CHAPTERONE

TheBennets

It is, of course, generally accepted that awealthy singlemanmustbe insearchofawife.Assoonassuchamanmovesintoaneighbourhood,eachofthefamilies that live therewill,without any inquiry as tohisown feelingson thesubject,immediatelyconsiderhimtherightfulpropertyofoneoftheirdaughters.

'MydearMrBennet,'saidMrsBennettoherhusbandoneday, 'haveyouheardthatNetherfieldParkhasbeenrentedatlast?'

MrBennetrepliedthathehadnot.'Butithas,'sherepeated.'MrsLonghasjustbeenhere,andshetoldmeall

aboutit.'MrBennetmadenoanswer.'Doyounotwanttoknowwhohastakenit?'criedhiswifeimpatiently.'Youwanttotellme,andIhavenoobjectiontohearingit.'Thiswasquiteenoughencouragement.'Well,mydear,MrsLong says thatNetherfieldhasbeen takenbya rich

youngmanfromthenorthofEngland,thathecamedownonMondaytoseetheplaceandwassopleasedwithitthatheagreedtotakepossessionimmediately,andthatsomeofhisservantsaretobeinthehousebytheendoftheweek.'

'Whatishisname?''Bingley.''Ishemarriedorsingle?''Oh, single, my dear! An unmarriedman of large fortune - four or five

thousandpoundsayear.Whatafinethingforourgirls!''Andwhyisthat?Whatdifferencedoesitmaketothem?''MydearMrBennet,'repliedhiswife,'howcanyoubesoannoying?You

mustknowthatIamthinkingofhismarryingoneofthem.''Isthathisintentioninsettlinghere?''Intention?Nonsense, how can you talk like that!But it is likely that he

mayfallinlovewithoneofthem,andthereforeyoumustvisithimassoonashe

comes.''Iseenoreasonforthat.Youandthegirlsmaygo,or,evenbetter,youmay

send themby themselves,becauseasyouareasgood-lookingasanyof them,MrBingleymightlikeyouthebestoftheparty.'

'My dear, you praise me too highly. I certainly have had my share ofbeauty,butwhenawomanhas fivegrown-updaughters, sheought togiveupthinkingofherownappearance.ButyoumustgoandseeMrBingleywhenhecomes.'

'Icannotpromisetodoso.''Butconsideryourdaughters.Youmustgo,because itwillbe impossible

forustovisithimifyoudonot.''Youare tooanxious todowhat isproper, surely. Idare sayMrBingley

willbeverygladtoseeyou,andIwillsendhimafewwordsbyyoutoinformhim of my complete agreement to his marrying whichever of the girls hechooses,thoughImustthrowinagoodwordformylittleLizzy.'

'Ihopeyouwilldonosuchthing.Lizzyisnotabitbetterthantheothers,butyouarealwaysshowingapreferenceforher.'

'Theyhavenoneofthemmuchaboutthemtoadmire,'hereplied.'Theyareallsillyandempty-headedlikeothergirls,butLizzyisa littlemoreintelligentthanhersisters.'

'MrBennet,howcanyouspeakofyourowndaughtersinsuchaway?Youtakepleasureinannoyingme.Youhavenopityonmypoornerves.'

'Youaremistaken,mydear.Ihaveahighrespectforyournerves.Theyaremyoldfriends.Ihavebeenlisteningtonewsofthemforthelast20years.'

'Ah!YoudonotknowhowIsuffer.'MrBennetwassuchastrangemixtureofcleverness,sharphumour,silence

andunexpectedchangesofmind, that theexperienceof23yearshadnotbeenlong enough to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was lessdifficult tounderstand.Shewas a foolishwoman.When shewas anxious, sheimagined herself to be ill. The business of her life was to get her daughtersmarried;itspleasurewasvisitingandnews.

CHAPTERTWO

NewNeighboursatNetherfield

MrBennetwasamongthefirstof thosewhovisitedMrBingley.Hehadalways intended to do so, though he continued to let hiswife believe that hewouldnotgo.Hefinallymadehisintentionsknowninthefollowingway.

Watchinghisseconddaughteroccupiedinsewingacolouredbandaroundahat,hesuddenlyaddressedherwith:

'IhopeMrBingleywilllikeit,Lizzy.''WearenotinapositiontoknowwhatMrBingleylikes,'saidhermother

bitterly,'ifwearenottovisithim.''But you forget, mother,' said Elizabeth, 'that we shall meet him at the

publicballs,andthatMrsLonghaspromisedtointroducehim.''IdonotbelieveMrsLongwilldoanysuchthing.Shehastwoniecesof

herown.Sheisaselfish,insincerewoman,andIhavenoopinionofher.''Neither have I,' saidMrBennet, 'and I amglad to find that you do not

dependonherservingyou.'Mrs Bennet would not make any reply, but, unable to control her

annoyance,begancomplainingtooneofherdaughters.'Don'tkeepcoughingso,Kitty!Havealittlepityonmypoornerves.''Kitty lacks judgment in her coughs,' said her father. 'She chooses the

wrongmoment.''Idonotcoughformyownamusement,'repliedKitty.'Whenisyournext

balltobe,Lizzy?''Intwoweeksfromtomorrow.''So it is,'criedhermother 'IandMrsLongdoesnotcomebackuntil the

daybefore,soitwillbeimpossibleforhertointroducehim,becauseshewillnotknowhimherself.'

'Then,mydear,youmayhavetheadvantageofyourfriend,andintroduceMrBingleytoher!'

'Impossible,MrBennet, impossible,when I amnot acquaintedwithhim

myself.Howcanyoubesoannoying!''Well,ifyouwillnotperformthisduty,Iwilldoitmyself.'Thegirls lookedat their father.MrsBennet said: 'Nonsense,nonsense! I

amsickofMrBingley''I amsorry tohear that,butwhydidyounot tellme sobefore? If Ihad

known it thismorning, I certainlywould not have gone to see him. It is veryunlucky,butasIhaveactuallypaidthevisit,wecannotescapetheacquaintancenow.'

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished, that of MrsBennet being perhaps beyond the rest, though when the first excitement wasover,shebegantosaythatitwaswhatshehadexpectedallthetime.

'How good it was of you! I was sure you loved your girls too well toneglect such an acquaintance.Well, howpleased I am!And it is such a goodjoke,too,thatyouwentthismorning,andneversaidawordaboutituntilnow.'

'Now,Kitty,youmaycoughasmuchasyouchoose,'saidMrBennet,ashelefttheroom,havinghadenoughofhiswife'stalk.

'What an excellent father you have, girls,' she said, when the door wasshut.'Idonotknowhowyouwilleverrepayhimforhiskindness.Atourtimeoflife,it isnotsopleasant,Icantellyou,tobemakingnewacquaintanceseveryday,but forourdeardaughterswewoulddoanything.Lydia,mylove, thoughyouaretheyoungest,IdaresayMrBingleywilldancewithyouatthenextball.'

'Oh,' saidLydiaconfidently, 'I amnotafraid.Though I am theyoungest,I'mthetallest.'

TherestoftheeveningwasspentdiscussinghowsoonMrBingleywouldreturnMrBennet'svisit,anddecidingwhentheyshouldaskhimtodinner.

All thatMrs Bennet, togetherwith her five daughters, could ask on thesubject,wasnotenoughtodrawfromherhusbandanysatisfactorydescriptionofMrBingley.Theywereforcedatlasttoacceptthesecond-handinformationoftheir neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Hewas quiteyoung, verygood-looking, extremely agreeable, and, in addition to all this, heplannedtobeatthenextpublicball.Nothingcouldbemoreexciting!

InafewdaysMrBingleyreturnedMrBennet'svisit,andsatforabouttenminuteswithhiminthelibrary.Hehadhopedtoseetheyoungladies,ofwhose

beauty he had heard a great deal, but he sawonly the father.The ladiesweremorefortunate.Theyhadtheadvantageofobserving,fromanupstairswindow,thatheworeabluecoatandrodeablackhorse.

An invitation todinnerwas sent soonafter, andMrsBennethadalreadyplanned themeal that was to show the quality of her housekeeping,when ananswerarrivedwhichchangedeverything.MrBingleyfounditnecessarytobeinLondonthefollowingday,andwasthereforeunabletoacceptthehonouroftheir invitation.MrsBennetwas both disappointed andworried. She began tofearthathemightalwaysbeflyingaboutfromoneplacetoanother,andneversettledinNetherfieldasheoughttobe.LadyLucasquietenedherfearsalittlebyspreadingthewordthathehadgonetoLondononlytocollectalargepartyfor the ball, and a report soon followed thatMr Bingley would bring twelveladiesandsevengentlemenwithhim.Thegirlswereunhappyatthethoughtofsuch a large number of ladies, but were comforted to find, when the partyentered the ballroom, that it was in factmade up of only five altogether:MrBingley,histwosisters,thehusbandoftheolderone,andanotheryoungman.

Mr Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanly. His sisters were finewomen dressed in the latest fashions. His sister's husband, Mr Hurst, simplylooked like the gentleman he was, but Mr Darcy soon drew the attention ofeveryone by his fine tall form, noble face, and the report, which was passedroundtheroomwithinfiveminutesofhisentrance,thathehadanincomeoftenthousandpoundsayear.Hewaslookedatwithadmirationforhalftheevening,untilhismannerscausedageneraldisgustwhichendedhispopularity.

Mr Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the importantpeople in the room.Hedancedeverydance,was angry that theball closed soearly,andtalkedofgivingonehimselfatNetherfield.Whatadifferencebetweenhimself and his friend!MrDarcy danced only oncewithMrsHurst and oncewithMissBingley,refusedtobeintroducedtoanyotherlady,andspenttherestoftheeveningwalkingaroundtheroom.MrsBennet'sdislikeofhisbehaviourwassharpenedbyhishavingmadeoneofherdaughtersappearneglected.

ElizabethBennethadbeenforced,bythesmallnumberofgentlemen,tositoutfortwodances,andduringpartofthattimeMrDarcyhadbeenstandingnearenough for her to hear, against her will, a conversation between him andMrBingley,wholeftthedancingforafewminutestourgehisfriendtojoinin.

'Come,Darcy,'hesaid,'Ihatetoseeyoustandingaroundbyyourselflike

this.Youreallyshouldbedancing.''Icertainlyshallnot.Bothyoursistersalreadyhavepartners,andthereis

notanotherwomanintheroomwithwhomIwouldcaretodance.''Iwouldnot like tobe sodifficult topleaseasyouare,' criedBingley. 'I

havenevermetwithsomanypleasantgirlsinmylife.''Youaredancingwiththeonlygood-lookingone,'saidMrDarcy,looking

attheoldestMissBennet.'Oh,sheisthemostbeautifulcreaturethatIeversaw!Butthereisoneof

hersisterssittingdownjustbehindyou,whoisveryattractiveandprobablyveryagreeable.Doletmeaskmypartnertointroduceyou.'

'Which do you mean?' Darcy asked. Turning round, he looked for amoment atElizabeth, until, catchingher eye, he lookedawayandcoldly said:'Sheisfairlypretty,butnotgood-lookingenough.'

He walked off, and Elizabeth remained with no very friendly feelingstowardshim.Butshetoldthestorywithgreatspiritamongherfriends,becauseshehadaplayfulnatureandastrongsenseofhumour.

The evening on the whole passed off pleasantly for all the family.MrsBennethadseenheroldestdaughtermuchadmiredbytheNetherfieldparty.MrBingleyhaddancedwithhertwice,andshehadbeenanobjectofattentionbyhissisters.Janewasasmuchpleasedbythisashermother,thoughinaquieterway.Elizabeth shared Jane's pleasure, as she always did. Lydia andKitty hadneverbeenwithoutpartners,andMary,theleastprettyofthefamily,hadheardherselfpraisedtoMissBingleyasaskilledmusician.

They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village inHertfordshire where they lived, and of which they were the most importantfamily.

Within a short walk of Longbourn there lived a family with whom theBennet'swereespeciallyfriendly.SirWilliamLucashadformerlybeenintradeinthetownofMeryton,wherehehadmadeafairlylargefortuneandrisentothehonourofatitleofrank.Thishonourhad,perhaps,beenfelttoostrongly.Ithadgivenhimadisgust forhisbusinessandforhishome inasmallmarket town,and, leavingthemboth,hehadmovedwithhisfamily toahouseaboutamilefromMeryton,whichhecalledLucasLodge.Butthoughproudofhisrank,hewas friendlyand ready tohelp anyonewhoneeded it.LadyLucaswasavery

goodkindofwoman,nottooclevertobeavaluableneighbourtoMrsBennet.Theyhadseveralchildren.Theoldestofthem,asensibleyoungwomanofabouttwenty-seven,wasElizabeth'sspecialfriend.

It was a time-honoured tradition for the Misses Lucas and the MissesBennet tomeetandtalkafteraball,andsothefollowingmorningbrought theformertoLongbournforthatpurpose.

'You began the evening well, Charlotte,' said Mrs Bennet, with forcedpoliteness,toMissLucas.'YouwereMrBingley'sfirstchoice.'

'Yes,butheseemedtolikehissecondbetter.''Oh, you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice.

Certainlythatdidseemasifheadmiredher.Itdoesseemasif-butitmaynotleadtoanything,youknow.'

'But Mr Darcy is not so worth listening to as his friend, is he?' saidCharlotte.'PoorEliza!Tobeonlyjustfairlypretty!'

'I hope youwill not put it into Lizzy's head to be annoyed by his rudetreatment.Heissuchadisagreeablemanthatitwouldbequiteamisfortunetobelikedbyhim.MrsLongtoldmelastnightthathesatnexttoherforhalfanhourwithoutonceopeninghislips.'

'Are you quite sure, madam? Is there not some mistake?' said Jane. 'IcertainlysawMrDarcyspeakingtoher.'

'Yes,becauseshefinallyaskedhimhowhelikedNetherfield,andhecouldnothelpansweringher,butshesaidheseemedveryangryatbeingspokento.'

'Miss Bingley told me,' said Jane, 'that he never speaks much exceptamongpeopleheknowswell.Withthemheisextremelyagreeable.'

'Idonotbelieveawordofit,mydear.''IdonotmindhisnottalkingtoMrsLong,'saidMissLucas,'butIwishhe

haddancedwithEliza.''Another time, Lizzy' said her mother,'I would not dance with him, if I

wereyou.''Hispride,' saidMissLucas, 'doesnotoffendme somuchasprideoften

does,becausethereisanexcuseforit.Onecannotbesurprisedthatsuchafineyoungmanwithfamilyandfortuneshouldthinkhighlyofhimself.'

'Thatisverytrue,'repliedEliza,'andIcouldeasilyforgivehispride,ifhehadnotwoundedmine!

CHAPTERTHREE

JaneGainsanAdmirer

The ladiesofLongbournsoonvisited thoseofNetherfield.Thevisitwasformally returned. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners continued to win theapprovalofMrsHurstandMissBingley,andthoughthemotherwasconsideredto be unbearable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish wasexpressed to be better acquainted with the two oldest. This attention wasreceived by Jane with the greatest pleasure, but Elizabeth saw pride in theirtreatmentofeverybody,evenhersister,andcouldnotlikethem.ButitwasplainthattheirbrotherdidadmireJane,andElizabethobservedthatJanewasgivingway to thepreferencewhich shehadbegun to feel forhim from the first, andwasbeginningtobeverymuchinlove.

WhileElizabethwaswatchingMrBingley'sattentionstohersister,shedidnotrealizethatsheherselfwasbecominganobjectofsomeinterestintheeyesofhisfriend.MrDarcyhadatfirsthardlyadmittedhertobepretty;hehadseenherwithoutadmirationattheball,andwhentheynextmet,helookedatheronlyto criticize.But he had no sooner decided that no single part of her facewasparticularly attractive than he began to find that the whole was madeuncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expressionof her dark eyes. Shewascompletely unconscious of this. To her, he was only the man who had madehimself agreeable nowhere, andwho had not thought her attractive enough todancewith.

Hebegantowishtoknowherbetter.Oneday,alargepartywasamusingitselfatSirWilliamLucas's.Anumber

ofyoungladies,andtwoorthreearmyofficers,wereoccupiedindancingatoneendoftheroom.MrDarcystoodnearthem,andSirWilliamwastryingtomakeconversationwith him.AsElizabethmoved towards themat thismoment, SirWilliamwasstruckwiththeideaofdoingthepolitething,andcalledouttoher:

'MydearMissEliza,whyareyounotdancing?MrDarcy,youmustallowme to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannotrefusetodance,Iamsure,whensomuchbeautyisinfrontofyou.'And,takingherhand,hewouldhavegivenittoMrDarcy,who,thoughextremelysurprised,wasnotunwillingtoreceiveit,whensheimmediatelypulledaway,andsaidinsomeconfusiontoSirWilliam:

'Sir,Ihavenottheleastintentionofdancing.PleasedonotsupposethatImovedthiswayinordertobegforapartner.'

MrDarcy,withgreatpoliteness,requestedtobeallowedthehonourofherhand,butwithoutsuccess.Elizabethwasdetermined,andSirWilliam'sattemptatpersuasionmetwithnosuccess.

'Youaresuchanexcellentdancer,MissEliza,thatitiscrueltorefusemethehappinessofseeingyou,andthoughthisgentlemandislikestheamusementingeneral,hecanhavenoobjection,Iamsure,todoingusthishonourforonehalf-hour.'

'MrDarcyisallpoliteness,'saidElizabethsmiling.Sheturnedaway.Herrefusal had not harmed her in the gentleman's opinion, and he thought of herwithsomeadmiration.

***ThevillageofLongbournwasonlyonemilefromthetownofMeryton-a

mostconvenientdistancefortheyoungladies,whousuallywenttherethreeorfourtimesaweektomakeavisittoanaunt,MrsPhilips,whowasmarriedtoalawyer, and to look at a hat shop just over theway. The two youngest of thefamily,CatherineandLydia,wereparticularlyfrequentintheseattentions.Theyalwaysmanagedtolearnsomenews,andatpresenttheywerewellsuppliedbythe arrival of a regiment in the neighbourhood, which would remain for thewholewinter.Theycouldtalkofnothingbutofficers.

After listening onemorning to their excited remarks on this subject,MrBennetsharplyobserved:

'FromallthatIcanunderstandfromyourmanneroftalking,youmustbetwoofthesilliestgirlsinthecountry.'

Kittywasalittleashamed,anddidnotanswer,butLydialaughedloudly.'Iamastonished,mydear,'saidMrsBennet,'thatyoushouldbesoreadyto

thinkyourownchildrensilly.Asamatteroffact,theyareallveryclever.''Thisistheonlypointonwhichwedonotagree.'MrsBennetwaspreventedfromreplyingbytheentranceofaservantwith

anoteforMissBennet.ItcamefromNetherfield.MrsBennet'seyesbrightenedwithpleasure,andshecalledouteagerly,whileherdaughterread:

'Well, Jane,who is it from?What is it about?What does he say?Well,

Jane,hurryupandtellus.''ItisfromMissBingley,'saidJane,andthenreaditaloud:NETHERFIELDPARK10thOctoberMydearJane,WillyoubesokindastocometodinnertodaywithLouisaandme?We

are all alone.Come as soon as you canon receiving this.Mybrother and thegentlemenaretohavedinnerwiththeofficers.

Yoursever,CAROLINEBINGLEY.'Havingdinnerout,'saidMrsBennet,'thatisveryunlucky.''CanIhavethecarriage?'askedJane.'No,mydear,youhadbettergoonhorseback,because it seems likely to

rainandthenyoumuststayallnight.''That would be a good idea,' said Elizabeth, 'if you were sure that they

wouldnotoffertosendherhome.''Oh, but the gentlemen will have used Mr Bingley's carriage to go to

Meryton.''Iwouldmuchrathergointhecarriage,'repeatedJane.'But,mydear,yourfatherdoesnothaveenoughhorses.Theyarewanted

onthefarm.'Janewasthereforeforcedtogoonhorseback,andhermotherfollowedher

to the door with many cheerful wishes for bad weather. Her hopes wereanswered. Janehadnotbeengone longbefore it rainedhard.Her sisterswereanxious for her, but her mother was pleased. The rain continued the wholeevening.Janecertainlycouldnotcomeback.

'Thiswasagoodideaofmine!'saidMrsBennet.BreakfastwashardlyovernextmorningwhenaservantfromNetherfield

broughtanoteforElizabethfromJanetosaythatshewasunwell.'Well, my dear,' saidMr Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note out

loud,'ifyourdaughtershouldhaveadangerousattackofillness-ifsheshoulddie - itwill be a comfort to know that itwas all the result of going afterMrBingley,andfollowingyourorders.'

'Oh, I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little things likecolds.Theywilltakegoodcareofher.'

Elizabeth,feelingreallyanxious,decidedtogotohersister.Thecarriagewasnotavailable,andasshedidnotrideahorse,walkingwasheronlypossibleway.

'Howcanyoubesosilly,'saidhermother,'inallthismud!Youwillnotbefittobeseenwhenyougetthere.'

'IshallbeveryfittoseeJane,whichisallIwant.''WewillgoasfarasMerytonwithyou,'offeredLydiaandKitty.Elizabeth

acceptedtheircompany,andthethreeyoungladiessetofftogether.AtMerytontheyparted,andElizabethcontinuedherwalkalone,crossing

fieldafterfieldimpatiently,andfindingherselfatlastwithinsightofthehouse,withtiredfeet,dirtyshoes,andafacebrightwiththewarmthofexercise.

Herappearancecausedagreatdealofsurprise.ElizabethguessedthatMrsHurstandMissBingleywerescornfulthatsheshouldwalk3milessoearlyandinsuchweather.Shewas received, though,verypolitely,and in theirbrother'smannerwassomethingbetterthanpoliteness-kindnessandpleasure.MrDarcysaidverylittle.Hewasoccupiedwithadmiringthebrightnessthatexercisehadaddedtothecolourinherface.

HersisterJanehadhardlysleptatall,andwasfeverish.Thedoctorcame,advisedhertoreturntobed,andpromisedsomemedicine.Thefeverincreased,andherheadachedbadly.

Elizabethstayedwithheruntilthreeo'clock,andthenfeltshemustgo.ButJane showed such disappointment at parting from her thatMiss Bingley wasforced to invite her to remain at Netherfield for the present, and Elizabeththankfullyacceptedthisoffer.AservantwassenttoLongbourntotellthefamilyofherstayandtobringbackasupplyofclothes.

***Athalfpastsix,Elizabethwascalledtodinner.Janewasnotatallbetter.

MrBingley'ssisters,onhearingthis,repeatedthreeorfourtimeshowsorrytheywere, how unpleasant it was to have a bad cold, and how very much theydislikedbeingillthemselves,andthenthoughtnomoreofthematter.Theirlackof real feeling towards Jane, when she was not actually in their presence,broughtbacktoElizabethallheroriginaldislikeofthem.

Their brother was in fact the only one whose anxiety for Jane seemedsincere. His attentions to Elizabeth herself were most pleasing, and theypreventedherfromfeelingherselfsuchanunwelcomeguestasshebelievedshewasconsideredtobebytheothers.

When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, andMiss Bingleybegancriticizingherassoonasshewasoutoftheroom.Howpoorhermannerswere - a mixture of pride and lack of good family. She had no powers ofconversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs Hurst thought the same, andadded:

'Thereisnothingtoadmireinherexceptbeinganexcellentwalker.Ishallneverforgetherappearancethismorning.Shereallylookedalmostwild.'

'Shecertainlydid,Louisa.Herhairsountidy!''Yes,andherskirt!Ihopeyousawherskirt,coveredinmud.''I thoughtMiss ElizabethBennet looked extremelywellwhen she came

intotheroomthismorning,'saidMrBingley. 'Herdirtyskirtquiteescapedmynotice.Hercomingshowsaconcernforhersisterthatisverypleasing.'

'Iamafraid,MrDarcy,'observedMissBingley,inahalf-whisper,'thatthisadventurehasratherlessenedyouradmirationforherfineeyes.'

'Notatall,'hereplied.'Theywerebrightenedbytheexercise.'Ashortpausefollowedthisspeech,andMrsHurstbeganagain:'IamextremelyfondofJaneBennet.Sheisreallyaverysweetgirl.Iwish

withallmyheartthatshewerewellsettled.Butwithsuchparents,andsuchlowrelations,Iamafraidthereisnochanceofit.'

'It must greatly lessen her chance of marrying a man of good position,'repliedMrDarcy.

MrBingleymadenoanswertothisspeech,buthissistersgaveittheirfullagreement, and continued for some time to make fun of their dear friend'sinferiorrelations.

Elizabethspentmostofthenightinhersister'sroom,andinthemorningrequestedthatanotebesenttoLongbourn,askinghermothertovisitJaneandformherown judgmentonhercondition.Thenotewas immediately sent, andMrs Bennet, with her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon afterbreakfast.

IfMrsBennet had found Jane in any real danger, shewould have beenveryupset,butwhenshewassatisfiedthatherillnesswasnotserious,shehadno wish for her immediate recovery, as her return to health would probablyremoveherfromNetherfield.Shewouldnot listen, therefore, toherdaughter'sproposalofbeingtakenhome;nordidthedoctor,whoarrivedataboutthesametime,thinkitadvisable.

MrsBennet repeated her thanks toMrBingley for his kindness to Jane,withanapologyfortroublinghimalsowithLizzy.MrBingleywaseagerthathistwoguestsshouldremain,andforcedhisyoungersistertobepolitetoo.Shedidthisduty,evenifratherunwillingly,butMrsBennetwassatisfied,andleftsoonafterthat.

The day passed much as the day before had done. Jane was slowlyrecovering.Intheevening,Elizabethjoinedthecompanyinthesittingroom,andtookupsomeneedlework.MrDarcywaswritingaletter.

Whenthatbusinesswasover,heaskedMissBingleyandElizabethtoplaysomemusic.MissBingleymovedeagerlytothepiano.AfterapoliterequestforElizabeth to begin the performance, which Elizabeth refused with equalpoliteness,MissBingleyseatedherself.

Mrs Hurst sang with her sister; and while they were employed in this,Elizabeth could not help noticing how frequently Mr Darcy's eyes fixedthemselves on her. She could hardly imagine that she could be an object ofadmirationtosogreataman,butitseemedevenstrangerthatheshouldlookatherso,becausesheknewhedislikedher.Shecouldonlysupposethatshedrewhisattentionbecausetherewassomethingwrongabouther.Thesuppositiondidnotupsether;shelikedhimtoolittletocareforhisopinion.

Soonafter,asMissBingleybegantoplayalivelyScottishtune,MrDarcy,approachingElizabeth,saidtoher:

'Doyounotfeelagreatdesire,MissBennet,toseizesuchanopportunityforadance?'

She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with somesurpriseathersilence.

'Oh,'shesaid, 'Iheardyoubefore,butIcouldnotdecideimmediatelyonwhat to say in reply.Youwantedme, Iknow, to say "Yes", so thatyoumighthave the pleasure of thinking badly ofmy taste, but I always enjoy defeating

suchintentions.Ihave,therefore,madeupmymindtotellyouthatIdonotwanttodance;andnow,thinkbadlyofmeifyoudare.'

'Idonotdare.'Elizabeth, having rather expected to offend him, was astonished at his

politeness,buttherewasamixtureofsweetnessandintelligenceinhermannerthat made it difficult for her to offend anybody. Darcy had never been soattractedtoanywomanashewastoher.Hereallybelievedthat, if itwerenotforherinferiorrelations,hewouldbeinsomedangeroffallinginlove.

Miss Bingley saw, or thought she saw, enough to be jealous, and heranxietyfor therecoveryofherdear friendJanewas increasedbyherdesire togetridofElizabeth.

Asa resultofanagreementbetween the twosisters,Elizabethwrote thenextmorningtohermothertobeghertosendthecarriageforthemduringthatday.MrsBennet sent thema reply that they couldnot possiblyhave it beforeTuesday.ButElizabethhaddecided that she could stayno longer, nordid sheverymuchexpectthatshewouldbeencouragedto.SheurgedJanetoborrowMrBingley'scarriageimmediately.

Themasterofthehouseheardwithrealsorrowthattheywereleavingsosoon,andrepeatedlytriedtopersuadetheolderMissBennetthatitwasnotsafeforher,butJanewasalwaysabletobedecisivewhenshebelievedherselftoberight.

Itwaswelcomenews toMrDarcy.Elizabethattractedhimmore thanhewished.Hedecidedtobeparticularlycarefulthatnosignofadmirationshouldnow escape him. He kept steadily to his purpose, and hardly spoke to herthrough the whole of the day, and although they were at one time left bythemselvesforhalfanhour,hekeptfirmlytohisbookandwouldnotevenlookather.

On thenextmorning, they left forhome.Theywerenotwelcomedbackverygladlybytheirmother,but theirfatherwasreallyhappytoseethem.Theeveningconversationhadlostmuchofitsliveliness,andmostofitsgoodsense,duringtheabsenceofJaneandElizabeth.

CHAPTERFOUR

MrCollins

'Ihope,mydear,'saidMrBennettohiswife,astheywereatbreakfastthenextmorning,'thatyouhaveorderedagooddinnertoday,becauseIhavereasontoexpectanadditiontoourfamilyparty.'

'Whomdo youmean,my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I amsure,unlessCharlotteLucas shouldhappen tocall, and Ihopemydinners aregoodenoughforher!

'ThepersonofwhomIspeakisagentlemanandastranger.'Mrs Bennet's eyes brightened. 'A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr

Bingley, I am sure!Why, Jane, younevermentioned aword about this!But -goodheavens!Howunlucky!Thereisnotabitoffishtobegottoday!Lydia,mylove,ringthebell.Imustspeaktothecookimmediately.'

'ItisnotMrBingley,'saidherhusband.'ItisapersonwhomIhaveneverseeninthewholeofmylife.'

Thiscausedgeneralastonishment,andhehadthepleasureofbeingeagerlyquestionedbyhiswifeandallfiveofhisdaughtersatonce.

Afteramusinghimselfforsometimebynotansweringtheirquestions,heexplained:

'Ashort timeago I receiveda letter. Itwas frommycousin,MrCollins,who,whenIamdead,mayputyoualloutofthishouseassoonashepleases.'

MrBennet'spropertywas,unfortunatelyforhisdaughters,topassbylawafterhisdeathtohisnearestmalerelative,adistantcousin.

'Oh,mydear,'criedhiswife,'Icannotbeartohearthatmentioned.Pleasedonot talkof thathatefulman.' Itwasasubjectonwhichshecouldneverseereason.

'Butifyouwilllistentohisletter,youmayperhapsbealittlesoftenedbyhismannerofexpressinghimself:

HUNSFORDPARSONAGENEARWESTERHAM,KENT15thOctoberDearSir,

The disagreement that existed between yourself andmy honoured fatheralwayscausedmemuchanxiety,andsincehisdeathIhavefrequentlywishedforarenewaloffriendshipbetweenourtwobranchesofthefamily.

Mymindisnowmadeuponthesubject.IhaverecentlybecomeaministerofthechurchandIhavebeenfortunateenoughtobecometheobjectofattentionoftheLadyCatherinedeBourgh.ByhergenerosityIhavebeenpresentedwithavaluableposition in thisarea,where I shall try tobehavewithgrateful respecttowardsher.

As a churchman, I feel it to bemy duty to encourage peace among allfamilieswithinmyinfluence,andfor thesereasonsIconsider thatmyofferoffriendshipisdeservingofpraise,andthatthefactthatIamheirtoyourpropertywillbekindlyforgivenbyyou.

Iam troubledatbeing themeansofharmingyourdaughters, andbeg toapologizefor it,aswellas to informyouofmyreadiness todowhat is inmypowertolessenthewrongdonetothem.

Ifyouhavenoobjectiontoreceivingmeintoyourhouse,Iintendtovisityou and your family on Monday next week, at four o'clock, and would bethankfultoremainasyourguestuntiltheSaturdayofthefollowingweek.

I remain, dear sir, with respectful greetings to your lady and daughters,yourwell-wisherandfriend,WILLIAMCOLLINS.

'At fouro'clock, therefore,wemayexpect thispeace-makinggentleman,'saidMrBennet,ashefoldedup the letter. 'Heseemsamostdutifulandpoliteyoungman.'

'Thereissomesenseinwhathesaysabouttryingtolessentheharmdonetothegirls,'hiswifeagreed.

'Thoughitisdifficult,'saidJane,'toguessinwhatwayheintendstodoso.'Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his high degree of respect for Lady

Catherine.As for hermother,MrCollins's letter had taken awaymuchof herunfriendly feeling, and she prepared herself to see him with a calmness thatastonishedherhusbandanddaughters.

MrCollinsarrivedontime,andwasreceivedwithgreatpolitenessbythewholefamily.MrBennetsaidlittle,buttheladieswerereadyenoughtotalk,andMrCollinsseemedverywillingtodosohimself.Hewasatall,heavy-lookingyoungmanofabouttwenty-five.Hismannerwasseriousandhisbehaviourvery

formal.HehadnotbeenseatedlongbeforehebegantoofferhiscongratulationstoMrsBennet on having such a fine family of daughters, and to admire theirbeauty.Headdedthathedidnotdoubtthatshewouldintimeseethemallwellsettledinmarriage.Thisspeechwasnotmuchtothetasteofsomeofhishearers,butMrsBennetansweredmostreadily:

'Youareverykind,sir,Iamsure,andIwishwithallmyheartthatitmaybeso,or theywillbepoorenough.Thesemattersaresettled insuchastrangeway.'

'Iamconscious,madam,oftheinjusticetoyourlovelydaughters,buttheymaybesurethatIhavecomepreparedtoadmirethem.AtpresentIwillsaynomore,butperhaps,whenwearebetteracquainted...'

Hewasinterruptedbytheannouncementofdinner,andthegirlssmiledateachother.TheywerenottheonlyobjectsofMrCollins'sadmiration.Thehall,thediningroom,andallitsfurniture,wereexaminedandhighlypraised,andhisapprovalwouldhavetouchedMrsBennet'sheart,ifshehadnotbelievedthathewasviewing it all ashisown futureproperty.Thedinner, too, in its turn,wasmuchadmired, andhebegged toknowwhichof his cousinshadprepared theexcellentmeal.But here hewas corrected byMrsBennet,who informed himrathersharplythattheycouldverywellaffordtokeepagoodcook,andthatherdaughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for havingdispleasedher.Sherepliedinasoftervoicethatshewasnotatalloffended,buthecontinuedtoapologizeforaboutaquarterofanhour.

After dinner,MrBennet thought itwas time to have some conversation,withhisguest.He therefore chose a subjectonwhichhe expectedMrCollinswould be pleased to speak, and began by observing that he seemed veryfortunateinreceivingsuchanexcellentlivingfromLadyCatherine.MrBennetcould not have thought of a better beginning. Mr Collins praised her loudly,expressinghimself inanextremely respectfulmanner.By teatimehishosthadhadenough,andwasgladtotaketheyoungmanintothesittingroomandinvitehimtoreadtotheladies.MrCollinsreadilyagreed,andabookwasproduced,butatthesightofithequicklystated,beggingpardon,thatheneverreadworksoffiction.KittyandLydialookedathiminsurprise.Otherbookswereoffered,andhechoseacollectionofwritingsonmattersofreligion.Lydiaturnedawayasheopenedthebook,andbeforehehad,inadullvoice,readthreepages,sheinterruptedtospeaktohermother.Hertwooldestsistersurgedhertoholdhertongue,butMrCollins,muchoffended,laidthebookdown.

MrCollinswasnotasensibleman,andneithereducationnorsocietyhadimprovedhimmuch.Hewas tooconsciousofhisownimportance,and,at thesametime,tooafraidofgivingoffence,especiallytothoseabovehiminrank.

AfortunatechancehadbroughthimtotheattentionofLadyCatherinedeBourgh,whenthepositionatHunsfordbecamefree.Havingnowagoodhouseandalargeenoughincome,heintendedtomarry.InendingthequarrelwiththeLongbournfamily,hewasthinkingofawife,ashemeanttochooseoneofthedaughters.Thiswashisplanoflesseningthewrongdonetothembyhisbeingtheheir to their father'sproperty,andhe thought itwasanextremelygenerousone.

Hisplandidnotchangeonseeingthem.MissJaneBennet'sbeautifulfacesoonattractedhim,andforthefirsteveningshewashissettledchoice.Butthenextmorningcausedachange,becauseinaquarterofanhour'sprivatetalkwithMrsBennetbeforebreakfast,hereceivedawarningaboutthecousinwhomhehadfixedon.'Astoheryoungerdaughters,shecouldnotbesure,shecouldnotanswerimmediately-butheroldestdaughter,shemustjustmention,shefeltitherdutytostate,waslikelytobeverysoonengagedtobemarried.'

MrCollins had only to change from Jane toElizabeth. Itwas done in amoment. Elizabeth, next to Jane both in birth and beauty, followed her as hischoiceasamatterofcourse.

MrsBennetwaspleasedwith this suggestion, and trusted that shemightsoonhavetwodaughtersmarried.Themanwhomshecouldnotbeartospeakofthedaybeforenowstoodhighinherregard.

CHAPTERFIVE

MrWickham

Lydia intended towalk toMeryton thatmorning,andeverysisterexceptMary, who preferred to read, agreed to go with her. Mr Collins was theircompanion,attherequestofMrBennet,whowasmostanxioustogetridofhimandhavehislibrarytohimselfbecausehiscousinneverstoppedtalking.

Thegirls listenedpolitelytohisremarksuntil theyenteredMeryton.Theattentionoftheyoungeroneswasthennolongertobewonbyhim.Theireyeswereimmediatelywanderingupthestreetinsearchoftheofficers.

But the attentionof every ladywas soon caught by a youngmanwhomtheyhadneverseenbefore.Hewasofamostgentlemanlyappearanceandwaswalkingwith an officer on the other side of the road.All were struck by thestranger'smanner.KittyandLydiaknewtheofficer,anddecidedtofindoutwhohis friendwas. They led theway across the street, under pretence ofwantingsomething ina shopopposite,andhad just reached thepathwaywhen the twogentlemen arrived at the same place. Mr Denny, the officer, addressed themdirectlyandintroducedhisfriend,MrWickham,whohadjustjoinedthearmy.

Theyoungmanappearedverypleasant.Hewasgood-lookingandhehadafine figure and very pleasing manners. The whole party was still having apleasantconversation,whenthesoundofhorsesdrewtheirattention,andDarcyandBingleywereseenridingdownthestreet.Onrecognizingtheladiesinthegroup,thetwogentlemencamedirectlytowardsthem,andbegantheusualpolitegreetings.Bingleywasthechiefspeaker,andMissJaneBennetthechiefobject.Hewas then,hesaid,onhisway toLongbourn to inquireafterherhealth.MrDarcy followedhim,andwasbeginning todecide tokeephiseyesaway fromElizabeth,whentheysuddenlybecamefixedonthestranger.Elizabethhappenedtosee thefacesofbothwhentheylookedateachother,andwasastonishedattheeffectofthemeeting.Thefaceofonebecamewhite,theotherturnedred.MrWickham, after a few moments, touched his hat in greeting, but Mr Darcyseemedhardly tomovea finger in return.Whatcouldbe themeaningof it? Itwasimpossibletoimagine,anditwasimpossiblenottowanttoknowthereasonforthisbehaviour.

Inanotherminute,MrBingley,whoseemednottohavenoticedwhathadhappened,saidgoodbyetotheladiesandrodeonwithhisfriend.

Astheywalkedhome,ElizabethdescribedtoJanewhatshehadseenpassbetweenthetwogentlemen,butJanecouldnomoreexplainsuchbehaviourthanhersister.

***AtMerytontheyoungpeoplehadacceptedaninvitationfromtheirauntto

supperandcards.ThecarriagetookMrCollinsandhisfivecousinsatasuitablehour to the town,andthegirlshadthepleasureofhearing,as theyenteredthesittingroom,thatMrWickhamhadacceptedaninvitationfromtheiruncletobepresent,andwasalreadyinthehouse.

When this informationwas given, and they had all taken their seats,MrCollinswas free to lookaroundhimand talk.To thegirls the timeofwaitingappeared very long, but it was over at last. The gentlemen joined them, andwhenMrWickhamwalked into the room,Elizabeth felt that shehadnotbeenthinkingofhimwithatallunreasonableadmiration.

MrWickhamwas thehappyman towardswhomalmostevery lady'seyewasturned,andElizabethwasthehappywomanbywhomheseatedhimselfatlast.WithsuchfinemenasMrWickhamandtheofficersincompetitionfortheattentionoftheladies,MrCollinsseemedtosinkintounimportance,buthestillhadfromtimetotimeakindlistenerinMrsPhilips.

ElizabethwasverywillingtohearMrWickhamtalk,thoughshecouldnothopetobetoldwhatshechieflywishedtohear-thehistoryofhisacquaintancewithMrDarcy.Butherinterestwasmostunexpectedlysatisfied.MrWickhambeganthesubjecthimself.HeaskedslowlyhowlongMrDarcyhadbeenstayinginthearea.

'Aboutamonth,'saidElizabeth,andthen,unwillingtoletthesubjectdrop,sheadded:'HeisamanofverylargepropertyinDerbyshire,Ibelieve.'

'Yes,'repliedWickham,'Pemberley,hispropertythere,isanobleone-atleast ten thousandayear.Youcouldnothavemetwithapersonbetterable togiveyouinformationaboutitthanmyself.Ihavebeenconnectedwithhisfamilysincemybirth.'

Elizabethcouldnothelplookingsurprised.'Youmaywellbesurprised,MissBennet,atsuchastatement,afterseeing

theverycoldmannerofourmeetingyesterday.DoyouknowMrDarcywell?''QuiteaswellasIeverwishtodo,'criedElizabethwarmly. 'Ihavespent

severaldaysinthesamehousewithhim,andIfindhimverydisagreeable.''I cannot pretend to be sorry,' said Wickham, after a short pause. 'His

behaviourtomehasbeenshameful.Icouldhaveforgivenhimanything,though,except forhisdisappointing thehopesofhis fatherandbringingshameonhismemory.'

Elizabeths'interestinthesubjectincreased.'IwaseducatedfortheChurch,'continuedMrWickham,'andMrDarcy's

fatherleftme,onhisdeath,thebestlivingtowhichhehadthepowertomakeanappointment,assoonasitbecamefree.Hewasmygodfatherandhewasveryfondofme.Hethought thathehadprovidedformyfuture,but the livingwasgiventosomebodyelse.'

'Goodheavens!'saidElizabeth.'Butsurelythatwasagainstthelaw?''My godfatherswisheswere not expressed clearly.MrDarcy treated his

father's words as a suggestion with certain conditions connected with it, andclaimedthatIhadnorighttothelivingbecauseofsomeimaginedwrongdoingsofmine.Butthefactisthathehatesme.'

'Thisisquiteshameful!Hedeservesthatthetruthshouldbemadepublic.''UntilIcanforgethisfather,Icanneverbethemeansofshamingtheson.'Elizabethhonouredhimforsuchfeelings.'We were born in the same place, and brought up together. My father

managed the lateMr Darcy's affairs, and gave all his time to the care of hisproperty.'

'I am surprised thatMrDarcy's pride has notmade him fairer to you. Ishouldhavethoughtthathewouldhavebeentooproudtobedishonest.'

'Itissurprising,'repliedWickham,'becausehispridehasoftencausedhimto be generous, to give his money freely, to be an excellent host and a kindlandowner, and to do good to the poor.He also has brotherly pride.He looksafterhissisterverywell.'

'WhatsortofagirlisMissDarcy?'Heshookhishead. 'IwishIcouldcallher likeable.Butshe is toomuch

likeherbrother-very,veryproud.''IamastonishedatMrDarcy's friendshipwithMrBingley.HowcanMr

Bingley, who is so agreeable and friendly to everyone, like such a man? HecannotknowwhatMrDarcyis.'

'Probablynot.ButMrDarcycanpleasewhenhewishes.Hecanbeagoodcompanion ifhe thinks itworth taking the trouble.He is averydifferentmanamongthosewhoarehisequalsintheworld.'

MrWickham'sattentionwascaughtalittlelaterbyMrCollinsmentioningthe name of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He asked Elizabeth in a low voicewhetherherrelationswereacquaintedwiththefamily.

'You know, of course, that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady AnneDarcy were sisters, and therefore she is aunt to the present Mr Darcy. Herdaughter,MissdeBourgh,willhaveaverylargefortune,anditisbelievedthatsheandhercousinwillunitethetwopropertiesbymarriage.'

This informationmadeElizabeth smile, as she thought ofMissBingley.All that lady's hopes would be disappointed, if he was already promised toanother.

CHAPTERSIX

TheBallatNetherfield

Elizabeth repeated to Jane, the next day, what had passed between MrWickhamandherself. Jane listenedwith astonishment andconcern.She couldnotbelievethatMrDarcycouldbesoundeservingofMrBingley'sfriendship,butitwasnotinhernaturetoquestionthetruthfulnessofayoungmanofsuchpleasingappearanceasWickham.

'Theyhavebothbeenmistaken,Iexpect,'shesaid,'insomewayorother,ofwhichwecanformnoidea.'

Thetwoyoungladieswerecalledfromthegarden,wherethisconversationwastakingplace,bythearrivalofsomeofthepersonsofwhomtheyhadbeenspeaking.MrBingleyandhis sisterscame togive theirpersonal invitation forthe long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the followingTuesday.MissBingley andMrsHurst appeared very pleased to see their dearfriend again, and complained that it was a long time since they had lastmet.They took very little notice of the rest of the family, avoidingMrsBennet asmuchaspossible,sayingnotmuchtoElizabeth,andnothingatalltotheothers.

The thought of theNetherfield ball was exciting to every female of thefamily.MrsBennetconsideredittobegivenasamarkofattentiontoheroldestdaughter, and was particularly pleased at receiving the invitation from MrBingleyhimself,insteadofbymeansofaformalcard.Janepicturedtoherselfahappy evening in the society of her two friends and the attentions of theirbrother, and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal withMrWickham.ThehappinessofKittyandLydiadependedlessonanyspecialeventor person. All that they wished for was plenty of partners. Even the serious-mindedMarywaswillingtogo.

Elizabeth's spirits were so high that though she did not often speakunnecessarilytoMrCollins,shecouldnothelpaskinghimwhetherheintendedtoacceptMrBingley's invitation.Tohersurprise,herepliedthathewouldgo,andadded:

'Ishallhopetobehonouredinthedancewiththehandsofallmycousinsinthecourseoftheevening,andItakethisopportunityofaskingforyours,MissElizabeth, for the first two dances especially. I trust thatmy cousin Janewill

understand the reasons for this preference, and not think that it is in anywaydisrespectfultoher.'

Elizabethfeltherselfcompletelyatadisadvantage.Shehadfullyintendedbeing promised to Wickham for those same dances, and to have Mr Collinsinstead!Her liveliness had never been expressed at aworsemoment.But shecoulddonothing.MrCollins'sofferwasacceptedwithasmuchpleasureasshecouldmanagetoshow.Itnowfirststruckher,though,thatshewaschosenfromamong her sisters as being suitable in his opinion to be hiswife at HunsfordParsonage. The idea was soon strengthened as she observed his increasingpoliteness to her, and though she herselfwasmore astonished than pleased, itwasnotlongbeforehermotherletherknowthatthepossibilityoftheirmarriagewas extremely pleasing to her. Elizabeth pretended not to understand her,becausesheknewverywellthataseriousargumentwouldresultfromanyreply.MrCollinsmightnevermaketheoffer,anduntilhedid,itwasuselesstoquarrelabouthim.

Iftherehadnotbeenaballtogetreadyforandtotalkabout,theyoungerMissesBennetwouldhavebeeninasadstateatthistime.Fromthedayoftheinvitationtothedayoftheball,continuousrainpreventedthemfromwalkingtoMeryton. No aunt, no officers, no news could be looked for. Even Elizabethmight have found some test of her patience in weather that delayed thedevelopment of her acquaintance withMrWickham, and nothing less than adance on Tuesday could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday andMondaybearabletoKittyandLydia.

***OntheTuesdayevening,ElizabethenteredthesittingroomatNetherfield,

andlookedwithoutsuccessforMrWickhamamongthegroupofofficerspresentthere. Until then, no doubt about him coming had entered hermind. She haddressedwithmorecare thanusual, and readiedherself in thehighest spirits tocompletethewinningofhisheart.ButinamomenttheterriblethoughtcametoherthathehadbeenpurposelyleftoutoftheBingleys'invitationtotheofficers,forMrDarcy'spleasure,andalthough thiswasnotexactly thecase,his friendMrDenny told them thatWickhamhadhad togo toLondononbusiness, andadded:

'Idonotimaginethathewouldhavegonejustnow,ifhehadnotwishedtoavoidacertaingentlemanhere.'

ThisinformationsharpenedElizabeth'sfeelingsofdispleasureagainstMrDarcy,andalthoughshetriedtobecheerful,thefirsttwodancesbroughtareturnofunhappiness.MrCollins,seriousandawkward,apologizinginsteadofpayingattention,andoftenmovingwronglywithoutbeingconsciousofit,broughtheralltheshameandunhappinesswhichadisagreeablepartnercangive.

She danced next with an officer. Then she found herself suddenlyaddressedbyMrDarcy,whotookhersomuchbysurpriseinhisrequestforherhandthat,withoutknowingwhatshedid,sheacceptedhim.

Elizabethtookherplaceintheset,astonishedatthehonouratwhichshehadarrived inbeingallowed to standopposite toMrDarcy, and seeing in thefaces of her neighbours their equal astonishment. They spoke very little untilthey had finished the dance,when he asked her if she and her sisters did notoften walk to Meryton. She answered that this was so, and, unable to stopherself,added,'Whenwemetyoutheotherdaythere,wehadjustbeenforminganewacquaintance.'

Theeffectwasimmediate.Theexpressiononhisfacebecameprouderthanever.Atlasthespoke:

'MrWickham is fortunateenough tohave suchpleasingmanners thathecanalwaysbe sureofmaking friends. It is less certain thathe is able tokeepthem.'

'Hehasbeenunluckyenoughtoloseyourfriendship,'repliedElizabeth.Darcymadenoanswer,andseemedanxioustochangethesubject.Atthat

moment Sir William Lucas appeared, and stopped to offer him a mark ofattention.

'Mydearsir,suchveryhigh-classdancingisnotoftenseen.Imusthopetohavethispleasureoftenrepeated,especiallyafteracertaindesirableevent,'andhe looked towards Jane andMrBingley. 'What congratulationswill then flowin!'

Sir William's mention of his friend seemed to strike Darcy with someforce,andhiseyesweredirectedwithaveryseriousexpressiontowardsBingleyandJane,whoweredancingtogether.

Whenthedancewasover,MissBingleycametowardsElizabeth,and,withalookofscorn,addressedherasfollows:

'So,MissEliza,IhearyouarequitepleasedwithGeorgeWickham.Butlet

mewarnyounot to trustwhathe says.The story thatMrDarcyhaswrongedhim is completely untrue. He has always been kind to him, thoughWickhamtreatedhiminashamefulmanner.Idonotknowthedetails,butIdoknowthatMr Darcy is not to blame. I pity you,Miss Eliza, but really, considering hisfamily,onecouldnotexpectmuchbetter.'

'His guilt and his family appear, by your account, to be the same,' saidElizabethangrily.

'Ibegyourpardon,' repliedMissBingley, turningaway. 'Mywordswerekindlymeant.'

Elizabeththenwentinsearchofheroldestsister,whometherwithasmileof such sweet satisfaction that Elizabeth immediately understood her feelingsandforgoteverythingelseforthemomentinthehopethatJanewasonthewaytohappiness.JanebegantotalkaboutMrWickham.'MrBingleydoesnotknowthe whole of the history, but is sure that his friend has acted rightly andhonourably. I am sorry to say that by his accountMrWickham is not at all arespectableyoungman.'

'MrBingleydoesnotknowMrWickhamhimself?''No.HeneversawhimuntiltheothermorningatMeryton.''This explanation, then, is what he has received from Mr Darcy. I am

perfectly satisfied.MrBingleyhasdefendedhis friend, but I shall continue toholdthesameopinion.'

She then changed the subject to one more pleasing to them both, andlistened with pleasure to the happy hopes which Jane had of Mr Bingley'sfeelings towardsher.WhenMrBingleyhimself joined them,ElizabethmovedawaytoMissLucas.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Collins came up to them in a state of greatexcitement.HehaddiscoveredthatMrDarcywasarelativeofLadyCatherine.

'YouarenotgoingtointroduceyourselftoMrDarcy?''OfcourseIam.'Elizabeth tried hard to persuade him against this, warning him that Mr

Darcy would consider it as a piece of impoliteness rather than as a mark ofrespectforhisaunt.

'Pardonmeforneglectingtotakeadvantageofyouradvice,'washisreply,

'butinthecasebeforeusIconsidermyselfmorefittedbyeducationandstudytodecideonwhatisrightthanayoungladylikeyourself.'And,withthat,helefthertoapproachMrDarcy,whoseastonishmentwasplain,andwhorepliedwithcoldpoliteness.

Elizabethfeltashamedofhercousin,andturnedherattentiontothemorepleasingsubjectofJane'sfuture.Hermother'sthoughtswereplainlyofthesamekind,andwhentheysatdowntosupper,Elizabethwasdeeplyannoyedtofindthat Mrs Bennet was talking loudly to Lady Lucas of nothing else but herexpectations that Jane would soon be married to Mr Bingley. Elizabeth triedwithoutsuccess tocontrolhermother'swords,becauseshecouldsee that theywereheardbyMrDarcy,whosatoppositethem.Nothingshecouldsayhadanyeffect.Elizabethreddenedwithshame.

When supper was over, singing was mentioned, and Elizabeth had theaddeddiscomfortofseeingMarygettingreadytoentertainthecompany.Marywas the least pretty of the five sisters, so she had tried tomake herselfmoreattractivebybecomingmoreablethantheothers,andwasalwayseagertobringhermusicalskilltonotice.Butherpowerswerebynomeansfittedforthiskindof performance. Her voice was weak, and her manner unnatural. Elizabethlistenedwithimpatience.Marysangtwice,andElizabethcouldseeMrBingley'ssistersexchangingscornfulsmiles.Shelookedatherfather,whounderstoodandgentlystoppedhisdaughter.

The rest of the evening brought Elizabeth little amusement. Mr Collinscontinued at her side andwould not leave her alone.MrDarcy took nomorenoticeofher,evenwhenhewasstandingnearher.

ButMrsBennetleftNetherfieldperfectlysatisfied.Shewasfullyconfidentthat she would see Jane married in the course of three or four months. ShethoughtwithequalcertaintyofhavinganotherdaughtermarriedtoMrCollins.She lovedElizabeth less thanherotherdaughters, and she thoughtMrCollinsquitegoodenoughforher.

CHAPTERSEVEN

MrCollinsMakesaProposalofMarriage

ThenextdayopenedanewsceneatLongbourn:MrCollinsmadeaformalproposalofmarriage.Havingdecidedtodoitwithoutdelay,andhavingnolackof self-confidence, he began in a very orderly manner with all the ceremonywhichhesupposedtobearegularpartofthebusiness.OnfindingMrsBennet,Elizabeth and one of the younger girls together soon after breakfast, headdressedthemotherinthesewords:

'May I hope, madam, to speak privately with your lovely daughterElizabeth?'

BeforeElizabethhadtimetoexpresshersurprise,MrsBennetimmediatelyanswered:

'Oh, yes, certainly. I am sure that Lizzy can have no objection. Come,Kitty,Iwantyouupstairs.'Andpickinguphersewing,shewashurryingaway,whenElizabethcalledout:

'Ibegyounottogo.MrCollinsmustexcuseme.Hecanhavenothingtosaytomethatanybodyneednothear.Iamgoingawaymyself.'

'No,no,nonsense,Lizzy. Idesireyou to staywhereyouare.'AndwhenElizabethseemedabouttoescape,sheadded,'Lizzy,youmuststayandhearMrCollins.'

Elizabeth could not oppose such a command, and a moment'sconsiderationmadeherrealizethatitwouldbebettertogetthemattersettled,soshesatdownagain.MrsBennetandKittywalkedoff,andassoonastheyweregone,MrCollinsbegan:

'Believeme,my dearMiss Elizabeth, your behaviour only adds to yourotherperfections.Youwouldhavebeenlesspleasinginmyeyesiftherehadnotbeen this little unwillingness, but allow me to inform you that I have yourrespectedmother'spermissionforthisaddress.AlmostassoonasIenteredthishouse,Imadeyoumychoiceasthecompanionofmyfuturelife.Myreasonsformarrying are, first, I think it a right thing for every churchminister to set anexample by doing so; secondly, I am sure that it will add very greatly tomyhappiness; and thirdly, Lady Catherine has advised it. As I am heir to thispropertyonthedeathofyourhonouredfather,Idecidedtochoosemywifefrom

amonghisdaughters. Iknowverywell thatyouhave little fortune,but I shallneverblameyouforthatwhenwearemarried.'

Itwasnecessarytostophimnow.'Youareintoomuchofahurry,sir,'shecried.'YouforgetthatIhavemade

noanswer.Acceptmythanksforthehonourthatyouareshowingme,butitisimpossibleformetodootherwisethantorefuseyourproposal.'

'Iquiteunderstand,'repliedMrCollins,withawaveofthehand,'thatitisusual for young ladies to refuse themanwhom they secretlymean to accept,whenheasksforthefirsttime.'

'Onmyhonour,sir,'criedElizabeth,'Iamperfectlyseriousinmyrefusal.''WhenInextspeak toyouon thissubject,'continuedMrCollins, 'I shall

expecttoreceiveamorefavourableanswer.'Elizabethtriedwithoutsuccesstomakehimbelieveher.Hehadtoogood

anopinionofhimselfandhisposition,andhepointedoutthatshewastoopoortoreceivemanyotheroffers.Tothisshecouldmakenoreply,andimmediately,andinsilence,lefttheroom,withtheintentionofaskingforherfather'ssupport.

***MrsBennethadwaitedinthehallfortheendoftheconversation.Assoon

asshesawElizabethopenthedoorand,withaquickstep,passhertowardsthestairway,sheenteredthebreakfastroomandcongratulatedbothMrCollinsandherself.MrCollinsreceivedandreturnedthesegoodwishes,butwhenhewentontogivedetailsofhisconversationwithElizabeth,theinformationastonishedMrsBennet.

'But youmay depend on it,Mr Collins,' she added, 'that Lizzy shall bemadetobehavereasonably.Iwillspeaktohermyselfimmediately.Sheisaveryfoolishgirl,anddoesnotknowherowninterest,butIwillmakeherknowit.Iwill go toMrBennet, andwe shall very soon settle thematterwithher, I amsure.'

She would not give him time to reply, but hurried immediately to herhusband, and called out as she entered the library: 'Oh, Mr Bennet, you arewantedimmediately.YoumustcomeandmakeLizzymarryMrCollins,becausesheswearsshewillnothavehim.'

MrBennetraisedhiseyesfromhisbookassheentered,andfixedthemon

her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least changed by herinformation.

'I have not the pleasure of understanding you,' he said, when she hadfinishedherspeech.'Whatareyoutalkingabout?'

'MrCollinsandLizzy.LizzysaysthatshewillnothaveMrCollins,andifyoudonothurry,hewillchangehismindandnothaveher!

'AndwhatamItodoaboutit?Itseemsahopelessbusiness.''SpeaktoLizzyaboutityourself.Tellherthatshemustmarryhim.''Letherbecalleddown.Sheshallhearmyopinion.'MrsBennetrangthebellandMissElizabethwassentfor.'Comehere,child,'saidherfatherassheappeared.'Ihavesentforyouon

anaffairof importance.IunderstandthatMrCollinshasmadeyouanofferofmarriage. Is it true?' Elizabeth replied that it was. 'Very well - and you haverefusedthisofferofmarriage?'

'Ihave,sir.''Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother demands that you

acceptit.Isitnotso,MrsBennet?''Yes,orIwillneverseeheragain.''Anunhappychoiceisbeforeyou,Elizabeth.Fromthisdayyouwillbea

strangertooneofyourparents.YourmotherwillneverseeyouagainifyoudonotmarryMrCollins,andIwillneverseeyouagainifyoudo!

Elizabeth could not help smiling at such an ending to such a beginning.MrsBennet,ontheotherhand,wasextremelydisappointed.Shereturnedtothesubject repeatedly, using both persuasion and threats to try and change herdaughter's mind. Mr Collins himself remained silent and offended, unable tounderstandhowhiscousincouldpossiblyrefusehim.

Whilethefamilywereinthisstate,CharlotteLucascametospendthedaywith them. Mr Collins's attentions were now turned to her, which Elizabethfoundtobeagreatrelief.

CHAPTEREIGHT

NetherfieldIsEmpty

Afterbreakfastthenextday,thegirlswalkedtoMerytontoinquireifMrWickhamhadreturned.Hejoinedthemastheyenteredthetown,andwentwiththemtotheiraunt's.HeexplainedtoElizabethhisabsencefromtheball.

'I found,' he said,' as the timeapproached, that I hadbetter notmeetMrDarcy-thattobeinhiscompanymightbemorethanIcouldbear.'

Elizabeth highly approved of his good sense. AsWickham and anotherofficerwalkedbackwiththemtoLongbourn,shewasabletointroducehimtoherfatherandmother.

Soonaftertheirreturn,aletterwasdeliveredtoMissBennet.ItcamefromNetherfield,andwasopenedimmediately.Elizabethsawhersister'sfacechangeasshereadit.Butshesooncontrolledherselfand,puttingtheletteraway,triedto join in the conversation with her usual cheerfulness. But as soon as theofficershadleft,alookfromJaneinvitedElizabethtofollowherupstairs.

When theyhad reached theirown room, Jane, takingout the letter, said,'This is fromCarolineBingley.What itcontainshassurprisedmeagreatdeal.ThewholepartyhaveleftNetherfieldbythistime,andareontheirwaytotown,andwithoutanyintentionofcomingbackagain.'

Shethenreadtheletteroutloud.Itspokeofthewriter'ssorrowatpartingfrom Jane, and urged her to write frequently. Elizabeth judged this to beinsincere. It stated thatMrBingleyhadbusiness in town, andwouldbe in nohurrytoleaveitagain.

'Itisclearfromthisthathewillcomebacknomorethiswinter,'saidJane.'ItisclearthatMissBingleydoesnotintendthatheshould!Whydoyouthinkso?Itmustbehisowndecision.Heisfreetoactashe

wishes.Butyoudonotknoweverything.Iwillreadyouthewordsthathurtmemost.Iwillhavenosecretsfromyou.'TheletterthentoldofthebeautyofMrDarcy'syoungsister,andofMrBingley'sadmirationforher,andofthefamily'shopesthattheywouldmarry.

'Is it not clear enough? Does it not plainly state that Caroline neitherexpectsnorwishesmetobehersister,andthatshebelievesthatherbrotherdoes

notcareforme?Shemeans-mostkindly-towarnme.Cantherebeanyotheropiniononthesubject?'

'Yes,therecan.Mineistotallydifferent.MissBingleyseesthatherbrotheris in lovewith you, andwants him tomarryMissDarcy. She follows him totowninthehopeofkeepinghimthere,andtriestopersuadeyouthathedoesnotcareaboutyou.'

Janeshookherhead.'Really, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you

togethercandoubthislove.Butthecaseisthis-wearenotrichenoughorgrandenoughforthem.'

Elizabeth spoke comfortingly to her sister, and gradually persuaded herthatMrBingleywouldreturnlaterandanswereverywishofherheart.Totheirmother theydecidedonly toannounce that theNetherfieldpartyhad left forashorttime.

CHAPTERNINE

MrCollinsMakesAnotherProposal

TheBennetswere invited todinnerwith theLucases,andagain,mostofthetime,MissLucaswaskindenoughtolistentoMrCollins.Elizabeththankedherwarmly,andCharlotte toldher friend that shewasglad tobeofservice toher.Thiswasveryhelpfulofher,buttherealreasonforCharlotte'skindnesswassomething thatElizabethhadno ideaof-adesire toattractMrCollinsherself.When they parted later that night,Charlottewould have felt almost certain ofsuccessifhehadnotbeenplanningtoleaveLongbourn.ButMrCollins,wastingno time, escaped from the Bennets early next morning with great skill. MissLucas noticed him from an upper window as he walked towards her parents'house.She camedownquickly to thegarden, and there,meetinghimas if byaccident,receivedhisproposalofmarriage.

SirWilliamandLadyLucaswereimmediatelyaskedfortheiragreement,whichtheywillinglygave.MrCollins'spresentpositionmadeitagoodmarriagefor theirdaughter, towhom theycouldgive little fortune, and in the futurehewouldbeMrBennetsheir.Charlottewas fairlywell satisfied.MrCollinswasneithersensiblenoragreeable,butshe,ontheotherhand,wastwenty-seven,andwithlittlechanceofotheroffers.

Shedecided togive thenews to theBennetsherself,and thereforeaskedMrCollinstosaynothingwhenhereturnedtoLongbourn,whichhewasleavingthenextday.

When Elizabeth was privately informed by Charlotte, her astonishment"wassogreatthatshecouldnothelpcryingout:

'EngagedtobemarriedtoMrCollins!MydearCharlotte,impossible!''Iseewhatyouarefeeling,'repliedCharlotte.'Youmustbesurprised,very

muchsurprised,asMrCollinswassorecentlywantingtomarryyou.ButIdonotexpectverymuchfrommarriage,youknow.Ishallbesatisfiedwithhavingacomfortablehome.'

Elizabethansweredquietlyand,afteranawkwardpause,theyreturnedtotherestofthefamily.Charlottedidnotstaymuchlonger,andElizabethwasleftto thinkoverwhatshehadheard.ThestrangenessofMrCollins'smaking twooffersofmarriagewithin threedayswasnothing incomparisonwithhisbeing

now accepted. She would never have expected Charlotte to give up her finerfeelings to gain no more than comfort. She felt that her friend had shamedherself,andshedidnotbelieveitpossibleforhertobehappyinthelifeshehadchosen.

AsforMrsBennet,shewasastonishedandshockedbythenews.AweekpassedbeforeshecouldseeElizabethwithoutscoldingher,andamonthbeforeshecouldspeaktoSirWilliamorLadyLucaswithoutbeingrude.LadyLucaswasnotwithoutpleasureinbeingabletotalktoMrsBennetaboutthecomfortofhavingadaughterwellmarried,andshevisitedLongbournrathermoreoftenthan usual, to say howhappy shewas.BetweenElizabeth andCharlotte therewasanawkwardnessthatkeptthemsilentonthesubject.Elizabethfeltthattherecould never be any real confidence between them again, and she turnedwithgreaterfondnesstohersisterJane,forwhosehappinessshebecamedailymoreanxious.

CHAPTERTEN

JaneGoestoLondon

NeitherJanenorElizabethwascomfortableonthesubjectofMrBingley'scontinuedabsence.EvenElizabethbegantofear,notthatBingley'sfeelingshadchanged,butthathissistersandtheamusementsofLondonwouldbesuccessfulinkeepinghimaway.Janewished tohideheranxiety,andnevermentioned it,butanhourrarelypassedwithoutsomeremarkfromhermotherwhichitneededallJane'spatiencetobearinsilence.

Mrs Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. She was continuallythinkingaboutwhyMrBingleyhadnot returned.Then, too, the sightofMissLucaswashatefultoher.SheregardedherwithjealousdislikeasthewifeofthefutureownerofLongbourn.WheneverCharlottecametoseethem,MrsBennetimaginedthatshewasthinkingofthetimewhenshewouldtakepossession.

JanehadwrittentoMissBingley,andinalittlewhileareplyarrivedandputanend todoubt.The first sentenceannounced that theywereall settled inLondon for the winter, and the letter ended with her brother's sadness at nothavinghadtimetosaygoodbyetohisfriendsbeforeleaving.

Hope was over, completely over. Elizabeth's heart was divided betweensympathy for her sister and anger against the others. Secretly she blamedMrBingleyforhisweakness inbeingpersuadedbyhissisters,andshewasangrybecauseshebelievedthatMrDarcyhadhelpedtoinfluencehim.

Janeboreher sorrowwithgentle sweetness,and tried tobelieve that shehadonlyimaginedMrBingleytobefondofher,andthatshehadonlyherselftoblame.

***On the followingMonday,MrsBennethad thepleasureof receivingher

brother andhiswife,whocame, asusual, fromLondon to spendChristmasatLongbourn. Mr Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanly man, of much finercharacterthanhissister,andMrsGardiner,whowasseveralyearsyoungerthanMrs Bennet, was a pleasant, intelligent, well-dressed woman, and a greatfavouritewithhernieces.

The firstpartofMrsGardiner'sbusiness,onher arrival,was togiveherpresentsanddescribe thenewest fashions.When thiswasdone,shehada less

activeparttoplay.Itbecameherturntolisten.MrsBennethadmanytroublestotell, and much to complain of. Two of her girls had been on the point ofmarriage,butnothinghadhappenedafterall.

'IdonotblameJane,'shecontinued,'butLizzy!Oh,sister!Itisveryhardto think that shemighthavebeenMrCollins'swifeby this time, if it hadnotbeenforherownbadcharacter!Hemadeheranoffer,hereinthisroom,andsherefused him. The result of all this is that Lady Lucas will have a daughtermarriedbeforeIhave.Itisverybadformynervestobeannoyedsobymyownfamily.Butyourcomingatthistimeisthegreatestofcomforts,andIamgladtohearaboutthenewdresses.'

WhenMrsGardinerwasalonewithElizabethafterwards,shespokeonthesubjectofJane.

'Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because,with her character, shemay notrecover for some time from such a disappointment.But do you think that shecouldbepersuadedtogobacktotownwithus?Achangeofscenemightbeofhelptoher.'

Elizabethwasextremelypleasedwiththisproposal.'I hope,' added Mrs Gardiner, 'that no thought of this young man will

influenceher.Weliveinsuchadifferentpartofthetown,andmixwithsuchadifferent class of society, that she is not likely to meet him, unless he reallycomestoseeher.'

MissBennetacceptedheraunt'sinvitationwithpleasure,andtheGardinersleftLongbournafteraweek'sstay.Beforeshewent,though,MrsGardiner,whoguessedfromElizabeth'sbehaviourherfeelingsforWickham,gaveherawordofadvice.

'Seriously,Iwouldadviseyoutobecareful.Ihavenothingtosayagainsthim.Heisamostinterestingyoungman,andifhehadthefortunethatheoughttohave,Ishouldthinkthatyoucouldnotdobetter.Butasitis-youhavesense,andweallexpectyoutouseit.Youmustnotdisappointyourfather.'

***January and February were dull months. Elizabeth missed Jane sadly.

Charlotte was married and had left for Hunsford. There was little except thewalkstoMeryton,sometimesmuddyandsometimescold,tohelppassthetime.

Elizabeth wrote and received many letters. She exchanged news with

Charlotteasregularlyasever,but theirfriendshipcouldneverbeascloseasithadbeenbefore.FromLondonJanewrote that shehadneither seennorheardanythingofMissBingley.Butsheaccountedforthisbysupposingthatherlastlettertoherfriendhadbysomeaccidentbeenlost.

'Myaunt,'shecontinued,'isgoingtomorrowintothatpartofthetown,andIshalltaketheopportunityofvisitingCaroline.'

Shewroteagainaftershehadmadethevisit.'IdidnotthinkthatCarolinewasingoodspirits,'wereherwords,'butshewasgladtoseemeandcrossthatIhadgivenhernonoticeofmycomingtoLondon.Iwasright,therefore.Mylastletterhadneverreachedher.Iinquiredafterherbrother,ofcourse.Heissobusyinsocietythattheyhardlyeverseehim.Myvisitwasnotlong,asCarolineandMrsHurstweregoingout.'

Elizabethshookherheadoverthisletter.Fourweeks passed, and Jane saw nothing ofMr Bingley. She could no

longerbeblindtoMissBingley'sinattention.Atlastthevisitordidappear,butthe shortness of her stay and the change in her manner no longer made itpossible for Jane todeceiveherself. Itwasplain that she receivednopleasurefromcoming.Shemadeaslight,formalapologyfornotvisitingherbefore,saidnotawordaboutwishingtoseeheragain,andwasineverywaysounfriendlythatJanedecidednottocontinuetheacquaintance.

ToMrsGardiner,Elizabethwroteofherownaffairs.Wickham'sattentionstoherwereover,andhewasnowtheadmirerofMissMaryKing,ayoungladywhose grandfather had just died and left her ten thousand pounds. Elizabeth'shearthadbeenonlyslightlytouched,andherpridewassatisfiedwithbelievingthatshewouldhavebeenhisonlychoice,iffortunehadpermitted.

CHAPTERELEVEN

ElizabethVisitsHunsford

InMarch, Elizabethwas visitingHunsford, atCharlotte's invitation. Shehad not at first thought very seriously of going there, but she found that herfriendwasdependingonthearrangement.Absencehadincreasedherdesire toseeCharlotteagain,andlessenedherdisgustforMrCollins.ThejourneywouldalsogiveheramomentwithJaneasshewouldspendthenightinLondon.ShewouldtravelwithSirWilliamLucasandhisseconddaughterMaria.

Itwasonly24miles toLondon,and theybeganearlyso that theycouldarrivebeforemidday.AstheydrovetoMrGardiner'sdoor,Janewasatasittingroomwindowwatching for their arrival.When they entered the hall, shewastheretowelcomethem,andElizabeth,lookingcloselyatherface,waspleasedtosee itashealthyandbeautifulasever.On thestairswasacrowdof littlegirlsandboys,whoseeagernessfortheircousin'sappearancewouldnotallowthemtowaitinthesittingroom,andwhoseshyness,astheyhadnotseenherforayear,prevented themfromcomingdownanyfurther.Allwas joyandkindness.Thedaypassedawaymostpleasantly,theafternooninshopping,andtheeveningatoneofthetheatres.

Duringtheperformance,Elizabethmanagedtositbyheraunt.Theirfirstsubjectwas her sister, and shewasmore troubled than surprised to hear that,thoughJanestruggledtobecheerful,thereweretimeswhenshewasverysad.Itwasreasonable,though,tohopethatthiswouldnotcontinuefortoolong.

Before they were separated by the end of the play, Elizabeth had theunexpectedhappinessof an invitation togowithheruncle andauntona tourwhichtheyplannedtotakeinthesummer.

'Wehavenotquitedecidedhowfaritwilltakeus,'saidMrsGardiner,'butperhapstotheLakes.'

NoplancouldhavebeenmorewelcometoElizabeth,andheracceptanceoftheinvitationwasimmediateandgrateful.

***Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to

Elizabeth.WhentheyleftthemainroadforthesmallerroadtoHunsford,everyeyewasinsearchoftheParsonage.Atlastitappeared.MrCollinsandCharlotte

wereatthedoor,andthecarriagestoppedatthesmallgateamongthesmilesandgreetingsofthewholeparty.MrsCollinswelcomedherfriendwiththegreatestpleasure, andElizabethwasmoreandmorepleased that shehadcome,as shefoundherselfsowarmlyreceived.

Shecouldnothelpthinking,asMrCollinsproudlyshowedherhishouseandfurniture,thathewishedtomakeherfeelwhatshehadlostbyrefusinghim.Shewasnotabletopleasehim,though,byanysignofunhappiness;insteadshelookedwith surprise at her friend, who could appear so cheerful with such acompanion.Afteradmiringthehouse, theywere invitedbytheirhost to takeawalk in thegarden.Oneofhischiefpleasureswas towork in thegarden,andElizabethsmiledtoherselfassheheardCharlottetalkofthehealthinessoftheexercise,andsaythatsheencourageditasmuchaspossible.

The house itself, though small, was neat and convenient, and whenMrCollinscouldbeforgotten,therewasagreatfeelingofcomforteverywhere-andby Charlotte's enjoyment, whichwas quite plain, Elizabeth supposed hemustoftenbeforgotten.

ItwasmentionedatdinnerthatLadyCatherinewasstillinthecountry.MrCollins poured out his praises of her kind attentions to himself andCharlotte,andexpressedtheexpectationthatshewouldhonourElizabethwithhernotice.

The eveningwas spent chiefly in talkingover thenews fromhome, andwhen it hadpassed,Elizabeth, in thequietnessofherown room,had to thinkover Charlotte's degree of satisfaction, to understand her skill in guiding herhusband,andherself-controlinmanagingtodealwithhim,andtoadmitthatitwaswelldone.

Ataroundthemiddleofthenextday,asshewasinherroomgettingreadyfor awalk, a sudden noise below showed thewhole house to be in a state ofexcitement,and,afterlisteningforamoment,Elizabethheardsomebodyrunningupstairs inaviolenthurry,andcalling loudly toher.Sheopened thedoor,andmetMaria,whocriedtohertocomedownthatmoment.

Elizabeth asked questionswithout success.Mariawould tell her nothingmore, and they ran down to the dining room in search of the cause of herexcitement.Itwastwoladiesstoppinginacarriageatthegardengate.

'Andis thisall?'criedElizabeth. 'Iexpectedat least that thepigshadgotintothegarden,andhereisnothingbutLadyCatherineandherdaughter!'

'My dear!' said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake. 'It is not LadyCatherine. The old lady isMrs Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other isMissdeBourgh.Onlylookather.Whowouldhavethoughtshecouldbesothinandsmall!'

'I like her appearance,' said Elizabeth, whowas struckwith other ideas.'She looks weak and disagreeable. Yes, she will suit him very well. She willmakehimaveryfittingwife.'

CHAPTERTWELVE

LadyCatherinedeBourgh

Thepurposeoftheladies'visithadbeentoaskthewholepartytodinneratRosings,whereLadyCatherinelived,andMrCollins'sproudexcitementatthisinvitationwascomplete.Hardlyanythingelsewastalkedofthewholeday.MrCollins carefully explainedwhat they should expect, so that the sight of suchrooms, so many servants, and so excellent a dinner would not completelyastonish them.While theywere dressing, he came two or three times to theirdoorstourgethemtobequick,asLadyCatherineverymuchobjectedtobeingkeptwaiting fordinner.Suchaccountsquite frightenedMariaLucas,whohadbeenlittleusedtosociety,butElizabeth'scouragedidnotfailher.ShehadheardnothingofLadyCatherinethatfilledherwithrespectforclevernessorgoodness,andshe thought that shecouldmeet thegrandnessofmoneyandrankwithoutfear.

Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the occasion when she wasintroducedtoLadyCatherine,andwasabletolookatthethreeladiesinfrontofher calmly. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly markedfeatures.Herbehaviourwasnotfriendly,andhermannerofreceivingthemdidnotallowhervisitorstoforgettheirinferiorrank.Whatevershesaidwasspokeninacommandingvoicethatexpressedherbeliefinherownimportance.MissdeBourghlookedpaleandweak,andspokeonlyinalowvoicetoMrsJenkinson.

Thedinnerwasextremely fine,andallwasasMrCollinshadpromised.His loudpraisesofeverythingwerecontinually repeatedbySirWilliam.LadyCatherinesmiledatthem,andseemedpleasedbytheirextremeadmiration.

When the ladies returned to the sitting room, therewas little to be doneexceptlistentoLadyCatherinetalk,whichshedidwithoutstopping,givingheropinionloudlyoneverysubjectinamannerthatshowedthatshewasnotusedtohaving her judgment opposed. She asked Elizabeth many things about herfamily: their number, their education, whether any of them was likely to bemarried,andwhathermother'snamehadbeenbeforemarriage.Elizabethfeltalltheimpolitenessof thesequestions,butansweredthemcalmly.LadyCatherinethenasked:

'Doyouplayandsing,MissBennet?'

'Alittle.''Oh,then-sometimeorotherweshallbehappytohearyou.Ourpianois

averygoodone-probablymuchbetterthan-doyoursistersplayandsing?''Oneofthemdoes.''Whydidyounotalllearn?Yououghtalltohavelearned.Doyoudraw?''No,notatall.''What,noneofyou?''Notone.''That is very strange.But I supposeyouhadnoopportunity-Are anyof

youryoungersistersoutinsociety,MissBennet?''Yes,allofthem.''All! What, all five at the same time? Very strange! And you only the

second.Whatisyourage?''Withthreeyoungersistersgrownup,'repliedElizabethsmiling,'youcan

hardlyexpectmetospeakonthatsubject.'LadyCatherineseemedquiteastonishedatnot receivingadirectanswer,

andElizabeth thought that perhaps shewas the first personwho had dared tospeaktoherinthatway.

'Youcannotbemorethantwenty,Iamsure-thereforeyouneednothideyourage.'

'Iamnotyettwenty-one.'Whenthegentlemenjoinedthem,thecardtableswereplaced.Atonetable

LadyCatherine playedwith SirWilliam andwithMr andMrsCollins; at theother,Miss de BourghwithMrs Jenkinson and the two girls. LadyCatherinecontinuedtotalk,pointingoutthemistakesmadebyothers.MrCollinsagreedwitheverythingshesaid,thankingherforeverygamehewon,andapologizingifhethoughthehadwontoomany.Hardlyawordwasspokenattheothertable,andElizabethfoundthegameextremelyboring.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

VisitorstoRosings

Inaquietway,withwalksandoccasionalvisits toRosings, thefirst twoweeksofElizabeth'sstaysoonpassed.SirWilliamLucashadreturnedhome,butthe next week brought an addition to the family at Rosings. Mr Darcy wasexpected, and when he came, he brought with him Colonel Fitzwilliam, hiscousin.

The day after their arrival, they came to the Parsonage. ColonelFitzwilliamwasaboutthirty,notverygood-looking,butinpersonandmannersmosttrulyagentleman.MrDarcylookedjustashehadalwaysdone,waspolitebut spoke little. Elizabeth only lowered her head in greetingwithout saying aword.

ColonelFitzwilliamenteredintoconversationdirectly,withtheconfidenceofamanofgoodfamily.Afteralongsilence,MrDarcyinquiredafterthehealthofElizabeth'sfamily.Sheansweredhimintheusualwayand,afteramoment'spause, added: 'Myoldest sisterhasbeen in townduring the last threemonths.Haveyounotseenher?'

ShethoughtthathelookedalittleconfusedasheansweredthathehadnotbeensofortunateastomeetMissBennet.

It was some days before the next invitation came from Rosings.Whilethere were visitors in the house, the company from the Parsonage were notnecessary. When the invitation did arrive, and they joined the party in LadyCatherine'ssittingroom,LadyCatherinereceivedthempolitely,butitwasclearthattheywerenotaswelcomeastheyhadbeenwhenshecouldgetnobodyelse.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them. Anything was awelcomereliefatRosings,andMrsCollins'sprettyfriendhadattractedhim.Henowseatedhimselfbyher,andtalkedsoagreeablythatElizabethhadneverbeenhalf sowell entertained in that roombefore.Their conversationwas so fullofspiritthatitdrewtheattentionofLadyCatherineherself.AsforMrDarcy,hiseyeshadbeensoonandrepeatedlyturnedtowardsthemwithalookofinterest.AtlastLadyCatherinecalledout:

'Whatareyousaying,Fitzwilliam?Whatisityouaretalkingof?WhatareyoutellingMissBennet?'

'Wearespeakingofmusic,madam,'hesaid.'Of music! Then please speak out loud. I must have my share in the

conversation,ifyouarespeakingofmusic.TherearefewpeopleinEngland,Isuppose,whohaveabetternaturaltasteinmusicthanmyself.Iwouldhavebeenanexcellentperformer.'

She then inquired after the playing of Darcy's sister, Georgiana, and hespokeinbrotherlypraiseofherskill.

'Shemustpractisecontinually,'LadyCatherinewenton.'IhavetoldMissBennet several times that she will never play really well unless she practisesmore,andthoughMrsCollinshasnoinstrument,sheisverywelcometocometoRosingseverydayandplaythepianoinMrsJenkinson'sroom.Shewouldbeinnobody'sway,youknow,inthatpartofthehouse.'

MrDarcylookedalittleashamedofhisaunt'slackofgoodmanners,andsaidnothing.

When coffeewas over, Colonel Fitzwilliam remindedElizabeth that shehad promised to play to him, and she sat down immediately at the piano.Hepulledachairupnearher.LadyCatherinelistenedtohalfasongandthentalkedtoherothernephew,untilDarcywalkedawayfromher,and,movingtowardsthepiano,positionedhimselfsothathehadaviewoftheperformer'sface.Elizabethsawwhathewasdoing,andat thefirstconvenientpause turned tohimwithasmileandsaid:

'Youmeantofrightenme,MrDarcy,bycomingwithallthisceremonytohearme.ButIwillnotbeafraid,thoughyoursisterdoesplaysowell.'

'I shallnotsay thatyouaremistaken,'he replied, 'becauseyoucouldnotreallysupposemetohaveanyintentionoffrighteningyou.'

Elizabethlaughed,andsaidtoColonelFitzwilliam:'YourcousinwillteachyounottobelieveawordIsay.Itmakesmewanttobehavebadlytowardshim.'

'Thenletmehearwhyyouareangrywithhim,'saidColonelFitzwilliam.'Youshallhear-butbereadyforsomethingveryterrible.ThefirsttimeI

eversawhimwasataball-andwhatdoyouthinkhedidatthisball?Hedancedonly four dances, though there were very few gentlemen and, to my certainknowledge,morethanoneyoungladywassittingdownforlackofapartner.'

'Ihadnotatthattimethehonourofknowinganyladythere,exceptfrom

myownparty.''True,butcannobodyeverbeintroducedinaballroom?''Perhaps,' saidDarcy, 'Iwouldhavebehavedbetter if I had asked for an

introduction,butIamnotsomeonewhocaneasilymakefriendswithstrangers.''Shallweaskyourcousin the reason for this?' saidElizabeth, addressing

ColonelFitzwilliam.'I can answer your question,' said Fitzwilliam. 'It is because hewill not

givehimselfthetrouble.''Ihavecertainlynot theability thatsomepeoplepossess,' saidDarcy, 'of

holdingaconversationeasilywiththosewhomIhaveneverseenbefore.'Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know

whattheyweretalkingabout.Elizabethimmediatelybegantoplayagain.LadyCatherinecamenearer,and,afterlisteningforafewminutes,saidtoDarcy:

'Sheusesher fingerswell, thoughher taste is not equal toAnne's.Annewouldhavebeenatrulygreatperformerifherhealthhadallowedhertolearn.'

ElizabethlookedatDarcytoseewhetherheagreedwiththispraiseofhiscousin, but neither at thatmoment nor at any other could she see any sign oflove.LadyCatherinecontinuedherremarksonElizabeth'sperformanceuntilhercarriagewasreadytotakethemallhome.

Elizabethwas sitting by herself the nextmorningwriting to Jane,whileMrsCollins andMariawere gone on business into the village,when shewasinterruptedbyaringatthefrontdoor,thesignalofavisitor.Whenthedoorofthe room was opened, to her great surprise Mr Darcy, and Mr Darcy alone,entered.

He seemed astonished, too, to find her alone, and apologized for theinterruptionbylettingherknowthathehadexpectedalltheladiestobeathome.

They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made,seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was necessary, therefore, tospeakof something, so,wanting toknowwhathewouldsayon thesubjectoftheirleavingNetherfieldsoquickly,sheremarked:

'HowverysuddenlyyouallleftNetherfieldlastNovember,'MrDarcy!MrBingley and his sisterswerewell, I hope,when you left

London?'

'Perfectlyso,thankyou.'Afterashortpause,sheadded:'I understand that Mr Bingley has not much idea of ever returning to

Netherfieldagain?''Itisprobablethathemayspendverylittleofhistimethereinfuture.''If he means to be very little at Netherfield, it would be better for the

neighbourhood thatheshouldgiveup theplacecompletely, for thenwemightpossiblygetasettledfamilythere.'

'Ishouldnotbesurprised,'saidDarcy,'ifheweretogiveitup,ifhefoundanotherpropertythatsuitedhim.'

Elizabethmadenoanswer.Shewasafraidoftalkinglongerofhisfriend,and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble offindingasubjecttohim.

Heunderstood,andverysoonbeganwith, 'MrCollinsappearstobeveryfortunate inhischoiceofawife. Itmustbeverypleasant forher tobesettledwithinsuchaneasydistanceofherownfamilyandfriends.'

'Aneasydistance,doyoucallit?Itisnearly50miles.IshouldneverhavesaidthatMrsCollinswassettlednearherfamily.'

'It is a proofof yourownclose ties toyourhome.Anythingbeyond theveryneighbourhoodofLongbourn,Isuppose,wouldappearfar.'

Thenhemovedhischairalittletowardsher,andsaid,'Youcannothavearight to such very strong local feeling. You cannot always have been atLongbourn.'

Elizabeth looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change offeeling.Hemovedhis chairbackagain, tookanewspaper from the table, andsaidinacoldervoice:

'AreyoupleasedwithKent?'Ashort conversationon the subjectof thecountry followed. Itwas soon

brought to an end by the entrance of Charlotte and her sister, who had justreturnedfromtheirwalk.

'What canbe themeaningof this?' saidCharlotte, as soonasDarcywasgone. 'My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have

visitedusinthisfamiliarway.'ButwhenElizabethtoldofhissilence,itdidnotseemverylikelytobethe

case,andtheycouldonlysupposehisvisittoresultfromthedifficultyoffindinganythingtodoatthattimeofyear.Gentlemencannotalwaysstayindoors,andthenearnessof theParsonageencouragedthetwocousins,fromthisperiod, towalk there almost every day, sometimes separately and sometimes together. Itwas plain that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he found pleasure in theirsociety,butMrDarcycouldnotcomeforthatreason,becausehefrequentlysatthere for tenminutes at a time without opening his lips.Mrs Collins did notknowhow toexplain it.Hecertainly lookedatElizabethagreatdeal,andsheonceortwicesuggestedtoherfriendthepossibilitythathewasinterestedinher,butElizabethalwayslaughedattheidea.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

MrDarcy

DuringElizabeth'sdailywalkwithintheparkofRosings,whichthepeopleat theParsonagewerepermittedtovisit,shemorethanonceunexpectedlymetMrDarcy.Topreventiteverhappeningagain,shetookcareonthefirstoccasiontoinformhimthatitwasherfavouritepart.Itwasverystrange,therefore,thatithappened a second time. But it did, and even a third. He actually thought itnecessarytoturnbackandwalkwithher.Heneversaidagreatdeal,andshedidnotgiveherselfthetroubleoftalkingorlisteningmuch.

One day she was reading Jane's last letter again as she walked, when,instead of being again surprised by Mr Darcy, she looked up and saw thatColonelFitzwilliamwascomingtomeether.TheywalkedtogethertowardstheParsonage.

'IsitsettledthatyouleaveKentonSaturday?'sheasked.'Yes-ifDarcydoesnotputitoffagain.Buthearrangesourbusinessjust

ashepleases.IsharewithhimtheresponsibilityoflookingafterMissDarcy.''Doyoureally?Anddoesshegiveyoumuchtrouble?Youngladiesofher

agearesometimesdifficulttomanage.'Asshespoke,shesawhimlookingatherveryseriously,andhismanner

madeherbelieve that shehad somehoworothergot fairlynear the truth.Sherepliedimmediately:

'Youneednotbefrightened.Ihaveneverheardanyharmofher.Sheisagreatfavouriteofsomeladiesofmyacquaintance,MrsHurstandMissBingley.Ithinkthatyouknowthem.'

'Iknowthemalittle.TheirbrotherisagreatfriendofDarcy's.''Oh, yes,' said Elizabeth sharply, 'Mr Darcy is uncommonly kind toMr

Bingley,andtakesgreatcareofhim.''Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of him. From

somethingthathetoldme,IhavereasontothinkthatBingleymusthavecausetobeverygratefultohim.'

'Whatdoyoumean?'

'It is a matter which Darcy, of course, could not wish to be generallyknown,because if itwere to reach the lady's family itwouldbeanunpleasantthing.'

'Youmaydependonmynotmentioningit.''Whathetoldmewasthis:thathecongratulatedhimselfonhavingsaveda

friend from the inconveniences of a most unwise marriage, but withoutmentioningnamesoranyotherdetails.'

'DidMrDarcygiveyouhisreasonsforhisinvolvement?''Iunderstoodthatthereweresomeverystrongobjectionstothelady.'Elizabeth walked on, her heart swelling with anger. She could not trust

herself further with the subject, and therefore, quickly changing theconversation, talked about different matters until they reached the Parsonage.There, shut in her own room as soon as their visitor had left them, she couldthinkwithoutinterruptionofallthatshehadheard.ShehadneverdoubtedthatMr Darcy had been involved in the action taken to separateMr Bingley andJane,butshehadalwaysblamedMissBingleyasthechiefpersonresponsible.Butnowsheknew.Hewasthecause-hispridewasthecause-ofallthatJanehadsuffered.Hehadruinedeveryhopeofhappinessforthemostloving,mostgenerousheartintheworld.

'There were some very strong objections to the lady,' were ColonelFitzwilliam'swords, and these strong objections probably included her havingone uncle who was a country lawyer and another who was in business inLondon.

'ToJaneherself,'shewhispered,'therecouldbenopossibleobjection-sheisallbeautyandgoodness!Herunderstandingisexcellent,hermindimproved,and hermanners excellent.Neither couldmy father be to blame, since he hasabilitiesthatMrDarcyhimselfcouldnotfailtorespect.'Butwhenshethoughtofhermotherherconfidencedidweakenalittle.

Theexcitementandtearswhichthesubjectcausedbroughtonaheadache,and it became so much worse towards the evening that, added to herunwillingnesstoseeMrDarcy,itmadeherdecidenottogowithhercousinstoRosings,where theywere invited to take tea.MrsCollins, seeing that shewasreally unwell, did not urge her to go, and prevented her husband asmuch aspossible from urging her, but Mr Collins could not hide his fear that Lady

Catherinemightberatherdispleasedbyherstayingathome.When they had gone, Elizabeth, as if intending to sharpen her anger as

muchaspossibleagainstMrDarcy,choseforheremploymenttheexaminationofall the letterswhich Janehadwritten toher sinceherarrival inKent.Theycontainednoactualcomplaint,butinall,andinalmosteverylineofeach,therewasa lackof thecheerfulness thathadalwaysbeennatural toher.MrDarcy'sshamefulprideinwhathehadbeenabletocausegaveElizabethakeenersenseofhersister'ssufferings.

At this point shewas suddenly interrupted by the sound of the doorbelland,tohercompleteastonishment,shesawMrDarcywalkintotheroom.Inahurriedmannerheimmediatelybegananinquiryafterherhealth.Sheansweredhimwithcoldpoliteness.Hesatdownforafewmoments,andthen,gettingup,walkedaroundtheroom.Elizabethwassurprised,butdidnotsayaword.Afterasilenceofseveralminutes,hecametowardsherinatroubledmanner,andbegantospeak:

'Ihavestruggledwithoutsuccess.Myfeelingswillnotbecontrolled.YoumustallowmetotellyouhowwarmlyIadmireandloveyou.'

Elizabeth'sastonishmentwasbeyondexpression.Shelookedaway,redinthe face, and was silent. He considered this enough encouragement, and theexpressionofallthathefeltforherimmediatelyfollowed.

Hespokewell,buttherewereotherfeelingstobedescribedbesidesthoseofhisheart,andhiswordsweremoreconcernedwithpridethanlove.Hissenseof her inferiority, his feeling that he was lowering himself, the familyconsiderations thathadcausedhis judgment toopposehispreference,allwereexpressedwithaforcethatwasunlikelytomakehisproposalacceptable.

Inspiteofherdeeplyrooteddislike,shecouldnotfailtorealizewhatanhonouritwastoreceivesuchaman'sattention,andthoughherintentionsdidnotchangeforonemoment,shewasatfirstsorryforthepainthathewouldreceive,until, insulted by his language as he continued, she lost all pity in anger. Shetriedtocontrolherself,soshecouldanswerhimpatientlywhenhehadfinished.He ended by expressing the hope that he would now be rewarded by heracceptanceofhishandinmarriage.Ashesaidthis,shecouldclearlyseethathehadnodoubtofa favourableanswer.Suchconfidencecouldonly increaseherannoyance, andwhen he had ended, the colour in her face deepened and shesaid:

'IfIcouldfeelgrateful,asIbelieveoneshouldinsuchasituation,Iwouldnowthankyou.ButIcannot-Ihaveneverdesiredyourgoodopinion,andyouhavecertainlygiven itmostunwillingly.Thereasonswhich,you tellme,havelong prevented the expression of your feelings, can have little difficulty inbringingthemundercontrol.'

MrDarcy,whoseeyeswerefixedonher face,seemed tohearherwordswithnolessangerthansurprise.Hebecamepale,andtheconfusioninhismindwasplainineveryfeature.Finally,inavoiceofforcedcalmness,hesaid:

'And this is all the replywhich I am to have the honour of expecting! Imight,perhaps,wish tobe informedwhy,withso littleattemptatpoliteness, Iamrefused.'

'Imight aswell inquire,' she replied, 'why,with so clear an intention ofinsultingme,youchosetotellmethatyoulikedmeagainstyourwill.Wasthatnot someexcuse for impoliteness, if Iwas impolite?But Ihaveother reasons.Doyouthinkthatanyconsiderationwouldleadmetoacceptthemanwhohasbeen themeans of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness ofmymost dearlylovedsister?'

Asshespokethesewords,MrDarcy'sfacechangedcolour,buthelistenedwithoutinterruptingherwhileshecontinued:

'Nothingcanexcusetheunjustandungenerouspartthatyouplayedthere.You cannot state that you have not been the chief, if not the only means ofdividingthepairofthem.'

Shepaused,andsawthathewaslisteninginamannerthatprovedhimtobeunmoved.

'Isitnottruethatyouhavedoneit?'sherepeated.Hethenrepliedwithcalmness: 'Yes,it istruethatIdideverythinginmy

powertoseparatemyfriendfromyoursister,andthatIamgladofmysuccess.Ihave been kinder towards him than towardsmyself Elizabeth appeared not tonoticethispoliteremark,butitsmeaningdidnotescapeher,norwasitlikelytosoftenherfeelings.

'Butitisnotonlythisaffair,'shecontinued,'onwhichmydislikeisbased.Longbefore,yourcharacterwasmadeplaininthestorywhichIreceivedmanymonthsagofromMrWickham.'

'You takeaneager interest in thatgentleman'sconcerns,' saidDarcy ina

moretroubledvoice,andwithdeepercolourinhisface.'Noonewhoknowshismisfortunescanhelpfeelinganinterestinhim.''His misfortunes!' repeated Darcy scornfully. 'Yes, his misfortunes have

beengreat.''Andyouareresponsible,'criedElizabethwithenergy. 'Youhavereduced

himtohispresentstate.''Andthis,'criedDarcy,ashewalkedwithquickstepsacrosstheroom,'is

youropinionofme.Ithankyouforexplainingitsofully.Butperhaps,'headded,stopping inhiswalk,and turning towardsher, 'theseoffencesmighthavebeenforgivenifyourpridehadnotbeenhurtbymyhonestexplanationofthereasonsthatmademewait so long. I amnotashamedof the feelings that I expressed.They were natural and fair. Could you expect me to be happy about theinferiorityofyourrelations?'

Elizabethfeltherselfbecomingmoreangryeverymoment,butshetriedtospeakcalmlyasshesaid:

'Youcouldnothavemademetheofferofyourhandinanypossiblewaythatwouldhaveledmetoacceptit.'

Againhisastonishmentwasclear.Shewenton:'Fromtheverybeginning,yourmannersstruckmeasshowingthegreatest

prideinyourselfandscornforthefeelingsofothers,andIhadnotknownyouamonthbeforeIfeltthatyouwerethelastmanintheworldwhomIcouldeverbepersuadedtomarry.'

'You have said quite enough, madam. Forgiveme for having wasted somuchofyourtime,andacceptmybestwishesforyourhealthandhappiness.'

Andwiththesewordshequicklylefttheroom.ThedisorderofElizabeth'smindwasnowpainfullygreat,andfromactual

weakness shesatdownandcried forhalfanhour.Herastonishment increasedeverymoment. That she should receive an offer ofmarriage fromMrDarcy!Thatheshouldbesomuchinlovewithherthathewishedtomarryherinspiteofalltheobjectionsthathadmadehimpreventhisfriend'smarryinghersister,andwhichmustappearequallystronginhisowncase!Andhisshamefulpride!HisshamelessadmissionofwhathehaddonewithregardtoJane!Hisunfeelingmanner,hiscrueltytowardsMrWickham!

Shecontinuedwith theseunhappy thoughtsuntil the soundof theothersreturningfromRosingsmadeherhurryawaytoherownroom.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

ElizabethReceivesaLetter

Elizabethwokethenextmorningtothesamethoughts.Itwasimpossibleto fix hermind on anything else, so she decided soon after breakfast to giveherselfairandexercise.Shewasgoingdirectlytowardsherfavouritepartofthepark, when she remembered that Mr Darcy sometimes came there, and sheturnedupthenarrowroadoutsideRosings.

Afteralittletimeshecaughtsightofagentlemanwithinthepark.Shehadturnedaway,butwhensheheardavoicecallingher,thoughitwasMrDarcy's,shemovedtowardsthegate.He,too,hadreacheditbythistime.Holdingoutaletter,hesaid,withalookofproudcalm,'Willyoudomethehonourofreadingthis?'Thenheturnedandwassoonoutofsight.

Elizabeth opened the letter and saw two sheets, completely covered inhandwriting. The letter had been written at Rosings, at eight o'clock in themorning,andreadasfollows:

Donot be troubled,madam, on receiving this letter. Iwritewithout anyintention of upsetting you, or wounding my own self-respect, by mentioningunnecessarilywhatpassedbetweenuslastnight.Butmycharacterdemandsthistobewrittenandread.Youmust,therefore,pardonthefreedomwithwhichIaskyourattention.Youwill, Iknow,give itunwillingly,but Imust request it asamatterofjustice.

Lastnight,youchargedmewithtwooffencesofaverydifferentkind.Thefirstwas that IhadseparatedMrBingleyfromyoursister,and theother that IhadruinedthehopesofMrWickham.Imustnowexplainthesematters.

IhadnotbeeninHertfordshireforlongbeforeIsawthatBingleypreferredyouroldestsistertoanyotheryoungwomanthere.Ididnottakethisseriously,becauseIhadoftenseenhiminlovebefore.ButattheballatNetherfield,whileI had the honour of dancing with you, I first realized, through Sir WilliamLucas'saccidentalinformation,thatBingley'sattentionstoyoursisterhadcausedageneralexpectationthattheywouldbemarried.FromthatmomentIwatchedmyfriendcarefully,andsawthathisattractiontoMissBennetwasbeyondwhatIhadeverseeninhimbefore.Ialsowatchedyoursister.Herlookandmannerwereopen,cheerfulandpleasingasever,butIsawnosignofstrongfeeling.If

you have not been mistaken here, I must have been deceived. Your greaterknowledgeofyoursistermakesitprobablethatyouwereright.

MyobjectionstothemarriagewerenotonlythosewhichImentionedlastnightinmyowncase.Therewereothers.Theinferiorityofyourmother'sfamily,thoughaproblem,wasnothingcomparedwiththetotallackofgoodmannerssofrequently shown by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionallyevenbyyourfather.Pardonme-itpainsmetooffendyou.Letitbeofcomfortto you that the behaviour of yourself and your older sister has been sohonourablyfreefromsuchfaults.

TheanxietyofBingley'ssistershadbeenexcitedasmuchasmyown.Theaction that followed is known to you.But I do not suppose that themarriagewouldhavebeenprevented if IhadnotpersuadedBingley thatyour sisterdidnotcareforhim.HebelievedmewhenItoldhimthathehaddeceivedhimself.

I cannot blamemyself for having done this. There is only one point onwhich I feel some discomfort, and that is that I purposely deceived him byhidingfromhimthefactofyoursister'sbeingintown.

Withregardtothatothercharge,ofhavingdoneharmtoMrWickham,Icanonlydefendmyselfbytellingthewholestory.MrWickhamwasthesonofmy father'smanager, a respectableman.My fatherhad the sonwell educated,and,hopingthatthechurchwouldbehisprofession,intendedtoprovideforhiminit.I,asayoungmanofaboutthesameage,verysoonrealizedthathehadabadcharacter,afactwhichhecarefullyhidfrommyfather.Beforehedied,myfatheraskedmetoencouragehisdevelopment,and, ifhe joinedthechurch, tolethimhaveavaluablefamilyliving.Shortlyafterwards,MrWickhamwrotetosaythathehaddecidedagainstbecomingaminister.Hewishedinsteadtostudylaw,anddemandedmoneytohelphim.Iwillinglygavehimthis,knowingthathewas not fit for the church, and he then in return gave up all claim to anyappointment in it. Later, the position became free, and, having neglected hisstudiesofthelawandlivedalifeoflaziness,hedemandedit,andIrefused.

Lastsummerheagainmostpainfullyforcedhimselfonmynotice.ImustnowmentionafamilymatterthatIwouldmyselfwishtoforget,andwhichonlypresentnecessitycausesmetomakeknowntoyou.Ifeelquiteconfidentofyourabilitytokeepmysecret.

Mysister,whoistenyearsyoungerthanIam,hadjustleftschool,andwasplacedinthecareofaladyinRamsgate.Mytrustinthiswomanwasnotwell

judged.SheallowedWickham,whomsheknew,tomakelovetomysister,whoagreed to runawaywithhim. Iwentdown to seeher justbefore the intendedflight.Georgianawasashamed,andtoldmeeverything.YoumayimaginewhatIfelt,andhowIacted.

Wickham's chiefobjectwas,withoutdoubt,my sister's fortune,which isthirtythousandpounds,butIcannothelpsupposingthathealsohopedtoannoyme.

ColonelFitzwilliamwillbearwitnesstothetruthofeverythingthatIhavewrittenhere.Ishalltrytofindsomeopportunityofputtingthisletterintoyourhandsduringthemorning.

Sincerely,FITZWILLIAMDARCY.AsElizabetheagerlyreadtheletter,sheexperiencedeverykindoffeeling.

Shebeganwithastrongprejudiceagainstwhateveritmightcontain,andwishedtodisbelievecompletelyalltheexplanationsthatitputforward.Sherepeatedlytoldherself:'Thismustbefalse!Thiscannotbe!'Whenshehadgonethroughthewholedocument,sheputitaway,promisingherselfthatshewouldneverlookatitagain.

Butshecouldnotdothat.Inhalfaminutetheletterwasunfoldedagain.She readand reread,with theclosest attention, thedetails aboutWickham.Ofthetwomenconcerned,onewasfreefromblame,theotherworthless.Buthowtodecidebetweenthem?ShetriedtoremembersomeexampleofgoodnessonWickham'sside.Shecouldfindnone.Hehadpleasedherbyhisappearance,hisvoiceandhismanner,butsheknewnothingabouthisrealcharacter.Thestoryofhis intentions regarding Miss Darcy received some support from herconversationwithColonelFitzwilliamonlythemorningbefore,and,accordingtoDarcy,theColonelwouldsupporteverydetailofthisstory.

She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversationbetweenWickhamandherselfduringtheirfirsteveningatMrPhilips's.Manyofhisexpressionswerestillfreshinhermemory.Shewasnowstruckwiththebadtasteofsuchremarksmadetoastranger,andwassurprisedthatithadescapedhernoticebefore.Shesawthelackofgoodbreedinginthewayinwhichhehadput himself forward. She remembered that he had claimed to have no fear ofseeingMrDarcy, but he had avoided theNetherfield ball the verynextweek.Sherememberedalsothatuntil theNetherfieldfamilyhadleft thearea,hehad

toldhisstory tonoonebutherself,butafter their removalhehaddiscussed itfreely,althoughhehadtoldherthatrespectforthefatherwouldalwayspreventhimfrommakingpublictheinjusticethatwasdonetohimbytheson.

She became completely ashamed of herself. She felt that she had beenblind,prejudiced,unreasonable.

ShereadagainthepartoftheletteraboutJaneandwasforcedtoadmittoherself the justice of Darcy's description of her sister. She knew that Jane'sfeelings,thoughstrong,wereusuallywellhidden.

Whenshecametothepartinwhichherfamilywerementioned,inwordssowounding toherpridebutstill so just in theblame that theyexpressed,hersenseofshamewassevere.Thepraiseofherselfandhersisterwasnotunfelt,butitcouldnotcomforther,andwhensheconsideredthatJane'sdisappointmenthad,infact,beentheworkofhernearestrelations,shefeltinlowerspiritsthanshehadeverbeenbefore.

She soon began to knowmuch of the letter by heart. She studied everysentence, and her feelings towards its writer were at times widely different.Whensherememberedthemannerinwhichhehadaddressedher,shewasstillfullofanger,butwhensheconsideredhowunfairlyshehadmisjudgedhim,herangerwasturnedagainstherself,andhisdisappointedfeelingsbecametheobjectofpity.Shecouldfeelgratefulforhisattachmentandcouldrespecthisgeneralcharacter,butshecouldnotapproveofhim,orbesorryaboutherrefusal,orfeeltheslightestdesireevertoseehimagain.Inherownpastbehaviour,therewasacontinualcauseforannoyance,andinthefaultsofherfamily,asubjectofevenheavier sorrow. Theywould never be put right. Her father, happy to laugh atthem, would never trouble himself to control the wild foolishness of hisyoungest daughters, andhermother,withmanners so far fromperfect herself,was completely unconscious of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united withJaneinanattempttocontrolthesillinessofKittyandLydia,butwhiletheywereencouragedby theirmother's fondcarelessness,whatchancecould therebeofimprovement? Kitty, weak- spirited, nervous, and completely under Lydia'sinfluence, had always been offended by their advice, and Lydia, careless anddeterminedtohaveherownway,wouldhardlygivethemahearing.Theywerefoolish, lazy and empty-headed.While there was an officer inMeryton, theywouldbetryingtoattracthim,andwhileMerytonwaswithinwalkingdistanceofLongbourn,theywouldbegoingthereforever.

Anxiety for Jane was another cause of concern, and Mr Darcy'sexplanation,bybringingbackallherformergoodopinionofBingley,increasedthesenseofwhatJanehadlost.

ItmayeasilybebelievedthattheeventsofthelasttwodayshadsuchaneffectonElizabeth'snaturallyhappyspirits thatshefounditalmostimpossibletoappearevenreasonablycheerful. Itwaswitha readyheart thatshewatchedhervisittoHunsfordcometoanendinthenextweek.MrDarcyhad,sheknew,leftshortlyafterhandinghertheletter.

Atlasttheboxeswerepacked,andthegoodbyesover,notwithoutalongspeech fromMr Collins. The carriage drove off towards London, where Janewastojointhepartyforhome.

'Oh!'criedMaria,afterafewminutes'silence.'Itseemsonlyadayortwosincewefirstcame!Butsomanythingshavehappened!'

'Agreatmany,'saidhercompanionsadly.'We had dinner nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice!

HowmuchIshallhavetotell!'Elizabethprivatelyadded,'AndhowmuchIshallhavetohide!'

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

ElizabethandJaneReturnHome

Itwas the secondweek inMaywhen Jane, Elizabeth andMaria set outfromLondontogetherforHertfordshire,andas theycamenear thesmallhotelwhereMrBennet's carriagewouldmeet them, they saw bothKitty andLydialookingoutofanupstairsroom.Thesetwogirlshadbeenintheplaceformorethananhour,happilyemployedinvisitingahatshopoppositeandarrangingameal.

Afterwelcomingtheirsisters,theyproudlypointedtoatablelaidoutwithcoldmeat,crying,'Isn'tthisnice?Isn'titapleasantsurprise?'

'Andwewantallofyoutobeourguests,'addedLydia,'butyoumustlendus themoney, becausewe have just spent ours at the shop over there.' Then,showing the things that she had bought: 'Look here, I have bought this hat. Idon'tthinkthatitisverypretty,butIthoughtImightaswellbuyitasnot.IshallpullittopiecesassoonasIgethome,andremakeit.'

And when her sisters criticized it as ugly, she added, 'It will not muchmatterwhatonewearsthissummer,astheregimentis leavingMerytonintwoweeks'time.'

'Arethey,really?'criedElizabeth,withthegreatestsatisfaction.'TheyaregoingtobecampednearBrighton,andIdosowantourfatherto

takeusallthereforthesummer!Motherwouldliketogo,too,ofallthings!''Yes,' thought Elizabeth, 'that would be pleasant. Oh, heavens! Brighton

andawholecampfullofsoldiers,tous,whohavebeentroubledenoughalreadybyonesmallregimentandthemonthlydancesatMeryton!'

'Now Ihave somenews,' saidLydia, as they sat downat the table. 'It isexcellentnewsaboutapersonwhomwealllike.'

Jane andElizabeth looked at eachother, and thewaiterwas told that heneednotstay.Lydialaughed,andsaid:

'Why must you always be so formal and correct? You thought that thewaitermustnothear,asifhecared!Butheisanuglyman!Iamgladthathehasgone.Well,butnowformynews.ItisaboutdearWickham.ThereisnodangerofhismarryingMaryKing.Shehasgoneaway.Wickhamissafe.'

'AndMaryKing is safe!' added Elizabeth. 'Safe from amarriagewhichwouldbeunwiseinregardtofortune.'

Assoonaseveryonehadeaten,andtheolderoneshadpaid, thecarriagewas ordered and the whole party, with their boxes, needlework bags andpackages,andtheunwelcomeadditionofallKitty'sandLydia'sshopping,wereseatedinit.

'How nicely we are packed in!' cried Lydia. 'Now let us be quitecomfortable,andtalkandlaughallthewayhome.Andinthefirstplace,letushear what has happened to you all since youwent away. Have you seen anypleasantmen?Iwas ingreathopes thatoneofyouwouldhavegotahusbandbeforeyoucameback.Janeisalmosttwenty-three!HowashamedIshouldbeofnotbeingmarriedbefore thatage!Oh,howI should like tobemarriedbeforeanyofyou!'

In this noisy manner, with the help of Kitty, Lydia tried to amuse hercompanionsall thewaytoLongbourn.Elizabethlistenedas littleasshecould,buttherewasnoescapingthefrequentmentionofWickham'sname.

Theirwelcomehomewasmostkind.MrsBennetwasgladtoseeJaneasbeautiful as ever, andmore thanonceMrBennet said toElizabeth: 'I amgladthatyouhavecomeback,Lizzy.'

Theirpartywas large,asalmostall theLucasescame tomeetMariaandhear the news. LadyLucaswas inquiring ofMaria, across the table, after thehealthandhousekeepingaffairsofheroldestdaughter.MrsBennetwasdoublyengaged,ontheonehandcollectinganaccountofthepresentLondonfashionsfromJane,whosatsomewaybelowher,and,ontheother,repeatingthemalltotheyoungerMissLucases.Lydia,inavoiceratherlouderthananyoneelse's,wasdescribingthevariouspleasuresofthemorningtoanybodywhowouldlistentoher.

'Oh,Mary,'shesaid, 'Iwishyouhadgonewithus!Wehadsuchfun!Wetalkedandlaughedsoloudlythatanybodymighthaveheardus10milesaway!'

To this, Mary replied, 'Do not think, my dear sister, that I scorn suchpleasures.ButIadmitthattheyhavenoattractionforme.Iwouldmuchpreferabook.'

ButLydiaheardnotawordofthisanswer.Sherarelylistenedtoanybodyformorethanhalfaminute,andneverattendedtoMaryatall.

Intheafternoon,LydiawasanxiousfortheothergirlstowalktoMeryton,but Elizabeth steadily opposed the suggestion. It should not be said that theMissesBennetcouldnotbeathomehalfadaybeforetheywereinsearchoftheofficers.ShedidnotwanttoseeWickhamagain,andwasdeterminedtoavoiddoingsoforaslongaspossible.

***Elizabeth's impatience to inform Jane of what had happened could no

longerbecontrolled,andatlast,havingdecidedtokeepbackeverydetailwithwhich her sister was concerned, and having warned her to be surprised, shedescribed to her the next morning most of the scene betweenMr Darcy andherself. She then spoke of the letter, repeating all that it contained whichmentionedGeorgeWickham.What ablow thiswas forpoor Jane,whowouldwillingly have gone through the world without believing that so much evilexistedinthewholehumanrace,aswascollectedhereinoneperson.

'I do not knowwhen I have beenmore shocked,' she said. 'Wickham sovery bad! It is almost beyond belief. And poor Mr Darcy! Dear Lizzy, onlyconsider what he must have suffered! Such a disappointment, and with theknowledgeofyourbadopinion too!Andhaving to tell sucha thingabouthissister!'

'ThereisonepointonwhichIwantyouradvice.IwanttobetoldwhetherIoughtoroughtnottomakeknownthetruthaboutWickham'scharactertoourfriendsingeneral.'

Miss Bennet thought a little, and then replied, 'Surely there can be noreasonforshaminghimsoterribly.Whatisyourownopinion?'

'Thatitoughtnottobeattempted.MrDarcyhasnotgivenmepermissiontomakehisinformationpublic.AtpresentIwillsaynothingaboutit.'

'Youarequiteright.Itmightruinhimforever,ifhispastbecameknown.Heisnow,perhaps,sorryforwhathehasdone,andanxioustoimprove.'

TheconfusioninElizabeth'smindwasrelievedbythisconversation.Shehadgotridoftwoofthesecretswhichhadweighedonherfortwoweeks,andwascertainofawillinglistenerinJanewhenevershemightwanttotalkagainofeither.Butshedarednot tell theotherhalfofMrDarcy's letter,norexplain tohersisterhowsincerelyshehadbeenvaluedbyhisfriend.Herewasknowledgewhichnoonecouldshare.

Shenowhadtimetoobservetherealstateofhersister'sspirits.Janewasnothappy.ShestillhadverywarmfeelingsforBingley.

'Well,Lizzy,'saidMrsBennetoneday, 'whatisyouropinionnowofthissadbusinessofJane's?'

'IdonotthinkthatMrBingleywilleverliveatNetherfieldagain.''Oh,well!Itisjustashechooses.Well,mycomfortis,IamsurethatJane

willdieofabrokenheart,andthenhewillbesorryforwhathehasdone.'ButasElizabethcouldnotreceivecomfortfromanysuchexpectations,she

didnotanswer.'Well,Lizzy,'hermothercontinued,soonafterwards,'andsotheCollinses

livevery comfortably, do they?Charlotte is an excellentmanager, I expect. Ifshe is half as sharp as hermother, she is saving enough.And I suppose theyoftentalkofhavingLongbournwhenyourfatherisdead.Theylookonitquiteastheirown,Idaresay.Iwouldbeashamedofowningsomewherethatwasleftmeonsuchunjustconditions.'

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

TheRegimentLeavesMeryton

The second week of their return was the last of the regiment's stay inMeryton, and all theyoung ladies in theneighbourhoodwere in the lowest ofspirits.OnlytheolderMissesBennetwerestillabletoeat,drinkandsleep,andto continue the usual course of their lives.Very frequently theywere chargedwithheartlessnessbyKittyandLydia,whoseownunhappinesswasextreme.

'Heavens!What will become of us?' they would often cry in bitterness.'How can you be smiling so, Lizzy?' Their fond mother shared all theirunhappiness.Sherememberedwhatshehadsufferedonasimilaroccasioninheryouth.

'I am sure,' she said, 'that I cried for two days when Colonel Millar'sregimentwentaway.Ithoughtthatmyheartwouldbreak.'

'Iamsurethatminewillbreak,'saidLydia.'IfonlywecouldgotoBrighton,'saidMrsBennet.'Oh,yes!ButFatherissodisagreeable.'Such were the complaints continually repeated at Longbourn House.

Elizabeth tried to be amused by them, but all sense of pleasure was lost inshame. She felt once more the justice of Mr Darcy's criticisms, and she hadneverbeensoreadytopardonhispartintheaffairsofhisfriend.

But the darkness of Lydia's futurewas lightened shortly afterwards. ShereceivedaninvitationfromMrsForster,thewifeofthecoloneloftheregiment,togowithher toBrighton.Thisfriendwasayoungwoman,andveryrecentlymarried.

The joy of Lydia on this occasion, the pleasure ofMrs Bennet, and thejealousangerofKitty,arehardly tobedescribed.Withoutanyconcernforhersister's feelings, Lydia flew about the house in restless excitement, calling foreverybody'scongratulations,and laughingand talkingwithmoreviolence thanever,whilethelucklessKittycontinuedtocomplain.

'IcannotseewhyMrsForsterdidnotaskmeaswellasLydia,'shesaid,'Ihavejustasmuchrighttobeaskedasshehas,andmore,too,becauseIamtwoyearsolder.'

Elizabeth tried tomakehermore reasonable, and Janeurgedher tobearher disappointment quietly, but without success. As for Elizabeth herself, sheconsideredthisinvitationasthedeathblowtoanypossibilityofcommonsenseinLydia,and, thoughsuchanactwouldmakeherhated if itbecameknown,shecouldnothelpsecretlyadvisingherfathernottolethergo.Shesuggestedtohimthe probability of Lydia's being even more foolish with such a companion atBrighton,wheretheopportunitiesforsillinessmustbegreaterthanathome.

'If you knew,' said Elizabeth, 'of the very great disadvantage which hasalreadycomefromthepublicnoticeofLydia'suncontrolledbehaviour,Iamsurethatyouwouldjudgeitunwisetolethergo.'

'Already come!' repeated Mr Bennet. 'What! Has she frightened awaysomeofyourlovers?PoorlittleLizzy!Butdonotbedisheartened.Youngmenwhocannot bear tobe connectedwith a little silliness arenotworthworryingover.'

But Elizabeth, excusing herself for speaking so plainly to her father,continuedinherattempttopersuadehimofthegrowinglackofself-controlthatbothhisyoungerdaughtersshowedinpublic,andthedangeroftheircharactersbecomingfixed.Hesawthatherwholeheartwasinthesubjectand,takingherhandwarmly,saidinreply:

'Do not make yourself anxious, my love. Wherever you and Jane areknown, you must be respected and valued, and you will not appear to lessadvantagebecauseyouhaveapairof-orImaysay,three-verysillysisters.WeshallhavenopeaceathomeifLydiadoesnotgotoBrighton.Lethergo,then.ColonelForsterisasensibleman,andwillkeepherfromanyrealharm,andsheisluckilytoopoortoattractanyfortune-hunters.AtBrightonshewillbeoflessimportancethanhere.Letushope,therefore,thatitmayteachheralittleaboutlife.'

WiththisanswerElizabethwasforcedtobesatisfied.***ElizabethnowsawWickhamforthelasttime.Havingmethimfrequently

sinceherreturn,shehadbecomefairlywellusedtothesituation.Herinterestinhimhadquitegone,andinhispresentbehaviourtoherselfshehadafreshcausefordispleasure.Thereadinessthathesoonshowedinrenewinghisattentionstoher, now that Miss King had gone, proved that he judged her to be foolishenoughtobepleasedbynoticefromhimatanytimethathechosetogiveit.

Ontheverylastdayoftheregiment'sstayhehaddinner,withsomeotherofficersatLongbourn.ElizabethwassounwillingtopartfromhiminafriendlywaythatshementionedthefactthatColonelFitzwilliamandMrDarcyhadbothspentthreeweeksatRosings,andaskedhimwhetherhewasacquaintedwiththeformer.

He looked surprised, displeased, anxious; but, controlling himself, soonrepliedthathehadformerlyseenhimoften,andaskedhowshelikedhim.Sheansweredwarmlyinhisfavour,andwentontosaythatfromknowingMrDarcybetter,he,too,wasbetterunderstoodandliked.

Wickham'sanxietynowappearedinareddenedfaceandatroubledlook.Hedidnotdaretosaymuchmore,butinspiteofanappearanceofcheerfulness,itwasclearthathewouldnowbegladtoleavethearea.

Whenthepartyended,LydiareturnedwithMrsForstertoMeryton,fromwhichplacetheywouldsetoutearlythenextmorning.Theseparationbetweenherandherfamilywasnoisyratherthanpainful.Kittywastheonlyonetocry,andhertearswerefromjealousyandfrompityforherself.Intheloudhappinessof Lydia herself in saying goodbye, themore gentle last words of her sisterswerespokenwithoutbeingheard.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Pemberley

Mr Bennet's marriage had been the result of a lack of good judgment.Attractedbyyouthandbeauty,andthatappearanceofgoodtemperwhichtheyusually give, he hadmarried awomanwhoseweakunderstanding andnarrowmindhadverysoonputanendtorealloveforher.Respectandconfidencehadgoneforever,andhishopesofhappinessathomewereended.Buthewasfondof thecountryandofbooks,andhiswife's foolishnessand lackofknowledgegavehimamusement.

Elizabeth had never-been blind to the unfitting nature of her father'sbehaviourasahusband.Ithadalwaysupsether,but,respectinghisabilitiesandgratefulforhiscaringtreatmentofherself,shehadtriedtoforgetwhatshecouldnot fail tonotice.But shehadnever felt so stronglyasnow thedisadvantagesthatmustbeexperiencedbythechildrenofsounsuitableamarriage.

When Lydia went away, she promised to write very often and in greatdetail to hermother andKitty, but her letterswere always long expected andveryshort.Thosetohermothercontainedlittlebutunimportantnews,andthosetoKitty,thoughlonger,containedtoomanysecretstobereadtothefamily.

Life in Meryton was undoubtedly duller after the regiment had left.Elizabethbegantolookforwardtohernortherntourwithherauntanduncle,thedate ofwhichwas approaching.Her disappointmentwas therefore greatwhenshe learnt that businesspreventedheruncle frombeingaway fromLondonaslongashehadhoped.TheywereforcedtogiveupthevisittotheLakes,andtochooseashortertour;accordingtothepresentplan,theyweretogonofurthernorth thanDerbyshire,whereMrsGardinerhoped to revisit the towninwhichshehad spent the earlier part of her life.Thereweremany ideas connected inElizabeth'smindwiththementionofDerbyshire.ItwasimpossibleforhertoseeorhearthewordwithoutthinkingofPemberleyanditsowner.

***Atlasttheperiodofwaitingwasover,andMrandMrsGardiner,withtheir

four children, appeared atLongbourn.The children, twogirls of six and eightyearsold,andtwoyoungerboys,wouldbeleftinthespecialcareoftheircousinJane, who was the favourite, and whose steady good sense and sweetness of

temperexactlysuitedherfor lookingafter themineveryway- teachingthem,playingwiththem,andlovingthem.

TheGardinersstayedatLongbournforonlyonenight,andsetoutthenextmorning with Elizabeth on their travels. One enjoyment was certain - that ofpleasureineachother'scompany.

Their journey took them to many interesting and well-known places -Oxford,Blenheim,Warwick,Kenilworth,andothers.At last,afterhavingseenallthechiefsightsofthearea,theycontinuedontheirwaytothelittletownofLambtoninDerbyshire,thesceneofMrsGardiner'sformerhome,andElizabethfoundthatPemberleywasonly5milesawayfromLambton.Intalkingovertheirplans, Mrs Gardiner expressed a wish to see the place again. Mr Gardinerexpressedhiswillingness,andtheirniecewasaskedforherapproval.

Elizabethwasinanawkwardsituation.ShefeltthatshehadnobusinessatPemberley, and she pretended, therefore, that she was tired of seeing greathouses.MrsGardiner thought this stupid, andElizabethdidnotknowwhat todo.The possibility ofmeetingMrDarcywas frightening. She trembled at theveryidea.Fortunately,shewasabletofindoutfromaservantatthehotelwheretheywerestayingthatPemberley'sownerwasabsent,sowhenthesubjectwasmentionedagainthenextmorning,shereadilyagreed,becauseherunwillingnesshadturnedtointerest.

As theydrove along,Elizabeth'smindwas too full for conversation, butshe saw and admired every notable view. The park was very large, and theypassedthroughabeautifulwoodstretchingoverawidearea.PemberleyHousewasalarge,fine-lookingstonebuilding,ongroundslightlyhigherthanthepark;in front, a streamhad beenwidenedwithoutmaking it appear at all artificial.Elizabethhadneverseenaplaceforwhichnaturehaddonesomuch,orwherenatural beauty had been so little spoilt by awkward taste.Her aunt and unclewere equallywarm in their admiration, and at thatmoment she felt that therewereinfactadvantagestobeingtheladyofPemberley!

Onarrivingatthehouse,theywereadmittedtothehall.Thehousekeeperwas a respectable-looking woman, who showed them round the chief rooms.Fromeverywindowtherewerebeautiestobeseen.Theroomsthemselveswereofgoodheightandfineshape,andwithfurnitureinexcellenttaste.

'Imighthavebeentheladyofthisplace,'shethought.'Insteadofviewingitasastranger,Imighthavebeenwelcomingmyauntanduncleasmyguests.

Butno,'sheremembered,'Iwouldnothavebeenallowedtoinvitemyrelations.'Thiswasaluckythought-itsavedherfromfeelingsorryforherself.Shewishedverymuch to inquireof thehousekeeperwhetherhermaster

was reallyabsent.At last thequestionwasaskedbyheruncle,andshe turnedaway anxiouslywhen the reply came, 'We expect him tomorrow,with a largepartyoffriends.'

Herauntnowcalledher to lookatapicture, andaskedherwitha smilehowshelikedit.ItwasofWickham.Thehousekeepermentionedhisname,andadded, 'Hehasnowgone into thearmy,but Iamafraid thathehas turnedoutverywild.'

Mrs Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could notreturnit.

TheythenlookedatpicturesofMrDarcyandhissister.'AndisMissDarcyasgood-lookingasherbrother?'saidMrGardiner.'Oh,yes,' replied thehousekeeper, 'thebest-lookingyoung lady that ever

was seen, and so skilled!Sheplays and sings thewholeday long. In thenextroomthereisanewinstrumentthathasjustarrivedforher-apresentfrommymaster.Sheiscomingheretomorrowwithhim.'

'DoesyourmasterspendmuchtimeatPemberley?''Not as much as I would wish, sir. Miss Darcy is always here for the

summermonths.''Except,'thoughtElizabeth,'whenshegoestoRamsgate.''Ifyourmastermarried,youmightseemoreofhim.''Yes,sir,butIdonotknowwhoisgoodenoughforhim.'MrandMrsGardinersmiled.'Isaynomorethanthetruth.Ihaveneverhadanangrywordfromhimin

mylife,andIhaveknownhimeversincehewasfouryearsold.'Elizabeth'skeenestattentionwasexcited.Thiswaspraiseofthestrongest

kind,andmostoppositetoherideas.'He is thebestmaster thatever lived.Somepeoplecallhimproud,but I

neversawanythingofit.'

Mr Gardiner was highly amused as she continued to describe the goodqualitiesofhermaster.Hejudgedthatherextremepraiseofhimwastheresultoffamilyprejudice.

'Thisfineaccountofhim,'whisperedMrsGardinertoherniece,'doesnotagreewithhisbehaviourtoourpoorfriend.'

Elizabethsaidratherquietlythattheymighthavebeendeceived.'Thatisnotverylikely.Ourinformationwastoodirect.'They were then shown into a very pretty little sitting room with new

furniture,andweretoldthatitwasdonejusttogivepleasuretoMissDarcy,whohadbecomefondoftheroomwhenlastatPemberley.

'Itisalwaysthewaywithhim,'thehousekeeperexplained.'Whatevercangivehissisterpleasureissuretobedone.'

'Heisagoodbrother,'saidElizabeth.There was certainly at this moment in her mind a more gentle feeling

towardshimthanshehadeverhadwhenshewascloselyacquaintedwithhim.Everyideabroughtforwardbythehousekeeperwasfavourabletohischaracter,andasshelookedonceagainathispicture,shefeltmoregratefultohimforhisgoodopinionofherthanshehadeverdonebefore.

***Thehousehadnowbeenexamined,andtheywentoutsideinthechargeof

thegardenertoadmirethegrounds.Astheywalkedtowardstheriver,Elizabethturnedbacktolookagain,andasshedidso,theownerofthebuildingsuddenlycameforwardfromtheroadthatledbehindit.

They were within 20 yards of each other, and his appearance was sosudden that it was impossible to avoid him. Their eyes met immediately. Hestopped,andthenforamomentseemedunabletomovefromsurprise.Quicklyrecoveringhis self- control, though,hewalked towards thepartyandspoke toElizabeth,ifnotwithperfectcalm,atleastwithperfectpoliteness.

Shehad immediately turnedaway,butwhenheapproached she receivedhis greetings with a confusion that it was impossible to control.Mr andMrsGardinerstoodalittlewayoffwhilehewastalkingtotheirniece,who,shockedby theirmeeting,hardlydared lifthereyes tohis faceanddidnotknowwhatanswer she returned to his polite inquiries after her family. She was full of

surpriseatthechangeinhismannersincetheylastparted,andfoundthateverysentence that he spokewas increasingher confusion.As the realizationof theawkwardnessofherbeingfoundtherereturnedtohermind,thefewminutesinwhichtheyweretogetherweresomeofthemostuncomfortableinherlife.Hedid not seem less shocked. When he spoke, his voice had none of its usualcalmness,andherepeatedsomeofhisquestionsmorethanonce.

Atlast,everyideaseemedtofailhimand,afterstandingforafewminuteswithout saying a word, he suddenly went away. The others then joined her.Elizabethwasfilledwithshameandannoyance.Hercomingtherewasthemostunfortunate,mostunwisethingintheworld!Howshamefulitmustappeartoamanwhothoughtsohighlyofhimself!Itmightseemasifshehadpurposelyputherself inhiswayagain.Oh!Whyhadshecome?Orwhydidhecomeadaybeforehewasexpected?Andhisbehaviour,sonoticeablychanged-whatcoulditmean?Itwasastonishingthatheshouldeverspeaktoher-buttospeakwithsuchpoliteness,toinquireafterherfamily!Neverinherlifehadsheseenhimsogentle.Shedidnotknowwhattothink.

They now entered a beautiful walk by the water, but it was some timebefore Elizabeth could give it any attention, although she replied withoutthinking to the remarks of her companions. She greatlywished to knowwhatwaspassing inMrDarcy'smind, andwhether, in spiteof everything, shewasstilldeartohim.

Afterwanderingonforsometimequiteslowly,becauseMrsGardinerwasnot a great walker andwas becoming tired, theywere again surprised by thesightofMrDarcyapproachingthem.Elizabethsawthathehadlostnoneofhisrecentpoliteness,andtoshowthatshetoocouldbepolite,shebegantoadmiretheplace.Butshehadnotgotbeyondtheword"beautiful",whensomeunluckythought reminded her that praise of Pemberley might be misunderstood. Thecolourinherfacedeepened,andshesaidnomore.

Asshepaused,heaskedherifshewoulddohimthehonourofintroducinghim toher friends.Thiswasquiteunexpected. 'Whatwillbehis surprise,' shethought,'whenheknowswhotheyare?Hethinksthattheyarepeopleofsocialposition.'

Theintroduction,though,wasmadeimmediately,andasshenamedthemasfamilyrelationsofhers,shetookasecretlookathimtoseehowheboreit.Itwasplainthathewassurprised,butinsteadofgoingaway,heturnedbackwith

themandenteredintoconversationwithMrGardiner.Elizabethcouldnothelpbeingpleased.Itwascomfortingthatheshouldknowthatshehadsomerelationsof whom there was no need to be ashamed. She listened carefully, and felthappiness in every expression, every sentence of her uncle that showed hisintelligence,histaste,orhisgoodmanners.

Theconversationsoonturnedtofishing,andsheheardMrDarcy,withthegreatestpoliteness, invitehimtofishthereasoftenashechose.MrsGardiner,who was walking arm in arm with Elizabeth, gave her a look of surprise.Elizabeth said nothing, but shewas extremely pleased. Themark of attentionmustbeallforherself.

A little later,MrsGardiner, tired by the exercise of themorning, foundElizabeth's arm not strong enough to support her, and therefore preferred herhusband's.MrDarcytookherplacebyherniece.Afterashortsilence,theladyspokefirst.Shewishedhimtoknowthatshehadbeeninformedofhisabsencebefore she came to the place.He admitted that he had put forward his arrivalbecause of some business. 'The rest of my party,' he continued, 'will be heretomorrow, and among them are some with whom you are acquainted - MrBingleyandhissisters.'

Elizabethansweredonlybyaslightloweringofherhead.Afterapause,headded: 'Thereisalsoapersonwhoespeciallywishesto

be known to you.Will you allowme, or do I ask toomuch, to introducemysistertoyou?'

Thesurpriseof sucha requestwasgreat - toogreat forher to rememberlaterinwhatmannersheagreed.Theynowwalkedoninsilence.Elizabethwasnotcomfortable-thatwasimpossible-butshewaspleasedbyhisattention.

WhenMrandMrsGardinercameup to themat thehouse, theywereallurged to go inside and take some tea, but thiswaspolitely refused.MrDarcyhanded the ladies into the carriage, andwhen it drove off, Elizabeth saw himwalkingslowlytowardsthehouse.

Heruncleandauntnowbegan to speakvery favourablyofhis effectonthem. They were cross with her, saying, 'Why did you tell us he was sodisagreeable?'

Elizabethexcusedherselfaswellasshecould.Shethenfeltitherdutytotellthem,inascarefulamannerasshecould,

thatshebelievedherself tohavebeenmistakeninthinkingthathehadbeenatfaultinhistreatmentofWickham.MrsGardinerwassurprised,butastheywerenowapproachingthescenesofheryouth,allherinterestwassoontakenupbythepleasuresofhermemories,andthemeetingaftermanyyearsofoldfriends,soElizabethwas set free from awkward questions, and could be leftwith herownthoughts.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

TheBingleys

MrDarcybroughthissistertovisitElizabethafewhoursafterherarrivalthenextday.TheGardinersweresurprisedagain,andanewideaonthesubjectbegantoentertheirheads.

Elizabethsawwithastonishmentthattheyoungladywithwhomshewasnowmadeacquaintedwasnotextremelyproud,ashadbeenreported,butonlyextremely shy. The expression on her face showed sense and natural goodtemper,andhermannerswereperfectlygentle.

They had not been together long before Bingley also came to call onElizabeth.Hismannerwasunchanged, andhe looked and spokewith friendlyconfidence.ToMrandMrsGardiner,whoknewwhathemeanttoJane,hewashardly a less interesting person than to herself. Thewhole party excited theirattention. They were taken up in observing Mr Darcy and their niece. Theyremained a little in doubt about the lady's feelings, but it was clear that thegentlemanwasoverflowingwithadmiration.

Elizabeth,onherside,hadmuchtodo.Shewishedtobeagreeabletohervisitors.ShewaswatchingBingleywithMissDarcy,whohadbeenputforwardas a competitor to Jane. She saw nothing in the behaviour of either that gavesupport to the words of Miss Bingley. In a voice of real sadness, Bingleyobserved to her, at amomentwhen the otherswere talking together, that theyhad not met for eight months, not since 26 November, when they were alldancingtogetheratNetherfield.Elizabethwaspleasedthathismemorywassoexact.He later took anopportunity to askher privatelywhether all her sisterswere at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, but his look andmannergaveitmeaning.

It was not often that she could turn her eyes onMrDarcy himself, butwhenshedidmanagetolookinhisdirection,shesawhimdoinghisbesttogainthegoodopinionofherrelations,andwhenthevisitcametoanend, thewishwasexpressedofseeingthemallatdinneratPemberleytwodayslater.

Ithadbeenagreedbetweentheauntandtheniecethatsuchastrikingpieceof politeness asMiss Darcy's, in coming to see them on the very day of herarrival, ought tobe returned, though it couldnot be equalled. Itwas therefore

decided to call on her at Pemberley the following morning. Elizabeth waspleased,thoughwhensheaskedherselfthereason,shehadverylittletosayinreply.

Whentheyreachedthehouse,theywerereceivedbyMissDarcy,whowassittingwithMrsHurstandMissBingleyand the ladywithwhomshe lived inLondon.Georgiana'swelcomewasveryshy,andmighthavegivenafalseideaofpride,butMrsGardinerandhernieceunderstoodherdifficultyandpitiedher.

MrsHurst andMissBingleygreeted them in fewwords, andwhen theywere seated an awkward pause followed. It was broken by Miss Darcy'scompanion,awomanofgoodbreeding,whocarriedonaconversationwithMrsGardinerwithsomehelpfromElizabeth.MissDarcylookedasifshewishedforcourageenoughtojoinin.

ElizabethsoonsawthatshewascloselywatchedbyMissBingley.Afteraquarterofanhour,MissBingley inquiredcoldlyafter thehealthofherfamily,andElizabethrepliedjustascoldly.

Someservantsthenenteredwithcoldmeat,cake,andavarietyofall thefinestfruitsinseason,andsoonafterthatMrDarcy,whohadbeenfishingwithMrGardiner,madehisappearance.

Elizabeth decided to appear perfectly calm and relaxed, especiallywhenshe realized that the suspicions of the whole party were causing closeobservationofeveryword,expressionandmovementfromDarcyorherself.InnofacewasthissoclearlyexpressedasinMissBingley's,inspiteofthesmilesthatspreadoveritwhensheaddressedoneofthem.Jealousyhadnotyetmadehergiveuphope,andshestillplannedtowinMrDarcy.Butalittlelater,inanunwisemomentofanger,shesaidwithscornfulpoliteness:

'Ibelieve,MissEliza,thattheregimenthasleftMeryton.Theymustbeagreatlosstoyourfamily.'

Elizabeth answered calmly, and while she spoke, she noticed that thecolour inDarcy's facehaddeepened, and thathis sisterwas full of confusion.Miss Bingley little knew what pain she was giving her friend. She had onlyintended toangerElizabeth,andmakehershowsomefeeling thatmightharmherinDarcy'sopinion.Elizabeth'sself-controlsoonlessenedhisdiscomfort,andasMissBingley, annoyed and disappointed, dared notmove any closer to thesubjectofWickham,Georgiana,too,recoveredintime.

Their visit did not continue for long after this, and when Mr Darcyreturnedfromwalkingthemtotheircarriage,MissBingleywasbusycriticizingElizabeth'sappearance,behaviouranddress.

'HowveryuglyElizaBennetlooksthismorning!'shecried.'Ihaveneverin my life seen anyone so much changed as she is since the winter. She hasbecomesobrownand rough-looking. Imust admit, though, that I couldneverseeanybeautyinher.Herfeaturesarenotatallattractive,andasforhereyes,theyhaveasharplooktothem.'

AsMissBingleybelievedthatMrDarcyadmiredElizabeth, thiswasnotthebestwayofpersuadinghimthatheshouldpreferher,butangrypeoplearenot always wise. He looked annoyed, but remained silent, and from adeterminationtomakehimspeak,shecontinued:

'I remember,whenwe first knewher inHertfordshire,howyouyourselfsaidonenight,aftertheyhadbeenhavingdinneratNetherfield,"She,abeauty!Ishouldassooncallhermotherapersonofhighintelligence!"ButIbelieveyouthoughtherratherprettyafterwards.'

'Yes,' replied Darcy, who could no longer control himself. 'For manymonths I have considered her to be one of the best- looking women of myacquaintance.'

Inthecarriage,astheyreturnedtotheirhotel,MrsGardinerandElizabethtalked of all that had happened during their visit, except what particularlyinterestedthembothandthepersonwhohadattractedtheirattentionmost.Theyspokeofhissister,hisfriends,hishouse,hisfruit,ofeverythingexcepthimself!ButElizabethwasanxioustoknowwhatMrsGardinerthoughtofhim,andMrsGardiner would have been extremely pleased if her niece had introduced thesubject!

CHAPTERTWENTY

LydiaandWickham

ElizabethhadbeenagooddealdisappointedinnothearingfromJaneontheirarrivalatLambton,andthisdisappointmentwasrenewedonbothmorningsthat had now been spent there, but on the third her anxiety was relieved byreceivingtwoletterstogether,ofwhichtheearlieronehadbeensentelsewherebecausetheaddresswasnotclearlywritten.

Herauntandunclesetoutonawalk, leavinghertoenjoytheminquiet.Theearlieronehadbeenwrittenfivedaysbefore,andbeganwithanaccountoftheirlittlepartiesandsocialeventsandunimportantlocalnews,butthesecondhalf,whichwasdatedadaylater,gavemoreimportantinformation.Itsaid:

Since writing yesterday, dearest Lizzy, something of a most unexpectedandseriousnaturehashappened.What Ihave to sayconcernspoorLydia.AnurgentmessagefromColonelForstercameattwelvelastnight,justaswehadallgone to bed, to inform us that she had gone off to Scotland with one of hisofficers - to tell the truth,withWickham!Imagineoursurprise.But toKitty itdoes not seem completely unexpected. I am very, very sorry. Such an unwisemarriage on both sides!Theywent off onSaturday night at about twelve, butwerenotmisseduntilyesterdaymorning.Imustendthisletter,becauseIcannotspendlongawayfrommypoormother,whoissadlytroubled.Iamafraidthatyouwillnotbeabletoreadthisletter,forIhardlyknowwhatIhavewritten.

Without allowing herself time for consideration, Elizabeth immediatelyseized the other letter and, opening it with the greatest impatience, read asfollows:

Bythistime,mydearestsister,youwillhavereceivedmyhurriedletter.Ihopethiswillbeclearer,butmyheadissoconfusedthatIcannotbecertainofit.DearestLizzy, I havebadnews foryou, and it cannotbedelayed.AlthoughamarriagebetweenMrWickhamandourpoorLydiawouldbeveryunwise,weare now anxious to be sure that the ceremony has actually been performed.ThoughLydialeftashortnoteforMrsForstergivinghertheideathattheyweregoing to Gretna Green, something that Denny said showed his belief thatWickhamneverintendedtogothere,ortomarryLydiaatall.ThiswasrepeatedtoColonel Forster,who immediately became anxious and set out in search ofthem.Hemanagedtofollowtheircourse,butonlyasfarasLondon,wherethey

have disappeared. Aftermaking every possible inquiry, he kindly came on toLongbournandtoldusthebadnews.

Ouranxiety,mydearLizzy, isverygreat.Mymother and fatherbelievetheworsthashappened,butIcannotthinksobadlyofWickham.Perhapstheyhavesomereasonforbeingmarriedprivatelyintown.Mypoormotherisreallyill,andasformyfather,Ineverinmylifesawhimsotroubled.PoorKittyhastobearourparents'angerforhavinghiddenthenatureoftheirfriendship,butasitwasamatterofconfidence,onecannotbesurprisedthatshedidso.Iamtrulyglad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been saved from some of these scenes, butnowthatthefirstshockisover,shallIadmitthatIgreatlywishforyourreturn?ButIamnotsounkindastourgeit,ifitisinconvenient.MyfatherisgoingtoLondon immediately to try to discover Lydia, but the extreme state of hisfeelings will not allow him to act in the wisest way. At a time like this, myuncle'sadviceandhelpwouldbeeverythingintheworld.

'Oh,where,whereismyuncle?'criedElizabeth,jumpingfromherseatasshefinishedtheletter,ineagernesstofollowhimwithoutlossoftime.Butasshereachedthedoor,itwasopenedbyaservant,andMrDarcyappeared.Herpaleface andhurriedmanner struckhim immediately, andbefore he could recoverfromhissurprise,shequicklysaid, 'Ibegyourpardon,but Imust leaveyou. ImustfindMrGardinerthismomentonbusinessthatcannotbedelayed.'

'Oh, heavens! What is the matter?' he cried, with more feeling thanpoliteness.Then,calminghimself,headded, 'Iwillnotkeepyouaminute,butletme,or let theservant,goafterMrGardiner.Youarenotwellenough.Youcannot go yourself Elizabeth paused, but her knees trembled under her and,callingbacktheservant,shegavehimthemessage.Whenhehadlefttheroom,shesatdown,unabletosupportherself,andlookedsoillandunhappythatitwasimpossibleforDarcytoleaveher,ortopreventhimselffromsaying,inavoiceofgentlenessandsympathy,'Letmecallawomanforyou.Istherenothingyoucouldtaketogiveyourselfsomerelief?ShallIgetyouaglassofwine?Youareveryill.'

'No,Ithankyou,'shereplied,tryingtorecoverherself. 'Iamquitewell.Iamonlyanxiousaboutsometerriblenewsfromhome.'

Sheburst into tearsasshementionedit,andforafewminutescouldnotspeak another word. Finally shewent on, 'My youngest sister has left all herfriends-hasrunaway-hasthrownherselfintothepowerof-ofMrWickham.

Shehasnomoney,nothingthathecouldwant-sheisruinedforever.'Darcystoodstillwithastonishment.'WhenIconsider,'Elizabethadded,'thatImighthavepreventedit!I,who

knewwhathereallywas.Butitistoolate!'Darcy quietly expressed his sympathy, and Elizabeth, in answer to his

inquiries,toldhimwhatdetailssheknew.Hehardlyseemedtohearher,andwaswalkingupanddownindeepthought,withaseriousandtroubledexpressiononhis face. Elizabeth immediately understood. Her power over himwas sinkingunder such a proof of family weakness, such a certainty of the deepestdishonour.Shecouldneitherblamehim,norfeelanysurprise,butthesituationwasexactlyofakindtomakeherunderstandherownwishes,andshehadneversohonestly felt that she couldhave lovedhimas now,when all lovemust bewithouthope.

But her own troubles were soon swallowed up in thememory of Lydiaand,coveringherfacewithherhands,shewassoonlosttoeverythingelse.Afterapauseofseveralminutes,shewasbroughtbacktothepresentsituationbythevoiceofhercompanion,whosaid, 'Thisunfortunateaffairwill, I fear,preventmysister'shavingthepleasureofseeingyouatPemberleytoday.'

'Oh,yes!PleasebekindenoughtoapologizeforustoMissDarcy.Saythaturgentbusinesscallsushome.Hidethetruthaslongaspossible.'

Heagreedtodosoand,withonlyoneseriouspartinglook,wentaway.Ashelefttheroom,Elizabethfelthowimprobableitwasthattheyshouldeverseeeachotheragain insucha friendlyway.Lookingbackover thewholeof theiracquaintance,sofullofdifferencesandvariety,shefeltsaddenedattheawkwardchangeinherfeelings,whichwouldnowhaveencourageditscontinuance,andwouldformerlyhavebeengladatitsending.

If grateful feelings and respect form part of love, Elizabeth's change offeelingswillbeconsideredneitherimprobablenorfaulty.ThefactiscertainthatshesawhimgowithsadnessandfoundadditionalpaininthisearlyexampleofwhatLydia'sbehaviourmustproduce.ShehadnohopeofWickhammeaningtomarryhersister.Shehadnevernoticed,whiletheregimentwasinMeryton,thatLydiahadanyspecial liking forhim,but shewassure thatLydiaonlyneededencouragement to form a strong relationship with anybody. Sometimes oneofficer,sometimesanotherhadbeenherfavourite.ThoughshedidnotsupposeLydia to be purposely running away without the intention of marriage, she

believedthatshewouldeasilybetrickedbyadeceitfulman.MrandMrsGardinerhadhurriedback,worried,andElizabethtoldthem

thecauseofhermessage.AlthoughLydiahadneverbeenafavouritewiththem,they could not help being deeply shocked. After they had expressed theirfeelingsofsympathy,MrGardinerpromisedeveryhelpthatitwasinhispowertogive,andeverythingconcerningtheirjourneywasspeedilyarranged.

'ButwhatistobedoneaboutPemberley?'criedMrsGardiner.'ItoldMrDarcythatweshouldnotbeabletogotheretonight.Thatisall

settled.''What is all settled?' repeatedMrsGardiner to herself, as she ran to her

roomtogetherself readyfor travelling. 'Anddo theyknoweachothersowellthatshecantellhimtherealtruth?HowIwishthatIknew!'

Packinghadtobedone,andnoteshadtobewrittentoalltheirfriendsinLambton, with excuses for their leaving so suddenly. An hour, though, wasenough to complete everything, and at the end of that hour Elizabeth foundherselfseatedinthecarriage,ontheroadtoLongbourn.

CHAPTERTWENTYONE

MrGardinerGoestoLondon

They travelledasquicklyaspossible, and,having sleptonenighton theway,reachedLongbournbydinnertimethenextday.

ThelittleGardiners,attractedbythesightofthecarriage,werestandingonthe steps of the house, and the joyful surprise that lit up their faces was thetravellers'firstwelcome.

Elizabethjumpedout,gaveeachofthemaquickkiss,andhurriedintothehall,whereJane,whocamerunningdownstairsfromhermother'sroom,metherimmediately.

AsElizabethgreetedherwarmly,tearsfilledtheeyesofbothsisters.Theyounger, though, did not lose a moment before asking whether anything hadbeenheardofthemissingpair.

'Notyet,'repliedJane.'Isourfatherintown?''Yes,hewentonTuesday.''Andhaveyouheardfromhimoften?''Onlyonce,tosaythathehadarrivedandtogivemehisaddress.Heonly

added that he would not write again until he had something important tomention.'

'Andourmother-howisshe?''Fairlywell, though her nerves are troubling her a great deal, and she is

stillinbed.MaryandKitty,thankheaven,arequitewell.''Butyou-howareyou?'criedElizabeth. 'Youlookpale.Howmuchyou

musthavesuffered!'Her sister told her that she was perfectly well, and their conversation,

whichhadbeencontinuedwhileMrandMrsGardinerwerewiththeirchildren,wasnowendedbytheapproachofthewholeparty.

MrsBennet,towhoseroomtheyallwent,receivedthemexactlyasmightbe expected, with tears and expressions of sadness, angry words againstWickham,andcomplaintsofherownsufferings.Sheblamedeverybodybutthe

personwho,bybringingupherdaughtersocarelessly,waschieflyresponsibleforherfaults.

'If I had been able,' she said, 'to go toBrightonwith allmy family, thiswouldneverhavehappened-butpoordearLydiahadnoonetolookafterher.Poordearchild!Andnowhere'sMrBennetgoneaway,andIknowhe'll fightWickham,andthenhe'llbekilled,andwhatwillbecomeofusall?TheCollinseswill turn us out before he is cold in his grave and if you are not kind to us,brother,Idonotknowwhatweshalldo.'

Theyall comfortedher against such terrible ideas, andMrGardiner toldher thathewouldgodirectly toLondonandgiveMrBenneteveryhelp inhissearch.

'Oh, my dear brother,' repliedMrs Bennet, 'that is exactly what I couldmostwish for.And nowdo,when you get to town, find them,wherever theymay be, and if they are not already married, make them marry. And as forclothesforthewedding,donotletthemwaitforthat,buttellLydiathatsheshallhaveasmuchmoneyas shechooses tobuy them,after theyaremarried.Andaboveallthings,keepMrBennetfromfighting.TellhimwhataterriblestateIamin-thatIamfrightenedtodeath,andhavesuchtremblingsalloverme,andsuchpainsinmyhead,andsuchbeatingsofmyheart thatIcangetnorestbynightorbyday.AndtellmydearLydianottogiveanyordersaboutherclothesuntil shehasseenme,becauseshedoesnotknowthebest shops.Oh,brother,howkindyouare!Iknowthatyouwillmanageeverything.'

MrGardinercouldnotavoidadvisinghernottobeextreme,inherhopesaswellasherfears,andtheconversationcontinuedinthismanneruntildinnerwasonthetableandtheylefthertotheattentionsofthehousekeeper.

AlthoughMrandMrsGardinerweresurethattherewasnorealnecessityforher to stay inbed, theydidnot attempt toopposeherdesire,because theyknewthatshehadnotenoughgoodsensetokeepquietwhiletheservantswerearound.

They were joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been too busy in theirseparateroomstomaketheirappearancebefore.Theonecamefromherbooks,theotherfromthebusinessofdressingherself.Theywerebothfairlycalm,andnochangewasnoticeableineither,exceptthatthelossofherfavouritesister,ortheangerwhichsheherselfhadhadtobearinthematter,hadmadeKittymorecomplainingthanusual.

In the afternoon, the twoolderMissesBennetwere able tohavehalf anhourbythemselvesinserioustalk.ElizabethlearntthatWickham'sbadcharacterhad begun to be known. Colonel Forster believed him to be a careless andwastefulspender,anditwasnowsaidthathehadleftMerytongreatlyindebt.

'Oh,Jane, ifwehadbeenlesssecretive, ifwehadtoldwhatweknewofhim,thiscouldnothavehappened.'

'Weactedwiththebestintentions.'Jane then showed Elizabeth Lydia's letter to Mrs Forster, which the

Colonelhadbroughtwithhim.Thisiswhatitcontained:MydearHarriet,You will laugh when you know where I have gone, and I cannot help

laughingmyselfatyoursurprise tomorrowmorning,assoonasIammissed. IamgoingtoGretnaGreen,andifyoucannotguesswithwhom,Ishallthinkyouvery stupid, because there is only oneman in theworld that I love, andhe isperfect.Icouldneverbehappywithouthim,soIthinkitwilldonoharmtorunawaywith him. You need not tell them at Longbourn if you do not want to,becauseitwillmakethesurprisemuchgreaterwhenIwritetothemandsignmynameLydiaWickham.Whatagoodjokeitwillbe!PleasemakemyexcusestoPrattfornotkeepingmypromisetodancewithhimtonight.IshallsendformyclotheswhenIgettoLongbourn,butIwishyouwouldtelltheservanttomendagreat hole in my blue dress before it is packed. Goodbye. Give my love toColonelForster.Ihopethatyouwilldrinktoourgoodjourney.

Yourlovingfriend,LYDIABENNET.'Oh,thoughtless,thoughtlessLydia!'criedElizabethwhenshehadfinished

reading. 'What a letter this is to be written at such amoment! But at least itshowsthatshewasseriousintheobjectofherjourney.Mypoorfather!Howhemusthavefelt!'

'Ineversawanyonesoshocked.Hecouldnotspeakawordforfully tenminutes. Our mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house was inconfusion.'

'Oh,Jane,'criedElizabeth,'wasthereoneservantbelongingtouswhodidnotknowthewholestorybeforetheendoftheday?'

'I donot know. I hope so.But it is verydifficult to be careful at such atime.'

'You do not lookwell. You have had every care and anxiety to bear byyourself.'

'MaryandKittyhavebeenverykind,andwouldhavesharedeveryduty,Iamsure,butKittyisthinanddelicate,andMarystudiessomuchthatsheshouldnotbeinterruptedduringherhoursofrest.OurAuntPhilipscametousafterourfather hadgone away, andwasof great use and comfort, andLadyLucashasbeenverykind,andwalkedoverheretoofferhersympathyandhelp.'

'It would have been better if she had stayed at home,' cried Elizabeth.'Perhapsshemeantwell,butinatimeofsuchamisfortuneasthis,onecannotseetoolittleofone'sneighbours.'

CHAPTERTWENTYTWO

MrBennetReturns

AllMerytonnowseemedeagertospeakbadlyofthemanwho,onlythreemonthsbefore,hadbeenconsideredtobetheperfectgentleman.Hewassaidtobe indebt toeveryshopkeeper in theplace,and tohavemade love tomostoftheirdaughters.Everybodyspokeofhimastheworstyoungmanintheworld,andeverybodybegantofindoutthattheyhadalwaysdistrustedtheappearanceofhisgoodness.

MrsPhilipsvisitedtheBennetsfrequentlywiththeintention,shesaid,ofcheeringthemup,butasshenevercamewithoutreportingsomefreshexampleofhiswrongdoings,sherarelywentawaywithoutleavingtheminlowerspiritsthanshehadfoundthem.

EverydayatLongbournwasnowadayofanxiety,but themostanxiouspartofeachwaswhenthepostwasexpected.StillnonewsofanyimportancecamefromLondon,butaletterarrivedfortheirfatherfromadifferentdirection,fromMrCollins.AsJanehadbeen toldbyMrBennet toopeneverything thatcameforhiminhisabsence,shereadit,andElizabeth,whoknewhowstrangeMrCollins'slettersalwayswere,lookedoverhershoulderandreadittoo.

MydearSir,Ifeelitismyduty,asarelativeofyours,andbecauseofmysituationin

life, to sympathizewithyou inyourpresentmisfortune,whichmust beof thebitterestkind,sinceitstemsfromacausethatnotimecanremove.Thedeathofyour daughter would have been a relief in comparison with this. It is all theworse, because I understand there is reason to suppose that this behaviour ofyourdaughterwascausedbyalackofrulesathome,thoughatthesametimeIsuspectthathercharactermustbenaturallybad.Inanycase,youaregreatlytobepitied, inwhichopinionIamjoinednotonlybymywife,butalsobyLadyCatherineandherdaughter.Theyagreewithmethat thisfoolishactwillharmthe fortunesofallyourotherdaughters, forwhowill connect themselveswithsuchafamily?Thisconsideration leadsmeto thinkwith increasedsatisfactionofacertaineventoflastNovember,forifithadbeenotherwise,Ishouldhavesharedallyoursorrowandshame.Letmeadviseyou,mydearsir,tothrowoffyourungratefulchildforever,andleavehertothefruitsofherwrongdoings.

Iam,dearsir,etc.At last, after the failure of all attempts to find his daughter,Mr Bennet

agreedtoMrGardiner'srequestthatheshouldreturntohisfamilyandleaveittohim todowhatever seemedadvisable.WhenMrsBennetwas toldof this, shedidnotexpressasmuchsatisfactionasherchildrenexpected.

'What! Is he coming home, and without poor Lydia? Who is to fightWickhamandmakehimmarryher,ifhecomesaway?'

AsMrsGardinerbegantowishtobeathome,sheandherchildrenleftinthecarriagethatwouldbringMrBennetbacktoLongbourn.ShewentawaystillasconfusedaseveraboutElizabethandherDerbyshirefriend.

WhenMrBennetarrived,hehadalltheappearanceofhisusualcalmness.Hesaidaslittleasever,andmadenomentionofthebusinessthathadtakenhimaway,anditwassometimebeforehisdaughtershadthecouragetospeakofit.

Itwasnotuntil theafternoon,whenhe joined themat tea, thatElizabethdaredtointroducethesubject,andinanswertoherexpressionsofsympathy,hesaid, 'Say nothing of that. It is right that I should suffer. It has beenmy owndoing,andIoughttofeelit.'

Thenhecontinued, 'Lizzy, Ihavenobad feelings towardsyou forbeingrightinyouradvicetomelastMay'

TheywereinterruptedbyJane,whocametocollecthermother'stea.'This is a ceremony,' he cried, 'which doesmegood!Another day Iwill

behaveasyourmotherdoes.Iwillsitinthelibrary,andgiveasmuchtroubleasIcan-orperhapsIcandelayituntilKittyrunsaway.'

'I am not going to run away, Father,' said Kitty. 'If I should ever go toBrighton,IwouldbehavebetterthanLydia.'

'You go to Brighton! I will not trust you anywhere near it, not for fiftypounds! No, Kitty, I have at least learnt to be careful, and you will feel theeffectsofit.Noofficerisevertoenterthishouseagain,oreventopassthroughthevillage.Ballsarecompletelyforbidden,unlessyoudancewithoneofyoursisters.Andyouarenevertogooutofdoorsuntilyoucanprovethatyouhavespenttenminutesofeverydayinasensiblemanner.'

Kitty,whotookallthesethreatsseriously,begantocry.'Well,well,'hesaid,'donotmakeyourselfunhappy.Ifyouareagoodgirl

forthenexttenyears,Iwilltakeyoutothetheatreattheendofthem.'

CHAPTERTWENTYTHREE

LydiaandWickhamAreFound

TwodaysafterMrBennet'sreturn,asJaneandElizabethwerewalkinginthegardenbehindthehouse,theysawthehousekeepercomingtowardsthem.

'Ibegyourpardon,madam, for interruptingyou,' she said to Jane, 'but Iwashopingthatyoumighthavehadgoodnewsfromtown,andIdaredtocomeandask.'

'Whatdoyoumean?Wehaveheardnothingfromtown.''Dearmadam,'criedthehousekeeper,'don'tyouknowthatanurgentletter

camefromMrGardinerhalfanhourago?'Thegirlsranaway,tooeagertoreachthehousetohavetimeforspeech.

Theyranthroughthehallintothebreakfastroom,andfromtheretothelibrary.Theirfatherwasinneither.Theywereonthepointoflookingforhimupstairswiththeirmother,whentheyweremetbyamanservant,whosaid:

'Ifyouarelookingformymaster,madam,heiswalkingtowardsthelittlewood.'

Theyimmediatelyleftthehouseagain,andranacrossthegrassaftertheirfather. Jane,whowas not so light as Elizabeth, soon slowed down,while hersister,outofbreath,reachedhimandeagerlycriedout:

'Oh,Father,whatnews?Goodorbad?''Whatgood is tobeexpected?'hesaid, taking the letter fromhispocket.

'Butperhapsyouwouldliketoreadit.'Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up and

joinedthem.'Readitoutloud,'saidtheirfather.Elizabethread:GRACECHURCHSTREETMonday,August2ndMydearbrother,AtlastIamabletosendyousomenews.Ihavediscoveredmynieceand

the young man. They are not married, and I do not believe that they everintended to be, but if you are willing to keep the promises that I have beenforcedtomakeinyourname,Ihopeitwillnotbelongbeforetheyare.Allthat

isnecessaryisthatyoushouldsettleonyourdaughter,bylaw,herequalshareofthe five thousand pounds that will come to your children after the death ofyourselfandmysister,and,inaddition,thatyoushouldenterintoanagreementto allow her, during your life, one hundred pounds a year. Mr Wickham'sconditionasregardsmoneyisnotsohopelessaswasbelieved,andIamhappytosaythattherewillbealittleofhisownmoneyleft,evenwhenhisdebtshavebeenpaid.Thereisnotthesmallestnecessityforyoutocometotown,asIwillgiveyourlawyeralldetailsaboutmakingtheagreement.Sendbackyouranswerassoonasyoucan.Wehavejudgeditbestthatmynieceshouldbemarriedfromthishouse,andIhopeyouwillapprove.

Yours,etc.EDWARDGARDINER.'Andhaveyouansweredtheletter?''Idislikeitverymuch,'hereplied,'butitmustbedone.'Heturnedbackwiththem,andwalkedtowardsthehouse.'And may I ask something?' said Elizabeth. 'The conditions must, I

suppose,beagreedto?''Agreedto?Iamonlyashamedofhisaskingsolittle.''Andtheymustmarry!Eventhoughheissuchaman!''Yes,yes, thereisnothingelsetobedone.ButtherearetwothingsthatI

verymuchwanttoknow-oneis,howmuchmoneyyourunclehaspaidouttoarrangethis,andtheother,howIamevergoingtopayhimback.'

'Money!Myuncle!'criedJane.'Whatdoyoumean,sir?''ImeanthatnomaninhisrightmindwouldmarryLydiaforsolittleasone

hundredpoundsayear.''That is very true,' saidElizabeth, 'though Ihadnot thoughtof it before.

Hisdebtswillbepaid,andsomethingwillstillremain!Oh,itmustbemyuncle'sdoing.Generous,goodman!Asmallsumcouldnotdoallthis.'

'No,' saidher father, 'Wickham's a fool ifhe takesherwith apenny lessthantenthousandpounds.'

'Tenthousandpounds!Howishalfsuchasumtoberepaid?'MrBennetmadenoanswer,andeachofthem,deepinthought,continued

towalk in silence until they reached the house. Their father thenwent to thelibrarytowrite.

'Andtheyarereallytobemarried!'criedElizabeth,assoonassheandJanewerebythemselves.'Howstrangethisis!Althoughtheirchanceofhappinessissmall,andhischaracterisworthless,weareforcedtobeglad!Oh,Lydia!'

The girls now remembered that their mother probably knew nothing ofwhathadhappened.Theywent,therefore,andaskedtheirfather'spermissiontotellher.Withoutraisinghisheadfromhiswriting,herepliedcoldly:

'Justasyouplease.''Maywetakemyuncle'slettertoreadtoher?''Takewhateveryoulike,andgetaway.'After a slightwarningof goodnews, the letterwas read toMrsBennet.

Theirmothercouldhardlycontrolherself.Her joyburstoutafter the first fewsentences. She had no fears for her daughter's happiness, nor shame fromanymemoryofhermisbehaviour.

'Thisissoexciting!'shecried.'Shewillbemarriedatsixteen!HowIwishto seeheranddearWickham too!But theclothes, theweddingclothes! Iwillwrite to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Ring the bell, Kitty, for theservant.Iwilldressinamoment.IwillgotoMerytonassoonasIamdressed,andtell thegood,goodnewstomysisterPhilips.AndasIamcomingback,IcancallonLadyLucasandMrsLong.'

She then began to tell the news to the servant, who expressed her joy.Elizabeth received her congratulations with the rest, and then, sick of thisfoolishness,wenttoherownroomsothatshecouldthinkinpeace.

CHAPTERTWENTYFOUR

MrBennetAgreestoTheirMarriage

MrBennethadoftenwished,beforethisperiodinhislife,thatinsteadofspending his whole income, he had saved a yearly sum to provide for hischildren-andhiswife,ifshelivedlongerthanhedid.Henowwishedthismorethanever.Ifhehaddonehisdutyinthatmatter,Lydianeednothavedependedonheruncleforwhateverrespectabilitycouldnowbeboughtforher.

When Mr Bennet first married, saving was considered to be perfectlyuseless,forofcoursetheywouldhaveason.Thesonwould,asheir,bewillingattheageoftwenty-onetomakemoresuitablearrangementsfortheproperty,sothatthewifeandotherchildrenwouldbeprovidedfor.Fivedaughters,oneafteranother,enteredtheworld,butthesonstilldidnotcome.Theyhad,atlast,givenup hope, but it was then too late to begin saving. Mrs Bennet was naturallycareless aboutmoney, and only her husband's love of independence preventedthemfromspendingmorethantheirincome.

Five thousand pounds had been settled by marriage agreement on MrsBennetandherchildren,butthesharethatthechildrenwouldreceivedependedonthewishesof theparents.Thiswasonepoint,withregardtoLydiaat least,whichcouldnowbesettled,andMrBennetimmediatelyacceptedtheproposalof his wife's brother. He had never supposed that the affair could have beenarrangedwithsolittleinconveniencetohimself.Hewouldhardlybetenpoundspoorerafterhundredwaspaideachyear to theyoungpair,because thecostofkeepingLydiaathome-herpocketmoney,andthecontinualpresentsinmoneywhich passed to her through hermother's hands - amounted to very little lessthanthatsum.

Hewrote,therefore,togivehisagreementandthankstoMrGardiner,butwastooangrywithLydiatosendanymessagetoher.

ItwastwoweekssinceMrsBennethadlastbeendownstairs,butonthishappydaysheagaintookherseatattheheadofthetable,andinextremelyhighspirits. No feeling of shame caused her joy to be lessened. Her thoughts rancompletelyonclothes,carriages,servants,anda largeenoughhouseforLydia.Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the servantsremained.Butwhentheyhadgone,hesaidtoher,'MrsBennet,beforeyoutakeanyorallofthesehousesforyourdaughter,understandthatsheshallneverhave

admittanceintothisone,atleast.'Alongargumentfollowedthisstatement,butMrBennetwasfirm.Itsoon

led to another, andMrs Bennet found, with astonishment and shock, that herhusbandwouldnotgiveonepennytobuyclothesforherdaughter.Hedeclaredthatsheshouldreceivenosignoflovewhateverfromhimontheoccasion.MrsBennetwasmoretroubledbytheshameofLydia'slackofnewclothesthantheshameoftheconditionswhichhadmadehermarriagenecessary.

Elizabethwas now deeply sorry that she had, in her unhappiness at themoment,made known toMrDarcy her fears for her sister, since nowLydia'smarriage would hide her earlier fault from all those who were not closelyconnectedwiththeaffair.Sheknewthatshecouldtrusthimtokeepthesecret,butatthesametimeshewasashamedandfullofsorrowthathe,ofallpeople,shouldknowofherfamily'sshame.

Shefeltsurethathiswishtogainherrespectwouldbedestroyedbysuchablowasthis.Shebecamedesirousofhisgoodopinion,whenshecouldnolongerhopetohavetheadvantageofit.Shewantedtohearofhim,whenthereseemedtheleastchanceofreceivinginformation.Shewasquitesurenowthatshecouldhavebeenhappywithhim,whenitwasnolongerlikelythattheywouldmeet.

Whatavictoryforhim,assheoften thought, ifhecouldonlyknowthatthe proposalswhich she had so proudly scorned only fourmonths agowouldnowhavebeengladlyandgratefullyreceived!

She began to realize that hewas exactly themanwho, in character andability, would most suit her. It was a union that would have been to theadvantageofboth.Byherconfidenceandliveliness,hismindmighthavebeensoftened and his manners improved, and from his judgment, information andknowledge of the world, she would have received advantages of greaterimportance.

***Thedayoftheirsister'sweddingarrived,andJaneandElizabethhadurged

their father so seriously but so gently to receive her and her husband atLongbournaftertheeventthathewasatlastpersuadedtoactastheywished.Itwouldonlybe for a short time, as amovehadbeenarranged forWickham toanotherregimentstationedinthenorthofEngland,wherehecouldmakeafreshstartinlife.

The carriage was sent to meet them, and they were to return in it bydinnertime.Their arrivalwasexpectedby the twoolderMissesBennetwithamixtureofdiscomfortandanxiety.

They came. The family were waiting in the breakfast room to receivethem. Smiles covered the face ofMrs Bennet as the carriage drove up to thedoor.Herhusbandlookedserious,andherdaughtersanxiousandnervous.

Lydia'svoicewasheardinthehall.Thedoorwasthrownopen,andsheranintotheroom.Hermothersteppedforward,kissedher,andwelcomedherwithjoy,givingherhandwithawarmsmiletoWickham,whofollowedhislady.

TheirwelcomebyMrBennet,towhomtheythenturned,wascolder.Hisface became even more serious, and he hardly moved his lips. The easyconfidenceoftheyoungpairwasenoughtoangerhim.Elizabethwasdisgusted,and even Jane was shocked. Lydia was still Lydia, uncontrolled, unashamed,wild, noisy, fearless. She turned from one sister to another, demanding theircongratulations, while Wickham was all smiles and easy politeness. NeitherLydianorhermothercouldtalkfastenough.

'Tothinkthatithasbeenthreemonths,'criedLydia,'sinceIwentaway!IamsurethatIhadnoideaofbeingmarriedbeforeIcameback,thoughIthoughtitwouldbeverygoodfunifIwas.'

Herfatherliftedhiseyes,andElizabethlookedexpressivelyather,butshecontinuedbrightly, 'Oh,mother, do the people atMeryton know I ammarriedtoday?Iwasafraidtheymightnot,soaswecamethroughIletmyhandrestonthewindowframeofthecarriage,sothattheycouldseethering.'

As theypassed through thehall to thedining room,Lydia,with anxiousimportance,walkedup tohermother's righthand,andsaid toheroldestsister,'Ah,Jane,Itakeyourplacenow,andyoumustgolower,becauseIamamarriedwoman.'

'Well,mother,'shesaid,afterthemeal,'whatdoyouthinkofmyhusband?Ishenotafine-lookingman?Iamsurethatmysistersmustallbejealousofme.Ionlyhopethattheymayhavehalfmygoodluck.TheymustallgotoBrighton.Thatistheplacetogethusbands.Oryoumustallcomeandseeusinthenorth.Iexpectthattherewillbesomedances,andIwilltakecaretogetgoodpartnersformysisters.Andthen,whenyougoaway,youmayleaveoneortwoofthembehind, and I am sure that I shall get husbands for them before thewinter isover.'

'I thankyou foryouradvice,' saidElizabeth, 'but Idonotespecially likeyourwayofgettinghusbands.'

Wickham'sloveforLydiawasjustwhatElizabethhadexpectedittobe-notequal toLydia's forhim.Sheguessed that their runningawaytogetherhadbeencausedbythestrengthofherloveratherthanbyhis,andthatescapefromhisdebtshadbeenthemainreasonforhisleavingBrighton,thoughhewasnotthekindofyoungmantorefusetheopportunityofhavingacompanion.

Lydia was extremely fond of him. He was her dearWickham on everyoccasion.No one could be comparedwith him.He did everything best in theworld.

Onemorningsoonaftertheirarrival,asshewassittingwithhertwooldestsisters,shesaidtoElizabeth:

'Lizzy,Inevergaveyouanaccountofmywedding.YouwerenotpresentwhenItoldtheothers.Areyounotinterestedinhearinghowitwasmanaged?'

'No,really,'repliedElizabeth,'Ithinktherecannotbetoolittlesaidonthesubject.'

'Oh!Howstrangeyouare!ButImusttellyouhowithappened.Well,thedaycame,andIwassoexcited!Iwassoafraid,youknow,thatsomethingwouldhappen to delay it. And there was my aunt, all the time that I was dressing,talkingawayjustasifshewereaministerinchurch.ButIdidnothearawordofit,becauseIwasthinkingaboutwhethermydearWickhamwouldbemarriedinhis blue coat.Well, and just as the carriage came to the door, my uncle wascalled away on business. Iwas so frightened that I did not knowwhat to do,becausemyunclewastoactinplaceofmyfatherattheceremony,andgivemein marriage, and if we were late we could not be married all day. But Iremembered afterwards that it neednot havebeendelayed, becauseMrDarcymighthavetakenhisplace.'

'MrDarcy!'repeatedElizabethinastonishment.'Oh,yes!Hecame therewithWickham,youknow.Butheavens! I quite

forgot!Ipromisednottomentionit.Itwasasecret.''In that case,' said Elizabeth, although she was burning with a desire to

knowmore,'wewillaskyounoquestions.''Thankyou,'saidLydia,'becauseifyoudid,Ishouldcertainlytellyouall,

andthenWickhamwouldbesoangry.'

Withsuchencouragement,Elizabethwasforcedtohelphersisterkeephersecretbyleavingtheroom.

Butitwasimpossiblenottoaskforinformationonthismatter.MrDarcyhadbeenathersister'swedding!Whatcouldbethereason?Seizingasheetofpaper,shewroteashortlettertoheraunttorequestanexplanation,ifitcouldbegivenwithoutbreakingconfidence.'Andifitcannot,'sheaddedattheendoftheletter,'andifyoudonottellmeinanhonourablemanner,mydearaunt,Ishallcertainlybeforcedtousesometricktofindout!'

Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an immediate answer to herletter.Assoonasshewasinpossessionofit,shehurriedofftothelittlewood,whereshewasleastlikelytobeinterrupted.

GRACECHURCHSTREETSeptember6thMydearniece,Ihavejustreceivedyourletterandmustadmittobeingsurprisedbyyour

request. Don't think me angry, though, because I only mean that I had notimagined such inquiries to be necessary on your side. Your uncle is asmuchsurprisedas I am,andnothingbut thebeliefofyour involvement in theaffairwouldhaveallowedhimtoactashehasdone.Butifyoureallyknownothingofthematter,Imustgiveyouanexplanation.

On the same day asmy return fromLongbourn, your uncle had amostunexpected visit fromMr Darcy, who talked with him in private for severalhours.HecametotellMrGardinerthathehadfoundoutwhereyoursisterandMrWickhamwere,andthathehadtalkedtothem.FromwhatIcanunderstand,he left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with theintentionofhuntingforthem.Hegenerouslygaveasareasonforthisthathefelthimself responsiblefor thewholesituation,becausehehadnotmadepublic inMeryton last year his knowledge ofWickham'sworthlessness. He blamed hisownprideforthis.

It seems that there is a ladywhowas formerly aprivate teacher toMissDarcy andwhowas dismissed for somegood reason that he did notmention.ShehadthenrentedahouseinLondonandsupportedherselfbylettingrooms.KnowingthatshehadbeenfriendlywithMrWickham,Darcywenttoher,andsucceededwithsomedifficultyingettinghisaddress.HefirsttriedtopersuadeLydiatoleavehershamefulsituationandreturntoherfriends,buthefoundherdeterminedtoremainwhereshewas.ShewassurethatWickhamwouldmarry

hersometimeorother,anditdidnotmuchmatterwhen.Thegentlemanhimself,itappeared,hadnosuchintention.Hestillhopedtomakehisfortunebyagoodmarriageinsomeotherplace.Butanagreementwasatlastreachedwhichwassatisfactorytobothsides.

Our visitor,Darcy, refused every attempt byMrGardiner to share theseresponsibilities.Nothingwasdonethathedidnotdohimself,thoughIamsurethatyourunclewouldmostwillinglyhavesettledthewholematter.Theyarguedover it together for a long time, but at last your uncle was forced to agree.Wickham'sdebtswill bepaid, another thousandpoundswill be settledonher,andagoodpositioninthearmywillbeobtainedforhim.

TheremaybesometruthinthereasonsgivenbyMrDarcyforactingsogenerously,butinspiteofallthisfinetalk,mydearLizzy,youmaybesurethatyourunclewouldneverhaveagreedifwehadnotbelievedhimtohaveanotherinterestintheaffair.WillyoubeveryangryifItakethisopportunityofsayinghowmuchIlikehim?Hisbehaviour,hisunderstandingandopinionsallpleaseme,andheonlylacksalittleliveliness,andthat,ifhemarriestherightperson,hiswifemayteachhim.Ithoughthimverysecretive.Hehardlyevermentionedyourname.Butsecrecyseemstobethefashion.PleaseforgivemeifIhavesaidtoomuch,oratleastdonotpunishmesofarastoforbidmetovisityouatP.

ButImustwritenomore.Thechildrenhavebeenwantingmeforthelasthalf-hour.

Yourlovingaunt,M.GARDINER.TheinformationinthisletterunsettledElizabethsspirits.Darcyhaddone

allthisforawomanwhomhemustscornandthemanwhomhemostwishedtoavoid!Herheartdidwhisperthathehaddoneitforher.Oh,howsorryshewasforeveryunkindfeelingthatshehadeverencouragedtowardshim!Forherself,shefeltashamedandsmall,butshewasproudofhim-proudthatinacauseofhonourhecoulddefeathisownnature.She readoverheraunt'spraiseofhimagainandagain.Itwashardlyenough,butitpleasedher.

CHAPTERTWENTYFIVE

ReturntoNetherfield

Thedaysoonarrivedwhentheyoungpairhad to leave,andMrsBennetwasforcedtobeartheseparation.

'Writetomeoften,mydearLydia,'shecried.'AsoftenasIcan,butmarriedwomenneverhavemuchtimeforwriting.

Mysistersmaywritetome.Theywillhavenothingelsetodo.'MrWickham'sgoodbyesweremuchwarmerthanhiswife's.Hesmileda

lotandsaidmanyprettythings.Assoonashewasoutofthehouse,MrBennetsaidbitterly:'Heisasfine

ayoungmanasever I saw.Hesmilessweetly,andmakes love tousall. Iamextremely proud of him. Even Sir William Lucas could not produce a betterhusbandforhisdaughter.'

The loss of LydiamadeMrs Bennet very dull for several days, but herspiritlessconditionwasrelievedsoonafterwardsbyapieceofnewswhichthenbegantobepassedround.ThehousekeeperatNetherfieldhadreceivedorderstoprepareforthearrivalofhermaster.MrsBennetwasquiteunsettled.ShelookedatJane,andsmiledandshookherhead.

Janehadnotbeenabletohearofhisarrivalwithouttremblingalittle,andElizabeth could easily see that it had had an effect on her spirits. Elizabethherselfwasconfusedbythevisit.Hadhecomewithhisfriend'spermission,orwashebraveenoughtoactwithoutit?

'Iambeginningtobesorrythatheiscomingatall,'saidJanetoElizabethafew days later. 'It would be nothing, I could see him with complete lack ofinterest, but I can hardly bear to hear it continually talked about.Mymothermeanswell,butshedoesnotknowhowIsufferfromwhatshesays.'

MrBingley arrived.On the thirdmorning after his coming,MrsBennetsawhimfromherdressing-roomwindowasherodetowardsthehouse.

Herdaughterswereeagerlycalledontoshareherjoy.Janefirmlystayedatherplaceatthetable,butElizabeth,tosatisfyhermother,wenttothewindow.

Shelooked,sawMrDarcywithhim,andsatdownagainbyhersister.

'There is a gentlemanwithMrBingley,Mama,' saidKitty. 'It looks likethattall,proudman,whousedtobewithhimbefore-I'veforgottenhisname.'

'Oh,heavens!MrDarcy!Well,ImustsaythatIhatethesightofhim.'BothElizabethandJanewereuncomfortable,but theformerhadacause

fordiscomfortwhichcouldnotbeguessedbyJane,towhomshehadneveryethad thecourage to showMrsGardiner's letter,or to tellofherownchangeoffeeling.Herastonishmentathiscomingandwishingtoseeheragainwasalmostas great as she had experienced when she had first observed his changedbehaviour inDerbyshire.Her face,which had become pale for half aminute,nowfounditscolouragainwithanadditionalwarmth,andasmileofpleasureaddedbrightnesstohereyes,asshethoughtthathisloveandwishesmuststillbeunchanged-butshecouldnotbesure.

She sat busily atwork, trying not to appear excited. Jane looked a littlepalerthanusual.Whenthegentlemenappeared,shereceivedthemfairlycalmly.Elizabethsaidaslittleaspolitenesswouldallow,andsatagainatherwork.ShehaddaredtotakeonlyonelookatDarcy.Helookedseriousasusual.

Bingley,shesaw,wasbothpleasedandconfused.HewasreceivedbyMrsBennetwith an amountof attentionwhichmadeher twooldest daughters feelashamed, especially when it was compared with the cold and ceremoniouspolitenessofherbehaviour tohis friend.Elizabethespecially,whoknewwhathermotherowedtoMrDarcy.

Darcy saidhardly anything toher.Hewasnot seatedbyher, soperhapsthatwas the reason forhis silence.When sometimes,unable toprevent it, sheraisedher eyes tohis face, she foundhim looking at Janequite asoften as atherself.Shewasdisappointed,andangrywithherselfforbeingso.

At this time Mrs Bennet was talking to Bingley happily about Lydia'smarriage,andreceivinghiscongratulations.

'Itisasatisfyingthing,tobesure,tohaveadaughtermarried,'MrsBennetcontinued,'butatthesametimeitisveryhardtohavehertakenawayfromme.Herhusbandhasbeenmovedtoanotherregiment,youknow.Thankheavenshehassomefriends,thoughnot,perhaps,asmanyashedeserves.'

Elizabeth,whoknewthatthiswasdirectedagainstMrDarcy,thoughtthatshe could now feel no greater shame.But her discomfort soon received relieffromseeinghowmuchthebeautyofhersisterwasbringingbacktheadmiration

ofherformerlover,whoseemedtobegivinghermoreandmoreofhisattention.Whenthegentlemenrosetogo,theywereinvitedtoeatatLongbournina

fewdays'time.***Assoonas theyhadgone,Elizabethwalked in thegarden torecoverher

spirits.MrDarcy'sbehaviourastonishedandconfusedher.Shecouldexplainitinnowaythatgaveherpleasure.

'Whydidhecomeatall,ifitwasonlytobesilentandserious?Ifhefearsme,whycomehere?Ifhenolongercaresforme,whybesilent?Annoyingman!Iwillthinknomoreabouthim.'

Hersisterapproached,andjoinedherwithacheerfulsmile.'Now,'shesaid,'thatthisfirstmeetingisover,Ifeelperfectlyrelaxed.Iam

gladthathewilleathereonTuesday.Itwillthenbepubliclyseenthatwemeetonlyasordinaryanduninterestedacquaintances.'

'Veryuninterested!'saidElizabethlaughingly.'Ithinkthatyouareinverygreatdangerofmakinghimasmuchinlovewithyouasever.'

They did not see the gentlemen again until Tuesday, when there was alarge party atLongbourn.As the twomen entered the dining room,ElizabetheagerlywatchedtoseewhetherBingleywouldtaketheplacewhich,atalltheirformerparties,hadbelongedtohim,byhersister.Hercarefulmother,havingthesame idea, did not invite him to sit by herself.He seemed to pause, but Janelookedroundandsmiled.Itwasdecided.Heplacedhimselfbesideher.

Elizabeth,withafeelingofvictory, lookedtowardshisfriend.Heboreitwell,andshewouldhaveimaginedthatBingleyhadreceivedhispermissiontobe happy, if she had not seen his eyes turned towards Mr Darcy with anexpressionofanxiety.

His behaviour towards her sister during dinner showed such admirationthatElizabethbelievedthat, if leftcompletelytohimself,Jane'shappiness,andhisown,wouldbespeedilygained.

Mr Darcy was on one side of her mother. She knew how little such asituationcouldgivepleasuretoeither.Shewasnotnearenoughtohearanyoftheir conversation,but shecould seehow rarely they spoke toeachother, andhowformalandcoldtheirmannerwaswhenevertheydid.

Shehoped that the eveningwouldprovide someopportunity of bringingherself andMrDarcy together. Anxious and uncomfortable, the periodwhichpassedinthesittingroombeforethegentlemencameinwastiringanddull.

Thegentlemencame,andshethoughtthathelookedasifhewouldhaveansweredherhopes,butoh!Theladieshadcrowdedsocloselyroundthetable,whereJanewasmakingteaandElizabethpouringoutthecoffee,thattherewasnotasinglespacenearherwhereachaircouldbeplaced.Hewalkedaway toanotherpartoftheroom.

She was a little cheered, though, by his bringing back his coffee cuphimself,andsheseizedtheopportunitytoinquireafterhissister.Hereplied,andthenstoodbesideherforsomeminutesinsilence.

When the tea things had been removed, and the card tables placed, theywere seated far from each other, at different games, and she lost everyexpectation of pleasure. Mrs Bennet was in high spirits when the guests hadgone.

'Well, girls,' she said, as soon as they were left to themselves, 'I thinkeverythingpassedoffuncommonlywell.Thedinnerwasaswell-cookedasanyIeversaw.Themeatwascookedtoperfection.Thesoupwas50timesbetterthanthatwehadattheLucases'lastweek.And,mydearJane,whatdoyouthinkMrsLongsaid?"Ah,MrsBennet,weshallhaveheratNetherfieldatlast!"IdothinkthatMrsLongisasgoodawomanaseverlived-andherniecesareverywell-behavedgirls,andnotatallgood-looking.Ilikethemverymuch.'

***Afewdays later,MrBingleycalledagain,andalone.His friendhad left

thatmorningforLondon,butwouldreturnin tendays' time.Hesatwith themforoveranhour,andwasinnoticeablygoodspirits.MrsBennetinvitedhimtodinner with them, but unfortunately he had another engagement. He eagerlyacceptedaninvitation,though,forthefollowingday.

Hecame,andsoearlythatnoneoftheladieswasdressed.MrsBennetranintoherdaughter'sroomwithherhairhalf-finished,cryingout:

'MydearJane,hurrydown.Hehascome.Hurry,hurry.''Weshallbedownassoonaswecan,'saidJane,'butIdaresaythatKitty

willbereadybeforeeitherofus.''Oh,nevermindaboutKitty!Whathasshetodowithit?Come,bequick!'

The same anxiety to get Jane andMr Bingley by themselves was plainagainintheevening.Aftertea,MrBennetwenttothelibrary,aswashiscustom,andMarywentupstairstoherpiano.Twoofthefivebeingremoved,MrsBennetsatmakingsignalswithhereyesatElizabethandKittyforsometime,withouthavinganyeffecton them.Elizabethdidnot takeanynotice,andwhenat lastKittydid,shesaidinsurprise,'Whatisthematter,Mother?Issomethingwrong?WhatshouldIdo?'

'Nothing,child,nothing.'Fiveminutes later,shesuddenlygotup,andsayingtoKitty, 'Comehere,

my love, Iwant to speak toyou,' tookheroutof the room.A look fromJanebeggedElizabethtoremain,butwhen,somemomentslater,thedoorhalfopenedandhermothercalledoutthatshewantedher,shewasforcedtogo.

Hermotherannouncedherintentionofsittingupstairs,andassoonasshewasoutofsight,Elizabethreturnedtothesittingroom.

Bingleywaseverythingagentlemanshouldbefortherestoftheevening.HeboreallMrsBennet'ssillyremarkswiththegreatestpatience.Afterthisday,Jane said no more about being uninterested. Elizabeth believed that all mustspeedilybebroughttoasuccessfulending,unlessMrDarcyreturnedtoosoon.Shefelt,though,thatallthismustbehappeningwiththatgentleman'sapproval.

Bingley spent the next morning shooting withMr Bennet, and returnedwithhimtodinner.AfterthemealElizabethhadalettertowriteand,believingthattheotherswereallgoingtositdowntogethertocards,shewenttoherownroom.

Butonreturningtothesittingroom,shefoundthathermotherhadagainbeen arrangingmatters. Her sister and Bingleywere standing together by thefireplace as if in serious conversation, and the faces of both, as they quicklyturnedandmovedawayfromeachother, toldeverything.Notawordwassaidby either, and Elizabeth in her confusion was just going away again, whenBingleysuddenlywhisperedafewwordstohersister,andranoutoftheroom.

JanecouldhavenosecretsfromElizabeth,andimmediatelyadmittedthatshewasthehappiestbeingintheworld.Elizabeth'scongratulationsweregivenwithsincerityandpleasure.Janethenrantohermother.

InafewminutesElizabethwasjoinedbyMrBingley,whoseconversationwithMrBennethadbeenshortandsuccessful.Heclaimedhergoodwishesand

loveasasister,andtheyshookhandswithgreatpleasure.Itwas an eveningof excitement for themall. Jane's happinessmadeher

lookmorebeautifulthanever.Kittysmiled,andhopedthatherturnwascomingsoon.Mrs Bennet could not express her feelings often enough, andwhenMrBennetjoinedthematsupper,hisvoiceandmannerplainlyshowedhowhappyhewas.Notawordpassedhislipsaboutituntilhisvisitorhadgone.

Hethenturnedtohisdaughterandsaid:'Jane,Icongratulateyou.Youwillbeaveryhappywoman.'Janewentto

him,kissedhim,andthankedhimforhisgoodness.'You are a good girl,' he replied, 'and I have no doubt that youwill suit

eachother.Youareeachsoreadytogivewaytotheotherthatnothingwilleverbedecidedon;sotrustingthateveryservantwillcheatyou,andsogenerousthatyouwillalwaysspendmorethanyourincome.'

'Spendmorethantheirincome!'criedhiswife.'MydearMrBennet,whatareyoutalkingof?Hehasfourorfivethousandpoundsayear,andverylikelymore.'Then,addressingherdaughter,'Oh,mydear,dearJane,Iamsohappy!IamsurethatIshallnotgetamoment'ssleeptonight.Iknewthatyoucouldnotbesobeautifulfornothing.Oh,heisthebest-lookingyoungmanthateverwasseen!'

Wickham,Lydia,wereallforgotten.Janewasatthatmomentherfavouritechild,andshecaredfornoother.

Bingley, from this time,wasof courseadailyvisitor atLongbourn.Thesituation could not remain a secret for long.Mrs Bennet whispered it toMrsPhilips,whopassedonthenewswithoutpermissiontoallherneighbours.TheBennetswerespokenofas the luckiestfamilyin theworld, thoughonlyafewweeksbefore,whenLydiahadrunaway,theyhadbeengenerallybelievedtobethemostunfortunate.

CHAPTERTWENTYSIX

LadyCatherineVisitsLongbourn

Onemorning,aboutaweeklater,acarriagesuddenlyappearedoutsidethehouse. Itwas tooearlyforvisitors,andneither thecarriagenor theuniformofthe servant was familiar. The two lovers immediately escaped to the garden,leavingtherestoftheladiestoguesswhothestrangercouldbe,until thedoorwasthrownopenandLadyCatherinedeBourghentered.

Shewalkedin,lookingmoredisagreeablethanusual,madenootherreplytoElizabeth'sgreetingthanaslightmovementofthehead,andsatdownwithoutaword.

Aftersittingforamomentinsilence,shesaid,verystiffly,toElizabeth:'Ihopeyouarewell,MissBennet.Thatlady,Isuppose,isyourmother?'Elizabethrepliedshortlythatshewas.'Andthat,Isuppose,isoneofyoursisters?''Yes,madam,' repliedMrsBennet, towhomElizabethhadmentionedthe

visitor'sname,andwhowasfeelinghighlyhonouredbyhercoming.'Youhaveaverysmallparkhere,'observedLadyCatherine,afterashort

silence, 'and thismust be amost inconvenient sitting room for the evening insummer.Thewindowsappeartobefacingwest.'

MrsBennet informedher that theynever sat there afterdinner, and thenadded:

'MayIaskwhetheryouleftMrandMrsCollinswell?''Yes,verywell.'Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from

Charlotte, because it seemed the only likely reason for her visit.But no letterappeared,andshecouldnotunderstandthevisitatall.

Mrs Bennet, with great politeness, begged Lady Catherine to havesomethingtoeatordrink,butthiswasdecidedly,andnotverypolitely,refused.Then,rising,LadyCatherinesaidtoElizabeth:'MissBennet,Ishouldbegladtotakeawalkinyourgarden,ifyouwillgivemeyourcompany.'

Elizabethobeyed.Astheypassedthroughthehall,LadyCatherineopened

thedoorsof theotherrooms,andannouncedthat theywereareasonablygoodsize.

Theywalkedinsilencetowardsthelittlewood.Elizabethwasdeterminedtomakenoeffortatconversationwithawomanwhowasnowmorethanusuallyrudeanddisagreeable.

Assoonastheyenteredthewood,LadyCatherinebeganinthefollowingmanner:

'Youcanhavenodifficulty,MissBennet, inunderstanding the reasonofmyvisit.Yourownheart,yourownconsciencemusttellyouwhyIhavecome.'

Elizabethlookedatherinastonishment.'MissBennet,'shecontinuedinanangryvoice, 'yououghttoknowthatI

will not be treatedwithout proper regard formy position.A report of amostupsettingnature reachedme twodaysago. Iwas told thatyou,MissElizabethBennet,wouldinallprobabilitybesoonunitedtomynephew,myownnephew.Though Iknow that itmustbe a shameful lie, I immediatelydecided to comeheresothatIcouldmakemyfeelingsknowntoyou.'

'If you believed it impossible,' said Elizabeth, her face turning red withastonishmentandscorn, 'Iamsurprisedthatyoutookthetroubleofcomingsofar.'

'This isnot tobeborne.MissBennet, Iwillbesatisfied.Hashe,hasmynephew,madeyouanofferofmarriage?'

'Youhavesaidthatitisimpossible.''MissBennet,doyouknowwhoIam?Letmeberightlyunderstood.Mr

Darcyisengagedtomydaughter.Now,whathaveyoutosay?''Onlythis-thatifitisso,youcanhavenoreasontosupposethathewill

makeanoffertome.'LadyCatherinepausedforamoment,andthenreplied:'Thearrangementbetweenthemisofaspecialkind.Fromtheirchildhood

theyhavebeenintendedforeachother.Itwasthefavouritewishofhismother,aswellasofmyself.Haveyounorespectforthewishesofhisrelations?'

'Butwhat is that tome? IfMrDarcywishes,may he notmake anotherchoice?AndifIamthatchoice,whymayInotaccepthim?'

'I will not be interrupted!Hearme in silence. I see there is a seat overthere.Let us sit down.Mydaughter andmynephewaremade for eachother.Theirbirthandtheirfortunesarenoble.Andwhatwilldividethem?Theplansofayoungwomanwithoutrankormoney?'

'Yournephewisagentleman,andIamagentleman'sdaughter.''Butwhatisyourmother?Whoareyourunclesandaunts?Doyouimagine

thatIamwithoutknowledgeoftheircondition?''If your nephew does not object to them,' replied Elizabeth, 'it can be

nothingtoyou.''Tellme,areyouengagedtohim?'Elizabethcouldonlysay:'Iamnot.'LadyCatherineseemedpleased.'Andwillyoupromisenevertobecomeengagedtomynephew?''Iwillmakenopromiseofanykind.''MissBennet,Iamshocked.Thefactsconcerningyouryoungestsisterare

fullyknowntome.Issuchagirltobemynephew'ssister?Isherhusband,thesonofhisfather'sservant,tobehisbrother?'

'Youcannowhavenothingfurthertosaytome,'Elizabethansweredwithbitterness. 'Youhaveinsultedmeineverypossibleway.Imustbegtoreturntothehouse.'

She rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine also rose, highly angered. Shetalked on, making many threats, until they were at the door of her carriage,when,suddenlyturninground,sheadded:

'I leaveyouwithoutagoodbye,MissBennet.Isendnogreetingstoyourmother.Youdonotdeservesuchattention.Iammostseriouslydispleased.'

Elizabethmadenoanswer,butwalkedquietlyintothehouse.Hermothermetherimpatiently.'Hadsheanythingspecialtosay,Lizzy?'

Elizabethwas forced to tell a small liehere, for toadmit the truthabouttheirconversationwasimpossible.

***This astonishing visit upset Elizabeth for some time. She could not

imaginewhatcouldbetheoriginofthereportthatshewasengaged,unlesstalkhadfollowedthenewsaboutJaneandBingley.Shecouldnothelpfeelingsome

discomfortabouttheresultofLadyCatherine'swords,becauseshedidnotknowthedegreeofherinfluenceoverhernephew.Ifhehadbeenholdingbackbefore,hisaunt'sargumentsmightsettleeverydoubt.

'If,therefore,anexcusefornotreturningshouldcometohisfriendwithinafewdays,'shethought,'Ishallloseallhopeinthestrengthofhislove.'

Thenextmorning,asshewasgoingdownstairs,shewasmetbyherfather,whocameoutofhislibrarywithaletterinhishand.

'Lizzy,'hesaid,'Iwasgoingtolookforyou.Comeintomyroom.'Shefollowedhimin,andtheybothsatdown.Hethensaid:'I have receiveda letter thismorningconcerningyourself that astonishes

me. I did not know that I had two daughters about to be married. Let mecongratulateyou.'

She now reddened in the immediate belief that it was a letter from thenephewinsteadoftheaunt.Hecontinued:

'Youlookself-conscious,butIamsurethatyoucannotguessthenameofyouradmirer.ThisletterisfromMrCollins.'

'FromMrCollins!Andwhatcanhehavetosay?''He begins with congratulations about Jane. He then goes on: "Your

daughterElizabeth, it issupposed,willalsonot longbear thenameofBennet,andherfuturepartnerhaseverykindofgoodfortune,inproperty,relationsandinfluence.Yetinspiteofallthese,letmewarnmycousinElizabethandyourselfoftherisksthatsherunsinacceptingthisgentleman'sproposals."Haveyouanyidea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out. "His aunt, LadyCatherinedeBourgh,doesnotlookontherelationshipwithafriendlyeye."MrDarcy,yousee,istheman!Now,Lizzy,IthinkthatIhavesurprisedyou!Couldhehavechosenamoreunlikelyman?MrDarcy,whoprobablyneverlookedatyouinhislife!'

Elizabethtriedtojoininherfather'samusement,butcouldonlyforceoneunwillingsmile.Hisjokinghadneverbeensolittlepleasingtoher.

'Areyounotamused?''Oh,yes!Pleasereadon.''He continues: "I thought it my duty to give information of this

immediatelytomycousin,sothatsheandhernobleadmirermaynotactwithout

carefulthought."Afterthatheadds,"IamtrulyhappythatmycousinLydia'ssadbusiness has been so well hidden. But I must not neglect the duties of myposition,andmuststatemyastonishmentonhearingthatyoureceivedtheyoungpair into your house.You ought certainly to forgive them, but never to admitthem to your sight or allow their names to bementioned."That is his idea offorgiveness!ButLizzy,youlookasifyoudidnotenjoyit.Youarenotgoingtopretend to be insulted, I hope, by stupid talk. For what do we live, if not toamuseourneighbours,andlaughattheminourturn?'

'Iamextremelyamused!'saidElizabeth.'Butitissostrange!''Yes,iftheyhadfixedonanyotherman,itwouldhavebeennothing.But

hiscomplete lackof interest inyou,andyoursharpdislikeofhim,make it soparticularly entertaining! And Lizzy, what did Lady Catherine say about thisreport?Didshecalltorefuseheragreement?'

Tothisquestionhisdaughterrepliedonlywithalaugh,andasithadbeenaskedwithouttheleastsuspicion,shewasnotputintoanawkwardpositionbyhisrepeatingit.Elizabethhadneverfounditmoredifficulttomakeherfeelingsappearwhat theywere not. Itwas necessary to laugh,when shewould ratherhave cried. Her father hadmost cruelly wounded her by what he said ofMrDarcy's lackof interest,andshefeared thatperhaps insteadofhisnoticing toolittle,shemighthaveimaginedtoomuch.

CHAPTERTWENTYSEVEN

ElizabethandMrDarcy

Insteadofreceivinganysuchletterofexcusefromhisfriend,asElizabethhalf expected Mr Bingley to do, he was able to bring Darcy with him toLongbourn before many days had passed. The gentlemen arrived early, andBingleysuggestedthattheyallgoforawalk.MrsBennetwasnotinthehabitofwalking,andMarycouldnevergiveupthetime,buttheremainingfivesetouttogether. Bingley and Jane, though, soon allowed the others to get ahead ofthem,andElizabeth,KittyandDarcywerelefttoentertaineachother.

Kitty wanted to call on the Lucases, and when she left the other two,Elizabethwent on bravelywithDarcy alone. She had secretly beenmaking adifficult decision, and perhaps he had been doing the same. Now was themomenttoputhersintoaction,soshesaid:

'MrDarcy,Iamaveryselfishcreature,and,inordertogiverelieftomyownfeelings,donotcarehowmuchImaybewoundingyours.Icannolongerhelpthankingyouforyourdeepkindnesstomypoorsister.'

'Iamsorry,'repliedDarcy,inavoicefullofsurpriseandfeeling,'thatyouhaveeverbeeninformedofwhatmay,bymistake,havegivenyoudiscomfortofmind.'

'Donotblamemyaunt.Lydia'sthoughtlessnessfirstcausedthetruthtobeknown,andIcouldnotrestuntilIknewthedetails.Letmethankyouagain,inthenameofallmyfamily.'

'Ifyouwillthankme,'hereplied,'letitbeforyourselfalone.Yourfamilyowemenothing.MuchasIrespectthem,IbelievethatIthoughtonlyofyou.'

Elizabeth was too confused to say a word. After a short pause, hercompanion added: 'You are too generous to keep me in uncertainty. If yourfeelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My love andwishes are unchanged, but oneword fromyouwill silencemeon this subjectforever.'

Elizabethnowforcedherself tospeak,andmadehimunderstandthatherfeelingshadchangedsocompletelysince thatperiod thatshewasgratefulandpleased tohearhispresentwords.Thehappiness that this replyproducedwasgreaterthanhehadprobablyeverexperiencedbefore,andheexpressedhimself

ontheoccasionaswarmlyasamanwhoisviolentlyinlovecanbeexpectedtodo.

Theywalkedonwithoutknowinginwhatdirection.Therewastoomuchtobethought,andfelt,andsaid,forattentiontoanythingelse.Shesoonlearntthat theyowedtheirpresentgoodunderstandingto theeffortsofhisaunt,whodidcallonhimtodescribeherconversationwithElizabeth,butwiththeoppositeeffecttothatwhichsheintended.

'It taughtme to hope,' he said, 'as I had hardly allowedmyself to hopebefore. I knew enough of your character to be certain that if you had beencompletelydecidedagainstme,youwouldhaveadmitted it toLadyCatherineopenly.'

Elizabethlaughedasshereplied, 'Yes,youknewenoughofmyreadinessto speak plainly to believe that Iwas able to do that.After criticizing you soshamefullytoyourface,Icouldhavenofearofcriticizingyoutoyourrelations.'

'WhatdidyousayofmethatIdidnotdeserve?Forthoughyourchargesweremistaken,mybehaviourtoyouthenwasunpardonable.Ihavebeenselfishall my life. Unfortunately, I was spoiled by my parents, who, though goodthemselves,encouragedmetobeproudandtothinkwithscornoftherestoftheworld.ThatishowIwas,andhowImightstillbeifIhadnotmetyou,dearestElizabeth! You taught me a lesson, a hard one, but most advantageous. Youshowedmehowsmallwereallmyclaimstopleaseawomanwhodeservedtobepleased.'

'I am almost afraid to ask what you thought of me when we met atPemberley.Didyoublamemeforcoming?'

'No,no,Ifeltnothingbutsurprise.''IadmitthatIdidnotexpecttobesowellreceived.''Myaimthen,'repliedDarcy, 'wastoshowyou,byeveryattention,thatI

hadnobadfeelingsforyou,andIhopedtoobtainyourforgiveness,andlessenyourbadopinionofme,bylettingyouseethatIwastryingtocuremyfaults.'

Afterwalkingseveralmiles inanunhurriedmanner, theyexamined theirwatchesandfoundthatitwastimetobeathome.

WhereverwereMrBingleyandJane!Thisthoughtintroducedadiscussionoftheiraffairs.Darcywasveryhappythattheyhadbecomeengaged.

'Imustaskyouwhetheryouweresurprised,'saidElizabeth.'Notatall.WhenIwentaway,Ifeltitwouldhappen.''Thatistosay,youhadgivenyourpermission.'Andthoughherefusedto

sayso,shefoundthatitwasverymuchthecase.'I told him, before I left, that I thought that I had given him mistaken

advice,andthatIhadbeenatfaultinsupposingyoursisterdidnotcareforhim.''Did you speak from what you had seen yourself, or only from my

informationlastspring?''Fromtheformer.Iwatchedyoursistercloselyduringthetwovisitswhich

Irecentlymadehere,andIfeltsureofherloveforBingley.'Elizabeth would have liked to remark that Mr Bingley was a most

satisfactoryfriend,soeasilyguided,butshecontrolledherself.SherememberedthatDarcystillhadtolearntobelaughedat,anditwasratherearlytobegin.

Theycontinuedinconversationuntiltheyreachedthehouse,andpartedinthehall.

***'MydearLizzy,wherehaveyoubeenwalkingto?'wasthequestionwhich

ElizabethreceivedfromJaneassoonassheenteredtheroom,andfromalltheotherswhentheysatdowntotable.Shehadonlytosaythattheyhadwanderedaboutuntiltheyhadlosttheirway.Herfaceturnedslightlyredasshespoke,butnobodysuspectedthetruth.

The evening passed quietly. It was not in Darcy's nature to expresshappiness through high spirits, andElizabethwas thinking ofwhat her familywouldfeelwheneverythingwasknown.

Atnight,sheopenedherhearttoJane.'You are joking, Lizzy. Engaged to Mr Darcy! No, no, you shall not

deceiveme.Iknowthatitisimpossible.''But,it'strue,Iamserious.Ispeaknothingbutthetruth.''Oh,Lizzy,Iknowhowmuchyoudislikehim.''That is all forgotten. Perhaps I did not always love him aswell as I do

now.''Butareyoucertain-forgivethequestion-areyouquitecertainthatyou

canbehappywithhim?''Therecanbenodoubtofthat.Butareyoupleased,Jane?''Very,verymuch.NothingcouldgiveBingleyormyselfgreaterpleasure.

Oh,Lizzy,areyousurethatyoufeelwhatyououghttofeel?''Iamonlyafraidyouwill thinkthatIfeelmorethanIought,whenI tell

youall.''Whatdoyoumean?''Well,ImustadmitthatIlovehimbetterthanIdoBingley.Iamafraidthat

youwillbeangry.''Mydearestsister,beserious.Willyou tellmehowlongyouhave loved

him?''IbelievethatImustdateitfrommyfirstseeinghisbeautifulgroundsat

Pemberley.'Anotherrequestthatsheshouldbeseriousproducedthedesiredeffect,and

she soonmade Janebelieve inher sincerity.Elizabeth told the reasons forherformersecrecy:herunsettledfeelings,andherunwillingnesstomentionBingley,whichshecouldhardlyhaveavoideddoingifshehadspokenofthemeetinginDerbyshire.Halfthenightwasspentinconversation.

'Oh, heavens!' cried Mrs Bennet, as she stood at the window the nextmorning. 'That disagreeable Mr Darcy is coming here again with our dearBingley!What canhemeanbybeing so annoying?Lizzy, youmustwalkoutwithhimagain,sothathewillnotbeinBingley'sway.'

Elizabethcouldhardlyhelplaughingatsoconvenientaproposal,butshewasreallyannoyedthathermothershouldbespeakingofhiminsuchamanner.

Assoonastheyentered,Bingleylookedathersoexpressively,andshookhandswithsuchwarmth,thatshewasinnodoubtofhisknowledge,andhesoonafterwardssaid,'MrsBennet,haveyounomorecountryroadsroundabouthere,inwhichLizzymayloseherwayagaintoday?'

'I advise Mr Darcy and Lizzy and Kitty,' said Mrs Bennet, 'to walk toOakhamMount thismorning. It is a nice longwalk, andMrDarcy has neverseentheview.'

'IamsurethatitwouldbetoomuchforKitty,'saidBingley.

Kitty admitted that she would rather stay at home. As Elizabeth wentupstairs,hermotherfollowedher,saying:

'Iamsorry,Lizzy,thatyoushouldbeforcedtohavethatdisagreeablemanalltoyourself,butitisallforJane,youknow.Thereisnoneedtotalktohim,exceptjustnowandthen,sodonotputyourselftoinconvenience.'

During the walk, it was decided that Mr Bennet's agreement to themarriageshouldbeaskedduringtheevening.Elizabethkeptforherselfthedutyofaskinghermother's.

In the evening, soon afterMrBennet had gone to his library,MrDarcyfollowed him. Elizabeth's anxiety was extreme. She did not fear her father'sopposition, but that she should bemaking him unhappy by her choice was atroublingthought.ShewasalittlerelievedbyDarcy'ssmileonhisreturn,whenhewhisperedtoher,'Gotoyourfather.'Shewentdirectly.

Her fatherwaswalkingabout the room, lookingserious. 'Lizzy,'he said,'whatareyoudoing?Areyououtofyourmind,tobeacceptingthisman?Haveyounotalwayshatedhim?'

How deeply she then wished that her former opinions had been morereasonable, andher expressionof them less extreme! Itwouldhave savedherexplanationsthatitwasveryawkwardtogive.Shetoldhim,insomeconfusion,ofthestrengthofherfeelingsforMrDarcy.

'Thatistosay,youaredeterminedtohavehim.Heisrich,tobesure,andyoumayhavemorefineclothesandfinecarriagesthanJane.Butwilltheymakeyouhappy?Weallknowhimtobeaproud,unpleasantman.'

'Ido,Idolikehim,'shereplied,withtearsinhereyes.'Andwhatyousayofhimisuntrue.Youdonotknowwhathereallyis.'

'Lizzy,'saidherfather,'Ihaveagreed.Butletmeadviseyoutothinkbetterofit.Iknowyournature,Lizzy.Iknowthatyoucouldnotbehappyunlessyoutrulyrespectedyourhusband.Mychild,donot letmehavetheunhappinessofseeingyouunabletothinkwellofyourpartnerinlife.'

Atlast,byrepeatingthatMrDarcywasreallytheobjectofherchoice,byexplaining thegradualchange inherfeelings,andherproofof theunchangingnatureofhis,anddescribingwithenergyallhisgoodqualities,shedidpersuadeher father tobelieveher,andmakehimsatisfiedwithherchoice.Tocompletehisfavourableopinion,shethentoldhimwhatMrDarcyhaddoneforLydia.

'Well,mydear,'hesaid,whenshehadfinishedspeaking,'ifthisisthecase,hedeservesyou.Icouldnothavepartedwithyou,myLizzy,toanyonewhodidnot.'

He then reminded her of her confusion a few days beforewhen hewasreadingMrCollins'sletterand,afterlaughingather,allowedhertogo,sayingasshelefttheroom,'IfanyyoungmencomeforMaryorKitty,sendthemin.Iamnotbusy.'

Elizabeth'smindwasnowrelievedofaveryheavyweight,andafterhalfanhour'squietthoughtinherownroom,shewasabletojointheothersinfairlysettledspirits.

Whenhermotherwentuptoherdressingroomatnight,shefollowedherandmade the important announcement. Its effectwasmost astonishing.Whensheheardit,MrsBennetsatquitestill,unabletosayaword.Onlyaftermany,manyminutes could she understandwhat she had heard. She began at last torecover,tomoveaboutinherchair,getup,sitdownagain,andeverynowandthenletoutasmalllaugh.

'Oh, heavens! Lord save me! Only think! Mr Darcy! Who would havethoughtit!Oh,mysweetestLizzy,howrichandgreatyouwillbe!Whatjewels,what carriages you will have! Jane's is nothing to it - nothing at all. Such apleasantman!Sogood-looking!So tall!Oh,mydearLizzy!Doapologize formy having disliked him somuch before. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town!Threedaughtersmarried!Tenthousandayear!Oh,heavens!Whatwillhappentome?Ishallgooutofmymind.'

Thiswasanunpleasingexampleofwhathermother'sbehaviourmightbelike in the presence of Mr Darcy, but the next day passed off better thanElizabeth expected. Luckily Mrs Bennet was so filled with respect for herintended son-in-law that shedidnotdare to speak tohim, except toofferhimsomemarkofattention.

Elizabethhad thesatisfactionof seeingher fathermakingeveryeffort toknowhimbetter,andMrBennetsooninformedherthatMrDarcywasrisinginhisopinioneveryhour.

CHAPTERTWENTYEIGHT

TheEnd

Itwasahappydayforallherfeelingsasamother,whenMrsBennetsawhertwomostdeservingdaughtersmarried.ItmaybeguessedthatsheafterwardsvisitedMrsBingley,andtalkedofMrsDarcy,withexcitedpride.IwishIcouldsaythatthesatisfactionofherdreamsforthemmadeherasensiblewomanfortherestofherlife,thoughperhapsitwasluckyforherhusband'samusementthatshestilloftenhadanattackofnerves,andwasneveranythingbutsilly.

MrBennetmissedhisseconddaughterverymuch.Hisloveforhercausedhim to travel fromhomemore often than anything else could do.He enjoyedgoingtoPemberley,especiallywhenhewasleastexpected.

MrBingleyandJaneremainedatNetherfieldforonlyayear.Thenearnessofhermotherwasnotdesirableeventohiskindlynatureorherlovingheart.Hethen bought a property in Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition toeveryotherhappiness,livedwithin30milesofeachother.

Kitty, to her very great advantage, spentmost of her timewith her twoolder sisters. In society that was somuch better than what she had generallyknown,herimprovementwasgreat.ShewasnotofsouncontrollableanatureasLydia, andwhen shewas removed from the influenceof her examplebecamelesscomplainingand less silly.AlthoughLydia frequently invitedher tocomeand staywith her,with promises of dances and youngmen, her fatherwouldneverallowhertogo.

Mary was the only daughter who remained at home, and she wasnecessarilyinterruptedinherstudiesandhereffortsatmakingmusicbythefactthatMrsBennetwasquiteunabletositalone.Marywasforcedtomixmorewiththeworld,andashermorebeautifulsisterswerenolongertheretobecomparedwithher,shewasnotunwillingtodoso.

AsforLydiaandWickham,theircharactersremainedunchanged.Heborewithcalmness theknowledge thatElizabethmustnowhave learnteverydetailabouthispast,andbothheandLydiawerenotwithouthope thatDarcycouldstillbepersuadedtomakehisfortune.Elizabethdidfrequentlysendsomerelieffromherownprivatemoney,andbecauseofhisloveforElizabeth,DarcyhelpedWickhamtogetabetterpositioninthearmy.Althoughherhusbandcouldnever

bereceivedatPemberley,Lydiawassometimesavisitorthere,andtheybothofthem frequently stayed so long with the Bingleys that even Bingley's goodtemperfailedhim.

MissBingleywasmuchannoyedbyDarcy'smarriage,butasshewantedtocontinuetovisitPemberley,shewasforcedtobepolitetoElizabeth.

Pemberley was now Georgiana's home, and the sisterly love that grewbetweenherandElizabethwasexactlywhatDarcyhadhopedtosee.Georgianahad the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth, though at first she oftenlistenedwithastonishmenttoherlively,jokingwayoftalkingtothebrotherforwhomshe,asamuchyoungersister,feltsomuchrespect.

LadyCatherinewasextremelyangryat themarriageofhernephew,andexpressed her feelings in a letter so insulting to Elizabeth that for a time allfriendlyconnectionswereended.TheCollinses removed toLucasLodgeuntilthe storm had blown over,which it did at last,whenElizabeth persuaded herhusbandtooffertoendthequarrel.

With theGardiners they had always thewarmest relationship. Darcy, aswellasElizabeth,reallylovedthem,andtheybothfeltmostgratefultowardsthepersonswho,bybringinghertoDerbyshire,hadbeenthemeansofunitingthem.

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