Chapter-20
One morning, about a week after Bingley’s engagement to Jane, they were all sitting in the dining room when a carriage drove up to the door. Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth and Kitty were wondering who their visitor could be when the door was thrown open and she entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Elizabeth was even more astonished than her mother and sister, to whom Lady Catherine was quite unknown. She entered the room with a manner which was more ungracious than usual. She made no reply to Elizabeth’s welcome, except a slight nod, and sat down without a word. Elizabeth introduced her to her mother, who was flattered to have a guest of such importance. However, after a few unfriendly words, Lady Catherine suggested to Elizabeth that they should take a walk in the garden. Walking through the hall she opened the doors of the other rooms and took a short look at each of them.
Elizabeth was determined to make no effort at conversation with a woman who was now so very disagreeable. As they entered the wood, Lady Catherine began, “You no doubt understand, Miss Bennet, the reason for my journey here. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I have come.”
Elizabeth looked at her with astonishment.
This extraordinary visit upset Elizabeth for a considerable time. She could not think where the report of her engagement had come from. But, remembering that one wedding always made people anxious for another, she decided that it must have come from the Lucases to the Collins and then to Lady Catherine herself.
She was uneasy about the effects of Lady Catherine’s interference, however. It seemed likely that she would now speak to her nephew, having failed with herself. If he had been undecided about what he should do, which seemed likely, his aunt’s advice might settle every doubt. In that case he would return no more. Lady Catherine would see him on her way through London and his plan to return to Netherfield would be changed.
“If, therefore, he decides not to come,” she said to herself, “I shall understand it. I shall then give up every hope of his affection. I shall soon stop regretting him at all.”
Instead of receiving such an excuse, however, Mr. Bingley brought Darcy with him to Longbourn only a few days after Lady Catherine’s visit. The gentlemen arrived early and Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, suggested they should take a walk. It was agreed. Bingley and Jane walked on ahead, while Elizabeth, Darcy and Kitty went together. Very little was said by any of them. At last Kitty left them, to visit the Lucases, and Elizabeth went boldly on with him alone. Now was the moment for action. While her courage was with her.
That night, Elizabeth opened her heart to Jane. Jane was not usually suspicious, but this she refused to believe.
“You are joking, Lizzy! This cannot be! Engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you must not deceive me. I know it is impossible.”
“This is a bad beginning, indeed! My only hope was in you. I am sure no one else will believe me if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am speaking the truth. He still loves me and we are engaged.”
Jane still looked at her doubtingly. “Oh, Lizzy! It cannot be true. I know how much you dislike him.”
“You know nothing about it! That must all be forgotten! Perhaps I did not always love him as much as I do now. But in such cases as this a good memory is Unforgiveable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself.”
“Good heavens! Can it really be true? Yet now I must believe you,” cried Jane, “My dear, dear Lizzy, I do congratulate you. But are you certain? forgive the question—are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?”
“There can be no doubt of it. We have already agreed between us that we are going to be the happiest couple in the world. You will not believe me if I tell you all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry.”
“My dearest sister, now be serious. Let me know everything. Will you tell me how long you have loved him?”
“I hardly know where it began. But I believe it must have started when I first saw his beautiful park at Pemberley.”
Jane begged her again to be serious and this time she was successful. Elizabeth soon satisfied her of her sincere love for Darcy. “Now I am quite happy,” said Jane, “for you will be as happy as myself.” All was explained and half the night was spent in conversation.
Happy was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two best daughters. It can easily be imagined with what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley and Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her brought him often to Pemberley. He delighted in going there when he was not expected.
Mr. Bingley and Jane only remained at Netherfield a year. The dearest wish of the sisters was then granted, for Bingley bought a house near Pemberley and Jane and Elizabeth had the happiness of being near each other.
Kitty spent most of her time with her two elder sisters. In such company she improved greatly. Away from Lydia’s influence she became less bad-tempered and less ignorant. Her father, of course, would never agree to her visiting Mrs. Wickham.
Mary was the only daughter who remained at home, to keep her mother’s company, and as her looks were no longer compared so often with the beauty of her sisters, her father thought she enjoyed the change.
As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters were unchanged. Whenever they changed their homes Elizabeth and Jane were sure to be asked to pay some of their bills. They lived in a very unsettled way, always spending more than they should. His affection for her soon became indifference; her’s lasted a little longer. Darcy would never receive Wickham at Pemberley, but helped him in his profession for the sake of Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley was seriously annoyed by Darcy’s marriage, but as she did not want to lose the right to visit Pemberley she gave up her resentment; she was fonder than ever of Georgiana, as attentive to Darcy as before, and as polite as necessary to Elizabeth.
The affection between Georgiana and Elizabeth was what Darcy hoped to see. Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth, though she was sometimes alarmed by her lively manner in talking to Darcy. Gradually, she came to understand that a woman can behave more freely with a husband than with a brother ten years older than herself.
Lady Catherine was extremely angry at the marriage of her nephew. She sent him so violent a letter that for some time they did not speak to each other. But at last Elizabeth persuaded him to write to his aunt. After a little hesitation, she condescended to visit them at Pemberley, in spite of the presence of such a mistress.
They always continued in the closest friendship with the Gardiners. Darcy as well as Elizabeth really loved them; and they both always felt the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her to Derbyshire, had brought them together again.
