It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least in some circles, that a single Pastor must be in want of a wife. However little is known of his own thoughts and wishes this truth is firmly established in the minds of all those whom he encounters. And so it is hardly surprising that when Pastor Bingley came to spend an extended vacation to finish his dissertation at the home of an absent friend in the small town of Hertdordshire, Massachusetts many members of the local congregation assumed his secondary motive must be to choose a wife from among their members.
Pastor Bingley's impending arrival was soon common knowledge among the church members and many a prayer group and Biblestudy canvassed the subject between the earnest sharing of Biblical knowledge and prayer requests. One such meeting took place at the home of Mrs. Alison Bennet, a longtime church member and mother of five daughters.
"Susan are you certain he is not attached to anyone from the church he pastored in New York?" Mrs. Bennett asked of her neighbor and dear friend Susan Lucas.
"Linda Ashley was asked by the Donahues to let him into the house and so has already met him and she says he is not." Susan responded.
Mrs. Bennett did not need to wonder how Linda Ashley could have gleaned such personal information out of the man so quickly. She had a gift. Not strictly speaking a spiritual gift, but a gift none the less for getting people to reveal things they had no intention of revealing. Her reputation was such that anyone with anything to hide would not be caught dead within 100 yards of her on Sunday mornings.
"And there is more." Susan informed her hostess before taking a bite of coffee cake and thereby increasing the drama of the moment.
"He is accompanied by a Pastor friend of his."
"Indeed."
"Yes. Linda Ashley says he is pastor of a large church in upstate New York. Apparently the two went to seminary together. She says the friend's congregation is over 5000 and that he, Pastor Darcy is his name, is a well known speaker and author. As if she has ever read a book without a vampire in it." Susan added that last bit with just a trace of spite as Linda had acted as if Susan was just this side of a pagan for not having heard of Pastor Darcy's series of books on Church history.
"Better and better." Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennett's second daughter, commented to her sister Jane after hearing Mrs. Lucas' account.
"Why Lizzie are you hoping to catch a husband from among our visitors?" Her sister teased.
"No of course not," Elizabeth answered with a smile as she rose to refill her coffee cup. "It's just that I have heard of Mr. Darcy and think he will be an interesting addition to our congregation if he decides to grace us with his presence while he is here. I believe he is running several Church leadership conferences in the area over the next month and I assume that is what brings him to Pastor Bingley's temporary home."
The sisters each contemplated what they had learned about the young men now occupying the house just a few streets away. Jane did in fact hope that one or both of these gentlemen would live up to the expectations of many of the church ladies she had heard speak of them today and earlier. She was not eager to marry for marriage's sake, but she would freely admit to the hope of finding someone who truly touched her heart. Elizabeth on the other hand had no hopes for these strangers other than their adding fresh perspectives and points of view to discussions and gatherings among their somewhat repetitive acquaintance.
The first opportunity the congregation at large had to meet and greet these much anticipated visitors was at the church softball game that week. The two pastors and a young woman arrived just after team warm ups and Susan Lucas' husband Bill rushed to greet them and eagerly sought to integrate them into the day's activities. One of his first stops as he led the party around to meet everyone was the bleachers where Mrs. Bennett sat with several of her daughters.
"Mrs. Bennett," Bill began with his typical enthusiasm, "Pastor Bingley has asked to be introduced to you and your daughters. Apparently their reputation precedes them." He winked as he said this and Elizabeth, who was nearby warming up her pitching arm, rolled her eyes at his obvious implication. The Bennett sisters, she knew, were often referred to enemas as being pretty, smart and charming. She felt this entire description applied only to her older sister Jane while she and her other sisters might claim one or two of these attributes.
"Pastor Bingley it is so nice to meet you." Mrs. Bennett gushed. "Let me introduce you to my daughters. This is my oldest, Jane she is a kindergarten teacher here in town. Lizzie there is our resident community activist. She's also the Director of Adult ministries at church. Mary here is studying Russian literature at Gordon College and my youngest two are over there among that group of youngsters. They are both seniors in highschool."
"Nice to meet you all." Pastor Bingley responded sincerely, his eyes lingering for an extra moment on the eldest Bennett sister. He then added," Please none of this Pastor stuff, I am between positions after all. Please call me Charlie."
Mrs. Bennett contemplated the amiable nature of this handsome guest and all that it could mean for her daughters as Bill went on.
"Charlie has agreed to shore up our ailing team and fill in for one of our absent players." Bill informed them.
"How wonderful of you Pastor . . . Charlie." Mrs. Bennett said and then noticing his friend lingering nearby she addressed him. "And what about you young man, are you ready to pitch in for our team?"
Charlie took the opportunity to draw his friend closer in order to introduce him to his new acquaintances.
"Mrs. Bennett, this is my good friend Pastor William Darcy. In addition to his writing and speaking obligations he is also a pastor of a large church just outside New York City."
"Nice to meet you Pastor Darcy," Mrs. Bennett said extending her hand. Elizabeth, who had drawn nearer in order to observe the introductions, noted that Pastor Darcy did not suggest anyone dispense with the formalities when addressing him. Her mother however; did not seem to have noticed Pastor Darcy's manner as a contrast to his friends as she addressed him again.
"Will you jump in and lend our team a hand like your friend here Pastor Darcy? I'm sure we could use your help to crush these upstart Baptists."
"I'm sorry to say, Mrs. Bennett that I have little time for recreation and so I would not be very helpful." As he said this he turned and went back to sit on the far bleacher with a young woman who turned out to be Charlie's sister Carol.
Charlie's participation was a spectacular success as his homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning won the game for them. His friendliness and sense of humor won him many fans on the bench and in the bleachers. Pastor Darcy, who at first was admired and esteemed on the basis of his reputation as a gifted speaker, successful author and pastor of a large church was soon considered as far inferior to his friend based on his unwillingness to engage in small talk with anyone who tried and his general disdain for all of the activities surrounding the game. He appeared to be entirely too serious and difficult to please. Charlie seemed to genuinely enjoy the postgame gathering around the picnic tables in the park, readily chatted with many of the church members and was upset when it was time for everyone to head home. He talked of hosting a party at his borrowed home soon so that they might all again gather to talk and joke as they did that night.
At one point when Elizabeth was seated alone at a table enjoying the perfect s'more she had created over the newly lit bonfire she overheard Charlie taking with Pastor Darcy and was amused to find herself the subject of their discourse.
"Will, this church is really something. The people are so friendly."
"Friendliness is often just evidence of a shallow nature." Will observed gravely.
"Will you are entirely too judgmental. Friendliness is a good thing and in no way an indicator of a lack of depth. We just have to get to know them. I will say I look forward to getting to know Jane. She has a great sense of humor and I can't pretend the fact that she is the prettiest woman I have seen in a long time hurts." Charlie said with a smile as he assembled a s'more, which Will eyed suspiciously.
"I don't believe you can know what she is truly like on such short acquaintance. As to her looks, I agree she is pretty."
"Thanks for that concession. I'm sure it was hard for you although no one could actually argue otherwise. Her sister Elizabeth is very pretty too I think. She is sitting down by herself over there. You should go talk to her. I hear she is very witty."
"Her looks are passable at best," Will replied as he turned to look at the woman to whom Charlie referred. "As to wit I am not sure I would trust these people's opinion about what is witty."
"Will, you really are a stick in the mud. A serious faith does not require the stoic outlook you seem to think necessary in all circumstances, but I will leave you to contemplate the deeper questions of the cosmos while I make myself and my lovely new friend another s'more."
With this Charlie walked away, did exactly as he said he would and enjoyed himself immensely. Will contemplated his friend's words more than his appearance would indicate, but he was distracted from these considerations when he saw Elizabeth walk past him on her way to her friend Charlotte. Although the women giggled in a way that he normally despised he found himself intrigued for just a moment as he caught the laughing expression on Elizabeth's face.
For her part Elizabeth was thinking of Will at the moment he was considering her enchanting smile, but her thoughts were less hospitable. In fact she had overheard his entire conversation with Charlie. At first she was indignant at his dismissal of her looks and her mind, but being one of those who love to laugh at the quirks of humanity she took solace in her clever retelling to her friend. They both laughed and Elizabeth almost forgot the slight.