Chapter-8
Wickham was back in Meryton, having completed his business in town. Meeting the girls in Meryton he walked back to Longbourn with them, and Elizabeth had the pleasure of introducing him to her father and mother. But Jane was not so happy in her affections. A letter came from Caroline Bingley that day announcing that the whole family had left Netherfield with no intention of returning. It was a cruel blow. For in the same letter Miss Bingley told Jane that she and her brother were going to visit Mr. Darcy’s sister—and that there was every hope of an early marriage between the latter and Bingley. With her usual sweetness Jane decided that Miss Bingley had thought this was the kindest way of warning her that Bingley’s love was already given to another. Elizabeth had different views.
“Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you but she wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She has taken him to town and will try to keep him there. She hopes to persuade you that he does not love you. But no one could doubt his love for you. Miss Bingley certainly does not. She is not so stupid. The fact is this. We are not rich enough or grand enough for them. And she is especially anxious for her brother to marry Miss Darcy, because she hopes that then her own marriage to Darcy may quickly follow.”
“But, my dear sister, could I be happy (even if you were right) in marrying a man whose relations all wish he were married to someone else?”
“You must decide for yourself. If you think the misery of disappointing his sisters is greater than the happiness of being his wife, then of course you must refuse him.”
This idea made even Jane smile. Soon she was more cheerful, in the hope that Bingley was wrong and that Bingley would soon return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.
Meanwhile another affair was making progress. Charlotte Lucas’ kindness in looking after Mr. Collins went further than Elizabeth realised. Its object was, in fact, to secure Mr. Collins for herself. She was so successful that after two days he left Longbourn House early one morning and hastened to Lucas Lodge to ask her to marry him.
Miss Lucas saw him from a window and came down so as to meet him accidentally in the road. Everything was settled to their satisfaction and Sir William and Lady Lucas were asked for their consent. It was joyfully given. Lady Lucas at once began wondering how long it would be before Mr. Bennet died and the Longbourn estate went to Mr. Collins.
The younger girls were hopeful that they might get married a year or two sooner. The boys were relieved that Charlotte would not die ‘an old maid’. Charlotte herself remained calm. She was satisfied with her decision.
Mr. Collins, certainly, was neither sensible nor pleasant. His company was tiresome and his affection for her imaginary. But still, he would be her husband. She did not really like either men or married life, but marriage had always been her object. It was the only honourable way of life for well-educated young women without wealth. However uncertain their happiness might be, at least it would keep them from poverty. She felt that she had been very lucky, at the age of twenty-seven to win this safety.
Day after day passed without any news from Mr. Bingley. Even Elizabeth began to fear that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Jane’s anxiety was, of course, more painful than Elizabeth’s. It was made worse by the impatience of her mother, who was always talking of Bingley.
Miss Bingley’s letter arrived and put an end to doubt. The first sentence said they were all settled in London for the winter, and the last sentence that her brother regretted that he had not had time to say goodbye to the family before leaving Hertfordshire.
Hope was over, entirely over. Miss Bingley boasted again that her hopes for a marriage between Miss Darcy and Mr. Bingley were likely to be fulfilled soon. Elizabeth heard it all in silent anger. She did not believe Caroline Bingley’s statement that her brother loved Miss Darcy. She did not doubt for a moment that he loved Jane. But she had only contempt for his easy temper, which made him the slave of his friends.
A day or two passed before Jane had the courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last, after a long grumble by Mrs. Bennet about Bingley, she could not help saying, when she and her sister were alone.
“Oh, I wish my dear mother had had more control over herself. She can have no idea what pain she gives me by her continual criticisms of him. But I must not think about it. It will not last long. I shall remember him as the best man I ever met, but that is all.”
With a stronger voice she soon added, “I have the comfort that it was only a mistake of my own. It has done no harm to anyone except myself.”
“My dear Jane!” exclaimed Elizabeth, “You are too good. Your sweetness and unselfishness are really angelic. I do not know what to say to you. I feel as though I had never loved you as much as you deserve.”
From this time, Mr. Bingley’s name was rarely mentioned between them.
Mr. Wickham’s company was of great help in making the Longbourn family more cheerful, after all the unhappy events which had depressed them. They saw him often. The history of his relations with Mr. Darcy was now known everywhere and it was often discussed. Everybody was pleased to think how much they had disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known anything of the matter. Jane Bennet was the only person who thought there might be some explanation of Mr. Darcy’s actions, unknown to Hertfordshire people. But by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.
On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came from Cheapside to spend Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanly man very superior to his sister in both character and education. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would not have believed that a tradesman could have been so much a gentleman. Mrs. Gardiner was a pleasant intelligent, well–dressed woman and the favourite of all her nieces. Jane, Elizabeth and herself were particularly fond of one another, and they had often stayed with her in London.
