PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Mrs Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after honestly telling her what she thought, she went on:

"You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly.  Seriously, I would have you be on your guard.  Do not involve yourself or endeavour to involve in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent.  I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should not think you could not do better.  But as it is, you must not let your fancy run away with you.  You have sense, and we all expect you to use it.  Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct, I am sure.  You must not disappoint your father."

"My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed."

"Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise."

"Well, then, you need not be under any alarm.  I will take care of myself, and of Mr Wickham too.  He shall not be in love with me, if I can prevent it."

"Elizabeth, you are not serious now."

"I beg your pardon, I will try again. At present I am not in love with Mr Wickham; no, I certainly am not.  But he is beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw - and if he becomes really attached to me - I believe it will be better that I should not. I see the imprudence of it.  Oh! That abominable Mr Darcy! My father's opinion of me does me the greatest honour, and I should be miserable to forfeit it.  My father, however, is partial to Mr Wickham.  In short, my dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but since we see everyday that where there is affection young people are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many of our fellow creatures, or how am I even to know it would be wisdom to resist?  All that I can promise you, therefore, is not to be in a hurry.  I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first object.  When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing.  In short, I will do my best."

"Perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here.  At least, you should not remind your mother of inviting him."

"As I did the other day," said Elizabeth with a conscious smile: "very true, it will be wise in me to refrain from that.  But I do not imagine he is often here.  It is on your account that he has been so frequently invited this week.  You know my mother's ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her friends.  But really, and upon my honour, I will try to do what I think to be wisest; and now I hope you are satisfied."

Her aunt assured that she was, Elizabeth having thanked for the kindness of her hints. They parted friendly.

Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted by Gardiners together with Jane. His arrival was not an inconvenience to Mrs Bennet because of his abode with Lucases.  His marriage was fast approaching: Thursday the wedding day. Wednesday Charlotte paid her farewell visit. When she rose to leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and reluctant good wishes, accompanied her, out of the room.  As they went downstairs together, Charlotte said: 
"I shall depend on hearing from you often Eliza."

"That you certainly shall."

"And I have another favour to ask you.  Will you come and see me?

"We shall often meet, I hope in Hertfordshire."

"I am not likely to leave Kent for some time.  Promise me, therefore, to come to Hunsford."
Elizabeth could not refuse, though she felt some pressure in the visit.

"My father and Maria are coming to me in March," added Charlotte, and I hope you will consent to be of the party.  Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome as either of them."

The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the church road, and everybody had as much to say, or to hear on the subject as usual.  Elizabeth soon heard from her friend, and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been.  Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, and determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been, rather than what was.  Charlotte's first letters were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home, how she would like lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself every point exactly as she might have forseen.  She wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comfort, mentioned nothing which she could not praise.  The house, furniture, neighborhood and roads were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most friendly and obliging.  It was Mr Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there to know the rest.

Jane had already written a few lines to her sister, to announce their safe arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it would be in her power to say something of Bingleys.

"My aunt," she continued, "is going tomorrow into that part of the town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street."

She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley.  "I do not think Caroline in spirits," were her words, "but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London. I inquired after their brother, of course.  He was well, but so much engaged with Mr Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him.  I found that Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her."

After four weeks Elizabeth received a letter from her sister, Jane:

"My dearest Lizzy, I confess myself to have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me.  Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday.  When she did come, it was evident that she had no pleasure in it.  She made a slight formal apology for not calling me before, not a word of wishing to see me again, and was in every respect so altered a person.  When she went away, I resolved not to continue the acquaintance further.  I can safely say that every advance to intimacy began on her side.  If he had at all cared about me, we must have met long ago. He knows my being in town, I am certain, from something she said herself.  She wanted to persuade herself that he is partial to Miss Darcy.  I cannot understand.  Let me hear from you very soon.  Miss Bingley said something of his never returning to Netherfield.  I am sure you will be very comfortable there - yours 

Elizabeth had the intelligence from her aunt that Mr Wickham was now rendering himself to Miss King because of her latest fortune of ten thousand pounds. Elizabeth found that she was not in love with Wickham because the latest intelligence did not disturb her.

THE END


 



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