Classics Retold

After Darcy and the Colonel had departed, Lady Catherine had been walking listlessly in the garden, brooding over what her nephews told her. She would stop and look for Collins who had accompanied the two gentlemen to bid them goodbye. When he returned she told her that she felt very dull and wished them all to dine with her. Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine, without recollecting that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her future niece, nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been.  "What would she have said? how would she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself. The first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party.  "I assure you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine, "I believe no one feels the loss of friends so much as I do.  But I am particularly attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to me!  They were excessively ...

Darcy's letter did not contain a renewal of his offers. Elizabeth did not have any expectation either. But as she went through the letter eagerly, conflicting emotions passed through her.  His views on Jane's insensitivity towards Mr Bingley is false. Darcy's account of Mr Wickham surprisingly agree with what the latter himself had given.  This agreement very much astonished Elizabeth.  In this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on nothing, she walked on; but it would not do.  In half a minute the letter was unfolded again, and she began the mortifying perusal of all that related to Mr Wickham.  The account of his connection with Pemberly family was exactly what he had related himself; the kindness of the late Mr Darcy, agreed equally with his own words.  But in the case of the will related to living there was a duplicity on one side or other.  But, of his designs on Miss Darcy, ( Georgina) received some confirmation from what had p...

Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts which had at length closed her eyes. She could not recover from the surprise of what had happened; it was impossible to think of anything else.  Soon after breakfast, she resolved to indulge herself in air and exercise.  She was proceeding directly to her favourite walk, when the recollection of Mr Darcy's sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, she turned up the lane, which led farther from the turnpike-road.  The park paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon passed one of the gates into the ground. After walking along the part of the lane, she was tempted by the pleasant morning to stop at the gate and look into the park. It had been five weeks she was in Kent, and every day added to the lush green of trees. Suddenly, she got a glimpse of Mr Darcy within the grove which edged the park. As he was moving towards her, she began to retreat.  But he was near enough to see ...

Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with.  While William was with them, Mr Collins devoted his morning to driving him out in his jig, and showing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not find more of his cousin by the alteration, for the chief of time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden or in reading and writing, and looking out of the window of his own book room. Very few days passed in which Mr Collins did not walk to Rosings.  Charlotte also did not think it necessary to go likewise.  Now and then they have honoured with a call  from her ladyship. She examined into their employments, and looked at their work, and advised them to do it d...

Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to their engagements at Rosings.  It was some days, however, before they received any invitation tither - for while there were visitors in the house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving the church to come there in the evening.  For the last week they had seen very little of Lady Catherine or her daughter.  Colonel FitzWilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr Darcy they had seen only at Church. The invitation was accepted, and they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing room.  The ladyship received them civilly. Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad. Mrs Collins's pretty friend had caught his fancy very much.  He seated himself by her, and talked so a...

Mr Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete.  The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough. "I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings.  I rather expected, from my knowledge of her ability, that it would happen.  But who could have forseen such an attention as this?  Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there so immediately after your arrival!" "I am less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what manners of the great really are, which my situation in life ...

Every object in the journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; she was in a mood of enjoyment; she had seen her sister looking well and healthy and the tour was constant source of delight. When they left the high road for the lane of Hunsford, every eye was in search of parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view.  The palings of Rosings Park on one side of the lane. Elizabeth smiled at her recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. At length the parsonage was discernible.  The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, everything declared they were arriving.  Mr Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate. A short gravel walk led to the house.  They were all out of the carriage rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs Collins welcomed her friend with pleasure, and Elizabeth was satisfied at the affectionate reception.  Mr Collins detain...

Bennets were engaged to dine with Lucases. Mr Collins was also present. Miss Charlotte Lucas was very kind to listen to Mr Collins. Elizabeth thanked her for keeping him in good humour.  "I am more obliged to you than I can express," she said.  But Charlotte was aiming to secure Mr Collins towards her. When they parted at night Miss Lucas was very sure of her success; and the next morning Mr Collins slyly escaped out of Longbourn house and secured himself to Lucas Lodge. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins because he was diffident of his success against his failure with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.  Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane.  But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence waited her there. Everything was settled between the long speeches of Mr Collins to the satisfaction of both the parties.  The stupidity with which he was fa...

The discussion of Mr Collins proposal came to an end.  Occasional clouds of her mother's allusions, and Mr Collins's resentful silence lingered in Longbourn.  Mr Collins's love and attention were now transferred to Miss Charlotte Lucas. After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr Wickham were returned, and lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town, and attended them to their aunt's where his regret and vexation, and the concern of everybody was well talked over.  To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed. She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion for it, and for the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn.  His accompanying them was a double advantage of his introducing to her father and mother. Since after their retu...

Mrs Bennet dwadled about in the vestibule to watch the end of the conference. Elizabeth opened the door and passed the staircase followed by Mr Collins.  She congratulated both of them, and Mr Collins received and returned the felicitation with equal pleasure; and then proceeded to relate the particulars. The particulars, however startled Mrs Bennet. She did not believe the hope of Mr Collins that the refusal by Elizabeth was a natural flow from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character.  But she assured him that she would speak to her daughter and will bring her to reason. She did not give him time to reply, but hurried instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library,  "Oh! Mr Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar.  You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her." Mr Bennet raised his eyes from his book a...

Since Mr William Collins was to leave for Hunsford parsonage by Saturday, he was in a hurry to open his heart to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.  This created a new scene at Longbourn.  On finding Mrs Bennet, Elizabeth and and one of the younger girls together after the breakfast, he addressed the mother: "May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audiance with her in the course of the morning." Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs Bennet answered instantly, "Oh dear! -yes - certainly.  I am sure Lizzy will be very happy - I am sure she can have no objection.  Come, Kitty, I want you upstairs."  And, gathering her work together, she was hastening away, when Elizabeth called out: "Dear madam, do not go.  I beg you will not go.  Mr Collins must excuse me.  He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away myself." "No, no, nonsen...

Till Elizabeth entered the drawing room of Netherfield, and looked in vain for Wickham among the cluster of red coats a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her.  In an instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposefully omitted for Darcy's pleasure in Bingley's invitation to the officers.  The absolute cause of the absence was pronounced by Mr Denny.  That Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before, and yet not returned; adding with a significant smile, 'I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here." This piece of the intelligence assured Elizabeth that Darcy was not less answerable for Wickham's absence. She was resolved against any sort of conversation with Darcy. She was not formed of ill-humour, though the prospects for the evening was destroyed. It could not dwell on her spirits for long. She told all griefs to Charlotte Lucas. Her attent...