Sorry! I skipped a chapter!


A letter arrived the next morning for Mr. Bennet from Netherfield. It was from Mr. Bingley, taking leave of them. He explained in the letter that his business in town would likely keep him away from Netherfield until after Christmas at least, and he apologised for not being able to take leave of them in person. It was very well written and polite. If Elizabeth had not known the reason why his absence was to be of months rather than days, she would have suspected nothing amiss.

The mention of Mr. Bingley reminded Mr. Collins of Mr. Darcy and thence, Lady Catherine. Therefore, all at the breakfast table were treated to further stories of her ladyship's condescension and advice. He directed most of his comments to Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet, hoping to win them over. Mr. Collins was not used to being denied that which he wished for, and although his intentions were good in wishing to heal the breach, it was his cousin's other personal qualities that made him hope that she would someday be his wife.

After breakfast, the Bennets were pleased to greet both the Hadleys and the Lucases as callers. The Hadleys were, of course, always welcome regardless of hour or day. The Lucases were excited to talk over the events of the previous evening with the Bennets.

"I found it very interesting that Mr. Darcy danced with you, Eliza," said Charlotte.

"Do you? We had developed an acquaintance that verged on friendship, so I do not know why it would be so odd."

"It did not look as if either you or Mr. Darcy greatly enjoyed your dance," said Lady Lucas.

"I enjoyed it well enough. I cannot, of course, speak for Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth replied.

Mr. Collins contributed a lecture on the great condescension and honour that Elizabeth must feel to be so honoured with a dance from Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth made a sound that neither agreed nor disagreed with this statement.

When conversation turned towards Kitty's dance partners, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were able to pull Mrs. Bennet to one side and ask what Mr. Bennet meant by speaking so familiarly with Mr. Wickham when they had warned everyone against him.

"I warned everyone against him," said Mrs. Bennet. "My husband and I are of different minds when it comes to Mr. Wickham. He believes we should simply not invite him to Longbourn and keep him away from Kitty and Lizzy. I believe we have a duty to the community as a whole. Besides, you know he cannot resist talking about Egypt."

Mr. Hadley scowled. "His interest in antiquities is overshadowing his sense. From what I overheard, he and Wickham are planning to meet in London soon, so he can be introduced to an acquaintance of an acquaintance. Apparently, this gentleman has been working with an excavator in Egypt and hopes to translate the Rosetta Stone. The Greek, of course, has already been translated, but as it is believed the text might be the same in all three languages, they believe it might be possible to use the Greek to decode the others. He also has some papyrus that Mr. Bennet wishes to see. This is all well and good, if I was certain of Mr. Wickham's reason for being so generous to Mr. Bennet. "

"Indeed?" asked Mrs. Bennet. "I did not stay long after Mr. Bennet refused to leave the conversation after I hinted that I would like to dance. I did not hear that much."

"I am uneasy about this," said Mary.

"Does Mr. Wickham know it was you who told people that he was not to be trusted?" asked Mr. Hadley.

"I do not think so. I told only a few people. Lady Lucas, Mrs. Long, and the butcher. They told everyone else."

"The three worst gossips in town," said Mr. Hadley approvingly.

"Although it appears that Mr. Wickham has also paid some of his debt. I do not know where he got the money, but that might cast doubt on the charges." Mrs. Bennet had heard that much from Lady Lucas the previous evening at the ball, but her daughter and son-in-law were surprised to hear this.

"No doubt he cheated someone else out of it," said Mr. Hadley. "I will look into it. That explains why he was so easy with everyone last evening."

"Mrs. Long was telling me that he has spent a great deal of time calling on Miss King of late," said Mary.

"The sudden illness of her relative and the potential acquisition of ten-thousand pounds must certainly add to Miss King's charm, but that does not explain whence he has got the money already. However, I shall write to her uncle. I met him once. He was a pleasant man."

The conversation was made to cease here, for Lady Lucas drew near. She asked the Hadleys how they got on with the new servants they had hired soon after their marriage and if they needed any new servants, for there was a young daughter of a tenant who needed a position and was willing to work as a maid. Although their income was not great, the Hadleys knew the family in question and the great need that they had. They accepted the young girl, if she would work in the scullery, for they had no other positions open in their home. Lady Lucas was pleased to be of service to the Hadleys and the tenant family. She told them she would send the girl over later that day.

Soon Sir William came out from Mr. Bennet's study and announced it was time to go, for he wished to accomplish much that afternoon. Curiously, Mr. Collins went with them, saying that he had been invited to take tea and play chess with Sir William. None of the Bennets were sorry to see him go.

Several others from the neighbourhood called on the Bennets in that day, for all were enormously curious about the Netherfield party's leaving, Mr. Wickham's character, and the Bennets' opinion on both matters. Elizabeth freely told what she thought, especially after she received a letter from Miss Bingley saying that Mr. Bingley intended to stay much longer in town and spend a great deal of time with Miss Darcy. She wished him well in his future life, regardless of if she saw him again often or never. She was quite certain they were nothing but indifferent acquaintances and corrected any who thought otherwise. She hoped, if it was the lady's wish as well, that he and Miss Darcy would be very happy.

As for Mr. Wickham, the area was divided as to what they thought about him. He repaid several debts, which made the stories of his perfidy seem to have less merit. He was everything charming, and Mr. Bennet seemed to get on well enough with him, even though Mrs. Bennet and his daughters were not fond of his company. Even so, the warnings did some good. While Mr. Wickham was sometimes welcome at people's tables, they all carefully watched their daughters around him.

On Friday, the Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again, during the chief of the engagement, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express."

Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, yet Charlotte's benevolence went beyond what Elizabeth could have imagined. Its object was nothing else than to ensure Mr. Collins' attentions were directed towards herself instead of her friend. She was quite certain that her friend did not wish for Mr. Collins' addresses and therefore sought them herself. Miss Lucas was so confident in her plan that she thought she was almost sure of success when they said goodbye for the night, if he wasn't leaving Hertfordshire so soon. Yet here, too, she was to be surprised.

Mr. Collins several times hinted that he should like to return to Longbourn to visit very soon, but neither Mr. Bennet nor his wife proffered an invitation, pretending to not understand the suggestions. Intent on his purpose, Mr. Collins thought it very proper to call on the Lucases before leaving the area, although he had seen them only the previous evening. While at Lucas Lodge, he made the same hints, saying that the Bennets were unable to host him and how much he should like to return soon. Sir William was prompt in issuing a general invitation to Mr. Collins for whenever he should like to visit. This offer was accepted.

Mr. Collins returned to Meryton four days after leaving and intended to spend a little more than fortnight with the Lucases, as he was able to convince a curate from a neighbouring area to give the sermon on the Sundays he would miss. He brought surprising news with him from Lady Catherine. Mr. Bingley and Miss Darcy were to be married!

Lady Catherine was most displeased by these events, as she did not believe the son of the tradesman was at all acceptable for her niece. Yet, there had been some rumours — which Mr. Collins assured everyone were certainly untrue directly after sharing them — that Miss Darcy had agreed to elope with an entirely unsuitable man earlier in the year. She had been stopped by her brother in time, but it was known in Ramsgate, where Miss Darcy had been staying, that she had not been chaperoned appropriately and had spent some time alone with the gentleman. It was uncertain how the rumours had spread, except that Mr. Collins was not helping in quelling them. Despite this, Miss Darcy needed to find a husband or else be sent away to live in seclusion for the remainder of her life.

Elizabeth was stunned. She gasped in surprise when she heard of the engagement between Miss Darcy and Mr. Bingley while in the Lucases' drawing-room. Lady Lucas and Sir William attributed her surprise to Mr. Bingley rather than Miss Darcy and looked at her sympathetically. Mr. Collins continued to speak, speculating that Mr. Bingley certainly must have been the unsuitable man described in the rumours, for otherwise the marriage would certainly not have been allowed by Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth departed from the Lucases after a brief time, taking the longer way home to Longbourn in order to compose herself. She had never imagined that the lady Mr. Darcy described in his warning might be Miss Darcy. Had he said it was his sister, she might have been more cautious or could have persuaded her mother to be the same. Yet, was that any excuse? He had trusted her with a secret, and she had betrayed him.

And what villainy on the part of Wickham! She was certain he was the unsuitable man described, not Mr. Bingley. It was hard to decide which part of the rumours were true and which was false, but he had undoubtedly taken advantage of a young girl. Now she was to be made to marry a man to remain respectable in the eyes of society. The only comfort was that Mr. Bingley was a good man and would be a kind husband to Miss Darcy. How glad she now was that she had not accepted Mr. Bingley! Who else was a good enough friend to the Darcys that they would willingly marry Miss Darcy, although she was ruined by another? Actually, Elizabeth supposed Miss Darcy's dowry — which must be substantial — might buy her a husband regardless, but none of Mr. Bingley's fine character.

Elizabeth found a fallen tree to sit on near the hermitage and listened to the birds singing and chirping in the surrounding branches. They sounded far too happy when she was so miserable. She was unable to go back to Longbourn immediately, as her family would recognise her distress and make her explain the cause. She should, at the very least, not add to the propagation of the rumours. She held her hands to her face, and the heaviness in her chest seemed to amplify as she felt the heat of her tears.

She sat there, replaying the conversations she'd had with Mr Darcy and the compliments Mr. Bingley's sisters had paid Miss Darcy. She did not know exactly how old Miss Darcy was, but she was not yet out. From the way she was spoken of, Elizabeth thought she was likely barely more than a girl. Kitty's age, or perhaps younger, she supposed. She tried to imagine how she would feel if Kitty had been put in this position. Perfectly wretched, she imagined. She would never forgive the person who treated her dear sister in such a manner. How she wished she could go back and never speak of this matter with her mother!

"Lizzy?" came a voice from behind her. "Are you well?"