Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy.She had been unwilling to mention Bingley;and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend: but now she would no longer conceal from her his share in Lydia’s marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation.
“Good gracious!” cried Mrs. Bennet,as she stood at a window the next morning,“if that disagreeable Mr.Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley!What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here?I had no notion but he would go a-shooting,or something or other,and not disturb us with his company.What shall we do with him?Lizzy, you must walk out with him again,that he may not be in Bingley’s way.”
Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal;yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet.
As soon as they entered,Bingley looked at her so expressively,and shook hands with such warmth,as left no doubt of his good information;and he soon afterwards said aloud, “Mrs. Bennet,have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?”
“I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty,” said Mrs.Bennet, “to walk to Oakham Mount this morning.It is a nice long walk, and Mr.Darcy has never seen the view.”
“It may do very well for the others,” replied Mr.Bingley; “but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won’t it, Kitty?”
Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home.Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount,and Elizabeth silently consented.As she went upstairs to get ready, Mrs.Bennet followed her, saying,--
“I am quite sorry, Lizzy,that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself;but I hope you will not mind it.It is all for Jane’s sake, you know;and there is no occasion for talking to him except just now and then;so do not put yourself to inconvenience.”
During their walk, it was resolved that Mr.Bennet’s consent should be asked in the course of the evening:Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mother’s.She could not determine how her mother would take it;sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man; but whether she were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation.
In the evening, soon after Mr.Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw Mr.Darcy rise also and follow him,and her agitation on seeing it was extreme.She did not fear her father’s opposition,but he was going to be made unhappy,and that it should be through her means; that _she_,his favourite child,should be distressing him by her choice,should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her,was a wretched reflection,and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again,when, looking at him,she was a little relieved by his smile.In a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty;and, while pretending to admire her work,said in a whisper, “Go to your father;he wants you in the library.” She was gone directly.
Her father was walking about the room,looking grave and anxious. “Lizzy,” said he,“what are you doing?Are you out of your senses to be accepting this man?Have not you always hated him?”
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate!It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.
“Or, in other words, you are determined to have him.He is rich, to be sure,and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane.But will they make you happy?”
“Have you any other objection,” said Elizabeth,“than your belief of my indifference?”
“None at all. We all know him to be a proud,unpleasant sort of man;but this would be nothing if you really liked him.”
“I do, I do like him,” she replied,with tears in her eyes; “I love him.Indeed he has no improper pride.He is perfectly amiable.You do not know what he really is;then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms. ”
“Lizzy,” said her father, “I have given him my consent.He is the kind of man, indeed,to whom I should never dare refuse anything,which he condescended to ask. I now give it to _you_,if you are resolved on having him.But let me advise you to think better of it.I know your disposition, Lizzy.I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable,unless you truly esteemed your husband,unless you looked up to him as a superior.Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing _you_ unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about.”
Elizabeth, still more affected,was earnest and solemn in her reply; and, at length,by repeated assurances that Mr.Darcy was really the object of her choice,by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone,relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day,but had stood the test of many months’ suspense,and enumerating with energy all his good qualities,she did conquer her father’s incredulity,and reconcile him to the match.
“Well, my dear,” said he, when she ceased speaking,“I have no more to say. If this be the case,he deserves you. I could not have parted with you,my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.”
To complete the favourable impression,she then told him what Mr.Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia.He heard her with astonishment.
“This is an evening of wonders, indeed!And so, Darcy did everything; made up the match,gave the money, paid the fellow’s debts,and got him his commission!So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy.Had it been your uncle’s doing,I must and _would_ have paid him;but these violent young lovers carry everything their own way.I shall offer to pay him to-morrow,he will rant and storm about his love for you,and there will be an end of the matter.”