Chapter 12 ~Taking Leave

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8, ESV)

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:5-7, ESV)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13: 12, ESV)

Alas Mary was too late for while she was closeted with her father Charlotte Lucas had come to call. Miss Lucas, on seeing him enter the room, looked up at Mr. Collins with an invitation that was a balm to his wounded feelings. What a contrast to the resigned acceptance on Mary's countenance! And he joined the ladies with happier spirits than he thought possible only five minutes before. Kitty and Lydia, giving no more thought to Mary or Mr. Collins, hoped to meet with Maria when they saw that she did not accompany her sister – for it was absolutely necessary that they talk over a ball – and took themselves off to Lucas Lodge. Elizabeth and Jane were busy distracting their mother from her anxious complainings, they eventually coaxed her upstairs to recover her nerves. As they left the room her friends sent Charlotte many apologetic looks.

If Charlotte had any idea of the occurences of the morning she would not have attempted to draw Mr. Collins attentions to herself. Elizabeth had given her to understand that the handsome Bennet sisters found his company most irksome. She had spent many long minutes in conversation with the gentleman and did not object to his company for his courteous manner was not unlike her father's. Though she would not deny that he was a little sillier it was not enough to put her off when she considered how very eligible a match he would be. Mrs. Bennet's effusions at the Netherfield ball and his own descriptions of his comfortable home fixed her course. She declined her sister's company this morning for she had come in the hope of pursuing a purpose that she considered as beneficial to all concerned. The Miss Bennets would be free from his unwanted attentions, Mr. Collins would be provided with a capable wife and she would acquire a comfortable home. Making good use of the few minutes she was left to entertain him she exerted herself to be agreeable to Mr. Collins.

When Jane and Elizabeth returned to the parlour not ten minutes later they were pleased to see their cousin contentedly expounding on the usefulness of shelves as Charlotte most readily approved of them. Elizabeth sat beside her and leaning close she whispered: "It's keeping him in good humour and I am more obliged to you than I can express."

Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and admitted only that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiably said, but as Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of she blushed. Unwilling to acknowledge that her object was to secure them all from Mr. Collins's attentions, by engaging them towards herself her scheme could not be acknowledged until it succeeded; and appearances were so favourable, that when they parted she would have felt almost sure of her conquest if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.

He, by the end of that visit, announced his intention to depart early the next day and was careful to avoid a private interview with Miss Mary. His wishes had changed and he hoped to find some honourable way to free himself from the obligation of his offer. As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leavetaking was performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his other engagements might allow him to visit them.

"My dear madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible."

Mary and her mother were greatly relieved by this answer and Mr. Bennet who, though he could by no means wish for so speedy a return, had motives that bade him to immediately second his wife's civil invitation. Considering that this was very likely the best situation Mary could hope for he was eager to have the matter settled. But on hearing the young man's next speech, almost every hope of this kind was done away.

"Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Mary."

This did astonish them all. It was not precisely an overt rejection but it did seem very much to prove that Mary's lack of enthusiam had made her situation less secure. With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew. Mary, now feeling that the man she just this morning was prepared to accept with reluctance became the one man in all the world most suited to make her happy, spent her tears in her pillow. Unable to comprehend such a complete change of feeling, her sisters were unaware of her wretchedness and the dollerous poundings of the piano that sounded each morning until his next visit were the only hint of her depressed spirits. It is very unfortunate that Mary's talents did not allow her audience to distinguish her dollorous poundings from her joyful poundings and all of the sympathy she was extended was very soon eclipsed by a little note from Netherfield.

The elegant little sheet of hot-pressed paper covered with the pretty loops and swirls that distinguished the graduates of a very fine seminary in London did not contain an invitation to tea. This very delicate and feminine note caused an almost imperceptible shift in Jane's serene countenance. Hope and contentment drifted away as disappointment and hurt settled over her features like a mask. The difference was obvious to Elizabeth; for everyone else, it seemed they were too distracted to see it. Their mother considered the note to be more proof of how important Jane was to the inhabitants of Netherfield and smiled and talked on. Jane after putting the poisonous paper in her reticule smiled with doll-like loveliness and laughed hollow laughs until she made an excuse and with only a glance invited Elizabeth to follow her. Not many minutes later she did and made her way upstairs. When she had gained the room they shared she found her sister wrapped in a shall on the window seat. Elizabeth took the place beside her. Jane drew the letter from her pocket and offered it to her sister as she said composedly:

"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town." She swallowed. "-- and without any intention of coming back again."

Her face did not crumple but Elizabeth knew her sister too well to miss that her heart was wounded by this news. Although she was not as familiar with the sender as she was with the receiver of the note she suspected that Caroline Bingley may not have presented all of the pertinent information. After reading the letter she wished to give Jane a little hope and attempted to present an alternative explanation.

"It is unhappy," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? The gentlemen will not be detained in London by them."

With a sad smile and a controlled voice she further explained, "Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means – most kindly! – to put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?"

"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. Will you hear it?"

"Very willingly."

"You shall have it in few words because I know you will not like it. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, but wants him to marry to more advantage. Mr. Darcy has paid me more attention than she likes and she follows her brother to town in the hope of keeping both gentlemen there. With this pretty note she attempts to persuade you that they do not care about us."

"Oh, Lizzy! I have been selfish and I have forgotten that when Caroline says that none of the party will return to Hertfordshire this winter, she includes Mr. Darcy. Forgive me, dearest for my selfishness."

"There is nothing at all to forgive. I have never been entirely comfortable with Mr. Darcy's attentions. I was already questioning his intentions, you know. I spoke to him about it and although he seemed to take it with good humour he also gave me to understand that he was not pleased by it. During supper I had more reasons to be concerned that I had lost some of his esteem. He was as charming as ever, but he did not like to hear mama's hopes for rich and handsome suitors, and our cousin did not make a very favourable impression. There is no need at present to be concerned for my heart, dearest. I certainly have liked him very well but it was not yet grown into love and if it were I would be angry at his weakness. No, he was disquieting and it was uncomfortable more often than pleasant; I have no reason to regret him."

"I see how it is, dear sister, you do not like to see me hurt but you do believe that Mr. Darcy will not return. I wish to face the truth now as you do."

"You have misunderstood me. I am not entirely convinced that he has given me up. He may choose for himself, but his face during supper gave me a hint that he was not pleased. We have only Miss Bingley's words to judge by and I do not think it at all possible that Mr. Bingley could mean to forget you. All the neighbourhood could plainly see that he admired you. Mr. Darcy, however, did little to single me out among our neighbours than one dance at a ball. If, after all, he has decided against me I do not mean to be unhappy about him. Your situation is very different from my own and you have every reason to expect the best."

'But if he returns no more this winter - - an hundred things may arise in six months!'

The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man so totally independent of every one. With these sentiments she comforted Jane.

They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky. After lamenting it, however, at some length, she had the consolation of thinking that Mr. Bingley would soon be down again and would dine at Longbourn; and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.