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Chapter 1
II.
Discussing the Text
2. Say:
Part
III
Chapter 11
Lydia’s
wish
The gentlemen left the next morning, and Mr. Collins and his guests dined at Rosings that same day. “Those two young men were very sorry to leave,” Lady Catherine said. “I thought Darcy seemed particularly sad. He gets more and more fond of Rosings.”
Mr. Collins was quick to suggest that Miss de Bourgh might have some part in Darcy’s fondness for Rosings. This remark was well received by mother and daughter alike. Elizabeth was wondering. Suppose she had accepted Darcy’s offer. How would Lady Catherine de Bourgh received the news? Not with great joy, she thought.
She had re-read his letter till she knew every word. When she studied the expression of his thoughts, she was angry with him. When she studied the thoughts themselves, she was angry with herself. For he was often right. Her younger sisters did behave badly. Her father would not control them, and her mother did not even see the need. They were uneducated, lazy and only interested in their appearance.
At last came the end of their stay at Hunsford. Lady Catherine wished them a good journey and invited them back to stay with the Collinses next year. Miss de Bourgh held out a pale, thin hand for them to shake.
“It seems only a few days since we arrived,” said Maria, as their carriage drove off next morning. “Yet how many things have happened!”
“A good many, indeed,” replied Elizabeth sighing.
“We’ve dined nine times at Rosings, besides having tea three times. What a lot I’ll have to tell!”
“And
I,” thought Elizabeth, “what a lot to hide!”
Two days later Elizabeth, Maria and Jane left London. As they entered the town where Mr. Bennet’s carriage was waiting for them, they saw Lydia and Catherine looking out of the window of an inn. The sisters proudly showed them a table set out with a cold lunch. “This is a surprise,” said Catherine. “We’re paying for you all.”
“But you must lend us the money,” added Lydia, “as we’ve spent ours on these hats. They’re not very nice, but it won’t matter much what we wear this summer since the regiment is leaving in two weeks for Brighton, and I do so want Papa to take us there for the summer. It would probably hardly cost anything.”
“We have some other news for you,” Lydia went on. “About a person we all like – dear Wickham. There’s no danger of his marrying that girl after all. She’s gone to her uncle’s in Liverpool. Wickham is safe.”
“I’m sure he never cared three pence for her,” said Catherine, “the nasty, spotty little creature.”
“I
was hoping one of you might find a husband before getting back,” said
Lydia. “Jane will soon be too old. I’d be ashamed of not being married
at twenty-three.”
As soon as they had settled down after the excitement of coming home again, Elizabeth told Jane about Darcy’s offer of marriage. She repeated everything he had said about Wickham, but felt she could not mention Bingley. It would be more that Jane could bear.
Even Mrs. Bennet never mentioned Bingley to Jane. “Well, Lizzy,” she said, “what’s your opinion of this sad business of Jane’s? For my part I’m determined never to speak of it again to anybody. I told my sister Philips so the other day. He’s a very unkind young man, and I don’t suppose there’s the least chance of getting him now.”
“I don’t believe he’ll ever come again.”
“Well, it’s for him to choose. Nobody wants him to come. The only good thing is that Jane may die of a broken heart, and then he’ll be sorry.”
But Jane’s sorrows were soon equaled by those of Lydia and Catherine. For these were the last days of regiment’s stay in Meryton.
“What’s to become of us! What are we to do!” they exclaimed. “How can you go about smiling, Lizzy?”
Their loving mother shared their sorrows. She remembered how she had suffered twenty-five years before. “I’m sure I cried for two whole days when Colonel Miller’s regiment went away.”
“If only we could go to Brighton!” cried Catherine.
“If only!” said Lydia. “But Papa is so cruel.”
But there was a sudden end to Lydia’s sorrows. Mrs. Forster, the young, recently married wife of the regiment’s colonel, asked her to stay in Brighton with her. She had always found Lydia good company. Lydia’s joy, her mother’s delight and Catherine’s jealousy cannot be described. As for Elizabeth, she felt her father ought to stop the plan. Brighton was not safe for a wild girl like Lydia, and Mrs. Forster was not the sort of woman who could protect her. But Mr. Bennet only said: “Lydia will never be happy until she’s made a fool of herself somewhere. Isn’t it better that she should do it in Brighton than in Meryton?”
“But what Lydia does, Catherine imitates. Don’t you see how their behavior harms Jane and myself?”
“Whoever knows you and Jane,” said Mr. Bennet, “cannot think badly of you for having two silly sisters. We’ll have no peace if Lydia doesn’t go to Brighton, so let her go. Colonel Forster is a sensible man and will keep her out of real trouble. Besides, at Brighton the officers will have better women to talk to.” Elizabeth was not persuaded, but she could say no more.
On the regiment’s last night Wickham dined at Longbourn. He had not sat with Elizabeth since her return, and he asked about Hunsford. When she said she had met Fitzwilliam, he looked alarmed. The Colonel, he said, was very different from Darcy.
“Very different – but I think Mr. Darcy improves.”
“You mean his manners. I dare not hope that his true character has improved,” said Wickham.
“Oh, no,” said Elizabeth, “his true character, I believe, is very much unchanged.” Wickham looked doubtful.
She
added: “I mean that the more one knows him, the better one understands
him.” Wickham by now looked definitely unhappy. He said very little
more to Elizabeth that evening.
After
Lydia and the regiment went, life became much duller. There were fewer
parties. Catherine remained dissatisfied, and Jane was still unhappy.
Elizabeth thought more and more about her trip to the Lakes. However,
two weeks before they were due to depart a letter arrived. Mr. Gardiner
had a lot of business. There would not be enough time to go to the Lakes,
so they decided to go to Derbyshire. This was a disappointment. But
Derbyshire was very beautiful. It also had many fine houses – including
Pemberley. But that, of course, was not a house she cared to see.
Chapter 12
Derbyshire
In August, the Gardiners collected Elizabeth and drove on to Derbyshire, where they spent several very happy weeks. They traveled about visiting great houses, beautiful rivers and attractive old towns.
One evening, while planning the next day’s journey at their inn, Mrs. Gardiner remarked that Pemberley was not far away. “Wouldn’t you like to see a house you’ve heard so much about?” she asked. “They say the grounds are delightful.” Elizabeth did not say yes or no. She would quite like to go, but dared not risk seeing Darcy. Next morning she talked to the maid and learnt that he was not at present living there. So she agreed to go.
They entered the park, and after driving for some time through beautiful woods, came out on to higher ground. There, across the valley, on the far side of a lake, was the great house. It would be something, thought Elizabeth, to be mistress of Pemberley. As the housekeeper, a pleasant, elderly woman, showed them round, Elizabeth could not help comparing it with Rosings. There, everything was for show. Here was a house to live in.
Darcy, they were told again, was away, but was expected the next day with a large party of friends. What an escape! To have missed him by one day! Meanwhile they had stopped in front of some family pictures.
“And that,” said the woman, “is my master.”
“It’s a very fine picture,” said Mr. Gardiner. “But, Lizzy, you can tell us whether it’s like him or not.”
The housekeeper’s respect for Elizabeth increased.
“Does the young lady know Mr. Darcy?” she asked.
“A little,” Elizabeth said.
The housekeeper needed no more encouragement to talk about her master, and how she wished he would spend more time at Pemberley. “If only he would get married! But I don’t know who’s good enough for him.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled, but the housekeeper shook her head.
“I say no more than the truth, and anybody who knows him will say the same. I’ve never heard an angry word from him, and I’ve known him since he was four.” This was amazing. But she had more to say: about his gifts to the poor, his fairness to the farmers who rented his land and his kindness to his sister. “This account of him is quite different from that of your friend,” whispered Mrs. Gardiner.
When they had seen the house, they were handed over to a gardener who was to show them the grounds. As they waited away, Elizabeth stopped to admire the front of the house. Then, from round a corner suddenly appeared its owner. It was impossible to avoid him. Their eyes met, and they stood there, completely still. Darcy was the first to move. He came forward and spoke – not with perfect control, but with perfect politeness. She hardly dared lift her eyes to his face. She was so ashamed at being found there. At last Darcy seemed to have nothing else to say, and after a moment’s silence made his excuses and walked away.
The Gardiners had recognized Darcy from his picture, and expressed their admiration. But Elizabeth was not listening. Why had she come here? It was the worst thing in the world. Did it look as if she was throwing herself on him? He must have only just arrived. If only they had left five minutes earlier!
As they walked by the lake her thoughts were still of Darcy. How his behavior had changed! No longer his old stiff manners, but true politeness. She did not understand. What was now passing through his mind? In spite of her refusal was it possible he might still have some feeling for her?
As they turned back at the end of the lake they saw Darcy again approaching. When he asked Elizabeth to introduce him to her friends, she smiled to herself. Darcy was about to learn that a London merchant might still be a gentleman and a man of education. She had some relations she did not have to feel ashamed of.
When Mrs. Gardiner felt tired and took her husband’s arm, Darcy and Elizabeth walked on ahead. She could not wait to explain that she had thought he was away. He explained that, having so many guests to prepare for, he had thought it better to return a day earlier. Among these guests were Bingley and his sisters. He also asked if he could introduce his sister to her. She refused his invitation to enter the house, and they stood talking until the others appeared. There was much that she wanted to say, but so many subjects seemed forbidden.
“I
was surprised,” said Mrs. Gardiner, as they drove away. “He has
perfect manners. I wonder how you came to think him so unpleasant?”
Elizabeth had agreed that Darcy should bring his sister to call on the day after she arrived. She was surprised, therefore, to see their carriage appear outside the inn the very next morning. He could not even wait a day. Her aunt and uncle were amazed. They could no longer explain it in any other way. Mr. Darcy must be in love with their niece.
When Miss Darcy arrived, Elizabeth was surprised to see that she was even less at ease than herself. Georgiana Darcy was tall, quite pretty, not at all proud, but clearly unused to company. She could only with difficulty be made to talk. Bingley also came, as friendly as before. His behavior to Georgiana did not suggest that his sister’s hopes of a marriage were likely to come true. This did not prove that he still had some feeling for Jane. But he did, when the others were talking among themselves, ask how she was in a serious voice.
After the visit she did not have to fear curious questions from her uncle and aunt. Could she even have answered them? How did she feel about Darcy? She had stopped hating him long ago. She was ashamed of having hated him. More than that she did not know.
That
evening Mrs. Gardiner remarked that Miss Darcy’s call should be returned
the next day. Only one thing made Elizabeth uncomfortable. Caroline
Bingley would be here. She would not welcome her at Pemberley.
At Pemberley next morning conversation was not easy. Georgiana was not used to being a hostess, and Bingley’s sisters said little. But when the gentlemen entered, the conversation came to life. Miss Bingley then let loose her feelings. “I hear, Miss Eliza, that Colonel Forster’s regiment has left. That must be a great loss for your family.”
She dared not mention Wickham’s name, but Elizabeth understood her meaning. She answered calmly. But Miss Darcy was not so calm. She, too, had understood the unspoken name, and was upset. Miss Bingley knew nothing of Wickham’s connection with Georgiana.
After Elizabeth and her aunt had gone, she said more. “It’s amazing that she was thought to be beauty in Meryton,” she said to Darcy. “I believe even you thought her pretty once.”
“Yes,”
said Darcy, after remaining silent through several similar remarks,
“and now I think she is the most attractive woman I have ever met.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth returned to the inn and found a letter from Jane. It contained the most worrying news. Colonel Forster had written to say that Lydia had run away – with Wickham. It was first thought that they had gone to Scotland to get married. But Colonel Forster, after trying to follow their movements, thought they were still in London. Mr. Bennet had gone to London and needed Mr. Gardiner’s help. Elizabeth jumped up and ran to the door to find her uncle. But just as she reached it, a servant opened it and Darcy appeared.
“Good heavens!” he exclaimed. “What’s the matter?”
She sent the servant to fetch her uncle and burst into tears. It was some minutes before she recovered enough to tell him what had happened.
“I might have prevented it,” she said. “If only I’d told my family what I knew about his character!”