“Beyond a doubt they do wish him to choose Miss Darcy,” replied Jane; “but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing.They have known her much longer than they have known me;no wonder if they love her better. But,whatever may be their own wishes,it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother’s.What sister would think herself at liberty to do it,unless there were something very objectionable?If they believed him attached to me they would not try to part us;if he were so, they could not succeed.By supposing such an affection,you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong,and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea.I am not ashamed of having been mistaken--or, at least,it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood.”
Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish;and from this time Mr.Bingley’s name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.
Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more;and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet’s best comfort was, that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.
Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. “So, Lizzy,” said he, one day, “your sister is crossed in love,I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married,a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then.It is something to think of,and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.When is your turn to come?You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane.Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.”
“Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me.We must not all expect Jane’s good fortune.”
“True,” said Mr. Bennet;“but it is a comfort to think that,whatever of that kind may befall you,you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it. ”
Mr. Wickham’s society was of material service in dispelling the gloom which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known anything of the matter.
Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case unknown to the society of Hertfordshire: her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes; but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XXV.
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After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity,Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday.The pain of separation, however,might be alleviated on his side by preparations for the reception of his bride,as he had reason to hope,that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire,the day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men.He took leave of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before;wished his fair cousins health and happiness again,and promised their father another letter of thanks.
On the following Monday, Mrs.Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife,who came, as usual,to spend the Christmas at Longbourn. Mr.Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man,greatly superior to his sister,as well by nature as education.The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with her Longbourn nieces. Between the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particular regard. They had frequently been staying with her in town.
The first part of Mrs. Gardiner’s business,on her arrival, was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in it.
“I do not blame Jane,” she continued,“for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley if she could. But, Lizzy!Oh, sister!it is very hard to think that she might have been Mr.Collins’s wife by this time,had not it been for her own perverseness.He made her an offer in this very room,and she refused him. The consequence of it is,that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have,and that Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever.The Lucases are very artful people, indeed, sister.They are all for what they can get.I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is.It makes me very nervous and poorly,to be thwarted so in my own family,and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else.However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts,and I am very glad to hear what you tell us of long sleeves. ”
Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before,in the course of Jane and Elizabeth’s correspondence with her,made her sister a slight answer, and,in compassion to her nieces, turned the conversation.
When alone with Elizabeth afterwards,she spoke more on the subject.“It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane,” said she. “I am sorry it went off.But these things happen so often!A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley,so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks,and, when accident separates them,so easily forgets her,that these sort of inconstancies are very frequent.”
[Illustration:
“Offended two or three young ladies”
[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]
“An excellent consolation in its way,” said Elizabeth;“but it will not do for _us_.We do not suffer by accident.It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before.”
“But that expression of ‘violently in love’ is so hackneyed,so doubtful, so indefinite,that it gives me very little idea.It is as often applied to feelings which arise only from a half hour’s acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how _violent was_ Mr. Bingley’s love?”
“I never saw a more promising inclination;he was growing quite inattentive to other people,and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met,it was more decided and remarkable.At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms?Is not general incivility the very essence of love?”