A new neighbor

  Chapter 10

  Mr. Darcy speaks 

  One day, as Elizabeth was walking in the park of Rosings as she often did, she heard footsteps behind her. She looked round and was glad to see not Darcy, as she had feared, but Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “So, are you leaving on Saturday?” she asked.

  “Yes – if Darcy doesn’t change his mind again. He arranges things just as it pleases him.”

  “I don’t know anybody who enjoys pleasing himself more than Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth.

  “Don’t we all, when we can,” replied Fitzwilliam. “It’s just easier to do it when, like him, one is rich. We who are poor have to do what other people want.” Elizabeth laughed. “Surely the sons of lords need not suffer too much. Seriously, does lack of money really prevent you from doing what you want?”

  “Not in small things. In bigger ones younger sons may suffer. They cannot always marry who they like.”

  “Unless they like rich women – which they often do.”

  “Men in my rank of society,” said Fitzwilliam, “can’t often afford to marry without some thought of money.”

  “Is this,” thought Elizabeth, “meant for me?” Not wanting him to think she was affected by his remark, she laughed and went on: “But if your cousin needs someone to give orders to, I’m surprised he doesn’t marry. He does, though, have a sister. As she is under his care he can tell her to do what he wants.”

  “Ah, but you’re wrong,” said Fitzwilliam. “He has to share the care of his sister with me. His father left both Darcy and myself in charge of her.”

  “And does she give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are not always easy to control. If she is a true Darcy she, too, may like to please herself.”

  As she spoke, Elizabeth saw Fitzwilliam looking at her quite seriously. She realized that by accident she had come too close to the truth.

  “But I’m sure she’s charming,” she continued. “She seems a great favorite of some ladies I know, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley.” 
 

  “Their brother is a great friend of Darcy.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Elizabeth, “Mr. Darcy is a great friend of Mr. Bingley, and takes a good care of him.”

  “Why, yes,” said Fitzwilliam. “From something Darcy said, I think he really does take care of him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I hear he saved Bingley from an unwise marriage.”

  Elizabeth was silent. Then she said: “Why should your cousin decide what’s good for his friend? We can only suppose Mr. Bingley was not very deeply in love.”

  “That’s quite possible,” replied Fitzwilliam, “But it would make my cousin’s success seem much less.”

  Her companion left her at the house with much to think about. Now she knew it was Darcy who had destroyed her sister’s hopes rather than Miss Bingley. Jane herself could not have been the reason for Darcy’s actions. It was his own pride. He could not allow his friend to marry into a family which he looked down on. These thoughts brought on a head-ache. She could not go with her cousins to tea at Rosings. 

  Alone in the house later that evening, she heard the door-bell rang. To her amazement Darcy walked in. After rather hurriedly asking how she felt, he started walking up and down the room. Then, turning suddenly, he said in a voice that he could hardly control: “I’ve struggled against my feelings, but it’s no use. I have to tell you that I love you.”

  Elizabeth’s astonishment was now complete. She could only sit there helplessly while Darcy asked her to marry him. He spoke well, but not in a way that was likely to persuade her. He spoke of his feelings about her family not being equal to his. He said a lot about how he had tried to fight against his love for her. He spoke, too, of his anxiety, but Elizabeth saw no sings of this. He did not seem to expect a refusal.

  When he had finished she said: “It’s usual to thank gentlemen who come with an offer of marriage, for it’s a great honor to a lady. But in this case I don’t think I can. I’ve never asked for your love, and you don’t really want to give it to me. I’m sorry to cause unhappiness to anyone, and I can only hope that yours will not last long.”

  Darcy leaned back against the fire-place. His face was pale with anger. For some moments he could not speak. At last he said: “Is that your only reply? Or am I not allowed to know why you refuse me?”

  “I might equally well ask,” said Elizabeth, “why you chose to insult me by saying that your love me against your will. But I have other reasons. You know I have. Even if I had loved you, do you think I would have accepted the man who ruined my sister’s happiness? You know you separated her from Mr Bingley.”

  She paused to see the effect of her words, but he showed no sings of shame or sorrow. “I’ve no wish to deny it. I can only say that I’ve been kinder to my friend than I’ve been to myself.”

  “But this is not all. Long before I knew what you’d done to my sister I knew what you’d done to Mr. Wickham. Can you deny that you’ve destroyed his life?”

  “You take a strong interest in that gentleman’s affairs,” said Darcy, less calmly than before.

  “Anyone who knows about his misfortunes can’t help taking an interest in him.”

  “His misfortunes!” said Darcy with a bitter laugh. “Oh, yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed. And this is your opinion of me. I could have pretended just to love you without saying anything else. But I hate to hide my feelings, and I’m not ashamed of them. Could you expect me to feel pleased with your relations, whose rank in life is so much below my own?”

  Elizabeth had to control her anger: “There was no way in which you could have made me accept you. From our first meeting I was struck by you pride, your self-importance, your carelessness about the feelings of others. From the very beginning I was quite sure you were the last man on earth I should want to marry.”

  “You’ve said enough,” said Darcy. “I understand your feelings for me, and can only be ashamed of the feelings I have for you.” With those words he left.

  Elizabeth cried for half an hour. Her astonishment, however, went on growing. She could not understand how she had affected Darcy in this way. Next day she woke still feeling upset. After breakfast she went for a walk round the edge of the park, not wanting to meet anyone. But as she stopped by the gate Darcy appeared, holding a letter, which he put into her hands. He bowed, and left her, while she opened it then and there with shaking hands and read: 

  Do not be afraid that I shall repeat the offer I made last night. I neither want to upset you, nor to appear foolish. My hopes are best forgotten. But since you made certain remarks about my actions and character, you must let me answer them.

  You accuse me of two things: first, that I separated Mr. Bingley and your sister without any thought of their feelings; secondly, and worse, that I was unjust to Mr. Wickham. I hope when I have explained, you will no longer blame me for either. But if I hurt you again, I can only say that I must be honest.

  I saw from the first that Bingley was attracted to your sister. But it was only at the Netherfield dance that I understood how far things had gone. A remark of Sir William Lucas showed me that everyone expected him to marry. I also failed to notice in your sister any signs of love for my friend. Perhaps I was wrong; but although she seemed to enjoy my friend’s company, she did not seem to love him.

  There were other reasons why I acted as I did. Your family’s position in society is one. This did not seem to worry my friend as much as it worried me. But also – it hurts me to say this – I often found the manners of your mother, your younger sisters, and sometimes even your father, hard to accept.

  After my friend left for London, I talked with his sisters. Finding that we thought alike, we decided to follow him. There I pointed out the disadvantages of marrying your sister. These did not influence him. But when I told him my opinion of your sister’s feelings, he decided not to return to Netherfield.

  I do not know what Mr. Wickham has accused me of. So I had better explain that his father was an honest man who served my father well. Because my father had a good opinion of the son, he gave him a gentleman’s education, intending him to enter the Church. But I was of the same age, and knew him better. I could see that he was bad from the beginning.

  When my father died he left Mr. Wickham £ 1000, and asked me to give him a good position in the Church, as soon as one became free. But Mr. Wickham did not think he was suited to the Church, and I agreed. He suggested I should give him money to study low instead, and I agreed to this, too. He went off to London, where he spent the money on wild living. Then, two years later he came to me, asking for that place in the Church. I refused, and he became insulting. I did not see him again until last summer in Meryton.

  There is something else you should know about Mr. Wickham, but this must be a secret. When my father died, he left my sister in the care of Fitzwilliam and myself. About a year ago we took her away from school and settled her in my London house. We employed a certain Mrs. Young to look after her. However, we did not know that this lady had once known Mr. Wickham. He soon became a visitor, and with Mrs. Young’s help set out to make my sister fall in love with him. Having known her as a child, it was not too difficult for a man like him to persuade her run away with him. Luckily I found out in time.

  Mr. Wickham’s aim was, of course, my sister’s money. But revenge must also have been in his mind.

  This is the story of my dealing with Mr. Wickham. If you doubt it, you may approach Colonel Fitzwilliam who will tell you the same.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  Elizabeth read this letter with increasing amazement. She did not believe he had thought her sister was not in love with Bingley. And other reasons for breaking up their friendship made her angry. He showed no regret for anything he had done.

  But when he spoke of Wickham, her feelings became confused. She wanted to disbelieve him, but as she reread the letter it became more and more difficult to blame him. True, he gave no proof of his accusation against Wickham, but neither could she prove him wrong. She tried to remember examples of Wickham’s good deeds or kind words, but could only remember good manners.

    When she read about Darcy’s sister, she remembered her conversation with Fitzwilliam. She remembered, too, how Wickham had boasted that he would not be driven away from the Netherfield dance by Darcy. Yet he had allowed this to happen. Also, it was only after Darcy and the Bingleys left Netherfield that Wickham had started to spread his stories widely. As for Darcy, though all agreed that he was proud, only Wickham had ever said he was unjust. Elizabeth began to feel shame. She had always been proud of her judgement of character, and had blamed her sister for only seeing the good. But who had been more blind?

  Thnking of Jane made her return to the letter. At least, this part of his explanation could not be believed. But on rereading it she again felt unsure. Charloote, too, had seen what Darcy described. Jane did not show her feelings openly. As for the remarks about her family, these hurt. But could she deny them?

  Thinking these thoughts, she walked for two hours before returning home. There she learnt that Darcy and his cousin had called to say goodby, but could not stay. 

  I. Checking Comprehension 

  1. Choose the right item.

  1. Lady Catherine lived at ...

  a) Longbourn; b) Rosings;  c) Hunsford. 

  2. Colonel Fitzwilliam was Lady Catherine’s ...

  a) brother;  b) uncle;  c) nephew. 

  3. ... were Miss Darcy’s Gardians.

  a) Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins; 

  b) Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham;

  c) Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

4. When Lady Catherine’s nephews arrived the Collinses and Elizabeth though invited at Rosings were ...

a) as welcome there as before;  b) more welcome than before;

c) less welcome than before. 

5. Elizabeth thought that Darcy was proud, self-important and ...

a) careless;  b) clever;  c) witty. 

6. After Elizabeth re-read Darcy’s letter she felt ...

a) she had been blind; b) unsure; c) Darcy was not writing the truth. 

2. Say “true”, “false” or “I don’t know”.

1. Mr. Collins thought that Elizabeth’s unwillingness to accept him made her less attractive.
2. There was only one reason for Mr. Collins to get married.
3. Mr. Collins liked the fact that Elizabeth would not listen to other people who know best.
4. Mrs. Bennet accepted the fact that Elizabeth wouldn’t marry Mr. Collins with perfect calm.
5. Charlotte was not witty at all.
6. Wickham knew a lot of things about music and literature.
7. Mrs. Gardiner thought Jane could see Mr. Bingley in London.
8. Elizabeth did not want to join the Gardiners in their trip to Lakes.
9. Mr. Collins never spoke of Rosings after Elizabeth arrived at Hunsford.
10. Elizabeth liked Lady Catherine and her daughter very much.

 

3. Put the sentences in the right order to describe Elizabeth’s stay at Hunsford.

1. The travelers spend a night in London at Elizabeth’s uncle’s.
2. Lady Catherine asks a lot of questions a gives a lot of advice.
3. Both Darcy and Fitzwilliam show a lot of interest in Elizabeth.
4. Darcy brings Elizabeth a letter.
5. Lady Catherine’s nephews arrive at Rosings.
6. Mr. Collins takes his guests on a tour about his house.
7. Mr. Darcy cones along to Hunsford and has a conversation with Elizabeth.
8. Darcy speaks of his love for Elizabeth.
9. Elizabeth is ready to go to Hunsford accompanied by Sir William and Maria.
10. Mr. Collins and his guests are invited to dinner at Rosings.
11. Colonel Fitzwillam tells Elizabeth some facts about Darcy and his sister.

 

4. Say who in Part II is characterized in this way:

1. He is too much influenced by his sister and Mr. Darcy.
2. He is a man of thirty, not good-looking but in every way gentleman.
3. She is a woman who speaks as someone who knows she is right.
4. She is a sensible woman who has always been close to Jane and Elizabeth.
5. She is a girl without character, who speaks little, and when she does, has nothing interesting to say.
6. She likes to see a difference in clothes between the different ranks of society.
7. She is a girl who is easily hurt.
8. She is unhealthy girl with a bad-tempered look.
9. She is a tall, large woman with a face of strong character.

 

5. Answer the following questions.

1. What made Mr. Collins propose to Charlotte? How did the members of the Bennet family accept that news?
2. There were a lot of disappointments in Meryton that season, weren’t there? What was Elizabeth upset by?
3. Where did Jane spend the winter? What made her accept Mrs. Gardiner’s invitation? Did she manage to see any member of the Bingley family? What was the result?
4. When did Elizabeth go to Hunsford? What were her first impressions of the house, of the host? In what way were they received at Rosings? How did the guests feel during the visit? What was the hostess like? What was her daughter like? What did Lady Catherine prefer to talk about?
5. What kind of life did the Collinses and their guests lead after Sir William’s departure? Who came to visit lady Catherine before Easter? What made Charlotte feel astonished when Mr. Collins came back home after he had showed his respect for Lady Catherine’s visitors? What was Colonel Fitzwilliam like? What did Darcy and Elizabeth talk about during the gentlemen’s visit?
6. When did the invitation to visit Rosings again come? Were the guests received in the same way as before? What was the difference? How did Lady Catherine share in the talk about music? What was Mr Darcy’s interest in Miss de Bourgh? How often did Fitzwilliam and Darcy visit the Collinses? What in your opinion made their visits so frequent?
7. What did Fitzwilliam tell Elizabeth about Darcy and his sister? about Mr. Bingley? What made Elizabeth stay at Hunsford and not to go to tea at Rosings with her cousin? Who visited her that day?
8. In what way did Mr. Darcy speak of his love for Elizabeth? Did he expect a refusal? Was he angry when he got one? How did Elizabeth explain her refusal to him?
9. How did Elizabeth feel after Darcy had left? Where and when did she meet him later? What did he give to Elizabeth? What were the main points mentioned in the letter? How did Darcy explain the fact that he had separated Mr. Bingley and Jane? What did he write in his letter about Mr. Wickham?
10. What did Elizabeth feel while reading the letter? What were her feelings when she read what Darcy had written about Wickham? What made Elizabeth rather believe Darcy and feel shame? How did Elizabeth’s opinion of Darcy’s explanation concerning Jane change after she re-read the letter? What did she learn when she returned after two hours’ walk?

 

6. Add more details to these.

1. The next day Mr. Collins asked Elizabeth to marry him.
2. “You have a hard choice: if you refuse Mr. Collins, your mother won’t speak to you. If you accept him, I shan’t speak to you.”
3. Charlotte was kind enough to sit and to listen to Mr. Collins. She had her own reasons for behaving as she did.
4. Elizabeth was upset by Charlotte’s marriage.
5. Jane was upset by the events at Netherfield.
6. Help came from Mr. Bennet’s brother and his wife who arrived as usual to spend Christmas at Longbourn.
7. Mrs. Gardiner couldn’t help noticing how much Mr. Wickham and Elizabeth were together.
8. Meanwhile, Wickham’s interest in Elizabeth had become less.
9. March came, and the visit to Hunsford was talked of again.
10. “We’re invited to dinner at Rosings tomorrow.”