Classics Retold

The wedding day.  The carriage was sent to fetch the the couple. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles decked the face of the Mrs Bennet as the carriage drove upto the door. Mr Bennet looked impenetrably grave.  Their daughters alarmed, anxious, and uneasy. Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and she ran into the room.  Her mother stepped forward, embraced her, and welcomed her with rapture, gave her hand with an affectionate smile, to Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with alacrity which showed no doubt of their happiness. The reception from Mr Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not so cordial.  His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely opened his lips.  The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was good enough to provoke him.  Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was shocked.  Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, no...

Mr Bennet had often wished for saving a part of his income to provide for the future of his wife and children.  He now wished it more than ever.  Had he done it Lydia need not have have been indebted to her uncle.  The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place. He was determined to find the extend of his brother's assistance, and discharge it as soon as possible. When Mr Bennet had married, economy was not a concern. It was hoped they were to have a son; the son would cut off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow of the younger children would by that means be provided for.  Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he would.  This event had last been despaired of, but then it was too late to be saving.  Mrs Bennet was least bothered of e...

Two days after Mr Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and said, "I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes, you might have some good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask." "What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from the town." "Dear madam," cried Mrs Hill, in great astonishment, "don't you know there is an express come for master from Mr Gardiner?  He has been there this half-hour, and master has had a letter." Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time to speak.  They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room; from there to the library; their father was in neither; and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who said: "If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the little copse....

Next morning. Everybody had been expecting a letter from Mr Bennet.  The post came, but not his letter.  His family knew him to be a negligent and slow correspondent, but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. They concluded that he had no pleasing intelligence to send.  Mr Gardiner had waited only for letters before he set off. Mrs Gardiner and the children were to remain a few more days in Hertfordshire.  She thought her presence to be essential to her nieces.  The other aunt also visited them frequently with a design of cheering and heartening them up. She always brought some fresh instances of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity. All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before had always been an angel of light.  He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended to every tradesman's family.  He was declared as the wicked an...

As they drove from the town her uncle said, "Elizabeth, I am inclined to take the view of Jane, in this regard.  It is unlikely that a young man should form such a design against a young girl, who is by no means unprotected and friendless, and who was actually staying in his Colonel's family.  Could he expect that her friends would not step forward?  Could he not expect to be noticed by the regiment, after such an affront to the Colonel.  His temptation is not equal to the risk. I am strongly inclined to hope the best." "Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth brightening up. "Upon my word," said Mrs Gardiner, "I begin to be of your uncle's opinion.  It is too great a violation of decency, honour and interest for him to be a guilty of.  I cannot think so very ill of Wickham.  Can you yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up, as to believe him capable of it?" "Not perhaps, of neglecting his own interest.  But in every other, he is capa...

Elizabeth did not receive any letters from Jane on their arrival at Lambton, for the first two days. She was disappointed. But on the third day she received two letters.  The address of the first letter was not correct and it went somewhere else, and redirected to the proper address, and delivered along with the second. "Since writing the previous one, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected nature; I am afraid of alarming you - be assured we are all well.  It is about Lydia.  An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! "Imagine our surprise.  To Kitty it does not seem unexpected.  I am very very sorry.  So imprudent a match on both both sides.  But I hope the best.  That his character has been misunderstood.  Thoughtless and indiscreet is he.  But this is nothing bad...

Miss Bingley's dislike of Elizabeth had its origin in jealousy.  Elizabeth could not help feeling how unwelcome Miss Bingley's presence at Pemberly would be. On reaching the Pemberly House, they were shown through the hall into the saloon. It offered a refreshing view of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts scattered over the lawn behind, boarded by  wooded hills.  Miss Darcy, along with Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley received them.  Miss Darcy's reception of them was very civil, but she was embarassed out of shyness and the the fear of committing any mistakes while doing something, gave her a look of proud, to those who were inferior to her. But Mrs Gardiner, and Elizabeth however, did her justice, and pitied her. On entering of Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley, there came a pause in the conversation among others, an awkward pause, which was broken by Mrs Annesley, a well bred agreeable woman, and the conversation continued, between her and Mrs Gardiner with occasional he...

Next morning. Lambton.  Elizabeth, her uncle and aunt along with some new friends had been walking about the place; and were just returning to the inn to dress themselves for dining, when the sound of carriage drew them to a window, they saw Mr Darcy and her sister in a curricle driving up the street.  With a perturbed mind, she stood looking at them, and then withdrew from the window, fearful of being seen. Mr Darcy and her sister appeared, and a formal introduction took place. Elizabeth saw that Miss Darcy was also embarassed. She had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud. But she observed that she is exceedingly shy.  She found it difficult to get even a word from her beyond monosyllable.  Miss Darcy was little more than sixteen, tall, and graceful.  She was less handsome than her brother; but there was sense and good humour in her.  Her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. They had not been long together before Mr Darcy had told her that ...

Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of Pemberly Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. The park was large with variety of ground.  They entered it in one of the lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretched over a wide area. Elizabeth's mind was too full of conversation, but she saw every remarkable spot and point of view.  They gradually ascended for half a mile and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the sight of Pemberly House, at the opposite side of the valley, into which the winding road goes.  A large handsome stone building standing on a raised ground, backed by a ridge of wooded hills, and in front, a  stream with natural banks.  Elizabeth was delighted.  She had never seen a place so blessed by nature. They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the doo...