Chapter 12
Lydia and Miss Bingley began a conversation about what could be done to the ring to make it attractive. The two were rudely interrupted by Elizabeth jumping out of her basket and landing on the floor with a thud. Lydia dived onto the floor in pursuit of her sister. In the process she tipped over the hatbox and Prissy started running and squealing around the room. Lydia ran about the room trying to collect both of her little friends with plenty of screaming involved on both sides.
After a couple minutes of this, Mary poked her head in the room and asked, "Lydia, whatever crazy game you are playing, could you please play it more quietly? I am trying to read." Mary waved her book in the air and then left the room again.
Lydia had stopped her chase for the time her older sister was in the room but immediately resumed the moment she left. There was no significant change in her volume. The pause had given Elizabeth time to hide under the sofa. While Lydia was prodding her out, Prissy was able to cover a lot of ground she was clear on other end of the room. The chase continued in a similar pattern.
Mr. Darcy finished what he was working on. Mr. Darcy had worked throughout the entire scene without seeming to notice anything of the world around him. "Miss Bingley," he asked, "could you go over my translations and mark any mistakes I might have made?" He placed Miss Bingley on the table with the ring and the paper.
Observing the actions of the other occupants, he got down on the floor and quickly trapped Prissy. This left Lydia free to capture Elizabeth. Lydia smiled at him. "Thank you, Mr. Darcy. Without your help I doubt I ever would have caught them both."
Mr. Darcy expressed his willingness to be of service.
Miss Bingley, not liking to be left out of any conversation which Mr. Darcy was involved in added, "Indeed. There is not a person I know more willing to be of service than Mr. Darcy. He is always looking to find a way to help his friends.
Mr. Darcy was embarrassed and said nothing in reply.
Lydia changed the subject, "Did the ring tell you who is the evil witch?"
"No, but it has told me how to use it."
"Why would you want to shrink more people? Apart from making prissy even cuter, the ring has only hurt people." Lydia was curious to know his reasoning.
Mr. Darcy patiently explained that he had actually discovered how to make people big again. The ring could either shrink or expand the person wearing it.
"Truly?"
"Yes. Based on what I know about that kind of ring it was orininally intended to help the wearer hide from or defeat his enemies," Mr. Darcy matter-of-factually replied. "The ring has three setting shrink, expand, and neutral."
"I find it highly suspicious that you know all this about the ring," Elizabeth accused. "Clearly this is not the first time you have seen the ring."
"Lizzy! If Mr. Darcy was evil, why would he be helping us?"
"I believe you know the villain, Mr. Darcy, who do you think he or she is?" Elizabeth continued as if her sister had not spoken.
"Lizzy!" Lydia shouted. "If Mr. Darcy knew the witch he would not be here in the sitting room. He would be out there killing the evil witch."
Miss Bingley complained, "Mr. Darcy, may I have my ring back? I still want it."
"I though you agreed with me that it was ugly and you would not be seen dead wearing it?" Lydia reminded her.
Mary poked her head back into the room, "I though I made my opinion on your volume clear." She noticed Mr. Darcy for the first time. "Mr. Darcy, I apologize for my sister. Come to the sitting room where Mama is entertaining Lady Lucas."
Mr. Darcy followed Mary out of the room. He assured Lydia he would return as soon as he was able.
Everyone was quiet for a moment after Mr. Darcy left. Lydia asked, "Miss Bingley, what does Mr. Darcy's paper say we need to do next? He said the ring could make you big again."
Miss Bingley read off Darcy's writing: "'Gem one: Neutral (center); Gem two: Shrink (left); Gem three: expand (right).'"
Lydia picked up the ring off the table and studied it. The large red gem was teardrop shaped. It was surrounded by three small gems that appeared to be diamonds. The gems were connected by the words to form an Isosceles triangle. One of the points was pointing either out away from the hand or in towards the wearer. This gem was clearly the center one. The teardrop was pointing to this gem. What was unclear was which gem was right and which was left.
Lydia shared her findings with Miss Bingley. The two began an argument on the subject. After much bickering, they agreed to pointing towards the wearer.
"Miss Bingley, hold out your hand and I shall make you big again." Lydia turned the gem. She then placed the ring around Miss Bingley's wrist.
They had guessed wrong. Miss Bingley was now the size of Lydia's smallest finger. She stood on the table next to the ring. It was now too big for her to wear it it around her middle.
Lydia started giggling. "Your so small. I guess we were wrong."
"Would you stop laughing a rotate the gem?" Miss Bingley asked impatiently.
"I suppose," Lydia continued giggling. She set the gem to the actual expand setting. Miss Bingley stepped in a returned to the size she had been a few minutes prior. She placed it on her wrist again and was her original size.
Lydia scooped up Prissy in her palm. Before she put the ring on she though of a much better idea. "Prissy," she said while petting the small animal, "I am going to keep you just the way you are. You can be my tiny pig pet. I will keep you in my room and feed you every day!" Prissy responded with a happy squeal.