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The Gentleman
Arrive
A stately carriage
made its way across the early spring English countryside, conveying
two gentlemen of varying incomes and deportment. One was sandy
haired and jolly, dressed in the proper costume one would expect
of the younger son of an Earl. The other was as dark as his companion
was fair; serious as his friend was not; rich as the day was
long.
Fitzwilliam Darcy,
Esq., for five years the master of Pemberley in Derbyshire, wore
his habitual dour expression, designed to keep the world at bay.
Unfortunately, one of the few human's on the planet that would
not be put off by his demeanor was sharing his coach. Colonel
the Hon. Richard Fitzwilliam, of His Majesty's -th Horse, was
his cousin, childhood friend, and the one man who truly understood
the paragon that was Darcy. Most people acquainted with such
an important personage would show the gentleman the proper deference;
Colonel Fitzwilliam was not one of them.
"I say, Darce,"
the officer exclaimed, "did you eat a lemon at the public
house at the station?"
"Lemon?"
Darcy was confused. "No; I had the mutton, same as you.
It was barely tolerable, I must say."
"I shall certainly
agree with you as to the meal, cousin; that sheep was probably
older than Georgiana. No, I was referring to the decided sour
expression on your puss."
"'On my puss'?
Where did that term come from? More wisdom from your campfires?"
"Ha! One can
learn much from honest soldiers - more than from the drawing
rooms of London!"
"True enough;
then you know why I keep my thoughts to myself."
"So you put
on a disguise, which I thought you abhorred above all else."
"Disguise that
misleads is what I abhor, Fitz. This is more a part, as an actor
in a play."
"'Out, out,
brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that
struts and frets his hour upon the stage; and then is heard no
more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
signifying nothing.'"
"This is new
- you quoting Shakespeare."
"Is that where
it comes from? I thought it was from the Old Goat. Zounds, but
I must have learned something at school after all."
Darcy gave out a
short snort of laughter. "The only thing you learned at
Cambridge was how to sleep with your eyes open."
"Do not scoff,
sir. That is a useful ability in my profession."
"You may spend
much more time in your tent in the future, should my uncle hear
you again referring to him as a barnyard animal."
"Too true -
which is why he never shall. Come, what is troubling you? You
have not been yourself for weeks. Has anything untoward occurred?"
"No, no. I
just went with Bingley to his new estate in Herefordshire for
a few weeks and returned. There is nothing wrong with me."
"Bingley -
there is another one who has been out of sorts lately. I believe
I shall avoid that county in the future; there is something decidedly
strange about a place that can have such an effect upon a fellow."
You have no idea,
Fitz. "Do not
be so harsh upon Herefordshire, cousin; Bingley's ailment comes
from a different source entirely."
"Ah; then he
has another broken heart."
"Yes - I have
saved him from a most imprudent marriage."
"Have you now?
Was it a scarlet woman? A scurry maid?"
"No. Let us
just say there were some objections to the lady and leave it
at that."
Fitzwilliam shook
his head. "And so you rode to his rescue - again. What would
Bingley do without you, Darce?"
Darcy shivered.
"He finds a great reliance on my judgment to be a comfort,
Fitz. He is my friend; should I just let him flounder?"
"Perhaps you
should, cousin. One of these days your decided tendency of rushing
to save your friends and family will come back to haunt you."
"Unlikely."
"Well, it certainly
wears on you."
"What do you
mean?"
"You cannot
say you are happy." His companion grunted. "We shall
just have to get you married!"
Darcy started. "I
beg your pardon?"
Richard grinned.
"Well, if you are going to be miserable, you might as well
have the oldest reason the world for it!"
Darcy grimaced;
it was tiresome to be always the butt of Fitz's jokes. "Perhaps
you are right. I am sure my aunt has some ideas on that score."
As expected, Richard
lost all good humor. "Yes, what are you waiting for? All
the family expects a union between Pemberley and Rosings."
He turned to the window.
Darcy shook his
head. He could not say what was more amusing: Fitz's predictable
reaction or his inability to know his own mind. Darcy knew his
cousin was attached to Anne de Bourgh; it was Fitz who didn't
know it. "Yes, that would please Lady Catherine no end,
I should think. It is well that Anne and I are of one mind about
this - we shall never marry."
"So you say,
yet the family expects it, Darce. Do not think they cannot change
your mind."
Darcy frowned. "Do
you speak for the Earl?"
Fitz shook his head.
"No; it's just they grow inpatient with you. They say if
you will not trouble yourself to find some lady agreeable to
you, then you should marry Anne."
"And if I am
disagreeable to Anne?"
Fitz brightened.
"Yes - there is that." His face clouded up again. "But
my Aunt Catherine can be…persuasive."
"If we can
hold out this long, we can hold out forever."
"Good."
A curious expression flowed across Richard's face before he turned
to the window again.
Darcy glanced at
the colonel. It would be so easy to give Fitz a push in the
right direction. But, no…I should not play matchmaker. My
talents lie in a quite another direction. He recalled with
pain his conversation with Charles Bingley, in concert with his
sisters, about Jane Bennet's indifference. Never had he seen
a man so defeated, so dejected. He truly loved the woman, he
saw. It was a tragedy. Darcy rejoiced in his success in saving
his friend from a most improper and loveless marriage - it had
to be both to rouse Darcy to interference; proper and unloving
was expected in their class. And he could not stop a loving and
improper union, when he could not get a similar proposition for
himself out of his mind.
"When shall
be arrive at Rosings?" asked Fitzwilliam.
"In less than
two hours, Fitz."
~~~~}+{~~~~
Mrs. Collins escorted
her two sisters to the grand house of Rosings, but to the puzzlement
of her companions, she did not enter the building but began to
walk around the house. She would answer her sisters' questions
with a secret smile and kept moving. Finally the group approached
a door to the rear of one of the wings of the estate. She paused
just as she reached for the knob.
"Sisters, I
must beg your promise not to reveal what occurs behind this door
to anyone without first speaking to me. Forgive me, but I must
insist on this."
The two were shocked,
but Jane was able to utter, "It shall be as you wish, Mary."
Mary nodded in satisfaction
and opened the door. The group soon found itself in a modest-sized
sitting room filled with furniture, while in good repair, had
come from a different age. Against one wall was a pianoforte.
It was not of the highest quality, but it was not far from it.
It was certainly finer than the one at Longbourn.
"This is Mrs.
Parks' rooms," Mary explained, "our sanctum sanctorum."
"'Holy of holies,'"
Jane frowned. "Mary, that is not funny."
"Oh, Jane,
please," said Elizabeth. "This is a lovely instrument."
She glided her fingers over the wood and was about to reach for
the keys when her eye fell on the music on the stand. "My
heavens…!"
"Lizzy, what
is it?" cried Jane.
With trembling hands,
Elizabeth took hold of the sheets of paper before her. "This…this
music. It…I cannot believe it…" She flipped through
the sheets as her sister joined her. Her gasp was as great as
Lizzy's. The two finally turned to Mrs. Collins, who owned a
bemused expression. "Mary! This music! It is the most recent
available. I did not know that half of these pieces were published!"
"(sniff) Does
it meet with your approval?" came a voice from behind them.
The ladies turned to see Anne de Bourgh close the door from the
hallway behind her.
"Miss de Bourgh,
of course it does!" cried Elizabeth. "I dreamed of
playing some of these pieces…but they are so dear."
"Miss de Bourgh,
how did you come by such a treasure?" asked Jane.
The girl's smile
was broad. "I have my sources, Miss Bennet. (cough) I am
glad you like our surprise; Mary was sure you would be delighted."
"Who would
not be?" mumbled Elizabeth as she turned her attention back
to the pages. "I feel unworthy to even touch them."
The girl laughed.
"That is unfortunate, as they are a gift to you."
The Bennet sisters
gasped again. "Miss de Bourgh, you cannot…it is too
much!" sputtered Jane.
"Why not? (sniff)"
Anne responded with a twinkle in her eye. "I have copies
for Mary, and I am but a beginner. It will be some time before
I can dream of attempting what you hold in your hands."
Elizabeth could
only shake her head as Jane said, "Miss de Bourgh, you are
too kind. How can we ever repay you?"
"But there
is a catch, Miss Bennet! While you are here, you may only play
those pieces in this room! (cough) That way I might have my own
private recitals, and the joy of your company uninterrupted."
Jane colored with
pleasure. Elizabeth was baffled. She could not reconcile the
ever-changing Miss de Bourgh. First she greets us most charmingly,
then she ignores us before her mother. Now she gives us - two
strangers - a most wonderful and expensive gift! She recalled
Mr. Wickham's description; it was not quite accurate, yet she
could not dismiss what he said out of hand. Poor girl! Does
she feel she has to buy her friends?
"Come, Mary,
I wish to hear you play," requested the heiress.
"Anne, surely
our guests should go first."
"In all propriety
you are correct; (sniff) but I long to hear how you have mastered
Für Elise, and I can wait no longer. I think your
sisters will forgive me this whim."
Jane smiled. "It
shall be as you wish, Miss de Bourgh. I too would love to hear
how Mary has improved."
Reluctantly, Mrs.
Collins took her seat and began to play. Her sisters were pleasantly
surprised to hear that Mary had indeed improved. She was definitely
no master, but her fingering and tempo were less forced. Without
competing for attention, as she was forced to do at Longbourn,
Mary was beginning to allow the music to take center-stage, rather
than the performer. She listened now to the music, and that made
a large difference.
It was then the
sisters turn, and each did nothing to disgrace themselves. Anne
sat back and took in the concert. Jane played charmingly light
and airy, all excellent and delightful. Her performance was as
she was - without pretence; no mysteries underneath.
Elizabeth was another
story entirely. She was not as technically proficient as her
sister, but she played with true emotion and feeling. Jane was
a joy to the ear; Elizabeth struck to the heart. Anne had no
complaints on how she spent the next hour, and thought how she
would thank her benefactor, with the initials FD, for the music.
~~~~}+{~~~~
The ladies were
returning to Hunsford Parsonage, and had just turned the corner
around the house, when they came upon a beautiful coach in the
driveway, with two gentlemen descending from it. "My goodness,"
whispered Jane, "Lizzy, it is Mr. Darcy!"
The group came to
a halt, which was a good thing for Elizabeth, as she was frozen
in place. She could not believe that hateful man was here! Jane
leaned over and asked, "Should we greet him, Lizzy? I do
not know what would be proper."
Before Elizabeth
could formulate an answer, she saw Mr. Darcy start as his eyes
glanced in their direction. He seemed to stand shock still; then
with a comment to his companion, he began moving in their direction.
Heaven give me strength!
Darcy indeed was
astonished to find the Bennet sisters at Rosings, though Mrs.
Collins' presence could be reasonably expected. He called Richard's
attention to them and they crossed to do their duty. He bowed
to them as he said in a voice that belied his inner turmoil,
"Mrs. Collins, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth. It is a pleasure
to see you here at Rosings. Mrs. Collins, allow me to wish you
and Mr. Collins joy."
Mary nodded. "You
are very kind, Mr. Darcy."
A soft cough at
Darcy's elbow reminded him to say, "Please allow me to introduce
my companion. This is my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
Colonel, this is Mrs. Collins and her sisters, Miss Jane Bennet
and Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"Charmed, ladies!"
Fitz poured it on. "I am happy indeed that such lovely additions
have been added to Hunsford this spring." As he bowed, it
noticed that all the ladies were attractive in their own way,
even Mrs. Collins, but he could not take his eyes from Jane.
Zounds, what a beauty! "How long are you to visit,
Miss Bennet?"
Jane was slightly
discomposed at Colonel Fitzwilliam's attentions. "We are
to visit my sister and brother until the end of May, sir."
"Six weeks!
That is excellent! I am sure we shall be in company often in
the time to come. Miss Elizabeth, how do you like Kent?"
Elizabeth could
not help but notice that Mr. Darcy had returned to his usual
taciturn self. "As we are just arrived ourselves, it would
be premature to make a judgment, Colonel, but so far we can offer
no complaints." It may go downhill from here, though,
her eyes flashed.
What extraordinary
eyes! I'm going to enjoy myself this year! "I shall see to it that your opinion does
not suffer, Miss Elizabeth; and my cousin joins me; do you not,
Darcy?"
"I would be
happy to be of service." As was his wont, Darcy retreated
into the mask he used to keep the world at bay. He thought he
appeared polite, but the world saw nothing but pride and arrogance.
He was agitated - he was not prepared to see the object of his
deepest dreams so soon. Richard, knowing his cousin so well,
was not blind to Darcy's reaction, and was vastly curious as
to the cause.
"If you ladies
would excuse us." Darcy bowed again and took a step back
to allow Richard to take his leave of the Bennet sisters. Not
for the first time did he a little envious of his cousin's easy
manner. A moment later the gentlemen left and the ladies continued
to the Parsonage.
~~~~}+{~~~~
Colonel Fitzwilliam's
manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies
all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure of their
engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they
received any invitation thither - for while there were visitors
in the house they could not be necessary; and it was not till
Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that
they were honored by such an attention, and then they were merely
asked on leaving church to come there in the evening. For the
last week they had seen very little of either Lady Catherine
or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage
more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had only seen
at church.
The invitation was
accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party
in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received them
civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means
so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was,
in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially
to Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam
seemed genuinely glad to see them; and Mrs. Collins's pretty
sisters had moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated
himself by them, and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire,
of traveling and staying at home, of new books and music, that
Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that room
before; and they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to
draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well as of Miss
de Bourgh and Mr. Darcy. His eyes had been soon and repeatedly
turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that of the
two ladies after a while, shared the feeling, was more openly
acknowledged, for Lady Catherine did not scruple to call out
--
"What is that
you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What
are you telling the ladies? Let me hear what it is."
"We are speaking
of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid
a reply.
"Of music!
Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must
have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music.
There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true
enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If
I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And
so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident
that she would have performed delightfully."
At this Elizabeth
could not stop from glancing at Miss de Bourgh. She showed no
reaction to her mother's comment.
The grand dame continued.
"How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"
Mr. Darcy spoke
with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency.
"I am very
glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine;
"and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel
if she does not practice a great deal."
"I assure you,
madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice.
She practices very constantly."
"So much the
better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to
her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often
tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired
without constant practice. I have told Mrs. Collins' sisters
several times that they will never play really well unless they
practice more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, they
are very welcome, as I have often told them, to come to Rosings
every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Parks' room. They
would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house."
Mr. Darcy looked
a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made no answer;
Jane noted it, but Lizzy saw nothing.
When coffee was
over Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Jane of having promised to
play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He
drew a chair near her. Jane glanced at the music before her and
gasped. She turned and looked at Miss de Bourgh, but the young
lady wore an inscrutable expression. Jane then returned her attention
to the instrument and began to play.
It was now Elizabeth's
turn to be surprised. It was one of the pieces Miss de Bourgh
had acquired for them.
She was not the
only amazed person - Darcy was taken aback as well.
Jane made her way
through the piece to general approval; Colonel Fitzwilliam was
quite boisterous about it, which displeased the two de Bourghs.
It was now Elizabeth's turn. She took Jane's place and began
another selection of the secret gifts. Lady Catherine listened
to half a song, and then talked, as before, to her other nephew;
till the latter walked away from her, and moving with his usual
deliberation towards the pianoforte, stationed himself so as
to command a full view of the fair performer's countenance.
Elizabeth saw what
he was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to him
with an arch smile, and said, "You mean to frighten me,
Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? But I will
not be alarmed though your sister does play so well. There is
a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened
at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt
to intimidate me."
"Lizzy!"
hissed Jane, mortified for her importance.
"I shall not
say that you are mistaken," he replied, "because you
could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming
you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough
to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing
opinions which in fact are not your own."
Elizabeth laughed
heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam,
"Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and
teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky
in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character,
in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with
some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous
in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire
- and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too - for it is provoking
me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your
relations to hear."
"I am not afraid
of you," said he smilingly.
"Pray let me
hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"I should like to know how he behaves among strangers."
"You shall
hear then - but prepare yourself for something very dreadful.
The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must
know, was at a ball - and at this ball, what do you think he
did? He danced only four dances! I am sorry to pain you - but
so it was. He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were
scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady
was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot
deny the fact."
"I had not
at that time the honor of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond
my own party."
"True; and
nobody can ever be introduced in a ball room. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam,
what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders."
"Perhaps,"
said Darcy, "I should have judged better had I sought an
introduction; but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers."
"Shall we ask
your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still addressing
Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense
and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified
to recommend himself to strangers?"
"I can answer
your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying
to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."
"I certainly
have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy,
"of conversing easily with those I have never seen before.
I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested
in their concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers,"
said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the
masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not
the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression.
But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault - because
I would not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I
do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of
superior execution."
Darcy smiled and
said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time
much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you
can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."
Here they were interrupted
by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking
of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine
approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy,
"She is not the sister, unfortunately. Miss Elizabeth would
not play at all amiss if she practiced more, and could have the
advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering,
though her talent is not equal to Miss Bennet, nor her taste
is equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer,
had her health allowed her to learn."
Elizabeth looked
at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise;
but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern
any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behavior to Miss
de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he
might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his
relation.
Lady Catherine continued
her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many
instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received them
with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of
the gentlemen, remained at the instrument and took turns performing
with Jane till her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them
all home.
~~~~}+{~~~~
"Enjoying yourself,
cousin? (sniff)"
Richard was startled
as he was about to strike the cue ball. "Anne! I did not
hear you enter; forgive me."
Anne walked around
the table. "An interesting game, billiards. (cough) I have
often wondered if I should like to learn it."
Darcy darkened.
"It is not a game for ladies, Anne."
"(cough) At
one time, neither was riding, Darcy," she responded.
"Ha! She has
you there, Darce!" Richard thought for a moment. "Why
not learn, Anne?"
"What?"
cried Darcy. "Richard…"
"Oh, come off
it, Darce. The girl needs some entertainment."
"Thank you,
Richard," she said. She picked up a cue stick. She tried
to hold it as Richard did, but she was having difficulty.
"That is wrong,
Anne."
Anne sighed. "(sniff)
Perhaps you can demonstrate the (cough) correct manner, Richard?"
He did so and sent the cue ball inerrantly towards its target.
She tried to copy it; she bent over the table - to Darcy's embarrassment
- and tried to copy her cousin's shot. She missed the cue ball
entirely.
"Fiddlesticks!"
she cried. "Richard - help me."
"How may I
be of service?"
"I am holding
the stick wrongly. I need assistance."
Richard attempted
to demonstrate again, but Anne would have would not have it.
"Richard, I have tried to copy you, (sniff) but it does
not serve. Show me."
"Very well."
Richard put down his own stick and walked behind his cousin.
"Anne - forgive me…" He reached around her and
set her hands in the proper manner.
"I see,"
she said. "But I need help in aiming."
Together they took
a position behind the cue ball. With Richard's help, Anne successfully
struck another ball with the cue ball. "There!" he
said as he released her. "You…you can do it…"
His face was very red.
"I may need
more assistance, cousin," she said as she eyed the table.
"The cue ball is quite a distance away."
"Ummm…yes,
but…I just remembered…I owe a letter to my mother…forgive
me…" With that, the colonel quitted the room. Anne,
scowling, reached over and executed a perfect bank shot to send
a ball into a side pocket.
Darcy looked on
with a raised eyebrow. "You are playing quite the game,
Anne."
"Oh, do not
lecture me, Darcy! (cough, cough) What else can I do? Richard
is a blind as a bat, and…"
"…And
the Bennet ladies are lovely…"
Anne looked at him
with pain.
"Do not fear,
Anne. Richard is a second son, and the Bennets are poor."
She hung her head.
"It was unchristian of me, I know, (sniff) but I was jealous.
And Mrs. Collins (cough) has been such a friend to me…"
"I noticed
the choice of music today. I wondered why you wanted it."
Darcy acquired the music Anne requested, but he had not known
the reason behind her appeal. He had not known of Anne's secret
lessons with Mrs. Collins.
"She is the
best friend I have, besides you and Richard."
"And you have
shared this gift with Mrs. Collins' sisters?"
"Yes. They
have been kind to me, as well."
Darcy, having closely
observed the Bennet ladies in Hertfordshire, could not be surprised.
Anne was still displeased.
"If one of the Bennet girls do not capture Richard's affections,
some other lady will certainly do so; one with fortune. (cough)
What can I do?"
Darcy pitied his
cousin. "He has resisted this long, Anne. It must have been
for a reason." He paused. "I would be willing to speak
to him…"
"No. (cough)
I want his love, not his pity."
~~~~}+{~~~~
Elizabeth was sitting
by herself the next morning, and writing to her sisters, while
Mrs. Collins and Jane were gone on business into the village,
when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal
of a visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not
unlikely to be Miss Anne, and under that impression was putting
away her half-finished letter when the door opened, and to her
very great surprise Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only, entered the
room.
He seemed astonished
too on finding her alone, and apologized for his intrusion by
letting her know that he had understood all the ladies to be
within. They then sat down, and when her enquiries after Rosings
were made, seemed in danger of sinking into total silence.
It was absolutely
necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence,
recollecting when she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and
feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their
hasty departure, she observed, "How very suddenly you all
quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! It must have been
a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you all after
him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before.
He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London."
"Perfectly
so, I thank you."
She found that she
was to receive no other answer, and, after a short pause, added,
"I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much
idea of ever returning to Netherfield again?"
"I have never
heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend very little
of his time there in future. He has many friends, and he is at
a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing."
"If he means
to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for the neighborhood
that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might
possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley
did not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighborhood
as for his own, and we must expect him to keep or quit it on
the same principle."
"I should not
be surprised," said Darcy, "if he were to give it up
as soon as any eligible purchase offers."
Elizabeth made no
answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his friend; and,
having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble
of finding a subject to him. He took the hint, and soon began
with, "This seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine,
I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came
to Hunsford."
"I believe
she did - and I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness
on a more grateful object."
"Mr. Collins
appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife."
"Yes, indeed;
his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of the
very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have
made him happy if they had. My sister has an excellent understanding
- though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins
as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy,
however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good
match for her." A flash of remembrance of an observed conversation
and the echo of the words "my Mary-kins" turned
Lizzy's face beet-red
"It must be
very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance
of her own family and friends."
"An easy distance,
do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles."
"And what is
fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's journey.
Yes, I call it a very easy distance."
"I should never
have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the
match," cried Elizabeth. "I should never have said
Mrs. Collins was settled near her family."
"It is a proof
of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the
very neighborhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far."
As he spoke there
was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she understood; he
must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and Netherfield,
and she blushed as she answered, "I do not mean to say that
a woman may not be settled too near her family. The far and the
near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances.
Where there is fortune to make the expense of traveling unimportant,
distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case here. Mr.
and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not such a one
as will allow of frequent journeys - and I am persuaded my sister
would not call herself near her family under less than half the
present distance."
Mr. Darcy drew his
chair a little towards her, and said, "You cannot have a
right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been
always at Longbourn."
Elizabeth looked
surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of feeling;
he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and,
glancing over it, said, in a colder voice, "Are you pleased
with Kent?"
A short dialogue
on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and
concise; and soon put an end to by the entrance of her sisters,
just returned from their walk. The tête-à-tête
surprised them. Mr. Darcy related the mistake, which had occasioned
his intruding on Miss Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes
longer without saying much to anybody, went away.
"What can be
the meaning of this?" said Mary, as soon as he was gone.
"Lizzy, he must be in love with you, or he would never have
called on us in this familiar way."
"Indeed; there
must be some partiality towards you," agreed Jane.
But when Elizabeth
told of his silence, it did not seem very likely, even to Jane's
wishes, to be the case; and after various conjectures, they could
at last only suppose his visit to proceed from the difficulty
of finding anything to do, which was the more probable from the
time of year.
~~~~}+{~~~~
All field sports
were over. Within doors there was Lady Catherine, books, and
a billiard-table, but gentlemen cannot be always within doors.
In the nearness of the Parsonage, or the pleasantness of the
walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins
found a temptation from this period of walking thither almost
every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes
separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied
by Miss de Bourgh. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam
came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which
of course recommended him still more. Elizabeth was reminded
by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his
evident admiration for her and her sister, of her former favorite
George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there
was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners,
she believed he might have the best informed mind.
But why Mr. Darcy
came so often to the Parsonage it was more difficult to understand.
It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there ten minutes
together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it
seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice - a sacrifice
to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really
animated.
Mrs. Collins knew
not what to make of him. Colonel Fitzwilliam's occasionally laughing
at his stupidity proved that he was generally different, which
her own knowledge of him could not have told her; and as she
would have liked to believe this change the effect of love, and
the object of that love her sister Elizabeth, she set herself
seriously to work to find it out. She watched Mr. Darcy whenever
they were at Rosings, and whenever he came to Hunsford; but without
much success. He certainly looked at her sister a great deal,
but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest,
steadfast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were much
admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence
of mind.
She had once or
twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his being partial
to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea. Mrs. Collins
did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger
of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment.
In her opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all her sister's
dislike would vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power.
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