PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER FORTY TWO

Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her family, she could not have formed a very pleasing opinion of happy married life.  Her father, captivated by youth and beauty and good humour had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. He was fond of reading books and it had become his principal enjoyment.

Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain.  But she overlooked it, respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself.  She had never felt so strongly as now the disadvantages to the children of so unsuitable a marriage; nor ever been fully aware of evils arising from ill-judged direction of talents; talents, which rightly used might have preserved the respectability of her daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife.

When Elizabeth rejoiced over the departure of Mr Wickham she was not happy over the loss of regiment. Her mother and sister complained at the dullness of every thing around them.  Kitty might in time regain her senses.  Lydia, from whose disposition greater evils may be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all her follies by the double danger as watering place and camp.  Elizabeth had been looking for an event that would give her some anticipation followed by disappointment.  Her tour to the Lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts, it was the best consolation for all her uncomfortable hours which the discontentness of her mother and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane in the scheme, every part of it would have been perfect.

"It is fortunate," thought she, "that I have something to wish for.  A part of it may be realised. And the other part unrealised, causing vexation."

When Lydia went away she promised to write to her mother and Kitty.  But her letters were short and came at long intervals.  It contained little else than that they were returned from the library, where such and such officers had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which she would have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a violent hurry, as Mrs Forster called her, and they were going off to the camp, and so on.

After three weeks of her absence, health, good humour, and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn.  Everything wore a happier aspect.  The families who had been in town for the winter came back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose.  Mrs Bennet was restored to her usual querulous serenity; and by the middle of June Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears.

The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast approaching, when a letter arrived from Mrs Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement.  Mr Gardiner would be prevented by business till a fortnight later  in July. Again he must be in London within a month. Time available for a tour to Lakes being insufficient, and it was decided to cancel it, and go to Derbyshire after the return of Mr Gardiner from London.  Mrs Gardiner had a peculiar attraction to Derbyshire: she had formerly spent some years there.

Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing the Lakes, and still thought there might have been time enough.  But it was business to be satisfied - and certainly her temper to be be happy; and all was soon right again.

Derbyshire brought Pemberly and its owner to her mind.

Four weeks were to be passed away before the arrival of her aunt and uncle.  But they did pass away.  Mr and Mrs Gardiner with their four children appeared at Longbourn.  The children, two girls of six and eight years and two younger boys were to be left under the particular care of Jane, who was their general favourite, whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending the to them.  

The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. After visiting the important places of attraction, they are now moving towards Lambton, the scene of Mrs Gardiner's former residence, and where she had lately learned some acquaintances still remained. Elizabeth found from her aunt that within five miles of Lambton Pemberly was situated.  It was not in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In talking over the route the evening before, Mrs Gardiner expressed a desire to see the place again.  Mr Gardiner declared his willingness and asked Elizabeth whether she approved of it.

"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?" said her aunt; "a place too, with which too many of your acquaintances are connected.  Wickham passed all his youth there, you know?"

Elizabeth was distressed.  She felt that she had no business there, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it.  She said that she was tired of great houses, fine carpets or stain curtains.

Mrs Gardiner abused her stupidity.  "If it were merely a fine house richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself; but the grounds are delightful.  They have some of the finest woods in the country."

Elizabeth said no more, but acquiesced.  The possibility of meeting Mr Darcy, instantly occurred.  It would be dreadful!  She blushed at the very idea, and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But she resolved that it could be a final resource.

Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberly were not a very fine place?  what was the name of the proprietor? and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for the summer?  A most welcome negative followed the last question - and her alarms now being removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself.

THE END