, and her eyes rested upon herself, she thought of a deep feeling of gratitude towards her which had never before arisen: she remembered the warmth of , and softened the inappropriateness of its expression. ,

When the whole house, which was open to general inspection, had been seen, they returned down stairs; and, taking leave of the housekeeper, handed over to the gardener, who met them at the door of the hall.

As they crossed the lawn and walked towards the river, Elizabeth turned back to look again; His uncle and aunt also stopped; And while he was speculating about the date of the building, its owner himself suddenly came forward from the road that led to the stables behind him.

They were at a distance of twenty yards from each other; And his appearance was so sudden that it was impossible to escape his sight. Their eyes met immediately, and a deep blush spread across the cheeks of each. He started right off, and for a moment seemed motionless with surprise; But soon recovering himself, he went towards the party and spoke to Elizabeth,{309}If not in terms of complete restraint, then at least in terms of complete civility.

She instinctively turned away; But pausing at his approach, he was met with an embarrassment which it was impossible to dispel. If his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture they were just examining, were insufficient to convince the other two that they now saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener's expression of surprise at seeing his master Would have told this immediately. They stood a little apart while he spoke to his niece, who, surprised and confused, scarcely dared to raise her eyes to his face, and did not know that when she was standing with her family at the civil inquiry What did she answer when she returned? Surprised by the change in his behavior since they had last parted, every sentence he uttered was increasing her embarrassment; And with every thought of the unfairness of his finding her there coming over and over again in her mind, those few minutes during which they remained together were some of the most uncomfortable moments of her life. Nor did he seem more comfortable; When he spoke, his diction did not have its usual ease; And he repeated his inquiries as to the time of her leaving Longbourn, and her residence in Derbyshire, so often, and with such haste, as clearly showed the confusion of his thoughts.

On the whole, every idea seemed to him a failure; And after standing for a few moments without saying anything, he suddenly remembered himself and took his leave.

Then others joined her, and expressed their admiration of her figure; But Elizabeth heard not a word, and, completely lost in her feelings, followed them in silence. She was overwhelmed with shame and irritation. His coming there was the most unfortunate, most wrongly criticized thing in the world! how weird would that be{310}Show him! With what contemptuous glance could it not strike such a vain person! It may seem as if she has deliberately thrown herself in his path again! Oh! Why did she come? Or, why did he arrive a day earlier than expected? If they had been only ten minutes earlier, they should have been beyond the reach of his reason; Because it was clear that that moment had come, that moment had come down from his horse or his carriage. She felt ashamed again and again at the awkwardness of the meeting. And his behavior, changed so surprisingly, what could it mean? It was amazing for him to even talk to her! But to talk so civilly, to ask about his family! Never in his life had he seen her behave so less dignified, never spoken to her so politely as on this unexpected meeting. What a contradiction it was to his last address at Rosings Park, when he placed his letter in her hand! She didn't know what to think, or how to account for it.

They had now entered upon a beautiful walk by the water's edge, and every step leading to a finer decline of land, or a better reach of the woods, near which they were approaching: but Elizabeth could not understand anything. It took some time; And, although she responded mechanically to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and directed her eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she did not distinguish any part of the scene. All her thoughts were fixed on that one place in Pemberley House, wherever it was, where Mr. Darcy was at that moment. She wanted to know what was going on in his mind at that moment; How he thought of her, and whether, in spite of everything, she was still dear to him. Perhaps he was civilized only because he felt comfortable; still there was{311} There was no ease in his voice  . She couldn't tell whether she felt more pain or pleasure looking at him, but she certainly didn't look at him peacefully.

However, eventually, his peers' comments on his mental absence aggravated him, and he felt the need to look like him.

They entered the forest, and bidding farewell to the river for a while, climbed some higher plains; Whence, in places where openings in the trees permitted the eye to wander, were seen many charming views of the valley, the hills opposite, the long stretches of forest, and sometimes even part of the stream. Mr Gardiner expressed a desire to circumnavigate the entire park, but feared it might be beyond walking distance. With a triumphant smile he was told that it was a round trip of ten miles. This settled the matter; And he followed the habitual circuit; which brought them again, after some time, descending among the overhanging woods, to the water's edge and one of its narrowest parts. They crossed it by a simple bridge, consistent with the general nature of the scene: it was a place less decorated than any he had yet seen; and the valley, here contracted into a glen, gives room only to the stream, and a narrow path among the rough woods at its border. Elizabeth longed to explore its curves; But when they had crossed the bridge, and realized their distance from home, Mrs. Gardiner, who was not a good walker, could go no further, and thought only of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible. Therefore, her niece had to submit, and they made their way home in the nearest direction, on the opposite side of the river; but their progress was{312}At a slow pace, because Mr. Gardiner, though seldom able to taste, was very fond of fishing, and was so engaged in observing the occasional appearance of some trout in the water, and talking about them to the man, that He moved forward but a little. Turning at this slow pace, they were again surprised, and Elizabeth's surprise was exactly the same as before, at seeing Mr. Darcy approaching them, and not at a very great distance. There being less shelter here than on the other side, they got a chance to see him before they found him. Elizabeth, though astonished, was at least more prepared for the interview than before, and resolved to attend and speak calmly if she really wished to meet him. Indeed, for a few moments he thought that perhaps he would go some other way. This thought persisted until a turn while walking took him out of their sight; Turning past, he was right in front of them. At a glance he saw that he had lost nothing of his recent civilization; And, to imitate his humility, he began to praise the beauty of the place when they met; But she had no sooner gone beyond the words "pleasant" and "charming" when some unfortunate memories came to the fore, and she thought that her praise of Pemberley might be mischievously interpreted. His complexion changed, and he said nothing more.

Mrs. Gardiner stood a little behind; And on her stopping, he asked her if she would do him the honor of introducing him to her friends. It was a model of civilization for which she was absolutely unprepared; And she could hardly restrain her smile, who was now demanding the acquaintance of some of the same people against whom her pride had rebelled in offering to present herself. “What a surprise he will have,” she thought, “when he{313}Knows who they are! He takes them for fashion people now.

However, the introduction was made immediately; And as soon as she named her relation, she cast a sly glance at him, to see how he bore it; And he did not expect that he would run away from such abusive companions as quickly as he could. That he was surprised at this relation   was evident: however, he maintained it with patience: and, far from going away, returned with them, and entered into conversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not be happy, could not be triumphant. It was a consolation to know that he had some relations of which there was no need to be ashamed. She listened attentively to everything that passed between them, and admired every expression, every sentence of her uncle, which showed his intelligence, his interest, or his good manners.

The conversation soon turned to fishing; And he heard that Mr. Darcy invited him, with great civility, to go fishing there whenever he pleased, while he continued to reside in the neighbourhood, at the same time offering to supply him with fishing tackle, and Pointed to the parts. Where usually most of the games took place. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking hand in hand with Elizabeth, looked at her with a look expressing her surprise. Elizabeth said nothing, but it gave her immense satisfaction; The praise should be solely for him. However, his surprise was immense; And she kept repeating, “Why has he changed so much? What can it lead to? It   can't be for  me , it can't be for me  that his behavior softens like this. My rebuke at Hunsford could not bring about such a change. It's impossible that he still loves me.{314},

After walking like this for some time, two ladies in front, two gentlemen behind, on sitting down again in their places, after landing on the river bank for a better inspection of some strange water plants, there was a chance of a little change. found . It originated from Mrs. Gardiner, who, tired from morning exercise, found Elizabeth's hand inadequate for her support and consequently preferred her husband's hand. Mr. Darcy took his niece in her place, and they walked in together. After a short silence the woman spoke first. She desired him to know that she had been assured of his absence before he came, and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival was very unexpected—“For your housekeeper,” she continued, “ informed us that you would certainly not come here till to-morrow;  and, indeed, before leaving Bakewell, we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.  He acknowledged the truth of all this;  and said that Business with his manager required him to arrive a few hours ahead of the rest of the party with whom he was traveling.  “They will join me tomorrow morning,” he continued, “and there are some of them who are not your Would claim familiarity with, - sir. Bingley and his sisters.

Elizabeth responded with only a slight bow. Her thoughts immediately went back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name was last mentioned among them; And if she could judge from his appearance,  his  mind was not very differently occupied.

“There is another person at the party,” he said after a pause, “who is particularly interested in knowing about you. Will you allow me to introduce my sister to my acquaintance during my stay in Lambton, or will I be asking too much?{315},

The surprise of such an application was indeed great; It was great for him to know how she accepted it. She immediately felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of becoming acquainted with her would be the work of her brother, and without looking further, this was satisfactory; It was satisfying to know that her upset didn't actually make him think badly of her.

They now went away silently; Each of them is immersed in deep thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable; That was impossible; But she was flattered and pleased. His willingness to introduce his sister to him was praise of the highest kind. They soon surpassed the others; And when they reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a mile behind.

He then asked her to walk him into the house – but she said she was not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such times, a lot must have been said and the silence was very strange. She wanted to talk, but there was a ban on every topic. At last she remembered that she was travelling, and she talked with great conviction about Matlock and Dovedale. Yet time and his aunt moved slowly – and his patience and his thoughts were almost exhausted before the tete-a-tete  was over  .

On the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner they were all pressed to go into the house and have some refreshment; But this was rejected and they separated from both the parties with utmost humility. Mr. Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage; And when he was gone, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house.

Now the comments of her uncle and aunt began; And each of them declared it to be far superior to what they expected.{316}

“He is completely well-behaved, polite and humble,” said his uncle.

Her aunt replied, “  There is certainly something luxurious about it  .” “But this is confined to his air, and is not indecent. I can now say to the housekeeper that even though some people might call him arrogant,  I  have never seen anything like that.”

“I have never been more surprised by his behavior towards us. It was more than civil; It was really attentive; And there was no need for such attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very slight.”

“Surely, Lizzie,” said her aunt, “he is not so handsome as Wickham; Or rather, his appearance is not like Wickham's, because his features are absolutely good. But how did you tell us he was so unpleasant?”

Elizabeth excused herself as best she could: she said that she had liked him better than ever when they met in Kent, and that she had never seen him so pleasant as this morning.

“But perhaps he may be a little eccentric in his civility,” replied his uncle. “Your great men are often; And so I won't trust him about fishing, because he might change his mind some other day, and warn me to run away."

Elizabeth felt that they had made a complete mistake of her character, but said nothing.

“From what we have seen of him,” continued Mrs. Gardiner, “I really should not have thought that he could treat anyone so cruelly as he did to poor Wickham. He doesn't have a bad temper. On the contrary, something feels good in his mouth when he speaks. And there is some dignity in her face, which will not give up to anyone{317}Adverse thoughts in his heart. But, of course, the nice lady who showed us the house gave it the most vivid character! Sometimes I can't stop myself from laughing out loud. But I believe that he is a generous master and  he understands every virtue in the eyes of a servant  .''

Here Elizabeth felt called upon to say something in justification of her conduct towards Wickham; and, therefore, as carefully as possible let them understand that his actions were capable of being performed very differently from what he had heard from his relatives in Kent; and his character was by no means blameless, nor was Wickham so amiable as was believed in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this, he gave details of all the economic transactions with which they were connected, without actually naming his authority, but stating that it was one that could be trusted.

Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and alarmed: but as they approached the scene of her former pleasures, every thought gave way to the charm of recollection; And she was so busy telling her husband about all the interesting places around her that she was unable to think about anything else. Being tired from the morning's walk, they had no sooner dined than she set out again in search of her former acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfaction of renewed intercourse after an interval of many years.

The events of the day were so interesting that Elizabeth could not divert her attention from any of these new friends; And she could not help but think and wonder about Mr. Darcy's civility, and, above all, his desire to become acquainted with her sister.{318}

Chapter XLIV.

Elizabeth had decided that Mr. Darcy would bring her sister to see her the day after their arrival at Pemberley; and consequently, it was resolved not to remain out of sight of the inn all that morning. But his conclusion was wrong; For these visitors had arrived on the same morning as his own arrival at Lambton. They were walking about the place with some of their new friends, and were returning to the inn to prepare themselves for dinner with the same family, when the sound of a carriage drew them to the window, and they Saw gentleman and lady on a course driving down the road. Elizabeth immediately recognized the dress and guessed what it meant, and was not surprised by introducing her to her relatives with the respect she expected. His{319}The uncles and aunts were all surprised; and the embarrassment of his manner of speaking, added to the circumstance itself, and the many circumstances of the previous day, opened to him a new view on business. No one had ever suggested it before, but now she realized that there was no other way to account for the attention of so many people than to imagine prejudice against her niece. While these new-born notions were revolving in her mind, the turmoil of Elizabeth's feelings was increasing every moment. She was greatly astonished at her disappointment; But, besides other causes of uneasiness, he feared that his brother's partiality might speak too much in his favor; And, more than generally anxious to please, he naturally suspected that every power to please would fail him.

She stepped back from the window for fear of being seen; And as she walked up and down the room, trying to compose herself, she saw in her uncle and aunt a look of surprise which spoiled everything.

Miss Darcy and her brother attend and it is a wonderful introduction. Elizabeth observed with surprise that her new acquaintance was at least as embarrassed as she was. Ever since she had been at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; But a few minutes of observation convinced him that she was extremely shy. He found it difficult to get even a single word beyond one syllable.

Miss Darcy was taller and larger than Elizabeth; And, though a little over sixteen, her body was well formed, and her features ladylike and beautiful. but she was less beautiful than her brother{320}There was wisdom and good humor in his face, and his manner was altogether mild and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in him as sharp and fearless an observer as Mr. Darcy, was greatly relieved to understand such a variety of feelings.

They had not been together long when Darcy told her that Bingley was also coming to wait for her; And he had barely time to express his satisfaction and make preparations for such a visitor, when Bingley's hurried steps were heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All Elizabeth's anger against him had long ago passed; But if she still felt something, it could hardly stand before the unaffected cordiality with which she expressed herself on seeing him again. He inquired about her family in a friendly, though general, manner, and looked and talked with the same ease as he had ever done before.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was hardly a less interesting person than they. They had wanted to see him for a long time. The entire party before him received truly lively attention. The suspicion which had just arisen regarding Mr. Darcy and his niece directed his observation of each with serious, though guarded, inquiry; And they soon became convinced by those inquiries that at least one of them knew what it was to love. He remained in little doubt as to the lady's sensibilities; But it was quite clear that the gentleman was full of praise.

Elizabeth had a lot to do on her part. She wanted to find out the feelings of each of her visitors, she wanted to create her own, and adapt herself to everyone; and in the latter object, where she most feared to fail, she was most confident of the success of those{321}The people whom he tried to make happy were already present by his side. Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy was determined to be pleased.

“Adjusting Yourself to Everyone”

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

Seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; And oh! How curious she was to know if any of them had been directed in the same way. Sometimes she could imagine that he talked less than on previous occasions, and once or twice she pleased herself with the notion that, when he looked at her, he would try to trace the resemblance. Had been. But, although it may be imaginary, he cannot be deceived about his behavior{322}To Miss Darcy, who was set up as Jane's rival. There was no look from either side that spoke of special respect. Nothing happened between them that could live up to his sister's expectations. She was soon satisfied with this; and before their separation two or three little circumstances occurred, which, in her anxious interpretation, reflected a recollection of Jane, not untainted by tenderness, and a desire to say more which might refer to , if he had dared. He looked at her, at the moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone that contained some genuine regret, that "it was so long since he had had the pleasure of seeing her;" And, before she could respond, he added, “It's been over eight months. We haven't met since November 26th, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.'

Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so accurate; And later, when the others were paying no attention to him, he asked her if  all her  sisters were at Longbourn. Neither the question, nor the previous comment contained much; But there was a look and a manner that gave them meaning.

It was not often that she could turn her eyes upon Mr. Darcy herself; But whenever he caught a glimpse of her, he saw an expression of general satisfaction, and in whatever she said, he heard a tone that was so  far from the scorn  or disdain of his companions, that he believed that the manners There has been an improvement in what he saw yesterday, no matter how temporary its existence may be, at least it will survive for another day. When she saw him thus seeking acquaintance and trying to obtain a good opinion of people with whom a few months ago any intercourse would have been disgraceful; when she saw{323}He was thus civilized, not only towards her, but also towards those relations, whom he openly despised, and remembered their last lively scene at Hunsford Parsonage, so great was the difference, the change, and on his mind Hit so hard, that she could hardly prevent her surprise from being expressed. Never, even in the company of her dear friends at Netherfield, or with her distinguished relations at Rosings, had he seen her so eager to please, so free from self-consequence or unshakable reserve, as Now, when success could bring no importance to their efforts, and when even the acquaintance of those to whom their attention was drawn, brought down the ridicule and censure of the women of both Netherfield and Rosings.

His visitor remained with him for more than half an hour; And when they rose to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to express his wish to see Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet to dinner at Pemberley before leaving the country. Miss Darcy, though with a hesitation which reflected her lack of habit of giving invitations, readily complied. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, wishing to know whether  she  , to whom the invitation most concerned, felt ready to accept it, but Elizabeth turned her head away. Perceiving, however, that this studied avoidance spoke rather of a momentary embarrassment than of any dislike to the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a complete willingness to accept it, she took no notice of his presence. Dare to engage, and after the day settled on the next.

Bingley expressed great joy at the certainty of meeting Elizabeth again, still having much to say to her, and many inquiries to make about all his Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, it's all a wish{324}She was pleased to hear his words about her sister; And in this respect, as well as some others, he, when his visitors left him, found himself able to contemplate with some satisfaction the past half-hour, though there was little enjoyment of it while it was passing. . Eager to be alone, and afraid of inquiries or allusions from her uncle and aunt, she remained with them only long enough to hear their favorable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress.

But he had no reason to fear the curiosity of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner; It was not his wish to pressurize him for talks. It was evident that she was better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than he had previously known; It was clear that he loved her very much. He saw much to interest, but nothing to justify inquiry.

It was now a matter of concern for Mr. Darcy to think well; And, so far as his acquaintanceship was concerned, no fault was found. They could not remain untouched by his humility; And if he had drawn his character from his own feelings and the reports of his servant, without reference to any other details, the circle of Hertfordshire in which he was known would not have recognized it for Mr. Darcy. However, there was now an interest in believing the homeowner; And they soon became sensible that the authority of a servant, who had known him since he was four years old, and whose conduct indicated respectability, should not be hastily rejected. Nor was there anything in the intellect of his Lambton friends that could lessen its weight. They had nothing to accuse him of except pride; There was probably pride in it, and if not, it would certainly have been imposed by the inhabitants of a small market town.{325}Where the family did not go. However, it was acknowledged that he was a generous man and did a lot of good work among the poor.

As for Wickham, travelers soon discovered that he was not valued there much; Although the chief of his concerns with his patron's son were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well-known fact that, on leaving Derbyshire, he left behind him several debts, which Mr. Darcy later repaid.

As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were more on Pemberley this evening than on the previous evening; And the evening, though it seemed long as it passed, was not long enough to  determine her feelings towards anyone  in that mansion  ; And she stayed awake for two whole hours trying to get them out. She certainly didn't hate him. No; The hatred had long since vanished, and she had been ashamed of having felt a dislike towards him for almost as long, so to speak. The respect arising from a firm belief in her valuable qualities, though at first reluctantly accepted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now somewhat increased to a friendlier nature by the testimony given so much in his favor, and his disposition brought forth in such an amiable light, by the man who was born yesterday. But above all, above respect and honour, there was within him a motive of goodwill which could not be ignored. It was gratitude; - Gratitude, not only for loving her once, but for loving her still so much that she forgave him all the irritation and bitterness of the way she rejected him, and all the unjust accusations that accompanied her rejection. Forgiven. It appears that, whom he had convinced, he would shun him as his worst enemy{326}To meet, most anxious to maintain the acquaintance; and without any indecent display of honour, or any peculiarity of behaviour, having only their own concerns, seeking the good opinion of her friends, and being intent on conveying it to her sister. Such a change in so proud a man aroused not only surprise but gratitude – for love, for ardent love, it must be attributed; And, thus, its effect on him was in a way encouraging, by no means unpleasant, although it could not be precisely defined. She respected him, she respected him, she was grateful to him, she felt a genuine interest in his welfare; And she only wanted to know to what extent she wished to depend on his welfare, and how much it would be to the happiness of both if she made use of the power which her imagination told her she still had for renewal. To bring. his address.

In the evening, between aunt and niece, it was agreed that Miss Darcy, of such wonderful civility, should come to them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley—for she was only there for a late breakfast—should attend them. may be imitated by some effort of humility, though not equaled; and, consequently, it would be highly expedient to wait for him at Pemberley the next morning. So, he had to go. Elizabeth was pleased; However when he asked himself the reason, he had little to say in reply.

Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing plans had been renewed the day before, and by the afternoon his meeting with some gentlemen at Pemberley had formed a positive association.{327}

"Riverside Engagement."

Chapter XLV.

Now Elizabeth was convinced that Miss Bingley's dislike of her arose from jealousy, she could not help feeling how unpleasant his presence at Pemberley would be to her, and was anxious to know why{328}How much civility on the part of the lady that the acquaintance would now be renewed.

On reaching the house, he was shown through the hall into the salon, the northern aspect of which made it a summer delight. Its windows, opening towards the ground, offered the freshest view of the high wooded hills behind the house and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts scattered across the middle lawn.

In this room she was welcomed by Miss Darcy, who was sitting with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. Georgiana received them very civilly, but she attended it with that shyness which, despite the shame and fear of doing wrong, easily gives confidence to those who feel inferior That he is proud and reserved. However, Mrs. Gardiner and her niece treated him with justice and pity.

He was noticed by Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley only out of courtesy; And on his sitting, a pause, as such an awkward pause must always happen, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a gentle, amiable-looking lady, whose attempt to introduce some sort of discourse proved her to be more cultured in reality than the others; And the conversation continued between him and Mrs. Gardiner, with the occasional help of Elizabeth. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished she had courage enough to join in; And sometimes he would even dare to say a short sentence, when there was the least danger of it being overheard.

Elizabeth soon noticed that Miss Bingley herself was keeping a close eye on her, and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without attracting her attention.{329}This observation would not have prevented him from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been sitting at an inconvenient distance; But he was not unhappy at being deprived of the need to say much: his own thoughts were what employed him. She expected every moment that some gentleman would enter the room: she wished, she feared, that the master of the house might be among them; And whether she desired it most or feared it most, she could hardly determine. After sitting thus for a quarter of an hour, without hearing Miss Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was excited to receive from her a cold inquiry as to the health of her family. He replied with equal indifference and brevity, and the other said nothing more.

The next change of their journey was the entrance of servants with cold meat, cakes, and all the best fruits of the season; But this did not happen until several significant glances and smiles were given, from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy, to remind him of his post. There was now employment for the whole party; Although they could not all talk, they could all eat; And beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines and peaches soon had them gathering around the table.

While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether she most feared or desired the appearance of Mr. Darcy, on the basis of the feelings which prevailed when she entered the room; And then, although a moment before she had believed that her desires were strong, she began to regret her coming.

He had lived for some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three other gentlemen of the house, was busy on the river bank; and left him to learn{330}The women of the family intended to visit Georgiana that morning. As soon as he appeared, Elizabeth wisely resolved to be altogether easy and unblemished; - A resolution which was more necessary to be taken, but perhaps not more easily kept, for he saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against him, and when he first came into the room there was hardly an eye that looked at him. Have not monitored the behavior. On no face was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as on that of Miss Bingley, in spite of the smile which spread across her face whenever she spoke to any object; For jealousy had not yet frustrated her, and her attention to Mr. Darcy had by no means ceased. Miss Darcy, on her brother's admission, made still more efforts to talk; and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious to make acquaintance between her and his sister, and pursued every effort of conversation on both sides as far as possible. Miss Bingley saw it all the same way; and, in the indiscretion of anger, took the first opportunity of saying with sarcastic civility,—

“Pray, Miss Eliza, have not the shire militia been removed from Meryton?  They  will be a great loss to  your family .”

She did not dare to mention Wickham's name in Darcy's presence: but Elizabeth immediately understood that he was supreme in her thoughts; And the various memories associated with it troubled him for a moment; But, exerting herself with all her might to ward off the onslaught of bad temper, she answered the question in a tone tolerably detached for the moment. While she was speaking, an involuntary glance showed her Darcy with flushed complexion, who was looking at her seriously, and her sister overcome with confusion, and unable to raise her eyes.{331}If Miss Bingley had known how much pain she was causing her dear friend, she would doubtless have avoided giving the hint. But his intention was only to frustrate Elizabeth, by bringing up the idea of ​​a man towards whom she considered her biased, forcing her to betray him with a sensitivity that might wound her in Darcy's opinion, and, perhaps, to remind the latter of all the follies and absurdities with which part of his family were connected with that party. Not a word of Miss Darcy's careful escape had reached them. This was not revealed to any creature except Elizabeth, where secrecy was possible; and of all Bingley's relations her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from the same desire to which Elizabeth had long ago attributed him, that they should hereafter become hers. He had definitely made such a plan; And this does not mean that it will affect his efforts to separate her from Miss Bennet, it is possible that it may add something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend.

However, Elizabeth's restrained behavior soon calmed his feelings; And as Miss Bingley, distressed and dismayed, did not dare to go near Wickham, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not sufficiently to be able to speak any more. Her brother, whom she was afraid to meet, could hardly remember her interest in the matter; and the circumstance which had been created to divert his thoughts from Elizabeth, had the more happily concentrated them on her.

His journey did not continue long after the question and answer mentioned above; And while Mr. Darcy was leading them to his carriage, Miss Bingley was expressing her feelings in criticism of Elizabeth{332}His personality, behavior and dress. But Georgiana will not join him. His brother's recommendation was enough to ensure his favor: his decision could not be wrong; And she had spoken of Elizabeth in such terms, as to leave Georgiana without the power of finding anything else but beautiful and amiable. When Darcy returned to the salon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to him part of what she had been saying to her sister.

"Mr. Darcy, Eliza Bennet looks so ill this morning," she cried: "I never in my life saw anyone so changed as she has been since the winter. She's so gray  and rough. She is gone!  Louisa and I agreed that we should not know her again.

Although Mr. Darcy might not have liked such an address, he contented himself with calmly replying, that he noticed no change in her except that she was tan,—no miraculous result of traveling in the summer.

“For my part,” she said again, “I must confess that I never saw any beauty in her. Her face is very thin; There is no shine in his complexion; And his features are not beautiful at all. His nose wants character; There is nothing written in its lines. His teeth are tolerable, but not out of the ordinary; And as for her eyes, which are sometimes said to be so good, I could never see anything extraordinary in them. His gaze is sharp, harsh, which I don't like at all; And there is an air of self-reliance completely without fashion, which is unbearable.

As Miss Bingley recognized that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not the best way to recommend himself; But angry people are not always wise; And finally seeing him somewhat in a trap, he had everything{333}The success he hoped for. However, he was completely silent; And, determined to induce him to speak, he continued, -

“I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how astonished we all were to find that she was a distinguished beauty; And I particularly remember your saying one night, when they were dining at Netherfield, '  She  's a beauty!' I would soon call his mother an intellectual. But later she started improving on you, and I'm sure you thought her very pretty at one time.

"Yes," replied Darcy, who could no longer restrain himself, "but  it  was only when I first knew her;  for it is many months since I considered her one of the most beautiful women of my acquaintance." Is.

Then he went away, and Miss Bingley felt completely satisfied that she had forced him to say something that caused no pain to anyone but herself.

On the way back Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked about everything that happened during their trip, except what interested them both especially. The appearance and behavior of the people they had seen were discussed, except for the one who most attracted their attention. They talked about his sister, his friends, his house, his fruits, everything else; Yet Elizabeth was curious to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of her, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been extremely gratified if her niece had broached the subject.{334}

Chapter XLVI.

Elizabeth was quite disappointed to receive no letter from Jane on her first arrival at Lambton; And this disappointment was refreshed with each morning spent there; But on the third day his reply was lost, and his sister vindicated him by receiving two letters at once, one of which was marked as having been sent by mistake elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised by this, as Jane had written remarkably poorly about the direction.

They were just preparing to leave when the letters arrived; And his uncle and aunt, leaving him to enjoy them quietly, went away alone. The wrong message that has been sent must be addressed first; This was written five days ago. The beginning consisted of an account of all his little parties and engagements, including the news given by the country; But the latter, which was dated a day later and written in obvious excitement, gave more important information. Its effect was as follows:-

“Since writing the above, dear Lizzie, something of a most unexpected and serious nature has happened; But I'm afraid to worry you—rest assured that we are all{335}Well. What I have to say concerns poor Lydia. At twelve o'clock last night, just as we were all asleep, an express arrived from Colonel Forster, to inform us that he had gone to Scotland with one of his officers; With Wickham, Embrace the Truth! Imagine our surprise. However, Kitty does not find this at all unexpected. I am very very sorry. Such indiscriminate competition on both sides! But I'm willing to hope for the best and his character is misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I could easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice in it) does not reflect anything bad at heart. At least her choice is disinterested, because she must know that my father cannot give her anything. Our poor mother is very sad. My father tolerates it better. How grateful I am that we never let them know what was said against them; We must forget it ourselves. As predicted, they were out around twelve o'clock on Saturday night, but were not discovered until eight o'clock yesterday morning. The express was sent straight away. My dear Lizzie, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect his arrival here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of his intentions. I must draw conclusions, for I cannot remain away from my poor mother any longer. I'm afraid you won't understand it, but I hardly know what I wrote.

Without giving herself time to consider, and hardly knowing what she was feeling, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, immediately seized another, and opening it with the utmost impatience, Type read: This was written a day after the conclusion of the letter 1st.

“By now, my dearest sister, you must have received my hastily sent letter; I wish it made more sense, but although not limited by time, my head is so confused that I can't answer in a coherent way. Dearest Lizzie,{336}I hardly know what I will write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. As imprudent as may be the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia, we are now anxious to be assured that it has taken place, for there is so much reason to fear that he has not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster arrived yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Although Lydia's brief letter to Mrs. F gave him the understanding that they were going to Gretna Green, Denny left something out expressing his belief that W had never intended to go there, or marry Lydia. had no intention at all of doing so, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, taking immediate alarm, set out from B., with the intention of tracing his route. He found them easily as far as Clapham, but no further; On entering that place, they went into a hackney-coach, and removed the carriage which was bringing them from Epsom. All that was known after this was that he was seen continuing down London Road. I don't know what to think. After making every possible inquiry towards London, Colonel F. Came to Hertfordshire, eagerly renewed his visitation to all the turnpikes and inns of Barnet and Hatfield, but with no success, – no such person was seen passing through there. With the most compassionate concern he came to Longbourn, and expressed his apprehensions to us in the most faithful manner to his heart. I am with him and Mrs. F. Really sad for; But no one can blame them. Our crisis, my dear Lizzie, is great. My father and mother assume the worst, but I can't think that bad about them. Many circumstances may make them more suitable to marry privately in the city than to pursue their first plan; And even if  he  could make such a plan against a young lady of Lyddie{337}A's connection, which is unlikely, can I assume she is so defeated by everything? impossible! However, I am saddened to learn that Colonel F. are not dependent on their marriage: When I expressed my hopes he shook his head, and said he feared that W. Not a person worth trusting. My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room closed. Could she try herself, it would be better, but it should not be expected; And as far as my father is concerned, I have never seen him so affected in my life. Poor Kitty is angry at having to hide her affection; But since it was a matter of faith, one cannot wonder. I am really glad, dear Lizzie, that you have escaped in some measure these painful scenes; But now that the first shock has worn off, do I have to admit that I'm longing for your return? However, I'm not selfish enough to force it when it's inconvenient. goodbye! I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not do; But the circumstances are such that I cannot stop myself from requesting all of you to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well that I am not afraid to request them, although I still have something else to ask of them. My father is going to London immediately with Colonel Forster to try to find him. What he wants to do, I'm sure I don't know; But his extreme distress will not permit him to carry out any measures in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again on the morrow evening. In such an emergency my uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world; He will immediately understand what I must feel, and I trust in his goodness.

“Oh!  Where, where is my uncle?” cried Elizabeth, as when he had finished the letter she rose from her seat, eager to follow him without losing a moment of her precious time;  but as soon as she reached the door, it opened.{338}By a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impatient manner forced him to begin, and before he could recover himself to speak, she, in whose mind every thought had been displaced by Lydia's condition, spoke hastily , “I beg your pardon, but I must leave you.  I must find Mr. Gardiner at this moment on business which cannot be delayed;  I have not a moment to lose.”

"Good God!  What's the matter?" He cried with more emotion than politeness; Then remembering himself he said, “I will not stop you even a minute; But let me or the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not healthy enough; You can’t go yourself.”

Elizabeth hesitated; But his knees were trembling, and he felt how little it would do him any good to try to follow them. So, calling the servant back, he ordered him to bring his master and mistress home at once, although his tone was so breathless that he was almost unintelligible.

On leaving her room, she sat down, unable to support herself, and looking so terribly ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to spare her, or to avoid saying this in a tone of gentleness and sympathy. , “Let me call you, maid.  Is there nothing you can take to relieve the present?  A glass of wine;  shall I bring you one?  You are very ill.”

"No, I thank you," she replied, trying to compose herself. “There is nothing wrong with me. I'm absolutely fine, I'm just distressed by some terrible news I've just received from Longbourn.

As soon as she said this, she started crying bitterly and could not even speak another word for a few minutes. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say something vaguely about himself{339}

"I don't have a moment to lose"

Be concerned, and observe with compassionate silence. At last she spoke again. “I have just received a letter from Jane, with such terrible news. This cannot be hidden from anyone. My youngest sister has run away leaving all her friends; Has thrown himself into the power of Mr.{340}Wickham. They have left together from Brighton. You  know him so well that the rest cannot be doubted. She has no money, no connections, nothing to tempt her—she is lost forever.”

Darcy was astonished.

“When I think of it,” she said in an even more agitated voice, “I wish  I  had stopped it! I  knew what it was. Had I explained only a part of it – a part of what I had learned, to my family! Had his character been known this would not have happened. But it's all done now, it's too late."

“I am sad indeed,” cried Darcy: “sad—surprised.  But is it certain, absolutely certain?”

"Oh yes!  They set out together from Brighton on Sunday night, and have been traced almost as far as London, but no further: they certainly have not gone to Scotland.

“And what has been done, what efforts have been made to get him back?”

“My father has gone to London, and Jane has written to my uncle to implore immediate assistance, and we shall, I hope, be off in half an hour. But nothing can be done; I know very well that nothing can be done. How can work be done on such a man? How can they even be found? I don't have the slightest hope. This is terrible in every way!”

Darcy nodded his head in silent approval.

“When  my  eyes opened to his true character, oh! Had I known what I must do, what I dared to do! But I didn't know—I was too afraid to do anything. Wretched, wretched mistake!”

Darcy made no reply. He seemed to hardly hear her, and was pacing up and down the room in rapt attention; His brow furrowed, his air sad.{341}Elizabeth quickly observed this and understood it immediately. His strength was sinking; Everything  must  sink beneath such evidence of family weakness, such assurance of the deepest humiliation  . She could neither surprise nor condemn; But his faith in self-victory brought no solace to his heart, no reduction in his distress. On the contrary, it was exactly calculated to make him understand his own desires; And she had never felt so sincerely that she could love him as now, when all love would be in vain.

But the self, though it would intrude, could not engross him. Lydia—that humiliation, that misery she was bringing upon them all—soon swallowed up every private care; And covering her face with her handkerchief, Elizabeth was soon lost from everything else; and, after a pause of several minutes, realizing his condition only by the voice of his companion, who, in a way, though speaking of compassion, equally of restraint, said,—

“I fear you have long desired my absence, nor have I anything to plead as an excuse for my stay, but a real, though ineffectual concern  . Nothing can be said or done to console you in such a distress!  But I will not trouble you with vain wishes, which may appear to be a deliberate solicitation of thanks.  I fear that this unfortunate case may be my Will prevent sister from enjoying seeing you at Pemberley today.

"Oh yes!  Be so kind as to apologize to Miss Darcy for us.  Say that some urgent business calls us home at once.  Keep the sad truth hidden as long as possible.  I know it cannot be long." '

He immediately assured her of his confidentiality, again expressing{342}His sorrow for her distress, wished it to have a more happy conclusion than the reasons for present hope, and, leaving his admiration for her relations, with only a solemn farewell look, went away.

As he left the room, Elizabeth felt how impossible it was that they should ever see each other again on cordial terms, as had been the case at many of their meetings in Derbyshire; And as he looked retrospectively at the whole of their acquaintance, full of contradictions and variations, he sighed at the perversity of those feelings which had now encouraged its continuance, and had at first rejoiced at its cessation.

If gratitude and respect are good foundations of affection, a change in Elizabeth's sentiments would be neither impossible nor blameworthy. But if otherwise, if the relation arising from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural, compared with that which is often described as arising in the first interview with its object, and even before the two exchange words. Nothing can be said in his defence, except that he had, in his partiality for Wickham, tried the latter method to some extent, and its bad success, perhaps, led him to seek other less interesting methods of attachment. Can authorize to do. At any rate, he saw her go with regret; And in this early example of what should have been the cause of Lydia's infamy, she received additional pain when she reflected on that bad business. Since reading Jane's second letter she had never been more hopeful that Wickham wanted to marry her. He thought that no one but Jane could flatter himself with such a hope. Of all his emotions at this development, surprise was the least. While the contents of the first letter remained in her mind, she wondered,{343}Everyone was astonished, that Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible for him to marry for money; And how Lydia could relate to him was beyond comprehension. But now it was all very natural. For such an attachment, he may have sufficient attractions; And although he did not think that Lydia was running away deliberately, without any intention of marriage, he had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would save her from becoming an easy prey.

While the regiment was in Hertfordshire, he never thought that Lydia had any partiality towards him; But she was convinced that Lydia only wanted encouragement to attach herself to someone. Sometimes one officer, sometimes another, was his favourite, because their attentions raised them in his opinion. There were constant fluctuations in his affections, but never without any purpose. The misconduct of neglect and wrongful pleasures towards such a girl - oh! How intensely he felt it now!

She longed to be at home—to hear, to see, to share with Jane the concerns which must now fall entirely upon her, in so distraught a family; A father was absent, a mother unable to labor, and in need of constant presence; And although almost convinced that nothing could be done for Lydia, her uncle's intervention seemed extremely important, and by the time he entered the room, the sadness of her impatience was severe. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in panic, believing, according to the servant, that their niece had suddenly become ill; But immediately satisfying them, he read aloud two letters, eagerly explaining the reason for their call,{344}And concentrating with trembling energy on the last postscript. Although Lydia was never their favorite, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were greatly impressed. Not only Lydia, but everyone was concerned in this; and after the first exclamations of surprise and fear, Mr. Gardiner immediately promised every assistance in his power. Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with tears of gratitude; And all three inspired by the same spirit, all things relating to their journey were immediately decided. He had to leave as soon as possible. "But what should be done about Pemberley?" Mrs. Gardiner screamed. "John told us that Mr. Darcy was here when you called for us;—was it so?"

“Yes;  and I told her that we should not be able to keep our engagement.  It's  all settled.”

“Is everything decided?” repeated the other, as she ran into her room to make preparations. “And are they on such terms to disclose the real truth? Oh, I knew what it was like!”

But the desires were in vain; or, at the most, may serve only to entertain him in the haste and confusion of the next hour. If Elizabeth had found leisure in being idle, she would have been certain that all employment was impossible for such an unfortunate person as herself; But he had a share in the business as well as his aunt, and among the rest were notes written to all his friends at Lambton, giving false pretexts for his sudden departure. However, everything was completed in an hour; And Mr. Gardiner, meanwhile, after settling his accounts at the inn, had nothing left but to go; And Elizabeth, after all the trouble of the morning, found herself seated in the carriage in less time than she had expected, and on the road to Longbourn.{345}

"The first pleasant earnest of their welcome."

Chapter XLVII.

,"I'm thinking about it again, Elizabeth," said her uncle, as they left the town; “And indeed, upon serious consideration, I am more inclined to make a decision in this matter than your eldest sister. It seems to me very unlikely that any young man should form such a plan against a girl who was in no way unprotected or friendless, and who was actually living in her Colonel's family, I am firmly inclined to hope for the best. Willing to. Could he hope that his friends would not move forward? Could he expect that after such a humiliation with Colonel Forster, the regiment would take notice of him again? His temptation is not enough to risk.{346},

"do you really think so?" Elizabeth screamed, happy for a moment.

“At my request,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “I am inclined to accept your uncle's opinion. This is indeed such a gross violation of decency, honor and interest that he can be blamed for it. I can't think too badly of Wickham. Can you, yourself, Lizzie, completely abandon him, to believe that he is capable of it?

“Probably not of neglecting one's own interests. But despite every other neglect I can trust him. If that's really how it's supposed to be! But I dare not hope for it. If that were so, why should he not go to Scotland?”

"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute proof that he has not been to Scotland."

“Oh, but to cart them off to a Hackney coach is such a notion!  And, besides, there was no trace of them to be found in Barnet Road.

“Well, then,—suppose they are in London—they may be there, though for the purpose of concealment, and not for any other extraordinary purpose. It is not possible that wealth should be very abundant on either side; And it may strike them that they can marry more economically, though less quickly, in London than in Scotland.”

“But why all this secrecy? Why fear being recognized? Why should their wedding be private? Oh, no, no—that's not possible. Her best friend, as you can see from Jane's description, was persuaded that he never intended to marry her. Wickham would never marry a woman without money. He can't afford it. And what claims does Lydia have, what attractions does she have, beyond youth, health, and good humor, that can make her{347}Give up every opportunity to benefit yourself by marrying well? To what extent the fear of disgrace in society might prevent a disgraceful eloping with her, I am not able to judge; Because I don't know anything about what effect such a move could have. But as far as your second objection is concerned, I am afraid it will hardly apply. Lydia has no brother to look up to; And from my father's behavior, from his indolence and from the little attention he paid to what was going on in his family, one might imagine that  he  would do as little and say as little about it. Will think, as any father can. , in such a case.”

"But can you imagine Lydia being so lost in everything except his love as to agree to live with him on any other terms than marriage?"

“It seems, and it is indeed most shocking,” replied Elizabeth with tears in her eyes, “that on such a point a sister's sense of decency and virtue should be doubted. But, indeed,  I Don't know what to say.  Perhaps I'm not doing her justice.  But she's very young: she's never been taught to think on serious subjects;  and for the last half a year, nay, twelve months, she's had nothing but amusement and vanity Nothing has been taken for granted.  He has been allowed to dispose of his time in the most idle and frivolous manner and to adopt any opinions that came his way.  Since ——Shire first settled in Meryton, love has been on his mind , there was nothing but flirtation and authority.  She is doing everything in her power, by thinking and talking about the subject, to give more - what should I call it? - sensitivity to her feelings;  which naturally And  we all know that Wickham has every charm of personality and address that can fascinate a woman.{348},

"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so badly of Wickham as to believe that he is capable of the attempt."

“Who does Jane ever think badly about? And who is there, whatever his former conduct, that she would consider capable of such an attempt, unless it be proved against her? But Jane knows, like me, what Wickham really is. We both know he's a spendthrift in every sense of the word; That he has neither honesty nor honor; He is as much of a liar and a fraud as he says he is.”

“And do you really know all this?” cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity about the manner of intelligence was alive.

“I do, actually,” Elizabeth replied, coloring. “I told you the other day about her notorious behavior towards Mr. Darcy; And you yourself, when last heard at Longbourn, how he spoke of the man who had treated him with so much forbearance and generosity. And there are other circumstances of which I am not free – of which it is not proper to tell; But his lies about the entire Pemberley family are endless. From what he said about Miss Darcy, I was fully prepared to see a proud, reserved, unpleasant girl. Yet he himself knew the opposite. He should know that she was as friendly and innocent as we found her.

“But doesn't Lydia know anything about it? “Can she be ignorant of that which you and Jane understand so well?”

“Oh, yes!—that, that's the worst. Till I was in Kent, and saw much of both Mr. Darcy and his relative Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was{349}I myself am ignorant of the truth. And when I returned home ——shire was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As the case was, neither Jane, to whom I told the whole thing, nor I, thought it necessary to make public my knowledge; Because then what benefit can anyone get if the good opinion that was held about him in the whole neighborhood is uprooted? And even when it was decided that Lydia should go with Mrs. Forster, I never felt the need to open my eyes to her character.  It never occurred to me that  he could be in any danger due to deception  . Should it produce  such a result  , you may easily believe that it was far from my ideas.

"When they all moved to Brighton, I suppose you had no reason to believe that they were in love with each other?"

“Not even a bit. I cannot remember any sign of affection on either side; And if anything like this were obvious, you must know that our family is not a family that can be thrown around. When he first entered the corps, she was quite ready to admire him; But we were all like that. Every girl in or about Maryton was crazy about him for the first two months: but he never  paid her  any particular attention; and, as a result, after a moderate period of excessive and wild admiration, his fondness for her ceased, and other men of the regiment, who treated him with more respect, again became his favourites.

It may easily be believed that no matter what little novelty might be added to their fears, hopes, and speculations by the repeated discussion of this interesting subject, no one could keep them longer than this during the whole journey. It was never absent from Elizabeth's thoughts. Still there, through the most intense pain of all pains,{350}Due to self-guilt, he could not find any interval of spontaneity or forgetfulness.

He traveled as quickly as possible; and sleeping on the road one night, reached Longbourn in time for dinner the next day. It was a relief to Elizabeth to think that Jane could not tire of long expectations.

The younger Gardiner, attracted by the sight of a carriage, was standing on the steps of the house as it entered the enclosure; And when the carriage reached the door, the first pleasant surprise of their welcome was that which shone on their faces and was displayed all over their bodies, with all kinds of mischiefs and frolics.

Elizabeth jumped out; and after giving a hasty kiss to each of them, walked rapidly into the vestibule, where Jane, who had come running downstairs from her mother's apartment, immediately met him.

Elizabeth embraced him lovingly, and while both of them had tears in their eyes, she did not lose a moment and asked if anything had been heard about the fugitives.

"Not yet," replied Jane. "But now that my dear uncle has arrived, I hope everything will be all right."

"Is my father in town?"

"Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote to you."

"And have you heard from him often?"

“We have heard only once. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday, to say he had arrived safely, and to give me his instructions, which I particularly requested him to do. He only said that he should not write again unless he had something important to mention.”

“And my mother – how is she? How are you all?{351},

“My mother is quite well, I am sure; However his spirits are greatly shaken. He is up there, and it will give him great satisfaction to see you all. She still doesn't leave her dressing room. Mary and Kitty, thank heavens! Absolutely fine.”

“But you – how are you?” Elizabeth screamed. “You look pale.  You must have gone through so much!”

However, his sister assured him of his complete recovery; and their conversation, which had been going on while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were occupied with their children, was now ended from the view of the whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt and welcomed and thanked them both with smiles and tears in turns.

When they were all in the drawing-room, the questions which Elizabeth had already asked were of course repeated by others, and she soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give. However, the hopeful hope of well-being, which the charity of his heart suggested, had not yet left him; She still hoped that it would all go well, and every morning she would bring some letter from Lydia or her father, explaining their proceedings, and, perhaps, announcing the marriage.

Mrs. Bennet, into whose apartment they were all making repairs, welcomed them, after a few minutes' conversation, as well as might have been expected; With tears and lamentations of regret, denunciations against the villainous conduct of Wickham, and complaints of his own sufferings and ill-treatment; Blaming everyone except the person who primarily caused her daughter's mistakes was misunderstood.

"If I had been able," she said, "to talk my way into going to Brighton with my whole family,  this  wouldn't have happened."{352}This is what happened: But there was no one to take care of poor dear Lydia. Why did the Forsters ever let him out of their sight? I'm sure there must have been some gross neglect on her part, because even if she was well taken care of, she's not the kind of girl who would do something like this. I always thought him absolutely unfit to take charge of it; But as I always do, I was tortured. Poor, dear child! And now Mr. Bennet is gone, and I know he will fight Wickham wherever he meets him, and then he will be killed, and what will become of us all? The Collinses will let us out before he's cold in his grave; And if you’re not kind to us, brother, I don’t know what we’ll do.”

They all cried out against such terrible ideas; and Mr. Gardiner, after the usual assurances of his affection towards her and all her family, told her that he would be in London the next day, and assist Mr. Bennet in every effort to recover Lydia.

"Don't give in to unnecessary worry," he said, adding that while it's good to be prepared for the worst, there's no way to assume it's certain. It hasn't even been a week since he left Brighton. We may get some news from him in a few more days; And let us not let this matter go to waste until we find out that they are not married, and have no intention of getting married. As soon as I reach the city, I will go to my brother, and bring him home with me to Gracechurch Street, and then we can consult together what to do.

“Oh, my dear brother,” replied Mrs. Bennet, “it is what I could most wish.  And now when you get to town, find out about them, wherever they may be;  and if they are already If they are not married, then  get  them married  . And as far as wedding clothes are concerned, do not let them wait for them.{353}But tell Lydia that after the wedding she will have as much money as she wants to buy them. And, above all, stop Mr. Bennet from fighting. Tell him what a terrible state I am in – that I am frightened out of my wits; And there is such trembling all around me, such flutterings, such cramps in my arms, and such pain in my head, and such palpitations in my heart, that I get no rest either at night or during the day. And tell my dear Lydia not to give any instructions about your clothes until she has seen me, for she does not know where the best warehouses are. Oh, brother, you are so kind! I know you will achieve all this.”

But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her once more of his earnest efforts in this matter, could not avoid recommending to her a moderation, both of her hopes as well as her fears; And after talking to her in this manner until they were at the dinner table, he left her to vent all her emotions on the housekeeper, who worked in the absence of her daughters.

Although her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real occasion for such separation from the family, they did not attempt to oppose it; For they knew that he did not have prudence enough to hold his tongue before the servants while they waited at table, and they thought it better that the only person in the house  ,  and whom they could most trust Were, he should understand all his fears and insistence on this subject.

In the dining room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who at first were too busy in their separate apartments to show their presence. One came from his books, and the other from his toilet. The faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; And no change was seen in either of them, except his loss{354}The favorite sister, or the temper which she herself had incurred in the business, had given Kitty's tone more irritability than usual. As for Mary, she was so mistress that, immediately after sitting down at table, she whispered to Elizabeth, with grave reflection, –

“This is an extremely unfortunate matter and will probably be discussed a lot. But we must stem the tide of hatred, and pour the balm of sisterly consolation into each other's wounded chests."

Then seeing no inclination in Elizabeth to answer, she continued, "Unhappy as this incident is to Lydia, we may learn this useful lesson from it:—The loss of virtue in a woman is irreparable, that one wrong step involves her in endless makes ruin, that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful, and that she cannot be too cautious in her behavior towards unworthy people of the other sex.

Elizabeth raised her eyes in surprise, but was too sad to answer. However, Mary continued to console herself with such moral conclusions from the evil that was before her.

In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets could be alone for half an hour; and Elizabeth immediately took advantage of the opportunity of making any inquiries which Jane was equally anxious to satisfy. After joining in the general lamentation at the dreadful sequel of this event, which Elizabeth considered almost certain, and which Miss Bennet could not claim to be altogether impossible, the former continued the subject by saying, "But I Tell me everything and anything about it I haven't already heard.  Give me more details.  What did Colonel Forster say?  Didn't he have?{355}Was there any apprehension before running away? He must have always seen them together.

“Colonel Forster believed that he often suspected some favoritism, especially on Lydia's part, but there was nothing that caused him any concern. I am very sad for him. His behavior was extremely attentive and kind. He was coming to us to assure us of his concern   , before he had any idea of ​​his not going to Scotland: when that apprehension first occurred abroad, it hastened his journey.

“And was Denny sure Wickham wouldn't marry? Was he aware of their intention to leave? “Did Colonel Forster see Denny himself?”

"Yes;  but when  questioned  , Denny denied knowing anything about their plan, and would not give his real opinion of it.  He did not repeat his insistence not to marry, and that made  me  Hopefully he has been misunderstood before.

“And until Colonel Forster himself came, I suppose none of you doubted his being actually married?”

“How was it possible that such a thought came to our mind? I felt a little uneasy - even a little afraid - of the happiness of my sister's marriage, for I knew that her conduct was not always proper. My father and mother didn't know anything about it; He simply realized how imprudent this match would be. Then Kitty, knowing more than the rest of us, made a very natural triumph, that in Lydia's last letter she had prepared her for such a step. "It seems she knew they were in love for several weeks."

“But not before they go to Brighton?”

“No, I don't believe it.{356},

“And did Colonel Forster himself think ill of Wickham? Does he know his true character?”

“I have to admit that he doesn't speak as well about Wickham as he used to. They believed him to be imprudent and wasteful; and since this sad event occurred, it is said that he has left Meryton in great debt: but I hope this may be false.

"Oh, Jane, if we had been less secretive, if we had told him what we knew about him, this might not have happened!"

“Maybe it would be better,” his sister replied.

"But it seemed unfair to highlight any person's past faults without knowing what their current feelings were."

"We acted with good intentions."

"Can Colonel Forster repeat the details of Lydia's note to his wife?"

"He brought it with him for us to see."

Then Jane took it from her pocket-book and gave it to Elizabeth. These contents were:-

"My dear Harriet,

“You will laugh when you find out where I have gone, and as soon as you remember me tomorrow morning, I will not be able to stop myself from laughing at your surprise. I'm going to Gretna Green, and if you can't guess who, I'll mistake you for an ordinary person, because there's only one person in the world I love, and he's an angel. I'll never be happy without him, so think there's no harm in staying away from him. If you don't like it, you need not send them messages to Longbourn about my departure, for the surprise will be greater when I write to them and sign my name, Lydia Wickham. What a great joke that would be! I can hardly write to laugh. Pray that I make excuses to Pratt for not keeping my engagement and not dancing with him tonight.{357}Tell him that I hope he will forgive me when he finds out all, and tell him that at the next ball I will dance with him, we will meet with great happiness. I will order my clothes when I reach Longbourn; But I wish you would ask Sally to make a big slit in my worked muslin gown before packing it. goodbye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you'll drink to our good journey.

"Your affectionate friend,

"  Lydia Bennett  ."

"Oh, thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!" When Elizabeth finished it she cried. “What kind of letter is this to be written at such a moment! But at least it shows that  she  was serious about the purpose of her visit. No matter how he tried to convince her later, this  was not a plan  to defame  him on his part. My poor father! How must he have felt!”

“I have never seen anyone so surprised. He could not speak a single word for ten minutes. My mother immediately became ill, and the whole house was thrown into confusion!”

“Oh, Jane,” cried Elizabeth, “did he have a servant who did not know the whole story before the day was over?”

"I don't know: I hope there was.  But it is very difficult to keep up at such times.  My mother was in hysterics;  and though I endeavored to give her every possible assistance in my power, I fear I did not "I didn't do as much as I could.  But the fear of what might happen took away all my powers."

“Your presence on that has meant a lot to you. You do not look well. Oh I wish I was with you! You have had to bear all the worry and anxiety alone.”

"Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in every fatigue, I am sure, but I did not think so{358}Right for any one of them. Kitty is modest and delicate, and Mary studies too much so that her leisure hours are not wasted. My Aunt Phillips came to Longbourn on the Tuesday after my father left; And it was so nice that it stayed with me till Thursday. She was very useful and comfortable to us all, and Lady Lucas has been very kind: she came here on Wednesday morning to condole with us, and offered her services, or those of any of her daughters, if they Could have been useful for us. ,

“She had better stay at home,” cried Elizabeth: “perhaps she  meant  well, but, under such misfortunes, one cannot watch one's neighbors much less. Help is impossible; Sensation, unbearable. Let them conquer us from a distance and be satisfied.”

She then proceeded to inquire about the measures her father intended to take for the recovery of his daughter while she was in the city.

Jane replied, "I believe he meant to go to Epsom, where they changed horses for the last time, see the postillions, and try if anything could be made of them.  His main object would be to find the number of that hackney coach. which had taken them from Clapham.  It had brought fare from London;  and when he thought that the situation of carrying a gentleman and lady from one carriage to another might be commented upon, he intended to make inquiries at Clapham If he could by any means find out at what house the coachman worked before he fixed his fare, he decided to make inquiries there, and hoped that it would be impossible to find out the stand and number of the coach .  Wouldn't.  I don't know of any other design he might have made;  but he was in such a hurry to go, and his spirits were so distracted, that I had difficulty in making out even that much.{359},

"Post."

Chapter XLVIII.

The whole party expected a letter from Mr. Bennet the next morning, but the post arrived without bringing a single line from him. His family knew him to be, on all ordinary occasions, an extremely careless and truant correspondent; But at such a time he expected hard work. He was forced to conclude that he had no pleasant intelligence to send; But  still  he would have been happy to be certain. Mr. Gardiner only waited for the letters before departing.

When he left, at least they were sure{360}receiving constant information about what was happening; and his uncle, at parting, promised Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn as soon as possible, which gave great consolation to his sister, who considered it the only security for her husband not to be killed in the duel.

Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire for a few more days, as Gardiner thought that their presence might be useful to his nieces. He shared with Mrs. Bennet in her presence and found great relief in his hours of freedom. His second aunt also frequently visited him, and always, as he said, with the intention of encouraging and cheering him up—however, for she never came without reporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity. , she rarely left without leaving them. More disappointed than he found them.

All Meryton was doing was trying to blacken the man who, three months ago, was almost an angel of light. It was declared that he was indebted to every merchant of the place, and his intrigues, which were honored with the title of tempter, were extended to every merchant's family. Everyone declared that he was the most wicked young man in the world; And everyone began to realize that they did not always trust in his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit more than half of what was said, believed so much that her former assurance of her sister's ruin became even more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less in it, became almost dismayed, especially when the time came when, if they had gone to Scotland, of which she had never before been entirely dismayed. If it had not happened, then there is every possibility that he would have gained something from his news.{361}

Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; On Tuesday, his wife received a letter from him: in it she was told that on his arrival he had immediately sought out his brother, and had persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street. Mr. Bennet had visited Epsom and Clapham before his arrival, but without obtaining any satisfactory information; and he was now determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in the city, as Mr. Bennet thought it probable that he might have visited one of them on his arrival in London, before purchasing a residence. Mr. Gardiner himself did not expect any success by this measure; But since his brother was interested in it, he wanted to help him pursue it. He added, that Mr. Bennet seemed entirely reluctant to leave London at the moment, and promised to write again very soon. There was also a postscript to this effect:-

“I have written to Colonel Forster, desiring him, if possible, to inquire from some of the young men close to the regiment, whether Wickham has any relations or contacts, by which it may be ascertained in what part of the city he is now situated. " hid himself. If there were a person to whom one could apply with the possibility of obtaining such a clue, it might be the necessary result. At present we have nothing to guide us. I dare say that Colonel Forster will do everything in his power to satisfy us in this matter. But, on second thought, perhaps Lizzie can tell us which relationships she now lives with better than anyone else.'

Elizabeth had no difficulty in understanding where this respect for her authority came from; But it was not in his power to give any information of such a satisfactory nature that it was worthy of praise.

She had never heard that he had any relation,{362}Except father and mother, both of them had died many years ago. However, it was possible that some of his colleagues in ——shire might have been able to provide further information; And although she wasn't very hopeful about it, the application was something to look forward to.

Every day was now a day of anxiety at Longbourn; But the most worrying part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the first grand object of every morning's impatience. Whatever good or bad had to be said was conveyed through letters; And each succeeding day was expected to bring some important news.

But before he could hear again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived from Mr. Collins, from a different region to his father; As Jane had received instructions to open all that might come to her in his absence, she read accordingly; And Elizabeth, who knew what curiosity his letters always aroused, glanced at it and read it as it was. It was as follows:-

"my dear sir,

"I feel that because of our relationship and my position in life, I am called to condole with you on the grave suffering you are going through, of which we were informed yesterday by a letter from Hertfordshire. Was  assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and I sincerely sympathize with you and all your respected family in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because of advancing a cause which No one can take away the time. There  will be no lack of any argument on my part which could mitigate so grave a misfortune;  or any circumstance which could console you, under all other circumstances, to the parental mind. It will be most painful for him.{363}In comparison, your daughter's death would have been a blessing. And this is the more to be mourned, because there is reason to believe, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that in your behavior this debauchery

“Who have I told this matter to?”

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

The daughter has proceeded from a guilty degree of indulgence; However, at the same time, for your and Mrs. Bennet's consolation, I am inclined to think that her own nature must be naturally bad, otherwise she could not be guilty of so great a mistake at so young an age. No matter what happens, you should be extremely pitied;{364}In this opinion I join not only Mrs. Collins, but also Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They share my apprehensions that this wrong step in the case of one daughter would be detrimental to the fortunes of all the others: for, as Lady Catherine herself graciously says, who would attach himself to such a family? And this thought leads me to reflect with increased satisfaction on a certain incident of last November; Because if it were not so, I would definitely have participated in all your sorrow and humiliation. So, my dear sir, I advise you to console yourself as much as possible, by removing your unworthy child forever from your affections, and leaving him to suffer the fruits of his own heinous crime.

"I am, dear sir," etc., etc.

Mr. Gardiner did not write again until he received a reply from Colonel Forster; And then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known whether Wickham had a single relation with whom he had any relation, and it was certain that he had no kin. His former acquaintances were numerous; But as he was in the militia, it did not appear that he was on any special friendly terms with any of them. Therefore, there was no one who could be contacted to give any news about him. And in the poor state of his own finances, besides the fear of being discovered by Lydia's relations, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy; Because it's just been revealed that he left behind a massive amount of gaming debt. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be required to meet his expenses in Brighton. he was owed a good deal{365}in the town, but his debts of honor were still more serious. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to hide these details from the Longbourn family; Jane listened to them horrified. "A gambler!" she cried. “This is completely unexpected; I had no idea of ​​this.”

Mr. Gardiner said in his letter, that he might expect to see his father at home the next day, which was Saturday. Discouraged by the poor success of all his efforts, he yielded to the entreaty of his brother-in-law that he would return to his family and leave it to him to pursue whatever suitable opportunity might suggest itself to continue his work. Will do. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did not express as much satisfaction as her children had expected, given her earlier concern for their lives.

"What!  Is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?" she cried. “Surely he will not leave London before he meets them. Who is going to fight Wickham, and who is going to marry him if he runs away?

Since Mrs. Gardiner wanted to stay at home, it was decided that she and her children should go to London at the same time as Mr. Bennet arrived from there. So, the coach took him on the first leg of his journey, and brought his owner back to Longbourn.

Mrs. Gardiner went in all confusion about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire friend, who had come to her from that part of the world. His niece had never voluntarily mentioned his name to him; and the half-hearted hopes which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, after one letter from her, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had not heard anything from Pemberley since her return.

The present unhappy condition of the family presented any{366}Other excuses for the weakness of his soul are unnecessary; Therefore, nothing can be inferred from this  ,  - although Elizabeth, who by this time was well acquainted with her feelings, was perfectly aware that, if she knew nothing about Darcy, she would She could bear the fear of defamation to some extent. better. This, she thought, would save her one of two sleepless nights.

When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had the usual philosophical patience. He said as little as he was already in the habit of saying; Made no mention of the business that had taken him away; And it was only a matter of time before their daughters got the courage to speak about it.

Until the afternoon, when he joined them at tea, Elizabeth did not dare to introduce the subject; And then, after he briefly expressed his sorrow over what she might have endured, he replied, “Say nothing about it. Who should suffer besides me? This is my own work and I should feel it.”

Elizabeth replied, "You shouldn't be too hard on yourself."

“You can warn me about such evil. Human nature is very prone to fall into this! No, Lizzie, let me feel for once in my life how guilty I am. I'm not afraid to be overwhelmed by this notion. This will end soon.”

"Do you think they'll be in London?"

“Yes;  where else can they be hidden so well?”

"And Lydia wanted to go to London," said Kitty.

“Then he is happy,” said his father casually; “And his residence there will probably be of some duration.{367},

Then, after a short silence, he continued, "Lizzie, I bear no ill will toward you to justify the advice you gave me last May, which, considering the incident, Reflects something great."

They are interrupted by Miss Bennet, who has come to bring tea for her mother.

“It's a parade,” he shouted, “that does no good to anyone; It gives such grandeur to misfortune! Some other day I would do the same; I'll sit in my library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and cause as much trouble as I can, or perhaps I can put it off until Kitty runs away.

"I'm not going to run away, Papa," Kitty said worriedly. "If  I  ever go to Brighton, I'll treat Lydia better."

“  You  go to Brighton! I wouldn't trust you like Eastbourne for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at least learned to be cautious, and you will feel the effect of it. No official will enter my house again, even passing through the village. Unless you are standing with one of your sisters, balls are strictly prohibited. And you should never walk out the door until you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day rationally.

Kitty, who took all these threats seriously, started crying.

“Okay, okay,” he said, “don't make yourself sad.  If you're a good girl for the next ten years, I'll take you to a review at the end of them.{368},

Chapter XLIX.

A few days after Mr. Bennet's return, when Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the bushes behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and concluded that she had come to call them to their mother. , proceeded to meet him; But instead of the expected summons, when they came to him, he said to Miss Bennet, "I beg your pardon to interrupt you, madam, but I hoped you might have had some good news from the town, so I took the liberty of “Lee came to ask.”

“What do you mean, Hill? “We haven’t heard anything from the city.”

“Dear madam,” cried Mrs. Hill with great surprise, “don’t you know that an express has come for master{369}From Mr. Gardiner? He's been here for half an hour, and Master has a letter."

The girls scurried away, too eager to make time for the speech. They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room; From there to the library;—his father was not in any; And as they were about to go upstairs with their mother to find her, they met the butler, who said, -

"If you're looking for my master, ma'am, he's walking toward the little corpse."

At this information, he immediately passed the hall once more, and ran across the lawn after his father, who was deliberately making his way towards a small wood on one side of the enclosure.

Jane, who was not so light, nor so much in the habit of running as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, gasping for breath, came alongside her and cried out anxiously,—

“Oh, papa, what's the news? What's the news? Have you heard from my uncle?”

“Yes, I have received a letter from him by express.”

“Well, and what news does it bring – good or bad?”

"What is the best thing that can be expected?" Taking out the letter from his pocket he said; "But maybe you'd like to read it."

Elizabeth grabbed it impatiently by the hand. Jane came up now.

“Read it out loud,” said his father, “for I myself do not know what it is about.”

“Gracechurch Street,  Monday, August 2  .

"my dear brother,

"At last I have been able to send you some news about my niece, and on the whole, I hope I will be able to send you some news{370}Satisfaction to you. Soon after you left me on Saturday, I had the good fortune to find out in what part of London they were. I'm saving the details until we meet. It is enough to know that they have been discovered: I have seen them both--"

"But maybe you'd like to read it"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

“Then it's just as I always hoped,” cried Jane: “They're married!{371},

Elizabeth read on: “I have seen them both. They are not married, nor do I think they had any intention of being so; But if you are willing to make the commitments I have ventured to make on your behalf, I hope it will not take long for that to happen. All that is required of you is to ensure to your daughter an equal share by agreement of the five thousand pounds reserved between you and my sister's children after my death; and, in addition, to engage in a commitment to allow him one hundred pounds per year during his life. These are conditions which I had no hesitation in adhering to, as far as I considered myself privileged to have you. I will send it by express, so that I may lose no time in getting your reply. From these details you will easily understand that Mr. Wickham's circumstances are not as desperate as is generally believed. The world has been deceived in that respect; And I am glad to say that, when all her debts are cleared, my niece will still have, in addition to her fortune, some money. If, as I conclude, you will send me full authority to act in your name in this whole business, I will immediately instruct Haggerston to prepare a proper settlement. There will be no small chance of your coming to the city again; So live quietly at Longbourn, and rely on my diligence and care. Send your reply back as soon as possible and be careful to write clearly. We have made the best decision that my niece should get married from this house, I hope you will accept it. She comes to us today. I will write again as soon as something else is decided. Yours, etc.

“  Adv. Gardiner  ."
{372}

"Is it possible?" Elizabeth screamed when she was finished. "Could it be possible that he would marry her?"

“Then Wickham is not as worthless as we thought him,” said his sister. "My dear father, I congratulate you."

"And have you replied to the letter?" Elizabeth said.

“No;  but it must be done soon.”

Then he most earnestly requested him not to waste any more time before writing.

"Oh!  my dear father," she cried, "come back and write immediately.  Consider how 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,” she replied; "But it must be done."

And saying this he turned back with them, and walked towards home.

“And—may I ask?” Elizabeth said; "But I believe the conditions must be followed."

"Complies with!  I'm ashamed to ask so little of her."

“And they  have to get married  ! Yet he  is such a  man.”

“Yes, yes, they have to get married. There is nothing else to do. But there are two things I would like to know: one is how much money your uncle has invested in making it happen; And second, how will I pay him?

"Money!  My uncle!" Jane shouted, "What do you mean, sir?"

“What I mean is that no man in his right senses would marry Lydia on so slight a inducement as this for a hundred years during my life and fifty years after I am gone.{373},

“That is quite true,” said Elizabeth; “Although this had not happened to me before. Their debt will be paid off, and there is still some left! Oh, these must be my uncle's actions! Generous, good man, I fear he has troubled himself. A small amount cannot do all this.”

"No," said his father. "Wickham is a fool if he takes her for less than ten thousand pounds: I should be sorry for thinking so ill of her at the very beginning of our relationship."

“Ten thousand pounds! heaven forbid! How will such half amount be paid?”

Mr. Bennet made no answer; And each of them, lost in deep thought, remained silent until they reached home. Then their father went to the library to write, and the girls went to the breakfast room.

"And they're actually going to get married!" Elizabeth screamed as soon as they were alone. “This is so strange! And  for this  we should be grateful. That they should marry, the smaller are their chances of happiness, and the worse is their character, we are forced to rejoice! Oh, Lydia!

Jane replied, "I console myself by thinking that he would certainly not have married Lydia if he had not had any real respect for her.  Although our kind uncle has done something towards clearing up his , I can't believe that ten thousand pounds, or anything like that, has been advanced.  He has children of his own, and may have more.  How could he have saved half ten thousand pounds?"

Elizabeth said, "If we can ever know how much Wickham is in debt, and how much our sister owes him, we shall know exactly what Mr. Gardiner has done for him, for Wickham has six pence Neither is there." our own. The kindness of my uncles and aunts can never be repaid. They're taking him home, and paying the expenses{374}Their personal safety and face, for their benefit, is a sacrifice that years of gratitude cannot adequately acknowledge. By this time he's actually with them! If such goodness won't make her sad now, she will never deserve to be happy! What a meeting it was for her, when she sees my aunt for the first time!”

"We must try to forget what has happened on both sides," said Jane: "I hope and believe that they will still be happy." His consent to marry her is proof, I would believe, that he has come to the right mind. Their mutual affection will keep them stable; And I flatter myself that they will come to terms so peacefully, and live so rationally, that in time they will forget their former imprudence.

“His conduct has been such,” replied Elizabeth, “that neither you, nor I, nor anyone else can ever forget. It is useless to talk about it.”

Now the girls realized that their mother was completely unaware of what had happened. So, he went to the library and asked his father if he wouldn't want him to tell him about it. He was writing, and without raising his head, replied calmly, -

"As you wish."

"Can we take our uncle's letter to him to read?"

"Take what you like, and go."

Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went upstairs together. Both Mary and Kitty were with Mrs. Bennet: so, one communication would work for everyone. After some preparation of the good news, the letter was read aloud. Mrs. Bennet could hardly control herself. As soon as Jane read Mr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's early marriage, her joy burst, and each following sentence increased her excitement further. He{375}Now she was as restless with happiness as she had ever been with worry and irritation. It was enough to know that his daughter would get married. She was neither disturbed by any fear about her hospitality nor became humble by remembering her misconduct.

“My dear, dear Lydia!” She exclaimed: “It's really fun! He will get married! I will see him again! She will be married at the age of sixteen! My good, kind brother! I knew how it would be—I knew he would manage everything. How I look forward to seeing him! And to see dear Wickham too! But dresses, wedding dresses! I will write directly to my sister Gardiner about them. Lizzie, my dear, run to your father, and ask him how much he will give her. Wait, wait, I will go myself. For the hill, kitty, ring the bell. I'll put my stuff on in a moment. My dear, dear Lydia! How happy we will be when we meet!”

His eldest daughter attempted to provide some relief from the violence of these transportations, by turning her thoughts to the obligations under which Mr. Gardiner's conduct placed them all.

He added, "We must attribute this happy conclusion largely to their kindness." We are confident that he has pledged to assist Mr. Wickham financially.”

“Okay,” cried his mother, “that's all very well; Who should do this work except his own uncle? If he didn't have a family of his own, me and my kids would have all his money, you know; And this is the first time that we have received anything from him apart from a few gifts. Well! I am very happy. One of my daughters will get married soon. Mrs. Wickham! It feels so good! And she only turned sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I{376}I am so nervous that I definitely won't be able to write; So I will order, and you will write for me. We will settle the matter with your father later; But things must be ordered immediately.”

She then proceeded to all the descriptions of calico, muslin, and cambric, and would soon have ordered several lots, if Jane had not, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait until That he might not have time to consult his father. A day's delay, he saw, would be of little importance; And her mother, despite being so stubborn as always, was very happy. Other plans also came to his mind.

"I'll go to Meryton," she said, "as soon as I'm ready, and tell my sister Phillips the good, good news." And as soon as I get back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the cart. I am sure I will benefit greatly from its broadcast. Girls, is there anything I can do for you in Maryton? Oh! Here comes the hill. My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is about to get married; And you'll all have a bowl of punch to celebrate at her wedding."

Mrs. Hill immediately began to express her joy. Elizabeth was greeted among the rest and then, fed up with this foolishness, she took refuge in her room, so that she could think with freedom. Poor Lydia's condition must, at best, be quite bad; But it was nothing bad, he needed to be grateful. He felt this way; And although, looking forward, neither rational happiness, nor worldly prosperity could reasonably be expected for his sister, what they had feared only two hours before, looking back, what she had achieved Felt all its benefits.{377}

"Malicious old women."

Chapter L.

R. Before this period of his life Bennet had often wished that, instead of spending his entire income, he had spent an annual sum for the better provision of his children and his wife, had she lived. Now he wanted it more than ever. Had she done her duty in that respect, Lydia would not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever honor or credit it could have bought for her. The satisfaction of conquering one of the most useless youth{378}The men who would become her husbands in Great Britain could then rest in their proper place.

He was seriously concerned that an objective of so little benefit to anyone should be pursued solely at his brother-in-law's expense; and he was determined to ascertain, if possible, the extent of his assistance and to discharge the obligation as soon as possible.

When Mr. Bennet first married, the economy was considered completely useless; Because, of course, they had to have a son. As soon as he grows up, this son will have to engage in shearing, and by this means the widow and the young children will be supported. Five daughters came into the world one after the other, but the son was yet to come; And Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, was certain that he would do so. Eventually this incident led to disappointment, but by then it was too late to save. Mrs. Bennet had no turn to economy; And it was her husband's love of freedom that prevented her from exceeding her income.

Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage article on Mrs. Bennet and the children. But in what proportion it should be divided among themselves depended on the wishes of the parents. This was a point, at least as regards Lydia, which now had to be decided, and Mr. Bennet could have no hesitation in accepting the proposal before him. In terms of acknowledgment of gratitude for his brother's kindness, though most briefly expressed, he then gave full approval of what had been done on paper, and expressed his willingness to fulfill the obligations undertaken for him . She had never before thought that, if Wickham could be persuaded to marry her daughter, it would be done with so little inconvenience to him as was being done at present.{379}Arrangement He would have lost barely ten pounds a year, at the hundred pounds he was to be paid; For, apart from her board and pocket allowance, and in spite of the constant gifts she received from her mother's hand, Lydia's expenses were very little within that amount.

That this would be done with so little effort on their part was also another very welcome surprise; Because his main desire at this time was that there should be as little trouble in business as possible. When the first infusion of anger which had given rise to his activity in seeking her had ended, he naturally returned to all his former laziness. His letter was quickly dispatched; Although he was slow to start a business, he was quick in executing it. He prayed to know more details of how much he owed his brother; But he was so angry with Lydia that he could not send her any message.

This good news soon spread throughout the house; And with proportional speed through the neighborhood. It was later given birth to civilized philosophy. Doubtless the conversation would have been of greater benefit if Miss Lydia Bennet had come to town; Or, as a most pleasant alternative, to live in solitude in some remote farm-house away from the world. But there was a lot of talking to be done about marrying her; And the good-natured wishes for her well-being, which had formerly come from all the spiteful old women of Meryton, lost very little of their sentiment in this change of circumstances, for her misery with such a husband was considered certain.

It had been a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had gone down stairs, but on this happy day she sat again at the head of her table, and was in the utmost spirits. Any feeling of shame had no effect on his victory.{380}The daughter's marriage, which had been the first object of his desires since Jane was sixteen, was now at the point of accomplishment, and his thoughts and his words turned entirely to the elegant wedding, the fine muslins, the new carriages, and those attendants. Were. Servant. She was busy looking around the neighborhood in search of a suitable situation for her daughter; and, without knowing or considering what their income might have been, dismissed many as lacking in size and importance.

“Hay Park might do that,” said he, “if the Goldings would spare it, or the great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; But Ashworth is too far away. I couldn't bear to have him ten miles away from me; And as for Purvis Lodge, its attics are terrible.”

Her husband allowed her to talk without interruption while servants were present. But when they stepped back, he said to them, “Mrs. Bennett, before you buy any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let's get to the right understanding. They will never get entry  into a  house in  this neighborhood . "I wouldn't encourage anyone's ignorance by welcoming him to Longbourn."

This announcement was followed by a lengthy controversy; But Mr. Bennet was determined: this soon led to another situation; And Mrs. Bennet learned with surprise and horror that her husband did not spare a guinea to buy clothes for their daughter. He protested that she should not receive any token of affection from him on this occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly understand it. Her anger could reach such a point of unimaginable outrage that her refusal to grant her daughter a privilege, without which her marriage would hardly have seemed legitimate, exceeded everything she could have considered possible. she was more alive{381}The humiliation that her desire for new clothes should reflect on her daughter's marriage, rather than any sense of shame at her running away and staying with Wickham a fortnight before the wedding.

Elizabeth now regretted very much that she, by the distress of that moment, had been induced to make Mr. Darcy aware of her fears for her sister; Since her marriage would so soon put a proper end to her escapade, they might hope to conceal its inauspicious beginning from all who were not immediately on the spot.

He had no fear of it spreading far through him. There were few people on whose secrecy she would have depended more confidently; But at the same time, there was no one who felt so sad to know about his sister's weakness. However, not out of any fear of any harm it may personally cause to oneself; Because at any cost there was a deep gulf visible between them. If Lydia's marriage had been concluded on the most honorable terms, it could not be supposed that Mr. Darcy would attach himself to a family where every other objection would now lead to the closest type of alliance and relationship with that man , which he has chosen. So justly despised.

It would not have surprised him to shrink from such a relationship. The desire to recover her honour, of which he had assured her of his feeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such a blow. She was poor, she was sad; He repented, although he hardly knew what happened. She became jealous of his honor, when she could not hope to benefit from it. She wanted to hear about him while the chances of getting intelligence were the lowest. she was confident{382}That she could be happy with him, when there was no longer a chance of them meeting.

As she often thought, what a great victory this would be for him, might he know that the proposals which only four months before he had proudly rejected would now be received with joy and gratitude! He was as generous, she had no doubt, as the most generous of his sex. But since he was mortal, victory would surely take place.

She now began to understand that this was the person who would be best suited for her due to his nature and talent. Her understanding and nature, though contrary to his, answered all his wishes. It was a union which would have benefited both: by her spontaneity and liveliness, his mind would have been softened, his manners improved; And from his judgment, information and knowledge of the world, he would have received benefits of greater importance.

But no such happy marriage can now teach the admiring crowd what marital harmony really is. In their family there was soon to be a union of a different nature and excluding the possibility of another.

She could not even imagine how Wickham and Lydia would be supported in tolerable independence. But how little lasting happiness there could be for a couple who were brought together only because their passions were stronger than their virtues, she could easily guess.

Mr. Gardiner soon wrote to his brother again. To Mr. Bennet's acknowledgments he replied briefly, with assurances of his eagerness to promote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with a request that the subject would never be mentioned to him again.{383}The main object of his letter was to inform him that Mr. Wickham had resolved to leave the militia.

“It was my great desire that she should do so,” he added, “as soon as her marriage was fixed. And I think you will agree with me that on account of both him and my niece, expulsion from that corps would be considered highly justified. Mr. Wickham intends 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 a post in the General-Regiment, now stationed in the North. Being so remote from this part of the state is an advantage. He promises impartially; And I hope that among different people, where each of them will have a character to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have written to Colonel Forster to inform him of our present arrangements, and request that he will satisfy Mr. Wickham's various creditors in and near Brighton with assurances of prompt payment, to which I undertake myself Is. And will you give yourself the trouble of giving a similar assurance to his creditors at Maryton, according to whose information I will be included in their list? He has paid all his debts; I hope at least he hasn't betrayed us. Haggerston has our instructions, and everything will be completed in a week. They would then join his regiment, unless they were first invited to Longbourn; And I understand from Mrs. Gardiner that my niece is very desirous of meeting you all before she leaves the South. She is well, and begs that you and her mother may be dutifully remembered.—Yours, etc.

"  E. Gardiner  ."

Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the benefits{384}About removing Wickham from ——shire, as Mr. Gardiner apparently could. But Mrs. Bennet was not very happy about this. Lydia's settlement in the North, just when she expected the greatest joy and pride in his company, for she had never given up her plan of living in Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; And, besides, it was a great pity that Lida was taken from the regiment where she was familiar to everyone, and had so many favorites.

“She loves Mrs. Forster very much,” she said, “it would be quite a shock to send her away! And there are many young men whom she likes very much. “General——the officers in the regiment may not be so pleasant.”

His daughter's request, as it might be supposed, to be readmitted to her family before her departure for the North received at first a wholly negative response. But Jane and Elizabeth, who agreed for the sake of their sister's feelings and the desire that her marriage should be attended to by her parents, received from her so earnestly, yet so rationally and so politely, her and her husband. Urged to do. At Longbourn, as soon as they were married, they were reinforced to think as they pleased, and to act as they pleased. and her mother had the satisfaction of knowing that, before she was banished to the north, she would be able to show her married daughter around in the neighbourhood. Therefore, when Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, he sent him his permission to come; And it was agreed that, as soon as the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. However, Elizabeth was surprised that Wickham should consent to such a plan; And, if he had discussed only his interest, any meeting with her would have been the ultimate object of his desire.{385}

"With an affectionate smile."

Chapter Lee.

The day of the heir's sister's wedding has arrived; And Jane and Elizabeth probably felt more for him than he felt for himself. The carriage was sent to meet them at ----, and they were to return in it in time for dinner. The elder Miss Bennets and Jane were more frightened by his arrival{386}In particular, which gave Lydia the emotions that she would feel herself if  she  were the culprit, and was saddened by the thought of what her sister would have to endure.

They came. The family had gathered in the breakfast room to welcome him. As the carriage reached the door, a smile spread across Mrs. Bennet's face; Her husband looked impenetrably serious; Her daughters, anxious, worried, restless.

Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; The door was open, and she ran into the room. His mother came forward, embraced him and welcomed him enthusiastically; With an affectionate smile he extended his hand to Wickham, who was following his lady; and wished them both happiness, with an eagerness that left no doubt as to their happiness.

His reception from Mr. Bennet, whom he met again, was not so cordial. His face changed into one of penance; And he barely opened his lips. The young couple's easy reassurance was, in fact, enough to excite him.

Elizabeth is disappointed and even Miss Bennet is shocked. Lydia was still Lydia; Untamed, bold, wild, noisy and fearless. She turned from sister to sister and started asking for their congratulations; And when they all sat down, she looked curiously around the room, noticed some small changes in it, and observed, laughing, that a great deal of time had passed since she had been there.

Wickham was not much distressed by that; But his manners were always so pleasant that, if his character and his marriage had been exactly what they should have been, his smile and his easy address, while he professed his relation, would have pleased them all. elizabeth{387}Never before had he been trusted with such assurance; But she resolved in her mind that in future she would not set any limit for the insolence of any unruly man. She  blushed, and Jane blushed; But there was no change in the color of the cheeks of both of them, which became the reason for their confusion.

There was no dearth of sermons. Neither the bride nor her mother could talk fast enough; and Wickham, who was sitting near Elizabeth, began to make very casual inquiries about her acquaintances in that neighbourhood, to which she felt very incapable of answering. It seemed like each of them had the happiest memories in the world. Nothing from the past comes to mind with pain; And Lydia willingly took the lead on topics that her sisters would not tell the world about.

“Think of it being only three months,” she said, crying, “since I have been gone: it seems only a fortnight has remained, I declare; And yet a lot of things have happened in that time. good gracious! When I left, I'm sure I had no idea of ​​being married until I came back again! “Though I thought it would be a lot of fun if I was.”

Her father raised his eyes, Jane was distressed, Elizabeth looked at Lydia plainly; But she, who never heard or saw anything of which she chose to be insensible, continued cheerfully,—

“Oh, mom, do people here know that I am married today? I was afraid they might not; And we overtook William Golding on his course, so I was determined that he should know it, and so I lowered the side glass next to him, and took off my glove and let my hand rest on the window frame, so that he{388}Maybe the ring could be seen, and then I leaned over and smiled.

Elizabeth couldn't bear it anymore. She got up and ran out of the room; and did not return until she heard them going down the hall to the dining-parlour. Then she soon joined them and saw Lydia go with curiosity to her mother's right hand, and heard her say to her eldest sister, -

“Ah, Jane, I take your place now, and you must go down, for I am a married woman.”

It could not be expected that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had previously been completely free. His spontaneity and good spirits increased. She wished to see Mrs. Phillips, Lucas, and all their other neighbors and to be called "Mrs." Wickham by each of them”; And meanwhile she went after dinner to show off her ring and claim to be married to Mrs. Hill and the two maids.

“Well, mother,” she said, when they all returned to the breakfast room, “and what do you think of my husband?  Isn't he a charming man?  I'm sure all my sisters would be jealous of me .  I only hope they get half of my good wishes.  They'll all have to go to Brighton.  That's the place to find husbands.  What a pity, mother, we didn't all go!”

“Very true;  and if I wish we should do so.  But, my dear Lydia, I do not at all like you going away like this.  Is it so?”

"Lord!  Yes;  there's nothing in that.  I'd like that of all things.  You and papa and my sisters should come down and join us.  We'll be in Newcastle all winter, and I dare say I'm sure there will be some balls there, and I'll take care of finding good partners for all of them.{389},

"I should like this beyond anything!" His mother said.

“And then when you go away, leave one or two of my sisters behind; And I dare say I will get her a husband before winter is over.”

"I thank you for your share of the favor," said Elizabeth. "But I don't particularly like your way of getting a husband."

His visitors were not to stay with him for more than ten days. Mr. Wickham had received his commission before leaving London, and was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.

No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that her stay would be so short; And she used the time to hang out with her daughter and frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to all; Avoiding the family circle was even more desirable for those who thought so than for those who did not.

Wickham's affection for Lydia was exactly what Elizabeth had hoped to find; No equal for him, Lydia. She hardly needed to be satisfied with her present observation, from the reason of things, that their escape was occasioned by the strength of her love rather than by his love for her; And he must have wondered why, regardless of her violent disregard for him, he had decided to run away with her, if he had not been convinced that the distress of circumstances had made his flight necessary; And if that were so, he was not a young man to resist the opportunity of a companionship.

Lydia loved him very much. He was her favorite vice-chancellor on every occasion; No one was to be placed in competition with him. He did the best of everything in the world; And he was sure he would kill more{390}birds on the first of September than any other in the country.

One morning, soon after their arrival, as she sat with her two elder sisters, he said to Elizabeth, -

“Lizzie, I believe I   never told  you the details of my marriage. When I told mom and others about it you were not there. Aren’t you curious to know how it was managed?”

“No, indeed,” replied Elizabeth; "I think there is not much that can be said on this subject."

“Come! you are so weird! But I have to tell you how it happened. You know, we were married at St. Clement's, because Wickham's house was in the same parish. And it was decided that we all would reach there by eleven o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I had to go together; And others were to meet us at the church.

“Well, Monday morning came, and I was in a panic! I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen that it would be put off, and then I should have been quite distraught. And there was my aunt, dressed up the whole time, preaching and talking as if she was reading a sermon. However, I didn't hear a word out of ten, because you might imagine I was thinking of my dear Wickham. I was curious to know if he would marry in his blue coat.

“Okay, and so we had breakfast at ten as usual: I thought it would never end; Goodbye, you have to understand that my uncle and aunt were very unpleasant to me whenever I lived with them. If you believe me, I never once took my foot out the door, even though I was there for a fortnight. Not a party, or plans, or anything! Sure, London was relatively lean, but, still, the Little Theater was open.{391}

“Okay, and so, as soon as the carriage came to the door, my uncle was called to that dreadful man, Mr. Stone. And then, you know, once they get together, there's no end to it. Well, I was so scared that I didn't know what to do, because my uncle had to leave me; And if we had exceeded the time, we would not have been able to get married the whole day. But, fortunately, he came back again after ten minutes, and then we all set out. However, I later remembered, that if he  had been prevented from going  , there would have been no need to postpone the wedding, because Mr. Darcy would have done the same.

"Mr.  Darcy!" Elizabeth repeated with utmost surprise.

"Oh yes!  You know, he was supposed to come there with Wickham.  But, pity me!  I quite forgot!  I shouldn't have said a word about it.  How faithfully I promised him!  Wickham What will he say?  It had to be so secret!”

"If it were a secret," said Jane, "don't say another word on the subject.  You may depend on my further discovery."

“Oh, certainly,” said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; "We won't ask you any questions."

“Thank you,” said Lydia; "If you did so, I should certainly tell you everything, and then Wickham would be very angry."

At such an encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power by running away.

But it was impossible to remain in ignorance on such a point; Or at least it was impossible not to seek information. Mr. Darcy had come to his sister's wedding. It was quite a scene, and exactly among people, where apparently he had the least to do, and the least temptation to go. Speculations about its meaning, intense and absurd,{392}came to his mind rapidly; But she was not satisfied with anyone. The things that pleased him most, such as placing his conduct in the best light, seemed the most impossible. She could not tolerate such suspense; and quickly seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short letter to her aunt, requesting an explanation of what Lydia had left, if it was consistent with the secrecy that was intended.

“You will easily understand,” he continued, “my curiosity must have been to know how someone unconnected with any of us, and, comparatively, a stranger to our family, must have lived among you at such a time. Pray write immediately, and let me understand it - unless, for very strong reasons, it is necessary to remain in secrecy, which Lydia thinks necessary; And then I must try to be content with ignorance.

"Not that I  would do that , though  ," she said to herself, and she ended the letter; "And, my dear aunt, if you don't tell me in a respectful way, I'll certainly be stuck in tricks and tricks to find out."

Jane's delicate sense of honor would not allow her to speak privately to Elizabeth about what Lydia had left out; Elizabeth was pleased with this:—she preferred to remain without a confidant until it seemed whether her inquiries would yield any satisfaction.{393}

"I'm sure he didn't hear me."

Chapter LII.

Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving a reply to her letter as soon as possible. As soon as she had it in her possession, she went quickly into the little wood where there was the least chance of being stopped, sat down on a bench, and got ready.{394}delight; The length of the letter convinced him that there was no denial.

“Gracechurch Street,  6th September  .

"My dear niece,

"I have just received your letter, and I will spend the whole morning answering it, as I feel that a little  writing  will not cover much of what I have to tell you.  I must confess that I am surprised by your application. ;  I  did not expect this  from you .  However, do not think me angry, for I only wish to tell you that I   did not imagine such an inquiry on  your part to be necessary. Forgive my impertinence if you do not wish to understand me. .  Your uncle is as surprised as I am;  and nothing more than the belief of your being a concerned party allows him to act as he has.  But if you are really innocent and ignorant, let me tell you more clearly. Should be.  The very day I came home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor.  Mr. Darcy called and was not heard from for several hours. It  was all over before I arrived;  Therefore my curiosity was not so terrible as it   seems  yours . He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had learned where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen them both and talked to them - Wickham. Over and over again, Lydia once. From what I could gather, he left Derbyshire only a day after us, and came to the city determined to hunt them down. The stated motive was that he firmly believed that Wickham's worthlessness was not so well known as to make it impossible for any young lady of character to love or trust him. He generously laid everything down to his misplaced pride, and confessed that he had at first thought that it would not be proper for him to lay his private affairs before all.{395}World. His character was to speak for itself. Therefore, he felt it his duty to move forward and try to remove the evil he had brought about. If he  had any other motive  , I am sure he would never have been humiliated by this. He had been in the city some days before he was able to find them; But he had something to guide his search,  much more than we  have; And this realization was another reason for his determination to follow us. It appears that one lady is a Mrs. Young, who was some time ago Miss Darcy's governess, and from some cause of disapproval she was dismissed from her charge, though she did not say what. After this she took a big house in Edward Street and since then she has been supporting herself by renting out the house. He knew that this Mrs. Young was intimately acquainted with Wickham; And as soon as he reached the city, he went to him to inquire about his condition. But it was only two or three days before he could get what he wanted from her. I believe that without bribery and corruption, she would not have betrayed her trust, because she knew exactly where to find her friend. Wickham had, in fact, visited him on his first arrival in London; And if she could take them into her house, they would live with her. However, at last, our kind friend achieved the desired direction. They were in --- Street. He looked at Wickham and then insisted on looking at Lydia. He confessed that his first object in dealing with her was to persuade her to leave her present humiliating condition, and as soon as he could be persuaded to receive her, to return to his friends and, as far as possible, to his Had to offer assistance. But they found that Lydia was absolutely determined to stay where she was. He didn't care about any of his friends; She wanted no help from him; He would not have heard of Wickham leaving.{396}She was convinced that they should be married sooner or later, and it didn't matter much when. Since such were her feelings, she thought, all that remained was to secure and speed up the marriage, which she had easily discovered from her first conversation with Wickham had never been   her object  . He confessed that he was obliged to leave the regiment on account of certain debts of honour, which were very pressing; and took care not to impute all the ill effects of Lydia's flight to her folly alone. He intended to immediately resign his commission; And as far as his future position is concerned, he can predict very little about it. He had to go somewhere, but he didn't know where, and he knew he must have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked why he didn't marry your sister right away. Although Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would be able to do something for her, and the marriage would have benefited his situation. But in response to this question he discovered that Wickham still harbored hopes of making his fortune more effectively by marrying in another country. Under such circumstances, however, he was unlikely to prove himself against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, as there was much to discuss. Undoubtedly, Wickham wanted more than he could get; But the length was reduced to a reasonable length.  After everything was settled between  them , Mr. Darcy's next step was to introduce it to your uncle, and he called at Gracechurch Street the evening before my coming home. But Mr. Gardiner was not seen; And Mr. Darcy, upon further inquiry, found that your father was still with him, but would leave town the next morning. He did not consider your father a person whom he could properly consult as your uncle, and therefore he immediately postponed meeting him.{397}Departure of the East. He did not leave his name and till the next day he came to know that some gentleman had called for work. He came again on Saturday. Your father was gone, your uncle was at home, and, as I said before, they talked a lot together. They met again on Sunday and then  I  also saw him. All this was not decided before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was dispatched to Longbourn. But our visitor was very stubborn. I think, Lizzie, stubbornness is the real flaw in his character after all. He has been accused of many crimes at different times; But  this  is true. Nothing was to be done that he had not done himself; Although I'm sure (and I'm not saying this to thank you, so I won't say anything about it) your uncle would have sorted everything out very easily. They have struggled together for a long time to find someone who is more deserving of it than the gentleman or lady involved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of allowing the use of his niece, was forced to take only the possible credit for it, which was very prejudicial to the grain; And I really believe that your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation which would take away his borrowed feathers, and give praise where it was due. But, Lizzie, this should not go beyond you, or at the most to Jane. I believe you know very well what has been done to the youth. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to more than a thousand pounds, besides what he has paid for,  and  another thousand pounds in addition to the commission he has bought. The reason why he had to do all this alone was as I have mentioned above. It was because of him, his restraint and his desire for fair thought that Wickham's character was such{398}Misunderstood, and as a result he was accepted and seen as he was. Perhaps there  was some truth  in this ; However I doubt whether  his  reserve, or  anyone's  reserve, may be responsible for the incident. But in spite of such fine conversation, my dear Lizzie, you may rest assured that your uncle would never have yielded, if we had  not given him another interest  in the matter  . When all this was settled, he returned again to his friends, who were still living at Pemberley; But it was agreed that when the marriage took place they would once again have to live in London and all financial matters would be finalised. I believe I have told you everything now. This is a relationship that you tell me is going to surprise you a lot; I hope at least this won't cause you any resentment. Lydia came to us, and Wickham got constant access to the house. He  was exactly the same as he was when I knew him in Hertfordshire; But I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with his conduct during our stay together   , if I had not understood from Jane's letter on Wednesday last that his conduct when he came home was exactly in accordance with it, and so what I Now tell me, no one can give you fresh pain. I spoke to him again and again in the most serious manner, representing the wickedness of what he had done and all the misery that had come upon his family. If he listened to me, it was good luck, because I'm sure he didn't. I used to get quite excited sometimes; But then I remembered my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sake I was patient 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 on Wednesday or Thursday he was to leave town again. Would you be very angry with me, my dear{399}Lizzie, if I may take this opportunity of saying (which I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him? Their behavior towards us is in every respect as pleasant as it was when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; He wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and  if  he   marries  wisely , his wife can teach him. I thought him very cunning; He rarely mentioned your name. But cunningness seems fashionable. Pray forgive me, if I have been too arrogant, or at least do not punish me so much as to put me out of P. I will never be happy until I go all the way around the park. A little phaeton with a nice little pair of ponies would be a wonderful thing. But I should not write any more. The children had been wanting me for half an hour.

"Yours, very sincerely,
"  M. Gardiner  .

The contents of this letter shocked Elizabeth, finding it difficult to determine whether joy or pain was the greater part. The vague and unsettling suspicion which the uncertainty had created, as to what Mr. Darcy might be doing to further his sister's match—which she was afraid to encourage, as an effort of goodness was not possible, and at the same time She was afraid to be just, to be justified, to be justified beyond her greatest limits, by the pain of responsibility! He had deliberately followed them to the city, taking upon himself all the trouble and sorrow over such a research; In which it was necessary to pray to the woman whom he was to despise and despise, and where he was to meet, again and again, argue, cajole, and reduce.{400}At last he had bribed the man whom he had always wanted to avoid, and whose mere mention was a punishment to him. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither respect nor value. His heart was whispering that he did it for her. But this was a hope which was soon put on hold for other reasons; And she soon felt that even her vanity was inadequate, when she needed to depend on her affection for him, for a woman who had already rejected him, a feeling as natural as hatred towards the relationship with Wickham. Was able to overcome. Wickham's brother-in-law! Every kind of pride will have to rebel against relationships. Undoubtedly, he has done a lot. She was feeling embarrassed just thinking about it. But he gave a reason for his intervention that did not require any extraordinary stretch of faith. It was reasonable that he should feel that he was wrong; He had generosity, and he had the means to exercise it; And though she did not have herself as his chief encourager, yet she might perhaps believe that his continued partiality towards her might assist his efforts, where his peace of mind was materially concerned. Needed It was painful, extremely painful, to know that they were under obligation to a person who could never get a return. They were indebted to him for Lydia's restoration, her character, everything. Oh, how heartily she mourned every immoral sensation which he had ever encouraged, every lewd speech which he had ever directed towards her! She was humble for herself; But she was proud of him, proud that because of compassion and respect he was able to better himself. She read her aunt's praises again and again. This was hardly enough; But it made him happy. She was also sensible of some joy, though mixed with regret.{401}Knowing how strongly both she and her uncle were convinced that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and her.

She was roused from her seat and her thoughts by someone's approach; And, before she could go the other way, Wickham caught her.

“I fear I shall interrupt your solitary wanderings, my dear sister?” She said, joining him.

“You certainly do,” he replied, smiling; "But that doesn't mean the interruption should be unwanted."

“If that were the case I should be really sorry. We  were always good friends and now we are better.”

“True.  Are the others coming out?”

"I don't know.  Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Maryton.  And so, my dear sister, I learn from our uncle and aunt that you have indeed seen Pemberley.

He replied yes.

"I almost envy you this pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much for me, otherwise I could have had it on the way to Newcastle.  And I suppose, you see the old maid?  Poor thing . "Reynolds, she always loved me very much.  But of course she never told you my name."

"Yes, he did."

"and what did he say?"

“That you went into the army, and he feared it would not turn out well. At that  distance  , you know, things get weirdly misrepresented.

"Sure," she replied, biting her lip. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; But he said soon after,{402},

“I was surprised to see Darcey in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he's doing there."

"Probably preparing for my wedding with Miss de Bourgh," Elizabeth said. “It would be something special to take him there at this time of year.”

"Certainly.  Did you see him when you were at Lambton?  I thought I understood from the Gardiners you had."

“Yes;  he introduced us to his sister.”

"And do you like him?"

"too much."

“In fact, I have heard that within this year or two he has improved unusually. She wasn't very promising when I last saw her. I'm so glad you liked it. I hope she will do well.”

“I dare say she will; She has passed the most difficult age.”

"Did you go by Kimpton Village?"

"I don't remember we did that."

“I mention it because this is the life I should have had. Very beautiful place! Excellent parsonage! It would have suited me in every respect.”

“How would you feel about preaching?”

"very nice. I should have considered it a part of my duty, and the exertion would soon have been in vain. One should not repent; But, of course, it would have been such a thing for me! Such a life would answer all my thoughts of peace, retirement, happiness! But it was not to be. “Did you ever hear Darcy mention that situation when you were in Kent?”

"I've  heard from authority figures that I  feel good Put  ,{403}It was left to you only conditionally and at the will of the current patron.

“You have!  Yes, there  was something  in it ;  I told you before, you must remember.”

“I also heard  that  there was a time when preaching was not so interesting to you as it seems at present; That you had in fact announced your determination not to take the order, and that the business was compromised accordingly.”

“You did!  And it wasn't entirely baseless.  You'll remember what I told you at that point, when we first talked about it.

They were now almost at the door of the house, for she walked quickly to get rid of him; And for his sister's sake, unwilling to provoke her, he said in reply only with a polite smile, -

“Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Don't let us quarrel about the past. I hope that in the future we will always be of one mind.

He held out his hand: she kissed him with affectionate gallantry, though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.{404}

"Mr.  Darcy is with him."

Chapter III.

R. Wickham was so satisfied with this conversation that he never again troubled himself with the introduction of the subject, or agitated his dear sister Elizabeth; And she was pleased to find that he had said enough to silence her.{405}

The day of his and Lydia's departure soon arrived; and Mrs. Bennet was forced to a separation which, as her husband had in no way entered into the plans of her going to Newcastle, was likely to continue for at least twelve months.

“Oh, my dear Lydia,” she cried, “when shall we meet again?”

"Lord!  I don't know.  Maybe not two or three years."

"Write to me often, my dear."

“Whenever I can.  But you know married women never have much time to write.  My sisters   can write  to me . They will have nothing else to do.”

Mr. Wickham's departure was more affectionate than his wife's. He smiled, looked handsome, and said many beautiful things.

“He is as good a man,” said Mr. Bennet, as they left the house, “as I ever saw.” He is calm, smiling, and loves us all. I am amazingly proud of him. I even challenge Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law.”

Mrs. Bennet remained very sad for several days due to the death of her daughter.

“I often think,” she said, “that there is nothing worse than being separated from your friends. “One feels very sad without them.”

Elizabeth said, "You see, madam, this is the result of marrying a daughter." "That would better satisfy you that your other four are unmarried."

"there's nothing like this. Lydia doesn't leave me because she's married; But only because her husband's regiment is far away. If he had been closer she would not have gone so quickly.{406},

But the emotionless state into which this incident had thrown him was soon relieved, and his mind was again opened to the stirrings of hope by an article in the news which was then beginning to come into circulation. The housekeeper of Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master, who was coming in a day or two to shoot there for several weeks. Mrs. Bennet was quite confused. She looked at Jane, and smiled, and shook her head in turn.

"Okay, okay, and so Mr. Bingley is coming down, sister," (Mrs. Phillips was the first to break the news to her). “Okay, so much the better. Not that I care, though. He's nothing to us, you know, and I'm sure I never want to see him again. But, still, if they like it, they are very welcome to come to Netherfield. And who knows what  might happen  ? But he is nothing to us. You know, sister, we agreed long ago never to mention a word about it. And so, it is absolutely certain that he is coming?”

“You may depend on it,” replied the other, “for Mrs. Nicholls was at Meryton last night: I saw her passing there, and went out myself to find out the truth of it;  and she told me that it Certainly true.  He will come down on Thursday, very possibly on Wednesday.  She told me, she was going to the butcher's on Wednesday for the purpose of ordering some meat, and found three pairs of ducks worth killing.

Miss Bennet could not receive the news of his arrival without changing complexion. It had been months since he had told Elizabeth her name; But now, as soon as they were alone together, she said, -

“Today when my aunt told us about the present report, I saw you looking at me, Lizzie; And I know that I have appeared{407}Distressed; But don't think it was for any silly reason. I was confused only for that moment, because I felt that I  needed  attention  . I assure you that this news will neither make me happy nor sad. I am happy about one thing, that he comes alone; Because we will see him less. It's not that I  'm afraid of myself  , but I'm afraid of other people's comments.

Elizabeth didn't know what to make of it. If she had not seen him in Derbyshire, she might have assumed that he was not capable of coming there with any other view than that which was accepted; But she still thought him partial to Jane, and she hesitated whether he was  more likely to come there  with his friend's permission , or more likely to be bold enough to come without it.

“Yet it is hard,” she thought sometimes, “that this poor man cannot come into a house which he has legally rented, without all this speculation! I will leave him to himself   .”

Despite what her sister had announced, in anticipation of his arrival, and despite what she actually believed in her feelings, Elizabeth could easily understand that her spirits were affected by it. They were more turbulent, more uneven, than he had often seen them.

The subject which had been hotly discussed between his parents about twelve months ago had now been brought up again.

"As soon as Mr. Bingley comes, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "you will certainly wait for him."

"No - no.  You forced me to meet him last year and promised to marry him to one of my daughters if I went to meet him.  But it ended in nothing, and I have to do the stupid thing again. But it will not be sent.”

His wife told him how necessary it was{408}It will be the object of attention of all the neighboring gentlemen on his return to Netherfield.

'  '  It's a  courtesy I detest,''  he said.  ''If he wants our society, let him seek it. He knows where we live.  “I won’t waste my time chasing down my neighbors every time they leave and then come back.  ”

“Well, I just know that it would be extremely rude if you didn't wait for him. But, still, that won't stop me from asking him to dine here, I'm determined. We should meet Mrs. Long and the Goldings soon. That will make us thirteen, so there will be just room for her at the table.”

Consoled by this resolution, she was the more able to bear the rudeness of her husband; Although it was very sad to find that all her neighbors could, as a result, see her before they could see Mr.  Bingley  . As the day of His arrival approached, -

"I'm beginning to feel sorry for her coming," Jane said to her sister. “It will be nothing; I could look at him with complete indifference; But I can hardly bear to keep talking about it like this. My mother means well; But she doesn't know, no one can know how much what she says hurts me. I will be delighted when his stay at Netherfield comes to an end!”

Elizabeth replied, "I wish I could say something to console you." “But this is completely out of my power. You have to feel it; And I have been deprived of the usual satisfaction of preaching patience to a sufferer, because you always have so much to offer.”

Mr. Bingley arrived. Mrs. Bennet, with the assistance of the servants, managed to get the earliest information of this, which on her part was as long as a period of anxiety and consternation could have been. he counted the days{409}There has to be an intervention before his invitation can be sent – ​​he is not expected to see it first. But on the third morning after reaching Hertfordshire, she saw him from her dressing room window enter the enclosure and go home.

His daughters were eagerly called to join him in his joy. Jane steadfastly maintained her place at the table; But Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went to the window - she looked - she saw Mr. Darcy with her, and sat down again by her sister.

"There's a gentleman with him, mother," said Kitty; "Who can it be?"

“Some acquaintance or other, my dear, I think; "I'm sure I don't know."

“La!” Kitty replied, “He looks just like the man who used to be with her. Sir, what's his name—that tall, proud man.

"Good gracious!  Mr. Darcy!—and so it is, I promise.  Well, any friend of Mr. Bingley will always be welcome here, that's for sure;  but otherwise I must say I hate the very sight of him." Is.''

Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern. She knew little of their meeting in Derbyshire, and so almost felt the awkwardness that befell her sister in seeing him for the first time after receiving his explanatory letter. Both the sisters were very uncomfortable. Each felt for the other, and certainly for himself; And his mother spoke of her dislike of Mr. Darcy and her determination to treat him decently only as a friend of Mr. Bingley, without either of them listening. But Elizabeth had sources of uneasiness which Jane could not yet suspect, which she had not yet had the courage to show to Mrs. Gardin.{410}R's letter, or to convey the change in his own feelings towards her. To Jane, he could only be a man whose advances she had rejected, and whose merits she had underestimated; But according to her own more extensive knowledge, he was the man to whom the whole family was indebted for the first benefits, and whom she herself regarded with an interest, if not so tender, at least as fair and just. , much as felt for Jane Bingley. His surprise at her arrival—at his coming to Netherfield, Longbourn, and at her voluntarily seeking him out again—was almost as great as he had been at first seeing her changed behavior in Derbyshire.

The color which had drained from her face returned with an additional glow for half a minute, and a smile of delight added sparkle to her eyes, for she thought for that moment that his affections and wishes were still unchanged. Should be; But she will not be safe.

“First let me see how he behaves,” he said; "Then it would be too early to hope."

She sat attentively at the work, endeavoring to be calm, and not daring to raise her eyes, until eager curiosity led them to her sister's face as the servant was approaching the door. . Jane looked a little paler than usual, but calmer than Elizabeth had expected. His complexion rose when he came in front of the gentlemen; Yet he received them with tolerable ease, and civility of manners, free from any trace of resentment, or any unnecessary compliance.

Elizabeth said as little as was civilly possible, and sat down again to her work, with an eagerness which she did not often command. She had only dared to glance at Darcy. He looked as serious as ever;{411}And, she thought, she saw more of him in Hertfordshire than she saw of him at Pemberley. But, perhaps, he could not become in the presence of his mother what he was in front of his uncles and aunts. It was a painful, but not impossible guess.

She also looked at Bingley for a moment, and in that short period she saw him both pleased and embarrassed. Mrs. Bennet received him with a certain degree of civility, which caused embarrassment to both her daughters, especially when compared with the cold and formal politeness of her manners and address of her friend.

Especially Elizabeth, who knew that her mother was responsible for saving her favorite daughter from irreparable disgrace, was hurt and distressed to the most painful extent by the discrimination thus wrongly applied.

After Darcy asked her what Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did—a question she could not answer without confusion—she hardly said anything. He was not sitting near her: perhaps this was the reason for his silence; But this was not the case in Derbyshire. There he talked to her friends even though he was unable to talk to himself. But now several minutes passed without hearing his voice; And when sometimes, unable to restrain the impulse of curiosity, he raised his eyes to her face, he often found him looking at Jane as at himself, and not often at any other object than the ground. More thoughtfulness and less concern to please than when they last met was clearly expressed. She was disappointed, and angry at herself for letting this happen.

“Could I expect it to be otherwise?” He said. “Why did he come anyway?{412},

He was not enjoying conversing with anyone other than himself; And he couldn't muster the courage to talk to her.

She questioned her sister, but could do nothing more.

Mrs. Bennet said, "Mr. Bingley, you've been gone a long time."

He immediately agreed to do this.

“I started to fear that you would never come back.  You intended,  people  said , to leave the place entirely at Michaelmas; But, still, I hope this is not true. There have been a lot of changes in the neighborhood since you left. Miss Lucas is married and established: and has one of my own daughters. I guess you've heard about it; In fact, you may have seen it in the newspapers. It was in the 'Times' and the 'Courier', I know; However it was not implemented the way it should be. It simply said, 'Lately, to George Wickham, Esq., to Miss Lydia Bennet,' not a single syllable was said about her father, or the place where she lived, or anything else. It was also prepared by my brother Gardiner, and I wonder how he made it so strange. did you see it?"

Bingley replied that he did and congratulated him. Elizabeth did not dare to look up. That's why she couldn't tell what Mr. Darcy looked like.

Her mother continued, “Certainly, it is a delightful thing to have a daughter well married; "But at the same time, Mr. Bingley, it's very hard to take him away from me.  He's gone to Newcastle, a place quite north, it seems, and I don't know how long he's got to stay there.  His regiment there Because  I think you've heard about him leaving Shire and going to Regular.  Thank heavens!{413}He  has some  friends, though, perhaps, not as many as he deserves.”

Elizabeth, who knew that this was Mr. Darcy's accusation, was so embarrassed that she could hardly keep her seat. However, it involved the labor of speaking, which nothing else had done before so effectively; And he asked Bingley if he intended to remain in the country at present. A few weeks, he believed.

“When you have killed all your birds, Mr. Bingley,” said her mother, “I beg you will come here and shoot as many as you like at Mr. Bennet's manor. I am sure he will  oblige you. I will be very happy, and will save all the best coves for you.

Such unnecessary, such humiliating attention increased Elizabeth's grief! If the same reasonable possibility were to arise at present, as had been pointed out to her a year ago, she was convinced that everything would hasten to the same distressing conclusion. At that moment she realized that years of happiness could not prepare Jane or herself for such moments of painful confusion.

“The first desire of my heart,” she said to herself, “is to never live with either of them. Their society can afford no happiness that can atone for such wretchedness! Don’t let me ever see either of them again!”

Yet the sorrow, for which years of happiness could give no compensation, soon afterwards found material relief, by seeing how much her sister's beauty rekindled the admiration of her former lover. When he first came in, he spoke very little to her, but every five minutes he began to pay more attention to her. he found her as beautiful as she was{414}Last year it was; Equally good-natured, and equally unaffected, though not so talkative. Jane was anxious not to notice any difference in her at all, and indeed she was convinced that she talked as much as ever; But his mind was so busy that he did not even realize when she became silent.

When the gentlemen rose to leave, Mrs. Bennet was mindful of the civility they desired, and invited them to dine at Longbourn in a few days' time.

He added, "Mr. Bingley, you owe me a lot." “When you went to town last winter, you promised to have a family dinner with us as soon as you returned. I haven't forgotten, you see; And I assure you I was very disappointed that you did not come back and keep your engagement.

Bingley looked a little foolish at this reflection, and said something about his anxiety at being stopped by business. Then they left.

Mrs. Bennet had expressed a strong desire to ask him to stay and dine there that day; But, although she always kept a very good table, yet she did not think that anything less than two courses could be good enough for the man on whom she had such eager plans, or for that man's appetite and pride. Could satisfy someone who had ten thousand rupees per year.{415}

"Jane looked around."

Chapter Liv.

As soon as they left, Elizabeth went outside to recover her spirits; Or, in other words, to concentrate without interruption on subjects that will make them more dead. Mr. Darcy's behavior surprises and upsets her.

"Why, if he came only to remain silent, grave and indifferent," she said, "did he come at all?"

She could solve it in any way that would make her happy.

“Even when he was in town, he was friendly, pleasing my uncle and aunt; And why not me?{416}If he's afraid of me, why did he come here? If he doesn't care about me anymore then why is he silent? Tease, tease man! I won't think about it anymore.”

Her resolution was for some time sustained, unintentionally by the approach of her sister, who joined her with a cheerful air, which showed that she was better satisfied with her visitors than Elizabeth.

“Now,” she said, “this first meeting is over, I feel completely comfortable. I know my strength and with her coming I will never have to be embarrassed again. I'm glad he dined here on Tuesday. It will then be seen publicly that on both sides we meet only as ordinary and indifferent acquaintances.

"Yes, very nostalgic indeed," Elizabeth said, laughing. “Oh, Jane! Take care of yourself."

“My dear Lizzie, you cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now.”

"I think you're in great danger of making him love you the same way as before."

He did not see the gentlemen again until Tuesday; And Mrs. Bennet, meanwhile, was giving way to all those pleasant plans which Bingley's good humor and general politeness had revived in half an hour's journey.

On Tuesday a large party assembled at Longbourn; And to the credit of their punctuality as players, the two who were most eagerly expected were in very good time. When they repaired to the dining room, Elizabeth was anxious to see whether Bingley would take the place which, at all his former parties, had belonged to her sister. His prudent mother, haunted by the same thoughts, refrained from inviting him to sit with her. As soon as he entered the room{417}He started hesitating; But Jane looked around and smiled: it was decided. He placed himself near her.

Elizabeth looked at her friend triumphantly. He bore it with great indifference; And she would have imagined that Bingley had received her approval to be happy, had she not seen his eyes turn towards Mr. Darcy with an expression of half-laughing alarm.

His behavior towards his sister during the dinner was such that it showed admiration for her, although, although more cautious than before, he assured Elizabeth that, if left entirely to her, she would Jane's happiness, and her own, will be speedily secured. Although he did not dare to depend on the outcome, he was still pleased to see her behavior. It gave him all the liveliness of which his spirits could be proud; Because she was not happy. Mr. Darcy was about as far away from her as the table would separate them. He was on one side of his mother. She knew how little such a situation would bring any one pleasure, or appear to benefit anyone. She was not near enough to hear any of his sermons; But she could see how little they spoke to each other, and how formal and cold their behavior was when they did. Her mother's ingratitude made Elizabeth feel all the more painful what she owed her; and she would, sometimes, have given anything to have had the privilege of letting him know that her kindness was neither unknown nor felt to the whole family.

She was hoping that the evening would provide some opportunity to bring them together; that the entire journey will not end without enabling them{418}Engaging in conversation with something more than just the formal greeting that attends their entrance. Anxious and restless, the time passed in the drawing-room before the arrival of the gentlemen was wearisome and dull to such an extent that it became almost uncultured. She was looking forward to his entrance, on which all her chances of enjoying the evening must depend.

"If he doesn't come to me,  then  ," she said, "I will leave him forever."

The gentleman came; And he thought it seemed as if he had answered his hopes; but alas! The ladies were gathered around the table, where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring coffee, so close together that there was not a single space left to make room for a chair. And on the gentlemen's approach, one of the girls came closer to him than ever, and whispered, -

“People will not come and separate us, I am determined. We don't want any of that; Can we?"

Darcy had gone to another part of the room. She would follow him with her eyes, be jealous of anyone he talked to, never have enough patience to help anyone with their coffee, and then be angry at herself for being so stupid. !

“A man who was once refused! How could I be so foolish as to expect a renewal of his love? Is there anyone in the sex who would not resist such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? There is no insult so disgusting to their feelings.”

However, she was slightly revived by his bringing back her own coffee-cup; And he seized the opportunity to say,{419},

"Is your sister still at Pemberley?"

“Yes;  she will stay there until Christmas.”

“And all alone? Have all his friends abandoned him?”

"Mrs.  Annesley is with him.  The others have gone to Scarborough these three weeks."

She couldn't think of anything else to say; But if he wants to talk to him, he can get better success. However, he stood silently beside her for a few minutes; And, at last, on the maiden whispering again to Elizabeth, he went away.

When the tea-ware was removed, and the card tables laid, all the ladies arose; and Elizabeth had hopes of soon joining him, when all her views were turned upside down by seeing her succumb to her mother's gluttony of whistlings, and in a few moments sit down with the rest of the party. He now lost all hope of happiness. They were placed at separate tables for the evening; And he had nothing to hope for, but his eyes often darted to her side of the room, causing him to play unsuccessfully with her.

Mrs. Bennet had designed to have two gentlemen from Netherfield at dinner; But unfortunately, his train was ordered before the others, and he had no chance to stop them.

“Okay, girls,” she said, as soon as they were left to themselves, “what do you say today? I think everything has gone unusually well, I assure you. The decor at the dinner party was the same as I had ever seen before. The venison was roasted in turns – and everyone said, they had never seen such thick meat before. The soup was fifty times better than the one we ate at Lucas's last week; And even Mr. Darcy admitted that partridges were{420}Remarkably well done; And I think he has at least two or three French chefs. And, my dear Jane, I have never seen you more beautiful. Mrs. Long said so too, because I asked her if she had not done so. And what else do you think he said? 'Ahh! 'She'll find us at Netherfield at last, Mrs. Bennet!' He actually did it. I think Mrs. Long as fine a creature as ever—and her nieces are very well-mannered girls, and not at all pretty: I like them singularly.

"  Mrs.  Long  and her nieces.

{421}

Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in a very good mood: she had seen so much of Bingley's behavior towards Jane that she felt sure that she would have him after all; and her expectations of benefit to her family, when she was happy, were so beyond reason, that she was quite disappointed on not seeing him there again the next day to make her proposals.

Miss Bennet said to Elizabeth, "It has been a very pleasant day." “The party seemed so well chosen, so well suited to each other. I hope we will meet again often.”

Elizabeth smiled.

“Lizzie, you shouldn't do this. You should not doubt me. This humiliates me. I assure you that I have now learned to enjoy his conversation without any desire, as an agreeable and sensible young man. From her conduct now, I am fully satisfied that she never had any design to attract my affection. It is just that he is blessed with more sweetness of address and generally a stronger desire to please than any other person.

“You are very cruel,” said his sister, “you do not let me smile, and you provoke me to do so every moment.”

“How hard it is to believe in some cases! And how impossible in others! But why would you want me to believe that I feel more than I admit?”

“That's a question I hardly know how to answer. We all love to instruct, however we can only teach what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; And if you persist in indifference, then do not make me  your confidant  .{422},

"Lizzie, my dear, I want to talk to you."

Chapter LV

A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and in private. His friend had left him for London that morning, but he was to return home after ten days. He sat with them for more than an hour, and was{423}In remarkably good mood. Mrs. Bennet invites him to dine with her; But, with many expressions of concern, he confessed to being engaged elsewhere.

“Next time you call,” she said, “I hope we'll have more luck.”

He should be particularly happy at any time, etc., etc.; and if she will give him leave, she will take an early opportunity of waiting on them.

"can you come tomorrow?"

Yes, he had no engagement yesterday; And his invitation was readily accepted.

He arrived, and in such good time, that none of the women were wearing clothes. Mrs. Bennet ran into her daughters' room, in her dressing-gown, with her hair half combed, shouting, -

“My dear Jane, hurry up and hurry up. He has come - sir. Bingley has arrived. He really is. Hurry up, hurry up. Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and help her to put on her gown. Don't care about Miss Lizzie's hair."

"We'll be down as soon as we can," Jane said. "But I dare say Kitty is ahead of both of us, for she went up half an hour ago."

"Oh!  Kitty wait!  What's that got to do with it?  Come, hurry, hurry!  Where's your sash, my dear?"

But when her mother left, Jane was forced to go without one of her sisters.

In the evening the same restlessness to meet him again was visible. After tea, Mr. Bennet went to the library as was his tradition, and Mary went upstairs to her equipment. Thus two of the five obstacles were removed, Mrs. Bennet continued looking at Elizabeth and Katherine and closing her eyes for a long time,{424}To have any influence on them. Elizabeth will not inspect him; And when Kitty finally did, she said very innocently, “What's the matter, Mom? What do you keep winking at me for? what I have to do?"

“Nothing, child, nothing. I didn’t wink at you.” Then she sat for five more minutes; But unable to waste so precious an opportunity, she arose suddenly, and said to Kitty, -

“Come here, my love, I want to talk to you,” leading her out of the room. Jane immediately looked towards Elizabeth, who expressed her distress at such a presumption, and begged her  not  to yield to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half opened the door and called, -

"Lizzie, my dear, I want to talk to you."

Elizabeth was forced to leave.

“We might as well leave them alone, you know,” his mother said as she came into the hall. "Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in my dressing room."

Elizabeth made no attempt to appease her mother, but sat quietly in the hall until she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned to the drawing-room.

Mrs. Bennet's plans for this day were ineffective. Bingley was everything that was attractive, except his daughter's alleged lover. His spontaneity and cheerfulness made him a favorite at his evening party; And she endured the mother's unfair criticism, and listened to all her foolish remarks with forbearance and especially with a grateful face commanding the daughter.

He hardly needed an invitation to stay for dinner; And before she left, mainly through her and Mrs. Bennet, an engagement was fixed for her to come the next morning for the shooting with her husband.{425}

After this day, Jane said nothing more about her indifference. Not a word was said between the sisters regarding Bingley; But Elizabeth went to bed in the happy confidence that everything must be speedily accomplished, unless Mr. Darcy should return within the time stated. Although, in truth, she was completely convinced that all this must have happened with the gentleman's consent.

Bingley was punctual to his appointments; And as agreed, he and Mr. Bennet spent the morning together. The latter was more agreeable than his companion had expected. There was nothing presumptuous or foolish in Bingley that could excite his ridicule, or induce him to remain silent; And he was more talkative and less eccentric than anyone else had ever seen him. Of course Bingley returned with him to dinner; And in the evening Mrs. Bennet's invention was again at work to draw everyone away from her and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter to write, went into the breakfast-room for that purpose immediately after tea; Since everyone else was going to play cards, she did not want to contradict her mother's plans.

But on returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished, she saw, to her infinite surprise, that she had reason to fear that her mother was too simple for her. On opening the door, she saw her sister and Bingley standing together over the stove, as if engaged in serious conversation; And if it left no doubt, the faces of both of them, as they quickly turned and walked away from each other, would tell it all. His  situation was quite strange; But he thought that  his  was still worse. Neither of them uttered a single syllable; And Elizabeth was about to leave again, when Bingley, who was sitting next to her, sat down{426}Downstairs, she suddenly got up, and, whispering a few words to her sister, ran out of the room.

Jane could get no relief from Elizabeth, where confidence would have given happiness; and, immediately embracing her, confessed with the liveliest feeling that she was the happiest creature in the world.

"  '  It's too much!' He added, “So far so much. I do not deserve it. Oh, why isn’t everyone so happy?”

Elizabeth's congratulations were given with sincerity, warmth and delight, which are difficult to express in words. Every expression of kindness was a fresh source of joy to Jane. But she will not allow herself to live with her sister, or rather half of what is left to say at the moment.

“I must go to my mother at once,” she cried. “Under no circumstances will I ignore her affectionate requests, or allow her to hear from anyone other than me. He has already gone to my father. Oh, Lizzie, to know what I have to tell will give so much joy to all my dear family! How will I be able to bear so much happiness?”

Then she went quickly to her mother, who had deliberately broken up the card-party, and sat upstairs with Kitty.

Elizabeth, who herself was left alone, was now smiling at the speed and ease with which a matter had finally been resolved, which had caused her mystery and vexation for many months past.

“And this,” said he, “is the end of all his friend's worries! About all her sister's lies and tricks! The happiest, wisest and fairest ending!”

Within minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose{427}The meeting with his father was brief and purposeful.

"where is your sister?" She said quickly, as she opened the door.

“Upstairs with my mother. She'll go down in a moment, I dare say.”

Then she closed the door and came to him claiming a sister's good wishes and affection. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed her delight at the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands cordially; And then, until her sister came down, she had to listen to what she had to say about her happiness and Jane's excellence; And despite her being a lover, Elizabeth really believed that all her expectations of happiness were rationally founded, because they had at their foundation Jane's excellent understanding and exceedingly excellent disposition, and a general equality of feeling and taste between her and herself. . ,

It was no ordinary happy evening for them all; The satisfaction of Miss Bennet's mind gave such a glow of sweet liveliness to her face, which made her look more beautiful than ever. Kitty calmed down and smiled, and hoped that her turn would come soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her assent, or praise herself warmly enough to satisfy his feelings, though she spoke no more to Bingley for half an hour; And when Mr. Bennet joined them at dinner, his voice and mannerisms clearly showed how happy he really was.

However, not a word in hint of this passed from his lips until his visitor had taken leave for the night; But as soon as he left, he turned to his daughter and said, -

“Jane, I congratulate you. You must be a very happy woman.{428},

Jane immediately went to him, kissed him and thanked him for his goodness.

"You're a nice girl," he replied, "and I'm very happy to think you'll settle down so happily. I have  no doubt you'll do very well together.  Your nature anyhow Each of you is  so obedient that nothing will ever be solved;  so easy-going that every servant will betray you;  and so generous, that you will always live beyond your means.”

“I hope that doesn't happen. Ignorance or thoughtlessness in money matters  would be unforgivable to  me .”

“More than their income! “My dear Mr. Bennet,” cried his wife, “what are you talking about? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and possibly more.” Then addressing her daughter she said, “Oh, my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I'm sure I won't sleep a wink the whole night. I knew how it would be. I always said that this is how it should happen eventually. I was sure you couldn't be so beautiful just like that! I remember, as soon as I saw him, when he came to Hertfordshire for the first time last year, I thought what a possibility it was that you might get together. Oh, he is the most handsome young man I have ever seen!”

Wickham, Lydia, all were forgotten. Jane was his favorite child beyond competition. At that moment he didn't care about anyone else. Her younger sisters soon became interested with her in the objects of happiness which she might be able to give in the future.

Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; And Kitty used to beg desperately for some balls there every winter.

Bingley was, by this time, certainly a daily visitor to Longbourn; Coming frequently before breakfast, and always staying till after dinner; unless something{429}The barbaric neighbor, who could not be hated so much, had invited him to dinner, which he felt bound to accept.

Elizabeth now had little time for conversation with her sister; For as long as he was present, Jane had no attention to give to anyone else: but she found herself quite useful to both of them, in those hours of separation which sometimes happen. In Jane's absence, he was always attached to Elizabeth for the pleasure of talking about her; And when Bingley was gone, Jane continued to seek the same means of relief.

“He has made me very happy,” she said one evening, “by telling me that he was completely ignorant of my being in town last spring!  I did not believe it was possible.”

Elizabeth replied, "I suspected as much." "But how did he account for it?"

“This must have been the work of his sisters. From his acquaintance with me he was certainly no friend, at which I cannot wonder, as he might have chosen much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to be content, and we will be on good terms again: although we can never be the same to each other again .

"That is the most unforgivable speech I have heard you speak," said Elizabeth. Good girl! "Indeed, it would trouble me very much to see you again defrauded by Miss Bingley's feigned honour."

“Would you believe it, Lizzie, that he really loved me when he went to town last November, and that  my  indifference could prevent him from coming again?{430},

“Sure he made a small mistake; But the credit for this goes to his humility.”

This naturally led to admiration on Jane's part for her self-confidence and her little regard for her own good qualities.

Elizabeth was pleased to find that she had not betrayed her friend's intercession; Although Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she knew that this was a circumstance that would prejudice her against him.

“I am definitely the luckiest creature to ever exist!” Jane cried. “Oh, Lizzie, why am I so separated from my family, and blessed above them all?  If only I could see you happy!  If only there were another man like that for you!”

“If you give me forty such men I will never be as happy as you. As long as I have your nature, your goodness, I can never find your happiness. No, no, let me shift for you; And, perhaps, if I'm lucky, I may meet another Mr. Collins in time.

The state of affairs in the Longbourne family could not remain a secret for long. Mrs. Bennet had the privilege of whispering this to Mrs. Phillips, and she had the courage to do so, without permission, to all her neighbors at Maryton.

The Bennetts were swiftly declared the luckiest family in the world; Although just a few weeks earlier, when Lydia first ran away, it had generally been proven that they were marked for bad luck.{431}

Chapter LVI.

Early one morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement to Jane, as he and the ladies of the family sat together in the dining room, his attention was suddenly attracted to the window by the sound of a carriage; And they saw a car and four people going towards the lawn. There was plenty of time in the morning for visitors; And furthermore, the device did not respond to any of their neighbors. The horses were mail; And neither the carriage, nor the attire of the servant who preceded him, were familiar to him. As{432}However, certain that someone was coming, Bingley immediately overpowered Miss Bennet and went with her into the bushes to avoid such an intrusive captivity. Both of them started walking; and the remaining three continued to guess, though with little satisfaction, until the door was opened, and their visitor entered. This was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

No doubt they all wanted to be surprised: but their surprise was beyond their expectations; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, although she was a complete stranger to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

She entered the room with a more ungrateful expression than usual, made no reply to Elizabeth's greeting except to bow her head slightly, and sat down without a word. Elizabeth told her mother her name on her entrance to the Ladyship, although no request for introduction was made.

Mrs. Bennet, much surprised, though delighted to have a guest of so high importance, yet received him with the utmost politeness. After sitting in silence for a moment, he said very harshly to Elizabeth, -

“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. I assume that woman is your mother?”

Elizabeth replied very briefly that she was.

"And  she is  , I assume, one of your sisters?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Mrs. Bennet, pleased to speak to Lady Katherine. “She is my youngest daughter except one. My youngest child recently got married, and my eldest child is moving somewhere with a young man who, I believe, will soon become part of the family.{433},

“You have a very nice little park here,” returned Lady Catherine, after a short silence.

“It's nothing compared to Rosings, my lady, I dare say; But, I assure you, it is much bigger than Sir William Lucas."

"This would be a most uncomfortable sitting-room for a summer evening: the windows face entirely west."

Mrs. Bennet assured him that they would never sit there after dinner; And then added,-

“May I take the liberty of asking your Ladyship if you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well?”

“Yes very well.  I saw them the night before last.”

Elizabeth now hoped that he would bring her a letter from Charlotte, as this seemed the only possible purpose for calling her. But no letter appeared and she was completely surprised.

Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, besought her Ladyship to have some refreshment: but Lady Catherine very firmly, and not very politely, refused to eat anything; And then he got up and said to Elizabeth,-

“Miss Bennet, the little forest on one side of your lawn looked very beautiful. If you would help me in your company, I would be happy to make changes in it.

“Go, my dear,” cried his mother, “and show her Ladyship about the different regions.  I think she will be pleased with the ashram.

Elizabeth obeyed; and, rushing to his room for his parasol, attended his noble guest below. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors of the dining-parlor and drawing-room, and after a brief survey proceeded to describe them as decent-looking rooms.{434}

Her carriage stood at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting lady was in it. They proceeded silently along the gravel path that led to the corpse; Elizabeth was determined not to make any effort at conversation with the lady who was now more obstinate and disagreeable than usual.

"After a brief survey"

[  Copyright 1894 by George Allen. ,

{435}

"How can I think of him as my nephew?" He said looking at his face.

As soon as they entered the hearse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:—

“It would do you no harm to understand the reason for my visit here, Miss Bennet. Your own heart, your own conscience will tell you why I have come.”

Elizabeth looked on with unaffected surprise.

“Indeed, you are wrong, madam; I am not at all able to describe the honor I feel seeing you here.”

"Miss Bennet," replied her Ladyship in an angry tone, "you must know that I am not to be trifled with.  But   no matter how insincere  you may be, you will not find me  that way.  My character has always been characterized by my honesty and have been celebrated for frankness;  and at such a moment, I would certainly not shrink from it.  Two days ago a report of an extremely worrying nature reached me.  I was told, that not only is your sister on the verge of a most advantageous marriage But rather  you  - Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will, in all probability, soon meet my nephew - my own nephew, Mr. Darcy.  Although I  know  it would be a scandalous lie, though I would not injure her so much as the truth of I decided to leave for this place immediately, so that I could make my feelings known to you.

“If you believe it to be impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, tinged with surprise and contempt, “I wonder you took the trouble to come so far.” What can your Ladyship propose by this?

“It is immediately wrong to insist on universally refuting such reports.{436},

Elizabeth said calmly, "Your coming to Longbourn to see me and my family will rather be a confirmation of this—if, indeed, any such report exists."

“If!  Then do you pretend to be ignorant of it?  Has it not been diligently disseminated by you yourself?  Do you not know that such reports have spread abroad?”

"I never heard it was like that."

"And can you also say that  there is no basis for this  ?"

“I do not pretend to have the same frankness with your Ladyship. You  can ask questions  I  don’t want to answer.”

“This is not to be tolerated. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, my nephew, proposed marriage to you?”

“Your Ladyship has declared it impossible.”

"It should happen like this only; This must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But  your  arts and seductions, in a moment of infatuation, may have caused him to forget what duty he owed to himself and to his entire family. You may have pulled him in.

"If I have, I'll be the last person to admit it."

“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I am not used to this kind of language. I am his nearest relative in the world and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

“But you   have no right to know  what I say ; Nor will this kind of behavior ever motivate me to come clean.”

“Let me understand properly. This match that you desire may never happen. No, never. Mr. Darcy   is engaged to  my daughter . Now, what do you have to say?{437},

"Only that, if he is so, you can have no reason to believe that he will make me any proposal."

Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, -

“The connection between them is a strange one. They have been there for each other since childhood. This was his mother's favorite wish   as well  . While in his cradle we made plans to meet; And now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters should be fulfilled, can their marriage be prevented by a young lady of low birth, of no importance in the world, and completely in disagreement with the family? Do you care nothing for the wishes of his friends—his tacit association with Miss de Bourgh? Are you deprived of every sense of propriety and humility? Didn’t you hear me say that since childhood he was meant for his cousin?”

"Yes;  and I have heard it before.  But what does it mean to me?  If I have no objection to marrying your nephew, I certainly would not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wanted that he should marry Miss de Bourgh.  You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage.  Its completion depended on others.  If Mr. Darcy neither out of respect nor out of inclination would go to his cousin are limited, then why shouldn't they choose another option?  And if I like that, why can't I accept it?"

“Because respect, decorum, prudence—no, interest—stop it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interested; If you deliberately act against everyone's best interest, don't expect her family or friends to pay attention to you. Everyone associated with him will condemn you, despise you, and despise you. Your alliance will be humiliating; Your name will never be mentioned by any of us.{438},

"These are great misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But Mr. Darcy's wife must have such extraordinary sources of happiness attached to her situation that, on the whole, she has no reason to regret it."

“Stubborn, stubborn girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this my gratitude for your attention to me last spring? Am I not owed anything in that regard? Let's sit. You must understand, Miss Bennet, that I have come here with a determination to accomplish my purpose; Nor will I turn away from it. I am not in the habit of bowing to the whims of any person. I am not used to bearing disappointment.”

“  This  will make your ladyship's present condition even more miserable; But it  will have no effect on  me .”

“I will not be interrupted! Listen to me calmly. My daughter and my nephew are made for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble lineage; and, on the father's side, from respectable, venerable, and ancient, though untitled, families. Their luck is excellent from both sides. They are assigned to each other by the voice of each member of their respective houses; And what is there to share them?—the pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune! Will this have to be tolerated? But this should not happen, it will not happen! If you were smart about your well-being, you wouldn't want to leave the area in which you grew up.

“By marrying your nephew I should not think that I have left that area. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; “So far we are equal.”

"True.  You  are a gentleman's daughter  .  But who was your mother?  Who are your uncles and aunts?  Don't think I am ignorant of their situation.{439},

Elizabeth said, "Whatever my relations may be, if your nephew has no objection to them, they   can be nothing to you ."

“Tell me at once, are you engaged to her?”

Although Elizabeth, if only to oblige Lady Katherine, might not have answered this question, after a moment's deliberation, she could not help but say, -

"I am not."

Lady Catherine seemed pleased.

"And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement again?"

"I wouldn't make any promises like that."

“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I had hoped to find a more understanding young woman. But don't deceive yourself into believing that I will ever back down. “I won’t leave until you give me the reassurance I need.”

“And I would certainly  never  give it up. I shouldn't be afraid of something completely unreasonable. Your Ladyship wishes Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; But will my giving you the expected promise  make their  chances of marriage more likely? Suppose he is attached to me, would  my  refusal to accept his hand make him want to give it to his cousin? Lady Catherine, allow me to say that the arguments with which you supported this extraordinary application were as trivial as the application was misjudged. If you think that I can be worked over by such persuasion, you are grossly mistaken about my character. To what extent your nephew  can accept your interference in his affairs  , I cannot say; But you have no right to worry about me. Therefore, I must beg you not to proceed further on this subject.{440},

“If you want, don't be so hasty. I have never done. To all the objections I have already raised, I have one more objection to add. I am not unfamiliar with the details of your youngest sister's infamous elopement. I know all this; That the young man marrying her was a compromise business at the expense of your father and uncle. And  will such  a girl be my nephew's sister? Will  her  husband, the son of her late father's manager, turn out to be her brother? Heaven and earth!—What are you thinking? Will the sheds at Pemberley be polluted like this?”

"  There's nothing more for you to say now  ," he replied indignantly. “You have insulted me in every possible way. “I have to beg to return home.”

And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine also got up and returned. Her Ladyship was extremely angry.

“Then, you don’t care about my nephew’s honor and credit! Emotionless, selfish girl! Don’t you think that having a relationship with you would humiliate her in everyone’s eyes?”

“Lady Catherine, I have nothing more to say. You know my feelings.”

“Then you have decided to get him?”

“I have not said any such thing. I have resolved to act only in that manner which, in my own opinion, will lead to my happiness, without  reference to you  or to any person entirely unconnected with me.

"That's well.  Then again, you refuse to oblige me.  You refuse to acknowledge the claims of duty, honor, and gratitude.  You are ruining him in the eyes of all his friends and making him the contempt of the world. You are hell-bent on making it."

Elizabeth replied, "In the present instance, neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude have any possible claim on me." No principle will be violated by me{441}Marriage with Mr. Darcy. And as to the displeasure of her family, or the indignation of the world, if the former had been excited by her marrying me   , it would not have worried me a moment - and the world in general had very little time to get involved in it. Would have made more sense. Scorn."

“And this is your actual opinion! This is your final resolution! very well. Now I will know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be fulfilled. I have come to test you. I hoped I would find you suitable; But depending on this, I will make my point.”

In this manner Lady Catherine continued talking until they came to the carriage door, then, turning quickly, she said, -

“I will take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I don't send any congratulations to your mother. You don't deserve this kind of attention. I am very unhappy.”

Elizabeth made no answer; and went into it quietly, without attempting to persuade his lady to return to the house. As she moved upstairs, she heard a car driving away. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of her dressing room, to ask why Lady Catherine did not come in again and rest.

"He didn't choose it," said his daughter; "She will go."

“She is a very good looking lady! And it was very polite of him to invite me here! Because she just came to tell us that Collins is okay. He's on his street somewhere, I dare say; And so, passing through Meryton, I thought she might meet you too. "I guess he had nothing much to say to you, Lizzie?"

Elizabeth was here forced to submit to a little falsehood; Because it was impossible to accept the essence of their conversation.{442}

"But now it has come to light."

Chapter LVII.

The despair into which this extraordinary journey threw Elizabeth could not be easily cured; Nor could she learn to think about it continuously for several hours. It appeared that Lady Catherine had actually taken the trouble of this visit to the Rosings for the sole purpose of breaking off her alleged engagement to Mr. Darcy. Of course, it was a logical plan! But on what basis the news of their engagement would emerge, Elizabeth was unable to imagine; Until she remembered that  her  being Bingley's close friend, and  her  being Jane's sister, were enough, at a time when the expectation of one marriage made everyone anxious for another, to supply the idea of . She herself had not forgotten to feel that her sister's marriage would bring them together more often. And his neighbors at Lucas Lodge, therefore, (through them).{443}The communications with the Collinses (reports, he concluded, had reached Lady Catherine)   had only set  it as almost certain and immediate which she  expected to be possible at some future time.

However, from Lady Catherine's changing expressions, she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the probable consequence of persisting in this interference. From what he had said about his resolution to prevent the marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she should consider an application for her nephew; And how he could make a similar representation of the evils connected with her connection, he did not dare to say. She did not know how great was his affection for his aunt, or what was his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose that he thought more   highly of her Ladyship than  she could imagine;  and it was certain, that while enumerating the sorrows of marriage with  one whose immediate relations were so unequal to her own, her aunt would address her to her weakest side. With his own notions of dignity, he would probably have felt that the arguments that Elizabeth found weak and ridiculous contained a lot of good sense and solid logic.

If he was at first in two minds as to what he should do, which often seemed likely, the advice and entreaties of so close a relation might resolve his every doubt, and set him at once determined to be as happy as Is as immaculate as dignity can make him. In such a situation he will not return now. Lady Catherine could see him on her way into town; And her return to Netherfield must give way to her engagement with Bingley.

“So, if in a few days his friend comes up with an excuse for not keeping his promise,” he said, “I will know how to explain it. so i will give{444}His steadfastness at every expectation, every wish. If he is content merely to feel sorry for me, when he could have had my affection and hand, I will soon cease to feel sorry for him."

The rest of the family were greatly surprised to hear who their guest was: but they satisfied it with the same conjecture which had gratified Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and Elizabeth was saved from further irritation on this subject.

The next morning, as she was going down the stairs, she met her father, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.

"Lizzie," he said, "I was going to find you: come to my room."

She started following him there; And her curiosity to know what he had to say to her was increased by the supposition that it was in some way connected with the letter he kept. It suddenly occurred to him that it might be from Lady Catherine, and he anticipated with dismay all the resulting explanations.

She followed her father to the fireplace and they both sat down. Then he said,-

“I have received a letter this morning which has greatly surprised me. Since it primarily concerns itself, you should know its contents. I did not know earlier that my  two  daughters were on the verge of marriage. I congratulate you on a very important victory.”

The color now ran across Elizabeth's cheeks and she immediately believed it was a letter from the nephew rather than from the aunt; And she was unsure whether she would be most pleased that he explained himself, or angry that her letter was not addressed to him, while her father continued,{445},

“You seem alert. Young women have a great say in matters like these; But I think  I can even challenge your intelligence  to know the name of your fan  . This letter is from Mr. Collins.

“From Mr. Collins! And   what can he say?”

“Of course, a lot of things on purpose. He begins with congratulations on the marriage of my eldest daughter, about which, it seems, he has been told by some good-natured, gossipy Lucases. I wouldn't play with your impatience by reading what he says on that issue. That which is related to you is as follows:-'Having thus given you the hearty congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event, I wish now to add a brief hint on another subject, about which we have been informed by the same Has been done rights. It is believed that your daughter Elizabeth will not long bear the name of Bennet, as her eldest sister has given up the name; and the chosen companion of his fortune may justly be looked upon as one of the most distinguished men of this land.' Can you guess what it means, Lizzie? 'This young gentleman has, in a strange way, everything that the heart of man can most desire,—magnificent property, noble relatives, and extensive patronage. Yet, in spite of all these temptations, I warn my cousin Elizabeth and you what evils may befall you by immediately turning a halt to this gentleman's overtures, of which, no doubt, you will be inclined to take immediate advantage. ' Do you have any idea, Lizzie, who this gentleman is? But now this has come to light. 'My purpose in cautioning you is as follows:—We have reason to imagine that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not view the match with a friendly eye.' You see,  Mr. Darcy is the man! Now, Lizzie, I think{446}I  have surprised you  . Could he, or Lucas, have chosen someone within our circle of acquaintances whose name more effectively sums up the lie they relate? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at a woman except to find fault, and who probably  never even looked at you  in his life  ! I'd appreciate it!"

Elizabeth tried to share in her father's happiness, but could only offer a reluctant smile. His intellect had never been directed in a way so little favorable to him.

"Aren't you distracted?"

“Oh yes.  Pray read on.”

'  '  After mentioning the possibility of this marriage to her Ladyship last night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she felt on the occasion; When it became clear, that, owing to some family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her consent to what she called so humiliating a marriage. I thought it my duty to give my cousin the quickest information of this, so that she and her noble admirer might know what they were getting into, and not hastily attend a marriage which had not been properly solemnised. Approval may not have been given. Furthermore, says Mr. Collins, 'I am really glad that my cousin Lydia's sad business has been so well laid down, and I am only concerned that her living together before marriage should go generally. should go. However, I must not neglect the duties of my station, or refrain from expressing my surprise at hearing that you accepted the young couple into your home as soon as they were married. This was an encouragement to vice; And if I had been Rector of Longbourn I should have strongly opposed it. As a Christian you should definitely forgive them, but never accept them{447}Allow their names to be mentioned in your sight, or in your hearing.' This  is their notion of Christian forgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about the condition of his beloved Charlotte and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzie, you look as if you didn't enjoy it. I hope you  won't be  a fool and pretend to be insulted over a useless report. What are we living for, except to make games for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn?”

“Oh,” cried Elizabeth, “I am exceedingly distracted.  But this is very strange!”

“Yeah,  that  's what makes it fun. If they had settled on another man nothing would have happened; But  his  complete indifference and  your  sharp dislike make it so delightfully absurd! Although I hate writing, yet I would not part with Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration. Nay, when I read one of his letters, I could not help preferring it even to Wickham, for I greatly value the shamelessness and hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzie, what did Lady Catherine say about this report? “Did he call to deny his consent?”

To this question his daughter simply replied laughing; And since it was asked without any doubt, she was not at pains to repeat it. Elizabeth had never had such trouble making her emotions appear as if they were not. When she cried it was necessary to laugh. She was deeply hurt by what her father said about Mr. Darcy's indifference; And she could not help but wonder at such a desire of admission, or fear that, perhaps,  instead of seeing too little of her, she  Must have imagined  more .{448}

“Her aunt's efforts.”

Chapter LVIII.

Instead of receiving such a letter of excuse from his friend, as Elizabeth had expected from Mr. Bingley, he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before several days had passed before Lady Katherine's visit. gentlemen{449}Came early; And, before Mrs. Bennet had time to tell them that she had seen their aunt, causing her daughter to sit in momentary fear, Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, ordered them all to go out. Gave the proposal. It was agreed upon. Mrs. Bennet was not in the habit of walking, Mary could never find time, but the other five set out together. However, Bingley and Jane soon allow others to overtake them. They lagged behind, while Elizabeth, Kitty and Darcy had to entertain each other. Neither of them said very little; Kitty was very afraid to talk to him; Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution; And, perhaps, he might be doing the same.

They set off towards Lucasse's, as Kitty wanted to call Maria; And as Elizabeth had no opportunity of making it a general concern, when Kitty left them she boldly went away with her alone. Now the time had come to put his resolution into action; And while his courage was high, he immediately said, -

"Mr.  Darcy, I am a very selfish creature and I do not care what injury I may do to yours in order to relieve my own feelings.  I thank you now for your matchless kindness towards my poor sister. I can't stop myself from giving.  Ever since I found out, I've been very eager to admit to you how grateful I feel about it.  If the rest of my family knew this, I wouldn't be able to express it. “Should not have just kept my gratitude to myself.”

“I am sorry, extremely sorry,” replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise and emotion, “that you have ever been informed that, wrongly, it might cause you uneasiness. I did not think  that Mrs. Gardiner But so little can be trusted.”

“You shouldn't blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness{450}At first you deceived me that you were concerned about this matter; And, of course, I couldn't rest until I knew the details. On behalf of my entire family, I thank you again and again for the generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble and endure so much suffering to find him.

“If you  will thank me  ,” he replied, “let it be only for yourself. The desire to give you pleasure may force other temptations which have led me on, I will not attempt to deny. But your  family  doesn't owe me anything. As much as I respect him, I believe I only   thought about you .

Elizabeth was too embarrassed to say a word. After a pause, his partner said, “You are very generous to mess with me. If your feelings are still the same as they were last April, let me know right away. My  affections and desires are unchanged; But one word from you will silence me forever on this subject.”

Elizabeth, feeling more than the usual awkwardness and anxiety of her situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very readily, she perceived that since the period she had alluded to there had been so considerable a change in his feelings, that she had to accept his present assurances with gratitude and joy. . The happiness this answer brought was perhaps never felt before; And he expressed himself on this occasion with as much understanding and warmth as a man violent in love could do. If Elizabeth had been able to meet his eyes, she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt joy spread across his face: but though she could not see, yet she could hear; and he told her about it{451}Feelings that proved how important she was to him, making his affection more precious every moment.

Don't know in which direction they started walking. There was too much to think, feel and say to pay attention to anything else. She soon discovered that she was indebted for her present good understanding to the efforts of her aunt, who had visited her on her return from London  ,  and of the substance of her visit to Longbourn, its purpose, and her conversation with Elizabeth. told; emphatically focusing on every expression of the latter, which shows her perversion and assurance, especially in her Ladyship's apprehension, in the belief that such a relationship would lead to the receipt of that promise from her nephew. should assist in the efforts to which  he  had refused to give. But, unfortunately for Her Ladyship, it had quite the opposite effect.

“It taught me to hope,” he said, “because I had rarely allowed myself to hope before. I certainly knew enough of your disposition that, if you had decided against me absolutely, irrevocably, you would have confessed it plainly and openly to Lady Catherine.

Elizabeth laughed and replied, "Yes, you  know enough about my frankness that you can trust me that I  I am capable of  this . After abusing you so disgustingly, I can have no hesitation in abusing all your relatives.

“What did you say about me that I didn't deserve? Although your allegations were false, baseless, my conduct towards you at the time drew strong condemnation. This was unforgivable. I can't even think about it without disgust.

"We will not quarrel for the greater share of the blame attached that evening," said Elizabeth. "Operation{452}None of these, if strictly examined, will be found impeachable; But I hope that our civilization has improved since then."

“I cannot reconcile myself to myself so easily. The recollection of what I said then, the recollection of my conduct, my conduct, my expressions, is inexpressibly painful to me even now, and for many months now. Your rebuke, so well delivered, I will never forget: 'If only you had behaved more gentlemanly.' These were your words. You don't know, you can't even imagine, what kind of torture they have done to me; However, I confess it took some time before I was wise enough to do them justice.”

“I was certainly far from expecting him to make such a strong impression. “I had no idea they would ever feel this way.”

“I can easily believe it. You then thought me devoid of every reasonable feeling, I am sure you did. I will never forget the look on your face, as you said that I could not address you in any possible way that would lead you to accept me.

“Oh, don't repeat what I said then. These memories will not last at all. I assure you that I have been deeply ashamed of this for a long time.

Darcy mentions his letter. “It did,” he said,—“does that  sooner  make you think better of me?” Did you give any credit to its content after reading it?”

He described what effect it had on him and how gradually all his previous prejudices went away.

“I knew,” he said, “that what I have written must pain you, but it was necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part, especially the opening, about which I should be afraid of your power.{453}Read again. I remember some expressions that might make you hate me.”

“If you consider it necessary to protect my honor, the letter will certainly be burned; But, although we both have reason to think that my opinions are not entirely immutable, I hope they will not change so easily as it implies.

“When I wrote that letter,” replied Darcy, “I believed that I was perfectly sober and sober; But I am now convinced that it was written in terrible bitterness of soul.”

“The letter, perhaps, began with bitterness, but it did not end there. Farewell is charity. But don't think about the letter now. The feelings of the person who wrote and the person who received it now differ so widely from those at the time that every unpleasant circumstance attending it must be forgotten. You must learn some of my philosophies. Just think about the past because its memory gives you happiness.”

“I cannot credit you with any such philosophy. Your  retrospects must be entirely devoid of condemnation, so that the satisfaction arising from them is not that of philosophy, but, better still, that of ignorance. But  it is not so with me  . Traumatic memories will intrude, which cannot be, which should not be repelled. I have been a selfish creature all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what  was right  , but I was not taught to improve my nature. I was given good principles, but because of pride and conceit I stopped following them. Unfortunately, I was an only son (an only  child for many years  ), I was spoiled by my parents, who, while good themselves (especially my father, was all kind and friendly), allowed me, encouraged me, almost Taught me to be selfish and overbearing, not caring about anyone but myself{454}To think little of my family circle, to think little of the rest of the world,  to think little of their understanding and value, at least compared to mine  . So I was eight to eight-twenty years old; And I would still be so, but for you, dearest, dearest Elizabeth! What don't you owe me! You taught me a lesson, it was hard in the beginning, but most beneficial. By you, I am appropriately humbled. I came to you without any doubt about my welcome. You showed me how inadequate all my claims were to make a worthy woman happy.

“Did you then convince yourself that I should do this?”

“Actually I had. What will you think of my arrogance? I was sure you would be waiting for my address.”

“My conduct may have been flawed, but not intentionally, I assure you. It was never my intention to deceive you, but my spirits can often lead me into error.  How much you must have hated me after  that evening !”

"Hate you!  I may have been angry at first, but my anger soon took a proper direction."

“I'm almost afraid to ask what you thought of me when we met at Pemberley. You blame me for coming?”

"No, actually, I felt nothing but surprise."

“Your surprise in attracting my attention   cannot be greater  than mine . My conscience told me that I was not entitled to any extraordinary delicacy, and I confess that I did   not expect to receive more than was my due. ,

 “ My object  then ,” answered Darcy, “was to show you, by all my might, that I was not so wicked as to be angry with the past; And I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to soften your erroneous opinion, to let you see that your rebuke had been heeded. How soon another desire made itself known I can hardly tell{455}Tell me, but I believed it after about half an hour of seeing you.”

He then told her of Georgiana's pleasure at his introduction and her disappointment at the sudden interruption; Which naturally caused that interruption, he soon discovered that his resolution to follow him through Derbyshire in search of his sister had been formed before he left the inn, and that his seriousness and thoughtfulness there had not arisen from any other conflict. Had happened. Such purpose must be understood.

He again expressed his gratitude, but it was too painful a subject to be discussed in much detail.

After walking several miles at a leisurely pace, and being too busy trying to figure out anything about it, at last, on checking their watches, they realized it was time to be home.

"What could have happened to Mr. Bingley and Jane?" There was a surprise which started the discussion of  his  affairs  . Darcy was happy with their engagement; The first information about this was given to him by his friend.

"I must ask, were you surprised?" Elizabeth said.

“Not at all.  When I left I thought it would happen soon.

“It means you gave your permission. I guessed as much.''  And though he cringed at the word, he found that was very much the case.

“The evening before I left for London,” he said, “I made a confession to him, which I believe I should have made long ago. I told him everything that had happened to make my former interference in his affairs seem absurd and impertinent. His surprise was very big. He never had the slightest doubt. I told him, moreover, that I{456}I believed I had made a mistake in supposing, as I did, that your sister was indifferent to him; And as I could easily understand that his affection for her remained intact, I had no doubt of their happiness together.

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at his easy way of directing her friend.

"Did you speak from your observation," she said, "when you told him that my sister loved him, or only from my knowledge last spring?"

“From the east. I saw him closely during two recent meetings; And I became convinced of her affection.”

“And I think your reassurance reassured him immediately.”

"It did.  Bingley is most unaffectedly polite.  His unbelief had prevented him from relying on his own judgment in so worrying a matter, but his dependence on my judgment made everything easier.  I have one thing to confess. was obliged, which for some time, and not unjustly, displeased him.  I could not permit myself to conceal that your sister was in town three months last winter, this I knew, and I deliberately Hiding this thing.  He was angry.  But I believe that his anger will not last until he has no doubts about your sister's feelings.  He has now forgiven me wholeheartedly."

Elizabeth wished to see that Mr. Bingley was her best friend; So easily guided that its value was inestimable; But he checked himself. He remembered that he had yet to learn to laugh, and it was too early to start. Anticipating Bingley's happiness, which was certainly inferior to her own, she continued the conversation until they reached home. They separated in the hall.{457}

"Unable to speak even a single syllable."

Chapter lix.

,Dear Lizzie, where are you going?"  This was the question that Elizabeth asked Jane as soon as she entered the room, and everyone else as they sat down at the table.  All she had to say in reply was{458}They kept wandering here and there until they were beyond their knowledge. She became colorful as she spoke; But neither that, nor anything else, raised doubts about the truth.

The evening passed quietly, nothing extraordinary was noticed. The accepted lovers talked and laughed; The strangers were silent. Darcy was not of that nature which reflected happiness in happiness; And Elizabeth, agitated and confused,  instead of feeling  herself so,  knew  that she was happy; For, besides the immediate embarrassment, he had other evils at stake. She anticipated what the family would feel when her condition was discovered: she knew that no one liked her except Jane; and even he feared that with others it was a  dislike  which all his fortunes and results could not overcome.

At night he opened his heart to Jane. Although suspicion was far from Miss Bennet's usual habits, she was here absolutely incredible.

“You've got to be kidding, Lizzie. This cannot be! Engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you will not deceive me: I know it is impossible.

“This is truly a wretched beginning! My only dependence was on you; And I'm sure no one will believe me if you don't. Still, really, I'm honest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me and we are engaged.”

Jane looked at him suspiciously. “Oh, Lizzie! it is not possible. I know how much you dislike him.”

“You don't know anything about this matter. All that  has to be forgotten. Maybe I didn't always love her as much as I do now; But a good memory in such cases is inexcusable. This is the last time I will ever remember it myself.{459},

Miss Bennet still looked surprised. Elizabeth then, more seriously, assured him of its truth.

“Good heavens!  can it really be so?  Yet now I must believe you,” cried Jane.  “My dear, dear Lizzie, I congratulate you;  but are you sure—pardon the question—what? Are you sure you can be happy with him?

“There can be no doubt about it. It is already decided between us that we have to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you happy, Jane? Would you like to have such a brother?”

"Very, very much.  Nothing could give Bingley or me more happiness.  But we thought it over, we thought it impossible.  And do you really love her enough?  Oh, Lizzie!  To marry without affection Do anything instead.  Are you sure you feel what you should do?"

"Oh yes!  When I tell you everything you will only think that I   feel more than I should."

"what do you mean?"

“Why, I must confess that I love her more than Bingley. I’m afraid you’ll be angry.”

“My dearest sister,  get  serious  now. I want to talk very seriously. Whatever I need to know, tell me without delay. “Will you tell me how long you have loved her?”

“It's happening so slowly that I don't know when it started; But I believe I must date it from the time I first saw their beautiful grounds at Pemberley.”

However, a further plea that she would be serious produced the desired effect; and he soon satisfied Jane with solemn assurances of his affection. Convinced of that article, Miss Bennet had nothing more to desire.{460}

“Now I am quite happy,” she said, “because you will be happy like me. I always had a value for him. If it were nothing else than his love for you, I would always have respected him; But now, as Bingley's friend and your husband, only Bingley and you can be dearer to me. But, Lizzie, you have been very sly, very coy with me. How little you told me about what happened at Pemberley and Lambton! Whatever I know about it, I attribute it to someone else, not to you.”

Elizabeth told him the purpose of her secrecy. She was unwilling to mention Bingley; and the unstable state of her own feelings had forced her to equally avoid her friend's name: but she would no longer conceal from him her share in Lydia's marriage. All was accepted and half the night was spent in negotiations.

"good gracious!" The next morning, standing at a window, Mrs. Bennet shouted, "If that unpleasant Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley!" So tiring that what could be the point of coming here all the time? I had no idea but he would go for shooting or something and not bother us with his company. What will we do with him? Lizzie, you'll have to go out with him again, so that he doesn't get in Bingley's way.

Elizabeth could not help laughing at so convenient a proposal; Yet she was really upset that her mother kept calling her that epithet.

As soon as they came in, Bingley looked at him with such frankness, and shook his hand so warmly, that there could be no doubt of his good knowledge; And immediately thereafter he said loudly, “Mrs. Bennet, don't you now have a street in which Lizzie will lose her way again today?

"I recommend Mr. Darcy, and Lizzie, and Kitty," said Mrs.{461}Bennett, “to walk to Oakham Mount this morning. It's a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen a sight like this.

"It may do much good to others," replied Mr. Bingley; “But I'm sure it will be too much for Kitty. “Won’t that happen, kitty?”

Kitty believed that she liked staying at home. Darcy expressed great eagerness to see the view from the Mount and Elizabeth silently agreed. As she went up to get dressed, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying, -

“I am very sorry, Lizzie, that you have been forced to keep that unpleasant man about you; But I hope you don't mind it. You know, it's all for Jane; And there is no opportunity of talking to him except occasionally; So don't put yourself in discomfort.”

During their walk, it was decided that Mr. Bennet's consent should be sought during the evening: Elizabeth reserved the application for herself to her mother. She couldn't decide how her mother would take it; Sometimes there is doubt whether all her wealth and glory will be enough to overcome her hatred of that man; But whether she was violently against the match, or violently pleased with it, it was certain that her manner would be as bad as she gave credit to her understanding; And she could not bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first excitement of her joy compared to the first intensity of her disapproval.

In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet had gone into the library, she saw Mr. Darcy also get up and follow him, and this brought her excitement to its peak. He had no fear of his father's opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy, and it should be through his means; That  she  , his favorite child, is troubling him with her choices, filling him with fear and regret{462}Dispose of her, was a wretched reflection, and she sat in sorrow until Mr. Darcy reappeared, when, looking at him, his smile brought her some relief. In a few minutes he reached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; And, pretending to admire his work, he whispered, “Go to your father; He wants you in the library."  She went straight away.

Her father was pacing the room, looking serious and worried. "Lizzie," he said, "what are you doing?  Are you not in your senses to accept this man?  Don't you always hate him?"

How fervently he wished then that his former opinions had been more reasonable, his expressions more moderate! This would have saved her those explanations and professions which were extremely awkward to give; But they were now necessary, and she reassured him, with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.

“Or, in other words, you are determined to get it. She's certainly rich, and you can have nicer clothes and nicer cars than Jane. But will they make you happy?”

Elizabeth said, "Have you any other objection to my indifference than your belief in it?"

"Not at all.  We all know he's an arrogant, obnoxious kind of guy;  but it wouldn't be anything if you really liked him.

"I do, I like him," she replied with tears in her eyes; “I love her.  She really has no undue pride.  She is perfectly friendly.  You don't know what she really is;  then pray not to hurt me by saying such things about her.”

“Lizzie,” said her father, “I have given him my consent. He's really the kind of man I admire{463}One should never dare to refuse anything that one is ready to ask for. If you are determined to get it,  I give  it to you now  . But I advise you to think better about it. I know your nature, Lizzie. I know that you can neither be happy nor respectable unless you truly respect your husband, unless you consider him superior. Your vibrant talents will put you in greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You can hardly escape ignominy and sorrow. My child, do not be sad to see  me  unable to respect your partner in life. You don't know what you're doing."

Elizabeth, still more affected, was grave and grave in her reply; and, in detail, by repeatedly assuring her that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her liking, explaining the gradual change that had come about in her estimation of him, adding to her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months of suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she overcame her father's distrust, and persuaded him of the match.

“Well, my dear,” he said, when she stopped speaking, “I have nothing more to say. If so, then he deserves you. I could not part with you, my Lizzie, for any less worthy man.”

To complete the favorable impression, he then told her what Mr. Darcy had willingly done for Lydia. He listened to him with surprise.

“It is truly an evening of surprises! And so, Darcy did everything; Fixed the relationship, gave money, paid off the partner's loan and got him his commission! so much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. If your uncle had done it, I would certainly  have had to pay him  ; but this violent{464}Young lovers take things forward in their own way. I will offer him the money tomorrow, he will scream and fuss about his love for you, and the matter will be over.

Then she remembered her embarrassment on reading Mr. Collins's letter a few days before; And after laughing at her for some time, at last allowing her to go, she said as she left the room, "If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure."

Elizabeth's mind was now freed from a very heavy burden; and, after half an hour of quiet contemplation in her room, she was able to join the others with tolerable sobriety. Everything was too new for joy, but the evening passed peacefully; There was nothing to be afraid of now, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come with time.

When her mother went to her dressing room at night, she also followed her and had important conversations. Its effect was most extraordinary; For, on hearing it for the first time, Mrs. Bennet sat absolutely still, and was unable to utter a word. Nor was it within many, many minutes, that she could understand all that she heard, though whatever was for the benefit of her family, or to the credit of those who came as lovers to any of them. Generally she was not behind in giving. She took a long time to recover, rocking around in her chair, getting up, sitting down again, wondering and blessing herself.

"Good merciful!  Lord bless me!  Just think!  Dear me!  Mr. Darcy!  Who could have thought so?  And is it really true?  Oh, my dearest Lizzie!  How rich and how great you must be!  What a pin you have ! -Money, what jewels, what cars there must be!  Jane's got nothing in it—nothing.  I'm so happy—so happy.  Such a charming man!  So handsome!  So tall!  Oh my dear.{465}Lizzie! Pray I apologize for disliking him so much in the past. I hope he ignores it. Dear, dear Lizzie. A house in the city! All that is attractive! Marriage of three daughters! Ten thousand per year! Oh, Lord! what will happen to me? I will get distracted.”

This was enough to prove that there was no need to doubt his praise; And Elizabeth, happy that only she had heard such a flow, soon went away. But before she had been in her room three minutes, her mother came up behind her.

“My dearest child,” she said, crying, “I can't think of anything else. Ten thousand per year, and possibly even more! 'It's as good as a master! And a special license—you must marry under a special license. But, my dearest love, tell me which dish Mr. Darcy particularly likes, so that I may eat it tomorrow."

It was a sad omen of what her mother's behavior towards that gentleman might have been; And Elizabeth found that, although she had a certain right to his heartfelt affection, and the approval of her relatives secure, there was still something to be desired. But yesterday went better than he expected; For Mrs. Bennet was fortunately so in awe of her future son-in-law, that she dared not speak to him unless it were in her power to pay him any attention, or express her respect for his opinion.

Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father take pains to become acquainted with them; and Mr. Bennet soon assured him that his esteem was increasing every hour.

“I admire all three of my sons-in-law very much,” he said.  “Wickham is, perhaps, my favorite; But I think I'd  like your  husband to be just like Jane.{466},

"Consequent Civilization."

Chapter LX.

Elizabeth's spirits were soon rising again to fickleness, she desired Mr. Darcy to give an account of his having ever loved her. "How do you start?" He said. “I can understand how charmingly you got on when you once started; But what might distract you in the first place?{467},

“I cannot fix the hour, or the place, or the form, or the words which laid the foundation. It occurred a long time ago. Before I knew I had started, I was halfway through. '  '

“You were quick to tolerate my beauty, and as for my behavior –  my behavior towards you  always bordered at least on the border of rudeness, and I never spoke to you out of desire to cause you pain. Didn't do it. Now, be honest; Did you praise me for my audacity?”

"I did this to keep your mind alive."

“You could even call it presumptuous at one point. This was very little. The truth is that you were tired of civility, respect, and superficial attention. You hated women who always   spoke, looked and thought only to praise  you . I aroused and interested you, because I   was very different  from them . If you were not really amiable you would hate me for it: but in spite of the pains you took to conceal yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; And in your heart you completely despised those people who served you so diligently. There—I have saved you the trouble of calculating it; And actually, all things considered, it's starting to seem pretty reasonable to me. To be sure you don't know any real good about me—but  no one thinks about that when they fall in love. 

"Was there no goodness in your affectionate behavior towards Jane while she was sick at Netherfield?"

“Dear Jane! Who could do less for him? But by all means make a virtue of it. My good qualities are under your protection, and you exaggerate them as much as possible; And, in return, it is my job to find opportunities to irritate and quarrel with you as often as I can; And let me start by asking you directly why you are so reluctant to get to the point?{468}Why did you feel so embarrassed by me when you called me for the first time and later dined here? Especially, why did it seem like you didn’t care about me when you called?”

"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement."

"But I was embarrassed."

"And I was the same way."

"Maybe you talked to me more when we came to dinner."

"A man who felt less powerful."

"How unfortunate that you should have a proper answer to give, and I should be rational enough to accept it!  But I wonder how long you would have gone on if you had been left to your own devices   .  I wonder  when you would  have spoken if I had not asked you!  My resolution to thank you for your kindness to Lydia certainly had a very good effect.  Too much  , I fear;  if our comfort is violated by the promise What about morality, since I shouldn't have mentioned the subject?  That would never do."

“You don't need to torture yourself. Morality will be absolutely fair. Lady Catherine's unreasonable efforts to separate us were the means of allaying all my suspicions. I do not owe you an earnest desire of expressing my gratitude for my present happiness. I was in no mood to wait for your inauguration. My aunt’s wisdom gave me hope, and I resolved at once to know everything.”

“Lady Catherine has been infinitely useful, which should please her, for she loves to be useful. But tell me, what did you come to Netherfield for? Was it just to ride Longbourn and be embarrassed? Or did you intend a more serious outcome?{469},

“My real purpose  was to see  you , and decide whether I could ever hope that you would love me. My vow, or what I vowed to myself, was to see if your sister was still partial to Bingley, and if she was, to make to her the confession I have since made.

"Will you ever have the courage to tell Lady Catherine what is going to happen to her?"

“I need more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it must be done; And if you give me a paper it will be done straight away.”

“And if I had not a letter to write myself, I could sit beside you, and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I also have an aunt who should not be neglected any longer.”

Unwilling to admit how much importance she attached to her intimacy with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth had not yet replied to Mrs. Gardiner's long letter; But now,  after telling her that  she knew it would be welcomed, she was almost ashamed to learn that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days' happiness, and she immediately wrote thus:—

“My dear aunt, I would have thanked you earlier, as I should have, for your long, kind, satisfactory description; But, to be honest, I was very weak in writing. You believed more than actually existed. But  now  suppose as much as you choose; Give free rein to your imagination, indulge your imagination in every possible flight that the subject can afford, and unless you believe that I am really married, you cannot make a great mistake. You will have to write again soon and praise him more than last time. I thank you again and again for not going to the lakes. how can i be like this{470}It is foolish to wish for this! Your idea of ​​ponies is delightful. We will go around the park every day. I am the happiest creature in the world. Maybe other people have said this before, but no one with such justice. I'm even happier than Jane; She just smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that can be earned from me. You all have to come to Pemberley for Christmas. Yours,” etc.

Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Katherine was in a different style, and even different from the letter that Mr. Bennet had sent to Mr. Collins in return for his last letter.

"Dear Sir,

“For congratulations I have to trouble you once again. Elizabeth will soon be Mr. Darcy's wife. You can console Lady Catherine as well. But, if I were you, I would stand with your nephew. He has so much more to offer.

"Sincerely yours," etc.

Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother on his approaching marriage were affectionate and insincere. On this occasion he also wrote to Jane, to express his pleasure, and to reiterate his respect for all his former professions. Jane was not deceived, but she was impressed; And although she felt no dependence on him, yet she could not help writing him as kind an answer as she knew he deserved.

The joy which Miss Darcy expressed at receiving such information was as sincere as that which her brother had expressed when sending it. The four sides of the paper were insufficient to contain all his happiness and his entire desire to be loved by his sister.

Before any reply could come from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations from his wife to Elizabeth, the Longbourn family heard that Collins himself had arrived at Lucas Lodge. the reason for this is suddenly{471}The removal soon became apparent. Lady Catherine was so enraged by the contents of her nephew's letter that Charlotte, who was actually enjoying the match, was anxious to get away until the storm was over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend was a true joy to Elizabeth, although during their meetings she sometimes had to think of the happiness that she had bought so dearly, when she saw Mr. Darcy in all the parades of her husband. And saw the resulting civilization exposed. , However, he bore it with admirable calmness. He could also hear Sir William Lucas, when he complimented them on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country, and, with great civility, expressed his hope of meeting them all again at St. James's. If he shrugged his shoulders, it was not until Sir William was out of sight.

Mrs. Phillips's vulgarity was another, and, perhaps, a greater tax on his tolerance; And though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, were so much in awe of him that they could not speak with that familiarity which Bingley's good humor encouraged; Still, whenever she  spoke  , it was always obscene. Nor was his respect for her, which, although it made her more sober, was not at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth made every effort to protect him from frequent notices, and was always anxious to confine him to herself and those of her own family, with whom he could converse without unhappiness ; And although the uneasy feelings arising from all this took away much of the pleasure of the courtship season, it increased hope for the future; and she looked forward with pleasure to the time when she would be banished from society so that all her family parties at Pemberley would be less pleasant both in comfort and grandeur.{472}

Chapter LXI.

APPY to all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet was relieved of her two most worthy daughters. It may be imagined with what happy pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley and spoke of Mrs. Darcy. I wish I could say for her family, that the fulfillment of her heartfelt desire in the raising of so many of her children produced such a pleasant effect that she became a sensible, amiable, well-informed woman to the rest of them. of his life; Although, perhaps, it was fortunate for her husband, who would not have enjoyed domestic happiness in such an unusual form, that she was still sometimes nervous and always foolish.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter very much; His affection for her drew him away from home more often than anything else. He was very happy to go to Pemberley, especially when it was least expected of him.{473}

Mr. Bingley and Jane lived at Netherfield for only twelve months. Even the closeness of his mother's and Meryton's relations  was not desirable to his  natural nature or  to his  affectionate heart. Then his sisters' dearest wish was fulfilled: they bought an estate in the neighboring county of Derbyshire; and Jane and Elizabeth, apart from every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.

Kitty spent most of her time with her two elder sisters for their material benefit. Far superior to what she knew in society, her improvement was great. She was not of an unruly nature like Lydia; and, drawing from the influence of Lydia's example, with proper attention and management, she became less irritable, less ignorant, and less indifferent. It was certainly carefully placed to prevent further damage to Lydia's society; And although Mrs. Wickham would often invite her to come and stay with her, with promises of balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going.

Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and Mrs. Bennet being quite incapable of sitting alone she was necessarily cut off from the pursuit of accomplishment. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she could still be moralized by each morning's visitation; And since she was no longer dismayed by the comparison between her sisters' beauty and her own, her father suspected that she had submitted to the change without much reluctance.

As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from their sisters' marriage. He combined with philosophy the conviction that Elizabeth should now be made aware of whatever ingratitude and ingratitude she had{474}Lies were unknown to him before; and, in spite of everything, was not entirely devoid of hope that Darcy might still be prevailed upon to make his fortune. The congratulatory letter Elizabeth received from Lydia on her marriage made her understand that such a hope was, at least, cherished by his wife, if not by herself. The letter was to this effect:-

"My dear Lizzie,

"I wish you happiness. If you love Mr. Darcy as much as I do, my dear Wickham, you will be very happy. It is a great relief that you are so rich; And when you have nothing else to do, I hope you'll think of us. I'm sure Wickham would love a place at court; And I don't think we'll have enough money to survive without some help. Any given location will do about three or four hundred jobs per year; But, still, if you had not done so, do not speak of it to Mr. Darcy.

"Yours," etc.

As it turned out, Elizabeth had little to do, she tried to eliminate every such request and expectation in her response. Such relief, however, as was in her power to afford, by the practice of what might be called economy in her private expenses, she often sent them. It was always clear to him that an income such as his, under the direction of two men so extravagant in their wants and so careless of the future, would be woefully inadequate for his support; and whenever he changed his quarters, either Jane or he himself was sure to apply for a little assistance in paying his bills. Their mode of living, even when the restoration of peace sent them home, was highly unstable. They were always moving from one place to another{475}Looking for bargains, and always spending more than necessary. His affection for her soon changed into indifference: his affection lasted for a while; and, in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to prestige which her marriage had given her. Although Darcy   could never receive  him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia would occasionally come there when her husband went to London or Bath for pleasure; And they both stayed so often with Bingley, that even Bingley's good-heartedness wore out, and he went so far as to  give them a sign to go  .

Miss Bingley is deeply hurt by Darcy's marriage; But when he thought fit to retain the right of visitation at Pemberley, he gave up all his resentment; Georgiana was more affectionate than ever, was almost as attentive to Darcy as before, and had repaid Elizabeth every due of civility.

Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; And the sisters' affection was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each other as much as they were meant to. Georgiana had the highest opinion in Elizabeth's world; Although at first she often listened to her brother's lively, playful way of talking with astonishment. He, who had always aroused in her a respect which almost overpowered her affection, now looked upon her as the object of open pleasure. His mind received knowledge that had never come his way before. From Elizabeth's instructions she began to understand that a woman could take liberties with her husband that a brother would not always allow a sister ten years younger than him.{476}

Lady Catherine was extremely displeased with her nephew's marriage; And as soon as he had renounced all real frankness of his character, in reply to the letter in which its arrangement was announced, he sent her such abusive language, especially to Elizabeth, that for some time all intercourse ceased. Have become. But at last, by Elizabeth's persuasion, he was forced to overlook the offense and seek reconciliation; and, after a little more resistance on the part of her aunt, her resentment gave way either to her affection for him, or to her curiosity to see how his wife conducted herself; And she was prepared to wait for them at Pemberley, in spite of the pollution that had arisen, not only from the presence of such a mistress, but also from the visits of her uncle and aunt from the city.

He always had the most intimate relations with the Gardiners. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, genuinely loved him; and both of them were always sensitive to the warmest gratitude towards those persons who, by bringing him to Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.