VOLUME ¢ó
¡¡¡¡Chapter XVIII
¡¡¡¡
THE first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It
was the last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the young ladies
in the neighbourhood were drooping apace. The dejection was almost universal.
The elder Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat, drink, and sleep,
and pursue the usual course of their employments. Very frequently were
they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia, whose own misery
was extreme, and who could not comprehend such hard-heartedness in any
of the family.
¡¡¡¡"Good Heaven! What is to become of us! What are we to do!" would
they often exclaim in the bitterness of woe. "How can you be smiling so,
Lizzy?"
¡¡¡¡Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered
what she had herself endured on a similar occasion, five and twenty years
ago.
¡¡¡¡"I am sure," said she, "I cried for two days together when
Colonel Millar's regiment went away. I thought I should have broke my heart."
¡¡¡¡"I am sure I shall break mine," said Lydia.
¡¡¡¡"If one could but go to Brighton!" observed Mrs. Bennet.
¡¡¡¡"Oh, yes! -- if one could but go to Brighton! But papa is so
disagreeable."
¡¡¡¡"A little sea-bathing would set me up for ever."
¡¡¡¡"And my aunt Philips is sure it would do me a great deal of good,"
added Kitty.
¡¡¡¡Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through
Longbourn-house. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them; but all sense
of pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew the justice of Mr. Darcy's
objections; and never had she before been so much disposed to pardon his
interference in the views of his friend.
¡¡¡¡But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for
she received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the Colonel of
the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was
a very young woman, and very lately married. A resemblance in good humour
and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of
their three months' acquaintance they had been intimate two.
¡¡¡¡The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster,
the delight of Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of Kitty, are scarcely
to be described. Wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia flew
about the house in restless ecstacy, calling for everyone's congratulations,
and laughing and talking with more violence than ever; whilst the luckless
Kitty continued in the parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable
as her accent was peevish.
¡¡¡¡"I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask me as well
as Lydia," said she, "though I am not her particular friend. I
have just as much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am
two years older."
¡¡¡¡In vain did Elizabeth attempt to reasonable, and Jane to make
her resigned. As for Elizabeth herself, this invitation was so far from
exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia, that she
considered it as the death-warrant of all possibility of common sense for
the latter; and detestable as such a step must make her were it known,
she could not help secretly advising her father not to let her go. She
represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general behaviour,
the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of such a woman
as Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with
such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must be greater than
at home. He heard her attentively, and then said,
¡¡¡¡"Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some
public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little
expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances."
¡¡¡¡"If you were aware," said Elizabeth, "of the very great disadvantage
to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded
and imprudent manner; nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure
you would judge differently in the affair."
¡¡¡¡"Already arisen!" repeated Mr. Bennet. "What, has she frightened
away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such
squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity
are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of the pitiful fellows
who have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly."
¡¡¡¡"Indeed you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent,
It is not of peculiar, but of general evils, which I am now complaining.
Our importance, our respectability in the world, must be affected by the
wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark
Lydia's character. Excuse me -- for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear
father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and
of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of
her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character
will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that
ever made herself and her family ridiculous. A flirt, too, in the worst
and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond youth and
a tolerable person; and from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind, wholly
unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her rage
for admiration will excite. In this danger Kitty is also comprehended.
She will follow wherever Lydia leads. -- Vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely
uncontrolled! Oh! my dear father, can you suppose it possible that they
will not be censured and despised wherever they are known, and that their
sisters will not be often involved in the disgrace?"
¡¡¡¡Mr. Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject; and
affectionately
taking her hand, said in reply,
¡¡¡¡"Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane
are known, you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to
less advantage for having a couple of -- or I may say, three -- very silly
sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton.
Let her go then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out
of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey
to any body. At Brighton she will be of less importance, even as a common
flirt, than she has been here. The officers will find women better worth
their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her
her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse
without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life."
¡¡¡¡With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content; but her own
opinion continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It
was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on
them. She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over
unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.
¡¡¡¡Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference
with her father, their indignation would hardly have found expression in
their united volubility. In Lydia's imagination, a visit to Brighton comprised
every possibility of earthly happiness. She saw, with the creative eye
of fancy, the streets of that gay bathing place covered with officers.
She saw herself the object of attention to tens and to scores of them at
present unknown. She saw all the glories of the camp; its tents stretched
forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young and the
gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and to complete the view, she saw herself
seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six officers at
once.
¡¡¡¡Had she known that her sister sought to tear her from such prospects
and such realities as these, what would have been her sensations? They
could have been understood only by her mother, who might have felt nearly
the same. Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for the melancholy
conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself.
¡¡¡¡But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed; and their
raptures continued, with little intermission, to the very day of Lydia's
leaving home.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having
been frequently in company with him since her return, agitation was pretty
well over; the agitations of former partiality entirely so. She had even
learnt to detect, in the very gentleness which had first delighted her,
an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present behaviour
to herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure, for the inclination
he soon testified of renewing those attentions which had marked the early
part of their acquaintance could only serve, after what had since passed,
to provoke her. She lost all concern for him in finding herself thus selected
as the object of such idle and frivolous gallantry; and while she steadily
repressed it, could not but feel the reproof contained in his believing
that, however long, and for whatever cause, his attentions had been withdrawn,
her vanity would be gratified and her preference secured at any time by
their renewal.
¡¡¡¡On the very last day of the regiment's remaining in Meryton, he
dined with others of the officers at Longbourn; and so little was Elizabeth
disposed to part from him in good humour, that on his making some enquiry
as to the manner in which her time had passed at Hunsford, she mentioned
Colonel Fitzwilliam's and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three weeks at
Rosings, and asked him if he were acquainted with the former.
¡¡¡¡He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed; but with a moment's
recollection and a returning smile, replied that he had formerly seen him
often; and after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man, asked
her how she had liked him. Her answer was warmly in his favour. With an
air of indifference he soon afterwards added, "How long did you say that
he was at Rosings?"
¡¡¡¡"Nearly three weeks."
¡¡¡¡"And you saw him frequently?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes, almost every day."
¡¡¡¡"His manners are very different from his cousin's."
¡¡¡¡"Yes, very different. But I think Mr. Darcy improves on
acquaintance."
¡¡¡¡"Indeed!" cried Wickham with a look which did not escape her.
"And pray may I ask -- ?" but checking himself, he added in a gayer tone,
"Is it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add ought of civility
to his ordinary style? for I dare not hope," he continued in a lower and
more serious tone, "that he is improved in essentials."
¡¡¡¡"Oh, no!" said Elizabeth. "In essentials, I believe, he is
very much what he ever was."
¡¡¡¡While she spoke, Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether
to rejoice over her words, or to distrust their meaning. There was a something
in her countenance which made him listen with an apprehensive and anxious
attention, while she added,
¡¡¡¡"When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean
that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement, but that
from knowing him better, his disposition was better understood."
¡¡¡¡Wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated
look; for a few minutes he was silent; till, shaking off his embarrassment,
he turned to her again, and said in the gentlest of accents,
¡¡¡¡"You, who so well know my feelings towards Mr. Darcy, will readily
comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume
even the appearance of what is right. His pride, in that direction,
may be of service, if not to himself, to many others, for it must deter
him from such foul misconduct as I have suffered by. I only fear that the
sort of cautiousness, to which you, I imagine, have been alluding, is merely
adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good opinion and judgment he
stands much in awe. His fear of her has always operated, I know, when they
were together; and a good deal is to be imputed to his wish of forwarding
the match with Miss De Bourgh, which I am certain he has very much at heart."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this, but she answered
only by a slight inclination of the head. She saw that he wanted to engage
her on the old subject of his grievances, and she was in no humour to indulge
him. The rest of the evening passed with the appearance, on his
side, of usual cheerfulness, but with no farther attempt to distinguish
Elizabeth; and they parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a
mutual desire of never meeting again.
¡¡¡¡When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to Meryton,
from whence they were to set out early the next morning. The separation
between her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic. Kitty was the
only one who shed tears; but she did weep from vexation and envy. Mrs.
Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter,
and impressive in her injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity
of enjoying herself as much as possible; advice, which there was every
reason to believe would be attended to; and in the clamorous happiness
of Lydia herself in bidding farewell, the more gentle adieus of her sisters
were uttered without being heard.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter XIX
¡¡¡¡
HAD Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could
not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic
comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance
of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman
whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had, very early in their marriage,
put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence
had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown.
But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort, for the disappointment
which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which
too often console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was
fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his
principal enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted,
than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This
is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to
his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true
philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of
her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain;
but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment
of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and
to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation
and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children,
was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so strongly as now
the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage,
nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged a
direction of talents; talents which rightly used, might at least have preserved
the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the
mind of his wife.
¡¡¡¡When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure, she found
little other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their
parties abroad were less varied than before; and at home she had a mother
and sister whose constant repinings at the dulness of every thing around
them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty might
in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers of her
brain were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition greater evil
might be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all her folly and assurance
by a situation of such double danger as a watering place and a camp. Upon
the whole, therefore, she found what has been sometimes found before, that
an event to which she had looked forward with impatient desire, did not,
in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. It
was consequently necessary to name some other period for the commencement
of actual felicity; to have some other point on which her wishes and hopes
might be fixed, and by again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console
herself for the present, and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour
to the Lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts; it was her best
consolation for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness
of her mother and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane
in the scheme, every part of it would have been perfect.
¡¡¡¡"But it is fortunate," thought she, "that I have something
to wish for. Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would
be certain. But here, by my carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret
in my sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations
of pleasure realized. A scheme of which every part promises delight, can
never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the
defence of some little peculiar vexation."
¡¡¡¡When Lydia went away, she promised to write very often and very
minutely to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected,
and always very short. Those to her mother contained little else, than
that they were just returned from the library, where such and such officers
had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made
her quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which she would
have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a violent hurry,
as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going to the camp; -- and from
her correspondence with her sister, there was still less to be learnt --
for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were much too full of lines
under the words to be made public.
¡¡¡¡After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health,
good humour, and cheerfulness began to re-appear at Longbourn. Everything
wore a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter
came back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennet
was restored to her usual querulous serenity, and by the middle of June
Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears;
an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by the following
Christmas, she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention an officer
above once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the
War-Office, another regiment should be quartered in Meryton.
¡¡¡¡The time fixed for the beginning of their Northern tour was now
fast approaching; and a fortnight only was wanting of it, when a letter
arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and
curtailed its extent. Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from
setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again
within a month; and as that left too short a period for them to go so far,
and see so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with the leisure
and comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up the Lakes,
and substitute a more contracted tour; and, according to the present plan,
were to go no farther northward than Derbyshire. In that county, there
was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks; and to
Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she
had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to
spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity, as
all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart
on seeing the Lakes; and still thought there might have been time enough.
But it was her business to be satisfied -- and certainly her temper to
be happy; and all was soon right again.
¡¡¡¡With the mention of Derbyshire, there were many ideas connected.
It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley
and its owner. "But surely," said she, "I may enter his county with
impunity, and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me."
¡¡¡¡The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to
pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away,
and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear
at Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two
younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin
Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and sweetness
of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way -- teaching
them, playing with them, and loving them.
¡¡¡¡The Gardiners staid only one night at Longbourn, and set off the
next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment
was certain -- that of suitableness as companions; a suitableness which
comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences -- cheerfulness to
enhance every pleasure -- and affection and intelligence, which might supply
it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.
¡¡¡¡It is not the object of this work to give a description of
Derbyshire,
nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay;
Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenelworth, Birmingham, &c. are sufficiently
known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little
town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and where
she had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained, they bent
their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country;
and within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley
was situated. It was not in their direct road, nor more than a mile or
two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner
expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared
his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
¡¡¡¡"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have
heard so much?" said her aunt. "A place too, with which so many of your
acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you know."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at
Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She
must own that she was tired of great houses; after going over so many,
she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine
house richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself;
but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the
country."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth said no more -- but her mind could not acquiesce. The
possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred.
It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and thought it would
be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But against
this there were objections; and she finally resolved that it could be the
last resource, if her private enquiries as to the absence of the family
were unfavourably answered.
¡¡¡¡Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid
whether Pemberley were not a very fine place, what was the name of its
proprietor, and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for
the summer. A most welcome negative followed the last question -- and her
alarms being now removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity
to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the next morning,
and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and with a proper air
of indifference, that she had not really any dislike to the scheme.
¡¡¡¡To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.
¡¡¡¡END OF THE SECOND VOLUME VOLUME III
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter I
¡¡¡¡
ELIZABETH, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of
Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned
in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter.
¡¡¡¡The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground.
They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through
a beautiful wood, stretching over a wide extent.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and
admired every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended
for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable
eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley
House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road,
with some abruptness, wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building,
standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;
-- and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater,
but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor
falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for
which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little
counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration;
and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!
¡¡¡¡They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the
door; and, while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehensions
of meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been
mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the hall;
and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder
at her being where she was.
¡¡¡¡The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking, elderly woman, much
less fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her. They
followed her into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well-proportioned
room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went
to a window to enjoy its prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, from which
they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was
a beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked
on the whole scene -- the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and
the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it -- with delight.
As they passed into other rooms, these objects were taking different positions;
but from every window there were beauties to be seen. The rooms were lofty
and handsome, and their furniture suitable to the fortune of their proprietor;
but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste, that it was neither gaudy
nor uselessly fine; with less of splendor, and more real elegance, than
the furniture of Rosings.
¡¡¡¡"And of this place," thought she, "I might have been mistress!
With these rooms I might now have been familiarly acquainted! Instead of
viewing them as a stranger, I might have rejoiced in them as my own, and
welcomed to them as visitors my uncle and aunt. -- But no," -- recollecting
herself, -- "that could never be: my uncle and aunt would have been lost
to me: I should not have been allowed to invite them." This was a lucky
recollection -- it saved her from something like regret.
¡¡¡¡She longed to enquire of the housekeeper whether her master were
really absent, but had not courage for it. At length, however, the question
was asked by her uncle; and she turned away with alarm, while Mrs. Reynolds
replied that he was, adding, "but we expect him tomorrow, with a large
party of friends." How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey had
not by any circumstance been delayed a day!
¡¡¡¡Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She approached,
and saw the likeness of Mr. Wickham suspended, amongst several other miniatures,
over the mantlepiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she liked it.
The housekeeper came forward, and told them it was the picture of a young
gentleman, the son of her late master's steward, who had been brought up
by him at his own expence. -- "He is now gone into the army," she added,
"but I am afraid he has turned out very wild."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth
could not return it.
¡¡¡¡"And that," said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the
miniatures,
"is my master -- and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the
other -- about eight years ago."
¡¡¡¡"I have heard much of your master's fine person," said Mrs.
Gardiner, looking at the picture; "it is a handsome face. But, Lizzy,
you can tell us whether it is like or not."
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Reynolds's respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this
intimation of her knowing her master.
¡¡¡¡"Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?"
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth coloured, and said -- "A little."
¡¡¡¡"And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, Ma'am?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes, very handsome."
¡¡¡¡"I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery
up stairs you will see a finer, larger picture of him than this. This room
was my late master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they
used to be then. He was very fond of them."
¡¡¡¡This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being among them.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy,
drawn when she was only eight years old.
¡¡¡¡"And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" said Mr. Gardiner.
¡¡¡¡"Oh! yes -- the handsomest young lady that ever was seen; and
so accomplished! -- She plays and sings all day long. In the next room
is a new instrument just come down for her -- a present from my master;
she comes here to-morrow with him."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were easy and pleasant, encouraged
her communicativeness by his questions and remarks; Mrs. Reynolds, either
from pride or attachment, had evidently great pleasure in talking of her
master and his sister.
¡¡¡¡"Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?"
¡¡¡¡"Not so much as I could wish, Sir; but I dare say he may spend
half his time here; and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months."
¡¡¡¡"Except," thought Elizabeth, "when she goes to Ramsgate."
¡¡¡¡"If your master would marry, you might see more of him."
¡¡¡¡"Yes, Sir; but I do not know when that will be. I do not
know who is good enough for him."
¡¡¡¡Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying,
"It is very much to his credit, I am sure, that you should think so."
¡¡¡¡"I say no more than the truth, and what every body will say that
knows him," replied the other. Elizabeth thought this was going pretty
far; and she listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added,
"I have never had a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him
ever since he was four years old."
¡¡¡¡This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite
to her ideas. That he was not a good tempered man had been her firmest
opinion. Her keenest attention was awakened; she longed to hear more, and
was grateful to her uncle for saying,
¡¡¡¡"There are very few people of whom so much can be said. You are
lucky in having such a master."
¡¡¡¡"Yes, Sir, I know I am. If I was to go through the world, I could
not meet with a better. But I have always observed that they who are good-
natured
when children are good-natured when they grow up; and he was always the
sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted, boy in the world."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth almost stared at her. -- "Can this be Mr. Darcy!"
thought she.
¡¡¡¡"His father was an excellent man," said Mrs. Gardiner.
¡¡¡¡"Yes, Ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like
him -- just as affable to the poor."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient for more.
Mrs. Reynolds could interest her on no other point. She related the subject
of the pictures, the dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the furniture,
in vain. Mr. Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family prejudice to
which he attributed her excessive commendation of her master, soon led
again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his many merits, as
they proceeded together up the great staircase.
¡¡¡¡"He is the best landlord, and the best master," said she, "that
ever lived. Not like the wild young men now-a-days, who think of nothing
but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but what will
give him a good name. Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never
saw any thing of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle
away like other young men."
¡¡¡¡"In what an amiable light does this place him!" thought Elizabeth.
¡¡¡¡"This fine account of him," whispered her aunt, as they walked,
"is not quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend."
¡¡¡¡"Perhaps we might be deceived."
¡¡¡¡"That is not very likely; our authority was too good."
¡¡¡¡On reaching the spacious lobby above, they were shewn into a very
pretty sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness
than the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done
to give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when
last at Pemberley.
¡¡¡¡"He is certainly a good brother," said Elizabeth, as she walked
towards one of the windows.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight when she should
enter the room. "And this is always the way with him," she added. --
"Whatever can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment.
There is nothing he would not do for her."
¡¡¡¡The picture gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms,
were all that remained to be shewn. In the former were many good paintings;
but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already
visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss
Darcy's, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and
also more intelligible.
¡¡¡¡In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could
have little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked on in
quest of the only face whose features would be known to her. At last it
arrested her -- and she beheld a striking resemblance of Mr. Darcy, with
such a smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen, when
he looked at her. She stood several minutes before the picture in earnest
contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery.
Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father's life
time.
¡¡¡¡There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more
gentle sensation towards the original than she had ever felt in the height
of their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs. Reynolds
was of no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise
of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she considered
how many people's happiness were in his guardianship! -- How much of pleasure
or pain it was in his power to bestow! -- How much of good or evil must
be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by the housekeeper
was favourable to his character, and as she stood before the canvas, on
which he was represented, and fixed his eyes upon herself, she thought
of his regard with a deeper sentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised
before; she remembered its warmth, and softened its impropriety of expression.
¡¡¡¡When all of the house that was open to general inspection had
been seen, they returned down stairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper,
were consigned over to the gardener, who met them at the hall door.
¡¡¡¡As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth turned
back to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and while the former
was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself
suddenly came forward from the road, which led behind it to the stables.
¡¡¡¡They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was
his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly
met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He
absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but
shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth,
if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility.
¡¡¡¡She had instinctively turned away; but, stopping on his approach,
received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be overcome.
Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture they had just
been examining, been insufficient to assure the other two that they now
saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener's expression of surprise on beholding his master
must immediately have told it. They stood a little aloof while he was talking
to their niece, who, astonished and confused, scarcely dared lift her eyes
to his face, and knew not what answer she returned to his civil enquiries
after her family. Amazed at the alteration in his manner since they last
parted, every sentence that he uttered was increasing her embarrassment;
and every idea of the impropriety of her being found there recurring to
her mind, the few minutes in which they continued together were some of
the most uncomfortable of her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease;
when he spoke, his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated
his enquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her stay
in Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the
distraction of his thoughts.
¡¡¡¡At length, every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing
a few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and
took leave.
¡¡¡¡The others then joined her, and expressed their admiration of
his figure; but Elizabeth heard not a word, and, wholly engrossed by her
own feelings, followed them in silence. She was overpowered by shame and
vexation. Her coming there was the most unfortunate, the most ill-judged
thing in the world! How strange must it appear to him! In what a disgraceful
light might it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she had purposely
thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did she come? or, why did he thus
come a day before he was expected? Had they been only ten minutes sooner,
they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination, for it was
plain that he was that moment arrived, that moment alighted from his horse
or his carriage. She blushed again and again over the perverseness of the
meeting. And his behaviour, so strikingly altered, -- what could it mean?
That he should even speak to her was amazing! -- but to speak with such
civility, to enquire after her family! Never in her life had she seen his
manners so little dignified, never had he spoken with such gentleness as
on this unexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to his last address
in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her hand! She knew not what
to think, nor how to account for it.
¡¡¡¡They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water,
and every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer
reach of the woods to which they were approaching; but it was some time
before Elizabeth was sensible of any of it; and, though she answered
mechanically
to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and seemed to direct her
eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she distinguished no part of
the scene. Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot of Pemberley House,
whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then was. She longed to know what
at that moment was passing in his mind; in what manner he thought of her,
and whether, in defiance of every thing, she was still dear to him. Perhaps
he had been civil only because he felt himself at ease; yet there had been
that in his voice which was not like ease. Whether he had felt more
of pain or of pleasure in seeing her, she could not tell, but he certainly
had not seen her with composure.
¡¡¡¡At length, however, the remarks of her companions on her absence
of mind roused her, and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself.
¡¡¡¡They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for a while,
ascended some of the higher grounds; whence, in spots where the opening
of the trees gave the eye power to wander, were many charming views of
the valley, the opposite hills, with the long range of woods overspreading
many, and occasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed a wish
of going round the whole Park, but feared it might be beyond a walk. With
a triumphant smile, they were told that it was ten miles round. It settled
the matter; and they pursued the accustomed circuit; which brought them
again, after some time, in a descent among hanging woods, to the edge of
the water, in one of its narrowest parts. They crossed it by a simple bridge,
in character with the general air of the scene; it was a spot less adorned
than any they had yet visited; and the valley, here contracted into a glen,
allowed room only for the stream, and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-
wood
which bordered it. Elizabeth longed to explore its windings; but when they
had crossed the bridge, and perceived their distance from the house, Mrs.
Gardiner, who was not a great walker, could go no farther, and thought
only of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible. Her niece was,
therefore, obliged to submit, and they took their way towards the house
on the opposite side of the river, in the nearest direction; but their
progress was slow, for Mr. Gardiner, though seldom able to indulge the
taste, was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged in watching the
occasional appearance of some trout in the water, and talking to the man
about them, that he advanced but little. Whilst wandering on in this slow
manner, they were again surprised, and Elizabeth's astonishment was quite
equal to what it had been at first, by the sight of Mr. Darcy approaching
them, and at no great distance. The walk being here less sheltered than
on the other side, allowed them to see him before they met. Elizabeth,
however astonished, was at least more prepared for an interview than before,
and resolved to appear and to speak with calmness, if he really intended
to meet them. For a few moments, indeed, she felt that he would probably
strike into some other path. This idea lasted while a turning in the walk
concealed him from their view; the turning past, he was immediately before
them. With a glance she saw that he had lost none of his recent civility;
and, to imitate his politeness, she began, as they met, to admire the beauty
of the place; but she had not got beyond the words "delightful," and
"charming," when some unlucky recollections obtruded, and she fancied
that praise of Pemberley from her might be mischievously construed. Her
colour changed, and she said no more.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind; and on her pausing,
he asked her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends.
This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; and she
could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the acquaintance
of some of those very people against whom his pride had revolted, in his
offer to herself. "What will be his surprise," thought she, "when he
knows who they are! He takes them now for people of fashion."
¡¡¡¡The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as she named
their relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how
he bore it; and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast
as he could from such disgraceful companions. That he was surprised by
the connexion was evident; he sustained it however with fortitude, and
so far from going away, turned back with them, and entered into conversation
with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but be pleased, could not but triumph.
It was consoling that he should know she had some relations for whom there
was no need to blush. She listened most attentively to all that passed
between them, and gloried in every expression, every sentence of her uncle,
which marked his intelligence, his taste, or his good manners.
¡¡¡¡The conversation soon turned upon fishing, and she heard Mr. Darcy
invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he chose
while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to supply
him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of the stream where
there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking arm in arm
with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of her wonder. Elizabeth said
nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment must be all for
herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme; and continually was she
repeating, "Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed? It cannot
be for me, it cannot be for my sake that his manners are
thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as
this. It is impossible that he should still love me."
¡¡¡¡After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front,
the two gentlemen behind, on resuming their places after descending to
the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant,
there chanced to be a little alteration. It originated in Mrs. Gardiner,
who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate
to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took
her place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short silence,
the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she had been assured
of his absence before she came to the place, and accordingly began by observing
that his arrival had been very unexpected -- "for your housekeeper,"
she added, "informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow;
and indeed, before we left Bakewell we understood that you were not immediately
expected in the country." He acknowledged the truth of it all; and said
that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few
hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. "They
will join me early tomorrow," he continued, "and among them are some
who will claim an acquaintance with you, -- Mr. Bingley and his sisters."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly
driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been last mentioned
between them; and if she might judge from his complexion, his mind
was not very differently engaged.
¡¡¡¡"There is also one other person in the party," he continued
after a pause, "who more particularly wishes to be known to you, -- Will
you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance
during your stay at Lambton?"
¡¡¡¡The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too
great for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately
felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of being acquainted with
her must be the work of her brother, and without looking farther, it was
satisfactory; it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made
him think really ill of her.
¡¡¡¡They now walked on in silence; each of them deep in thought.
Elizabeth
was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased.
His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of the highest
kind. They soon outstripped the others, and when they had reached the carriage,
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind.
¡¡¡¡He then asked her to walk into the house -- but she declared herself
not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time, much might
have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but there
seemed an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected that she had
been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale with great
perseverance.
Yet time and her aunt moved slowly -- and her patience and her ideas were
nearly worn out before the te^te-a`-te^te was over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's
coming up, they were all pressed to go into the house and take some refreshment;
but this was declined, and they parted on each side with the utmost politeness.
Mr. Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage, and when it drove off, Elizabeth
saw him walking slowly towards the house.
¡¡¡¡The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each of
them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to any thing they had expected.
"He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming," said her uncle.
¡¡¡¡"There is something a little stately in him to be sure," replied
her aunt, "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can
now say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud,
I have seen nothing of it."
¡¡¡¡"I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was
more than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for
such attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very trifling."
¡¡¡¡"To be sure, Lizzy," said her aunt, "he is not so handsome
as Wickham; or rather he has not Wickham's countenance, for his features
are perfectly good. But how came you to tell us that he was so disagreeable?"
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she
had liked him better when they met in Kent than before, and that she had
never seen him so pleasant as this morning.
¡¡¡¡"But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities,"
replied her uncle. "Your great men often are; and therefore I shall not
take him at his word about fishing, as he might change his mind another
day, and warn me off his grounds."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth felt that they had entirely mistaken his character,
but said nothing.
¡¡¡¡"From what we have seen of him," continued Mrs. Gardiner, "I
really should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a
way by any body, as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not an ill-natured
look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when
he speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance, that would
not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But to be sure, the good
lady who shewed us the house did give him a most flaming character! I could
hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal master, I suppose,
and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in
vindication
of his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in
as guarded a manner as she could, that by what she had heard from his relations
in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different construction; and
that his character was by no means so faulty, nor Wickham's so amiable,
as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this,
she related the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which
they had been connected, without actually naming her authority, but stating
it to be such as might be relied on.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now
approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every idea gave way to the
charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out to
her husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of any thing
else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk, they had no sooner
dined than she set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and the
evening was spent in the satisfactions of an intercourse renewed after
many years discontinuance.
¡¡¡¡The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave
Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do
nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and
above all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter II
¡¡¡¡
ELIZABETH had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit
her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently resolved
not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. But her conclusion
was false; for on the very morning after their own arrival at Lambton,
these visitors came. They had been walking about the place with some of
their new friends, and were just returned to the inn to dress themselves
for dining with the same family, when the sound of a carriage drew them
to a window, and they saw a gentleman and lady in a curricle, driving up
the street. Elizabeth, immediately recognising the livery, guessed what
it meant, and imparted no small degree of surprise to her relations by
acquainting them with the honour which she expected. Her uncle and aunt
were all amazement; and the embarrassment of her manner as she spoke, joined
to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the preceding
day, opened to them a new idea on the business. Nothing had ever suggested
it before, but they now felt that there was no other way of accounting
for such attentions from such a quarter than by supposing a partiality
for their niece. While these newly-born notions were passing in their heads,
the perturbation of Elizabeth's feelings was every moment increasing. She
was quite amazed at her own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet,
she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much
in her favour; and more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally
suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her.
¡¡¡¡She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she
walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such
looks of enquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made every thing worse.
¡¡¡¡Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable
introduction
took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance
was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her being at Lambton,
she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation
of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy.
She found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.
¡¡¡¡Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and,
though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance
womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother, but there
was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming
and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute and
unembarrassed
an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning
such different feelings.
¡¡¡¡They had not been long together before Darcy told her that Bingley
was also coming to wait on her; and she had barely time to express her
satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick step
was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All Elizabeth's
anger against him had been long done away; but, had she still felt any,
it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality
with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He enquired in a friendly,
though general way, after her family, and looked and spoke with the same
good-humoured ease that he had ever done.
¡¡¡¡To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting
personage
than to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before
them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just
arisen, of Mr. Darcy and their niece, directed their observation towards
each with an earnest, though guarded, enquiry; and they soon drew from
those enquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what
it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they remained a little in doubt;
but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain
the feelings of each of her visitors, she wanted to compose her own, and
to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she feared
most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavoured
to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana
was eager, and Darcy determined to be pleased.
¡¡¡¡In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister;
and oh! how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed
in a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on
former occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that
as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But though this
might be imaginary, she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss
Darcy, who had been set up as a rival of Jane. No look appeared on either
side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred between them that could
justify the hopes of his sister. On this point she was soon satisfied;
and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted which, in
her anxious interpretation, denoted a recollection of Jane not untinctured
by tenderness, and a wish of saying more that might lead to the mention
of her, had he dared. He observed to her, at a moment when the others were
talking together, and in a tone which had something of real regret, that
it "was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing her --"
and, before she could reply, he added, "It is above eight months. We have
not met since the 26th of November, when we were all dancing together at
Netherfield."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards
took occasion to ask her, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether
all her sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question,
nor in the preceding remark, but there was a look and manner which gave
them meaning.
¡¡¡¡It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself;
but, whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general
complaisance, and in all that he said she heard an accent so far removed
from hauteur or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that the improvement
of manners which she had yesterday witnessed, however temporary its existence
might prove, had at least outlived one day. When she saw him thus seeking
the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people, with whom any
intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace; when she saw him
thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations whom he had
openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage,
the difference, the change was so great, and struck so forcibly on her
mind, that she could hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible.
Never, even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified
relations at Rosings, had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from
self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance could
result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the acquaintance
of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw down the ridicule
and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and Rosings.
¡¡¡¡Their visitors staid with them above half an hour, and when they
arose to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing
their wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet to dinner at
Pemberley before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence
which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed.
Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing how she,
whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its acceptance,
but Elizabeth had turned away her head. Presuming, however, that this studied
avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment, than any dislike of the
proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a perfect
willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for her attendance, and
the day after the next was fixed on.
¡¡¡¡Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing
Elizabeth
again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many enquiries to make
after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all this into
a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased; and on this account,
as well as some others, found herself, when their visitors left them, capable
of considering the last half hour with some satisfaction, though while
it was passing the enjoyment of it had been little. Eager to be alone,
and fearful of enquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, she staid with
them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley, and
then hurried away to dress.
¡¡¡¡But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity;
it was not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she
was much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea
of; it was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much
to interest, but nothing to justify enquiry.
¡¡¡¡Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and,
as far as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They
could not be untouched by his politeness, and, had they drawn his character
from their own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference
to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known
would not have recognised it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest,
however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible that
the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old,
and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected.
Neither had any thing occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends
that could materially lessen its weight. They had nothing to accuse him
of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, it would certainly be
imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town where the family did
not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal man, and
did much good among the poor.
¡¡¡¡With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was
not held there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns
with the son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well
known fact that on his quitting Derbyshire he had left many debts behind
him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged.
¡¡¡¡As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening
more than the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long,
was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that
mansion; and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out.
She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she
had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him that
could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable
qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased
to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat
of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing
forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced.
But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her
of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude,
not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough
to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him,
and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she
had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this
accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without
any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their
two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her
friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a
man of so much pride excited not only astonishment but gratitude -- for
to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such, its impression
on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though
it could not be exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful
to him; she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to
know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far
it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power,
which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal
of his addresses.
¡¡¡¡It had been settled in the evening, between the aunt and niece,
that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's, in coming to them on the
very day of her arrival at Pemberley -- for she had reached it only to
a late breakfast -- ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled,
by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it
would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following morning.
They were, therefore, to go. -- Elizabeth was pleased, though, when she
asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply.
¡¡¡¡Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme
had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his
meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter III
¡¡¡¡
CONVINCED as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had
originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how very unwelcome her
appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how
much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed.
¡¡¡¡On reaching the house, they were shewn through the hall into the
saloon, whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows,
opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody
hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chesnuts
which were scattered over the intermediate lawn.
¡¡¡¡In this room they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting
there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived
in London. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil; but attended with
all that embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear
of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior
the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece,
however, did her justice, and pitied her.
¡¡¡¡By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, they were noticed only by a curtsey;
and on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always
be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley,
a genteel, agreeable looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind
of discourse proved her to be more truly well bred than either of the others;
and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth,
the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for
courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short sentence,
when there was least danger of its being heard.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss
Bingley, and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy,
without calling her attention. This observation would not have prevented
her from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an
inconvenient
distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much.
Her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some
of the gentlemen would enter the room. She wished, she feared, that the
master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished or feared
it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner a quarter
of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley's voice, Elizabeth was roused by
receiving from her a cold enquiry after the health of her family. She answered
with equal indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.
¡¡¡¡The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by
the entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the
finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many a
significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given,
to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole party;
for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the beautiful
pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them round the
table.
¡¡¡¡While thus engaged, Elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding
whether she most feared or wished for the appearance of Mr. Darcy, by the
feelings which prevailed on his entering the room; and then, though but
a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate, she began to
regret that he came.
¡¡¡¡He had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with two or three
other gentlemen from the house, was engaged by the river, and had left
him only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to
Georgiana that morning. No sooner did he appear, than Elizabeth wisely
resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed; -- a resolution the more
necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she
saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them,
and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when
he first came into the room. In no countenance was attentive curiosity
so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley's, in spite of the smiles which overspread
her face whenever she spoke to one of its objects; for jealousy had not
yet made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means
over. Miss Darcy, on her brother's entrance, exerted herself much more
to talk; and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself
to get acquainted, and forwarded, as much as possible, every attempt at
conversation on either side. Miss Bingley saw all this likewise; and, in
the imprudence of anger, took the first opportunity of saying, with sneering
civility,
¡¡¡¡"Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the ----shire militia removed from
Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family."
¡¡¡¡In Darcy's presence she dared not mention Wickham's name; but
Elizabeth instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts;
and the various recollections connected with him gave her a moment's distress;
but, exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack, she presently
answered the question in a tolerably disengaged tone. While she spoke,
an involuntary glance shewed her Darcy with an heightened complexion, earnestly
looking at her, and his sister overcome with confusion and unable to lift
up her eyes. Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was then giving her beloved
friend, she undoubtedly would have refrained from the hint; but she had
merely intended to discompose Elizabeth, by bringing forward the idea of
a man to whom she believed her partial, to make her betray a sensibility
which might injure her in Darcy's opinion, and perhaps to remind the latter
of all the follies and absurdities by which some part of her family were
connected with that corps. Not a syllable had ever reached her of Miss
Darcy's meditated elopement. To no creature had it been revealed, where
secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth; and from all Bingley's connections
her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it, from that very wish
which Elizabeth had long ago attributed to him, of their becoming hereafter
her own. He had certainly formed such a plan, and without meaning that
it should affect his endeavour to separate him from Miss Bennet, it is
probable that it might add something to his lively concern for the welfare
of his friend.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth's collected behaviour, however, soon quieted his emotion;
and as Miss Bingley, vexed and disappointed, dared not approach nearer
to Wickham, Georgiana also recovered in time, though not enough to be able
to speak any more. Her brother, whose eye she feared to meet, scarcely
recollected her interest in the affair, and the very circumstance which
had been designed to turn his thoughts from Elizabeth, seemed to have fixed
them on her more, and more cheerfully.
¡¡¡¡Their visit did not continue long after the question and answer
above-mentioned; and while Mr. Darcy was attending them to their carriage,
Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth's person,
behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother's
recommendation
was enough to ensure her favour: his judgment could not err, and he had
spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as to leave Georgiana without the power
of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable. When Darcy returned to
the saloon, Miss Bingley could not help repeating to him some part of what
she had been saying to his sister.
¡¡¡¡"How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr. Darcy," she
cried; "I never in my life saw any one so much altered as she is since
the winter. She is grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing
that we should not have known her again."
¡¡¡¡However little Mr. Darcy might have liked such an address, he
contented himself with coolly replying that he perceived no other alteration
than her being rather tanned -- no miraculous consequence of travelling
in the summer.
¡¡¡¡"For my own part," she rejoined, "I must confess that I never
could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no
brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character;
there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not
out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called
so fine, I never could perceive any thing extraordinary in them. They have
a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether,
there is a self-sufficiency without fashion which is intolerable."
¡¡¡¡Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this
was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not
always wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all
the success she expected. He was resolutely silent however; and, from a
determination of making him speak she continued,
¡¡¡¡"I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed
we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect
your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, "She
a beauty! -- I should as soon call her mother a wit." But afterwards she
seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at
one time."
¡¡¡¡"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but
that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since
I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."
¡¡¡¡He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction
of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during
their visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested
them both. The looks and behaviour of every body they had seen were discussed,
except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked
of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit, of every thing but himself;
yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him, and
Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's beginning
the subject.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter IV
¡¡¡¡
ELIZABETH had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter
from Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had
been renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but
on the third, her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt
of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had
been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had
written the direction remarkably ill.
¡¡¡¡They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and
her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves.
The one missent must be first attended to; it had been written five days
ago. The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and
engagements, with such news as the country afforded; but the latter half,
which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more
important intelligence. It was to this effect:
¡¡¡¡"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred
of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you
-- be assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor
Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to
bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland
with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! -- Imagine our
surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am
very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! -- But I am willing
to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless
and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice
over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least,
for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly
grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I, that we never let
them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves.
They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were
not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly.
My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster
gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his
wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be
long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out,
but I hardly know what I have written."
¡¡¡¡Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely
knowing what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly seized
the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows --
it had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first:
¡¡¡¡"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried
letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for
time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent.
Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for
you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham
and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken
place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland.
Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not
many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave
them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was
dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never intended to go there,
or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly
taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did
trace them easily to Clapham, but no farther; for on entering that place
they removed into a hackney-coach and dismissed the chaise that brought
them from Epsom. All that is known after this is that they were seen to
continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every
possible enquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire,
anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet
and Hatfield, but without any success; no such people had been seen to
pass through. With the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke
his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am
sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on
them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother
believe the worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances
might make it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than
to pursue their first plan; and even if he could form such a design
against a young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can
I suppose her so lost to every thing? -- Impossible. I grieve to find,
however, that Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage;
he shook his head when I expressed my hopes, and said he feared W. was
not a man to be trusted. My poor mother is really ill and keeps her room.
Could she exert herself it would be better, but this is not to be expected;
and as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty
has anger for having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter
of confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that
you have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as
the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am
not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu. I
take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not, but
circumstances
are such, that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as
soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well that I am not afraid
of requesting it, though I have still something more to ask of the former.
My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly, to try to
discover her. What he means to do, I am sure I know not; but his excessive
distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest
way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening.
In such an exigence my uncle's advice and assistance would be every thing
in the world; he will immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely
upon his goodness."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from
her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him without
losing a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door, it
was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous
manner made him start, and before he could recover himself enough to speak,
she, in whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's situation, hastily
exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. Gardiner
this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not a moment to
lose."
¡¡¡¡"Good God! what is the matter?" cried he, with more feeling
than politeness; then recollecting himself, "I will not detain you a minute,
but let me, or let the servant, go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are
not well enough; -- you cannot go yourself."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her, and she
felt how little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling
back the servant, therefore, she commissioned him, though in so breathless
an accent as made her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and mistress
home instantly.
¡¡¡¡On his quitting the room, she sat down, unable to support herself,
and looking so miserably ill that it was impossible for Darcy to leave
her, or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration,
"Let me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take, to give you present
relief? -- A glass of wine; -- shall I get you one? -- You are very ill."
¡¡¡¡"No, I thank you;" she replied, endeavouring to recover herself.
"There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well. I am only distressed
by some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn."
¡¡¡¡She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes
could not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say
something indistinctly of his concern, and observe her in compassionate
silence. At length, she spoke again. "I have just had a letter from Jane,
with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from any one. My youngest
sister has left all her friends -- has eloped; -- has thrown herself into
the power of -- of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton.
You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections,
nothing that can tempt him to -- she is lost for ever."
¡¡¡¡Darcy was fixed in astonishment. "When I consider," she added,
in a yet more agitated voice, "that I might have prevented it!
-- I who knew what he was. Had I but explained some part of it only
-- some part of what I learnt -- to my own family! Had his character been
known, this could not have happened. But it is all, all too late now."
¡¡¡¡"I am grieved, indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved -- shocked. But
is it certain, absolutely certain?"
¡¡¡¡"Oh yes! -- They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and
were traced almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone
to Scotland."
¡¡¡¡"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover
her?"
¡¡¡¡"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my
uncle's immediate assistance, and we shall be off, I hope, in half an hour.
But nothing can be done; I know very well that nothing can be done. How
is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have
not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!"
¡¡¡¡Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence.
¡¡¡¡"When my eyes were opened to his real character. -- Oh!
had I known what I ought, what I dared, to do! But I knew not -- I was
afraid of doing too much. Wretched, wretched, mistake!"
¡¡¡¡Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was
walking up and down the room in earnest meditation; his brow contracted,
his air gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood it. Her
power was sinking; every thing must sink under such a proof of family
weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She should neither
wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing
consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It was,
on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own wishes;
and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now,
when all love must be vain.
¡¡¡¡But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her. Lydia
-- the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all -- soon swallowed
up every private care; and covering her face with her handkerchief, Elizabeth
was soon lost to every thing else; and, after a pause of several minutes,
was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice of her companion,
who, in a manner, which though it spoke compassion, spoke likewise restraint,
said, "I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I
any thing to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing, concern.
Would to heaven that any thing could be either said or done on my part,
that might offer consolation to such distress! -- But I will not torment
you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks.
This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure
of seeing you at Pemberley to-day."
¡¡¡¡"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologize for us to Miss Darcy. Say
that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth
as long as it is possible. -- I know it cannot be long."
¡¡¡¡He readily assured her of his secrecy -- again expressed his sorrow
for her distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present
reason to hope, and, leaving his compliments for her relations, with only
one serious, parting, look, went away.
¡¡¡¡As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that
they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had
marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a retrospective
glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full of contradictions
and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those feelings which would
now have promoted its continuance, and would formerly have rejoiced in
its termination.
¡¡¡¡If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection,
Elizabeth's
change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if otherwise,
if the regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural,
in comparison of what is so often described as arising on a first interview
with its object, and even before two words have been exchanged, nothing
can be said in her defence, except that she had given somewhat of a trial
to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, and that its ill-success
might perhaps authorise her to seek the other less interesting mode of
attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him go with regret; and in this
early example of what Lydia's infamy must produce, found additional anguish
as she reflected on that wretched business. Never, since reading Jane's
second letter, had she entertained a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry
her. No one but Jane, she thought, could flatter herself with such an
expectation.
Surprise was the least of her feelings on this developement. While the
contents of the first letter remained on her mind, she was all surprise
-- all astonishment that Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible
he could marry for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had
appeared incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an
attachment as this, she might have sufficient charms; and though she did
not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement, without
the intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither
her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy
prey.
¡¡¡¡She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire,
that Lydia had any partiality for him, but she was convinced that Lydia
had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to any body. Sometimes
one officer, sometimes another had been her favourite, as their attentions
raised them in her opinion. Her affections had been continually fluctuating,
but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and mistaken indulgence
towards such a girl. -- Oh! how acutely did she now feel it.
¡¡¡¡She was wild to be at home -- to hear, to see, to be upon the
spot, to share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her,
in a family so deranged; a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion
and requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing
could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost
importance, and till he entered the room, the misery of her impatience
was severe. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing,
by the servant's account, that their niece was taken suddenly ill; -- but
satisfying them instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause
of their summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript
of the last with trembling energy. -- Though Lydia had never been a favourite
with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply affected. Not
Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and after the first exclamations
of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner readily promised every assistance
in his power. -- Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with
tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, every thing
relating to their journey was speedily settled. They were to be off as
soon as possible. "But what is to be done about Pemberley?" cried Mrs.
Gardiner. "John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for us; -- was
it so?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement.
That is all settled."
¡¡¡¡"That is all settled!" repeated the other, as she ran into her
room to prepare. "And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose
the real truth! Oh, that I knew how it was!"
¡¡¡¡But wishes were vain; or at best could serve only to amuse her
in the hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth been at
leisure to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment
was impossible to one so wretched as herself; but she had her share of
business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest there were notes to
be written to all their friends in Lambton, with false excuses for their
sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. Gardiner
meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing remained to be
done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of the morning, found
herself, in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed, seated
in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn.
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter V
¡¡¡¡
"I HAVE been thinking it over again, Elizabeth," said her uncle as
they drove from the town; "and really, upon serious consideration, I am
much more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does of the
matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should form
such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless,
and who was actually staying in his colonel's family, that I am strongly
inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends would not step
forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the regiment, after such
an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is not adequate to the risk."
¡¡¡¡"Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth, brightening up for
a moment.
¡¡¡¡"Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I begin to be of your
uncle's opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour,
and interest, for him to be guilty of it. I cannot think so very ill of
Wickham. Can you, yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up as to believe
him capable of it?"
¡¡¡¡"Not perhaps of neglecting his own interest. But of every other
neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so! But I dare
not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland, if that had been the
case?"
¡¡¡¡"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute
proof that they are not gone to Scotland."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! but their removing from the chaise into an hackney coach
is such a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be found
on the Barnet road."
¡¡¡¡"Well, then -- supposing them to be in London. They may be there,
though, for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptionable purpose.
It is not likely that money should be very abundant on either side; and
it might strike them that they could be more economically, though less
expeditiously, married in London, than in Scotland."
¡¡¡¡"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must
their marriage be private? Oh! no, no, this is not likely. His most particular
friend, you see by Jane's account, was persuaded of his never intending
to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He cannot
afford it. And what claims has Lydia, what attractions has she beyond youth,
health, and good humour, that could make him, for her sake, forgo every
chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what restraint the
apprehension of disgrace in the corps might throw on a dishonourable elopement
with her, I am not able to judge; for I know nothing of the effects that
such a step might produce. But as to your other objection, I am afraid
it will hardly hold good. Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he
might imagine, from my father's behaviour, from his indolence and the little
attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family,
that he would do as little, and think as little about it, as any
father could do in such a matter."
¡¡¡¡"But can you think that Lydia is so lost to every thing but love
of him, as to consent to live with him on any other terms than marriage?"
¡¡¡¡"It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizabeth,
with tears in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in
such a point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not what to say.
Perhaps I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never
been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half year, nay,
for a twelvemonth, she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity.
She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous
manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. Since the ----shire
were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers
have been in her head. She has been doing every thing in her power, by
thinking and talking on the subject, to give greater -- what shall I call
it? -- susceptibility to her feelings, which are naturally lively enough.
And we all know that Wickham has every charm of person and address that
can captivate a woman."
¡¡¡¡"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so
ill of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt."
¡¡¡¡"Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever
might be their former conduct, that she would believe capable of such an
attempt, till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I
do, what Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in
every sense of the word. That he has neither integrity nor honour. That
he is as false and deceitful, as he is insinuating."
¡¡¡¡"And do you really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose
curiosity as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.
¡¡¡¡"I do, indeed," replied Elizabeth, colouring. "I told you the
other day, of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you, yourself, when
last at Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved
with such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other
circumstances
which I am not at liberty -- which it is not worth while to relate; but
his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From what he said
of Miss Darcy, I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud, reserved, disagreeable
girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He must know that she was amiable
and unpretending as we have found her."
¡¡¡¡"But does Lydia know nothing of this? Can she be ignorant of
what you and Jane seem so well to understand?"
¡¡¡¡"Oh, yes! -- that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent,
and saw so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation, Colonel Fitzwilliam,
I was ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home, the ----shire
was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the case,
neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it necessary
to make our knowledge public; for of what use could it apparently be to
any one that the good opinion which all the neighbourhood had of him should
then be overthrown? And even when it was settled that Lydia should go with
Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening her eyes to his character never
occurred to me. That she could be in any danger from the deception
never entered my head. That such a consequence as this should ensue,
you may easily believe was far enough from my thoughts."
¡¡¡¡"When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason,
I suppose, to believe them fond of each other."
¡¡¡¡"Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on
either side; and had any thing of the kind been perceptible, you must be
aware that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When
first he entered the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so
we all were. Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about
him for the first two months; but he never distinguished her by
any particular attention, and consequently, after a moderate period of
extravagant and wild admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others
of the regiment who treated her with more distinction again became her
favourites."
¡¡¡¡It may be easily believed that, however little of novelty could
be added to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject
by its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during
the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent.
Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find
no interval of ease or forgetfulness.
¡¡¡¡They travelled as expeditiously as possible; and, sleeping one
night on the road, reached Longbourn by dinner-time the next day. It was
a comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied
by long expectations.
¡¡¡¡The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were
standing on the steps of the house as they entered the paddock; and when
the carriage drove up to the door, the joyful surprise that lighted up
their faces, and displayed itself over their whole bodies in a variety
of capers and frisks, was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth jumped out; and, after giving each of them an hasty
kiss, hurried into the vestibule, where Jane, who came running down stairs
from her mother's apartment, immediately met her.
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled
the eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether any thing had been
heard of the fugitives.
¡¡¡¡"Not yet," replied Jane. "But now that my dear uncle is come,
I hope every thing will be well."
¡¡¡¡"Is my father in town?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word."
¡¡¡¡"And have you heard from him often?"
¡¡¡¡"We have heard only once. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday,
to say that he had arrived in safety, and to give me his directions, which
I particularly begged him to do. He merely added that he should not write
again till he had something of importance to mention."
¡¡¡¡"And my mother -- How is she? How are you all?"
¡¡¡¡"My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are
greatly shaken. She is up stairs, and will have great satisfaction in seeing
you all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty, thank
Heaven! are quite well."
¡¡¡¡"But you -- How are you?" cried Elizabeth. "You look pale.
How much you must have gone through!"
¡¡¡¡Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well;
and their conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
were engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the approach
of the whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt, and welcomed and thanked
them both, with alternate smiles and tears.
¡¡¡¡When they were all in the drawing room, the questions which
Elizabeth
had already asked were of course repeated by the others, and they soon
found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of good,
however, which the benevolence of her heart suggested, had not yet deserted
her; she still expected that it would all end well, and that every morning
would bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, to explain their
proceedings, and perhaps announce the marriage.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a few
minutes conversation together, received them exactly as might be expected;
with tears and lamentations of regret, invectives against the villainous
conduct of Wickham, and complaints of her own sufferings and ill usage;
blaming every body but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the errors
of her daughter must be principally owing.
¡¡¡¡"If I had been able," said she, "to carry my point of going
to Brighton, with all my family, this would not have happened; but
poor dear Lydia had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever
let her go out of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or
other on their side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing,
if she had been well looked after. I always thought they were very unfit
to have the charge of her; but I was over-ruled, as I always am. Poor dear
child! And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham
wherever he meets him, and then he will be killed, and what is to become
of us all? The Collinses will turn us out, before he is cold in his grave;
and if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we shall do."
¡¡¡¡They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas; and Mr. Gardiner,
after general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told
her that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr.
Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia.
¡¡¡¡"Do not give way to useless alarm," added he; "though it is
right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it
as certain. It is not quite a week since they left Brighton. In a few days
more, we may gain some news of them, and till we know that they are not
married, and have no design of marrying, do not let us give the matter
over as lost. As soon as I get to town, I shall go to my brother and make
him come home with me to Gracechurch Street, and then we may consult together
as to what is to be done."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! my dear brother," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that is exactly
what I could most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them
out, wherever they may be; and if they are not married already, make them
marry. And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but tell
Lydia she shall have as much money as she chuses to buy them, after they
are married. And, above all things, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. Tell
him what a dreadful state I am in, -- that I am frightened out of my wits;
and have such tremblings, such flutterings all over me such spasms in my
side, and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that I can get
no rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia, not to give any directions
about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does not know which are
the best warehouses. Oh, brother, how kind you are! I know you will contrive
it all."
¡¡¡¡But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her again of his earnest
endeavours
in the cause, could not avoid recommending moderation to her, as well in
her hopes as her fears; and, after talking with her in this manner till
dinner was on table, they left her to vent all her feelings on the housekeeper,
who attended in the absence of her daughters.
¡¡¡¡Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no
real occasion for such a seclusion from the family, they did not attempt
to oppose it, for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her
tongue before the servants while they waited at table, and judged it better
that one only of the household, and the one whom they could most
trust, should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject.
¡¡¡¡In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who
had been too busily engaged in their separate apartments, to make their
appearance before. One came from her books, and the other from her toilette.
The faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and no change was visible
in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger which
she had herself incurred in the business, had given something more of
fretfulness
than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress enough
of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance of grave reflection,
soon after they were seated at table,
¡¡¡¡"This is a most unfortunate affair; and will probably be much
talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded
bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation."
¡¡¡¡Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she
added, "Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this
useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable -- that
one false step involves her in endless ruin -- that her reputation is no
less brittle than it is beautiful, -- and that she cannot be too much guarded
in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much
oppressed
to make any reply. Mary, however, continued to console herself with such
kind of moral extractions from the evil before them.
¡¡¡¡In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for
half an hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of
the opportunity of making many enquiries, which Jane was equally eager
to satisfy. After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel
of this event, which Elizabeth considered as all but certain, and Miss
Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible, the former continued the
subject by saying, "But tell me all and every thing about it which I have
not already heard. Give me farther particulars. What did Colonel Forster
say? Had they no apprehension of any thing before the elopement took place?
They must have seen them together for ever."
¡¡¡¡"Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality,
especially on Lydia's side, but nothing to give him any alarm. I am so
grieved for him. His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost. He
was coming to us, in order to assure us of his concern, before he had any
idea of their not being gone to Scotland; when that apprehension first
got abroad, it hastened his journey."
¡¡¡¡"And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry? Did he
know of their intending to go off? Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?"
¡¡¡¡"Yes; but when questioned by him, Denny denied knowing
any thing of their plan, and would not give his real opinion about it.
He did not repeat his persuasion of their not marrying -- and from that,
I am inclined to hope, he might have been misunderstood before."
¡¡¡¡"And till Colonel Forster came himself, not one of you entertained
a doubt, I suppose, of their being really married?"
¡¡¡¡"How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains!
I felt a little uneasy -- a little fearful of my sister's happiness with
him in marriage, because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite
right. My father and mother knew nothing of that, they only felt how imprudent
a match it must be. Kitty then owned, with a very natural triumph on knowing
more than the rest of us, that in Lydia's last letter she had prepared
her for such a step. She had known, it seems, of their being in love with
each other many weeks."
¡¡¡¡"But not before they went to Brighton?"
¡¡¡¡"No, I believe not."
¡¡¡¡"And did Colonel Forster appear to think ill of Wickham himself?
Does he know his real character?"
¡¡¡¡"I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he
formerly did. He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant. And since
this sad affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly
in debt; but I hope this may be false."
¡¡¡¡"Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew
of him, this could not have happened!"
¡¡¡¡"Perhaps it would have been better," replied her sister. "But
to expose the former faults of any person, without knowing what their present
feelings were, seemed unjustifiable. We acted with the best intentions."
¡¡¡¡"Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note
to his wife?"
¡¡¡¡"He brought it with him for us to see."
¡¡¡¡Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth.
These were the contents:
¡¡¡¡"MY DEAR HARRIET,
¡¡¡¡You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help
laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed.
I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think
you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is
an angel. I should never be happy without him, so think it no harm to be
off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not
like it, for it will make the surprise the greater when I write to them
and sign my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly
write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt, for not keeping my engagement
and dancing with him to night. Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he
knows all, and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet,
with great pleasure. I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn;
but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin
gown before they are packed up. Good bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster.
I hope you will drink to our good journey.
¡¡¡¡Your affectionate friend,
¡¡¡¡LYDIA BENNET."
¡¡¡¡"Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!" cried Elizabeth when she
had finished it. "What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment.
But at least it shews that she was serious in the object of her
journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her
side a scheme of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!"
¡¡¡¡"I never saw any one so shocked. He could not speak a word for
full ten minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house
in such confusion!"
¡¡¡¡"Oh! Jane!" cried Elizabeth, "was there a servant belonging
to it, who did not know the whole story before the end of the day?"
¡¡¡¡"I do not know. -- I hope there was. -- But to be guarded at
such a time, is very difficult. My mother was in hysterics, and though
I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did
not do so much as I might have done! But the horror of what might possibly
happen, almost took from me my faculties."
¡¡¡¡"Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not
look well. Oh! that I had been with you, you have had every care and anxiety
upon yourself alone."
¡¡¡¡"Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in
every fatigue, I am sure, but I did not think it right for either of them.
Kitty is slight and delicate, and Mary studies so much, that her hours
of repose should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn
on Tuesday, after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till
Thursday with me. She was of great use and comfort to us all, and Lady
Lucas has been very kind; she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole
with us, and offered her services, or any of her daughters, if they could
be of use to us."
¡¡¡¡"She had better have stayed at home," cried Elizabeth; "perhaps
she meant well, but under such a misfortune as this, one cannot
see too little of one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence,
insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied."
¡¡¡¡She then proceeded to enquire into the measures which her father
had intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter.
¡¡¡¡"He meant, I believe," replied Jane, "to go to Epsom, the place
where they last changed horses, see the postilions, and try if any thing
could be made out from them. His principal object must be to discover the
number of the hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come with
a fare from London; and as he thought the circumstance of a gentleman and
lady's removing from one carriage into another might be remarked, he meant
to make enquiries at Clapham. If he could any how discover at what house
the coachman had before set down his fare, he determined to make enquiries
there, and hoped it might not be impossible to find out the stand and number
of the coach. I do not know of any other designs that he had formed: but
he was in such a hurry to be gone, and his spirits so greatly discomposed,
that I had difficulty in finding out even so much as this."
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Chapter VI
¡¡¡¡
THE whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next
morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him.
His family knew him to be, on all common occasions, a most negligent and
dilatory correspondent, but at such a time they had hoped for exertion.
They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to send,
but even of that they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. Gardiner
had waited only for the letters before he set off.
¡¡¡¡When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant
information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting,
to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn as soon as he could, to
the great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only security
for her husband's not being killed in a duel.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire
a few days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable
to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a
great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also
visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of cheering
and heartening them up, though as she never came without reporting some
fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, she seldom went
away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them.
¡¡¡¡All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man, who, but three
months before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be
in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured
with the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family.
Every body declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; and
every body began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance
of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above half of what
was said, believed enough to make her former assurance of her sister's
ruin still more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less of it,
became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come when,
if they had gone to Scotland, which she had never before entirely despaired
of, they must in all probability have gained some news of them.
¡¡¡¡Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday, his wife received
a letter from him; it told them that on his arrival, he had immediately
found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch street;
that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham before his arrival, but without
gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now determined to
enquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet thought it possible
they might have gone to one of them, on their first coming to London, before
they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself did not expect any success
from this measure, but as his brother was eager in it, he meant to assist
him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. Bennet seemed wholly disinclined
at present, to leave London, and promised to write again very soon. There
was also a postscript to this effect:
¡¡¡¡"I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out,
if possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, whether
Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in
what part of the town he has now concealed himself. If there were any one
that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that,
it might be of essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide
us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do every thing in his power to satisfy
us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps Lizzy could tell us what
relations he has now living better than any other person."
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference
for her authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information
of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved.
¡¡¡¡She had never heard of his having had any relations, except a
father and mother, both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible,
however, that some of his companions in the ----shire, might be able to
give more information; and, though she was not very sanguine in expecting
it, the application was a something to look forward to.
¡¡¡¡Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most
anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters
was the first grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters,
whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every
succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.
¡¡¡¡But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived
for their father from a different quarter -- from Mr. Collins; which, as
Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence,
she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his letters
always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as follows:
¡¡¡¡"MY DEAR SIR,
¡¡¡¡I feel myself called upon by our relationship, and my situation
in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering
under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire.
Be assured, my dear Sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise
with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which
must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no
time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate
so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that
must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of
your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it
is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear
Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter
has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though at the same time,
for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think
that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty
of such an enormity at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are
grievously to be pitied, in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs.
Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have
related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false
step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others;
for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves
with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect
with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had
it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace.
Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible,
to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave
her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.
¡¡¡¡I am, dear Sir, &c. &c."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer
from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send.
It was not known that Wickham had a single relation with whom he kept up
any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His
former acquaintance had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia,
it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any
of them. There was no one therefore who could be pointed out as likely
to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances
there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his fear of
discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired that he had
left gaming debts behind him, to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster
believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his
expences at Brighton. He owed a good deal in the town, but his debts of
honour were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal
these particulars from the Longbourn family; Jane heard them with horror.
"A gamester!" she cried. "This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea
of it."
¡¡¡¡Mr. Gardiner added, in his letter, that they might expect to see
their father at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Rendered
spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded to
his brother-in-law's intreaty that he would return to his family, and leave
it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for continuing
their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did not express so
much satisfaction as her children expected, considering what her anxiety
for his life had been before.
¡¡¡¡"What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia!" she cried.
"Sure he will not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight
Wickham, and make him marry her, if he comes away?"
¡¡¡¡As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that
she and her children should go to London at the same time that Mr. Bennet
came from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of their
journey, and brought its master back to Longbourn.
¡¡¡¡Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth
and her Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world.
His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece;
and the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, of their
being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had
received none since her return, that could come from Pemberley.
¡¡¡¡The present unhappy state of the family, rendered any other excuse
for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be
fairly conjectured from that, though Elizabeth, who was by this
time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware
that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of
Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought,
one sleepless night out of two.
¡¡¡¡When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual
philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the habit
of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him away, and
it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it.
¡¡¡¡It was not till the afternoon, when he joined them at tea, that
Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly expressing
her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, "Say nothing of
that. Who would suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought
to feel it."
¡¡¡¡"You must not be too severe upon yourself," replied Elizabeth.
¡¡¡¡"You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so
prone to fall into