Chapter-6
Mr. Collins was not a sensible man and his natural lack of intelligence had not been helped by education or good society. He had spent most of his life under the guidance of an ignorant and miserly father. This had given him originally great humility of manner, but now his promotion to Rector of Hunsford had changed him a good deal.
His respect for the high rank of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, together with his very good opinion of himself, made him a mixture of pride and servility, self-importance and humility.
Now that he had a good house and income he intended — to marry, and his purpose was to choose one of Mr. Bennet’s daughters as his wife. He thought it an excellent plan, excessively generous and unselfish.
His plan did not change when she saw the daughters. Jane Bennet’s lovely face decided him. Fortunately, she was the senior daughter and on the first evening she was his choice. The next morning, however, he had a conversation with. Mrs. Bennet. She was full of smiles and encouragement, but warned him against choosing Jane. It was likely, she warned him, that Jane would very soon be engaged. But the other daughters were, as far as she knew, quite free from other interests. Mr. Collins changed from Jane to Elizabeth while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire.
Mrs. Bennet hoped that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not talk about yesterday was now in high favour.
That morning four of the sisters decided to walk to Meryton to visit their aunt, and Mr. Collins went with them. The town was full of officers, and the younger girls could look at nothing else, unless it was a very smart hat indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window.
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man whom they had never seen before. He was walking with an officer whom Lydia knew. All of them were impressed by the stranger’s gentlemanlike appearance, and all wondered who he could be. The younger girls crossed the road to look at something in a shop window and fortunately reached the pavement just as the two gentlemen were passing.
The officer spoke to them and introduced his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had just come from London to become an officer in their regiment. This was perfect! The young man only needed a uniform to make him completely charming. He had a handsome face, a good figure and a very agreeable manner.
The whole party were standing together, talking very happily, when the sound of horses attracted them, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. Seeing the ladies, the two gentlemen came towards them, and Bingley told Jane that he had just been on his way to Longbourn to ask about her health.
Mr. Darcy bowed, and was just deciding not to look at Elizabeth when his eye was caught by the stranger. Elizabeth was astonished by the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. After a few moments, Mr. Wickham touched his hat and Mr. Darcy nodded. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to wish to know.
The party soon separated and the sisters went on to their aunt, Mrs. Philips. She knew as little as they about Mr. Wickham, but promised that her husband would call upon him and invite him to join them all at a nice comfortable noisy game of cards, and a little bit of hot supper on the next evening. The prospect of such delights was very agreeable and they said goodbye in high spirits.
The carriage took Mr. Collins and his five cousins to Meryton the next evening. They were delighted to learn that Mr. Wickham had agreed to join the party. While they waited, Mr. Collins had time to look around him and admire the size and furniture of the drawing room. He declared it was almost as handsome as the small summer breakfast room at Rosings. The comparison did not at first give Mrs. Philips much pleasure. But when she was told what Rosings was and to whom it belonged, had heard a description of only one of Lady Catherine’s drawing rooms and had learnt that the mantlepiece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt more pleased, and would have been quite happy to have her drawing room compared to the housekeeper’s room at Rosings.
At last the gentlemen arrived.
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he seated himself. The cards began and again they were seated together. Mr. Wickham was therefore free to talk to Elizabeth and she was very willing to hear him. She dared not even mention Mr. Darcy, but her curiosity was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He asked how far Netherfield was from Meryton. Then, after receiving her answer, he asked in a hesitant manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.
“About a month,” said Elizabeth. Then she added, “He has a very large property in Derbyshire, I understand.”
“Yes,” said Wickham, “His estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand a year. You could not have met anyone who knows more about it than myself. I have been connected with his family since childhood.”
Elizabeth could not help looking surprised.
“No wonder you are surprised, Miss Bennet, after seeing our meeting yesterday. Do you know Mr. Darcy well?”
“As well as I ever want to,” replied Elizabeth, “I have spent four days in the same house with him and I think him very disagreeable.”
“I wonder,” said Wickham, after a short pause, “whether he is likely to stay here much longer.”
“I do not know at all, but I heard nothing about his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your own plans will not be changed by his presence here.”
“Oh! no—Mr. Darcy cannot drive me away. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, but I have no reason to avoid him. His father, Miss Bennet, was one of the best men that ever breathed. Mr. Darcy’s behaviour to myself has been scandalous, but I could forgive him anything and everything, except the disgrace to the memory of his father.”
Elizabeth listened with all her heart, but the delicacy of the subject prevented further questions.
Later, however, Mr. Wickham began to speak about his reasons for joining the army. It was not what he had intended. The church ought to have been his profession. He had been brought up for the church and should now have been established in it. But the gentleman of whom they had just been speaking had prevented this.
Elizabeth expressed surprise.
“Yes—the father of the present Mr. Darcy intended me to receive a valuable living, which was part of his property. He thought he had arranged this in his will. But when the time came, the ‘living’ was given to someone else.”
“Good Heavens!” cried Elizabeth, “How could that be? How could his will be overlooked?”
“Mr. Darcy chose to do so. He stated that I had shown extravagance. Anyway the living was given to another man; I did not deserve to lose it. I have a warm temper—and perhaps I spoke my opinion of him and to him too freely. I remember nothing worse. But the trouble is that we are two very different men, and that he hates me.”
