Chapter 5 The lovely and proper Bennet sisters meet the charming and rakish Mr. Wickham.
The lovely and proper Bennet sisters meet the charming and rakish Mr. Wickham.
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
Thomas and Fanny Bennet shared several glances as Mr. Collins expounded outrageously about his illustrious career as a clergyman and his intent to pay special attentions to his fair cousins to remove any foreseen hardships.
During dinner, Mr. Bennet chose simply to listen, but when the ladies withdrew, he decided it was time to have some conversation with his guest. After he had listened for more than a few minutes to Mr. Collins’s good fortune in his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and her attention to his wishes and consideration for his comfort, which included gracious approval of the sermons he had the honour of preaching before her, Thomas Bennet was convinced his cousin was in dire need of guidance.
He took it upon himself to suggest in gentle terms that gentlemen were more discreet in their general observations, compliments should be handed out with care, and flattery in excess could be misinterpreted as insincerity.
Mr. Collins tried to protest, referring to the generosity he obtained from his patroness and her condescension on advising him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion.
He further intimated he had come to Hertfordshire to select a bride who would meet her ladyship’s approval.
At this point, it was all Bennet could do to control the urge to eject the man from his home, but he reminded himself he had nearly a fortnight to reform Mr. Collins and hoped his family would not feel too importuned by his project.
At teatime, Mr. Bennet suggested his cousin read aloud from a history book the family was enjoying, but Mr. Collins chose instead to read from Fordyce’s Sermons.
The subsequent discussion bordered on criticism, causing Mr. Collins to suggest the Bennet ladies did not prefer serious literature.
Lydia Bennet made to object; however, her father changed the subject by inviting his cousin to a game of backgammon.
The following day, the gentlemen of Netherfield called upon the Bennets, and as was his custom, Mr. Bingley chose to spend the visit in quiet conversation with Jane while Mr. Darcy joined in a discussion with Mr. Bennet, Mary, Lydia, and Elizabeth.
Mr. Collins was touring the gardens with Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, and when Kitty commented on the identity of the visitors, Mr. Collins promptly left their side to rush into the drawing room and interrupt Darcy with a dramatic obeisance.
He proceeded to address Darcy with an air of sycophantic self-importance, making him aware that his patroness, Lady Catherine, who was aunt to Mr. Darcy, was in good health.
With hardly a break to breathe, he provided ample opinions on the respect he felt for her high rank and his veneration of her as his patroness, mingled with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman and his rights as a rector.
Darcy was astonished by Collins’s audacity in addressing him with such familiarity without waiting for a proper introduction and bore the officiousness with irritation.
He could be excused for his silence as it was impossible to speak during Collins’s protracted speech; consequently, when an opportunity arose as Collins paused to fill his lungs, Darcy tartly enquired of his identity and then regarded him with austerity before barely acknowledging the cleric with a slight bow of his head.
Mr. Bennet’s embarrassment on behalf of his cousin was only exceeded by his exasperation, which he struggled to stifle.
Later in the day, he took Mr. Collins aside to express reproof at his breach of etiquette and remind his cousin that, were he to rein in his effusions, he might be better received by Mr. Darcy.
Although he made no protest, Mr. Collins was less than convinced that his obsequiousness was inappropriate for the nephew of his esteemed patroness.
In his mind, his position in the clergy, along with his expressions of humility, established him on footing with those of higher rank and allowed him to be above the forms of ceremony that regulated the laity.
The Bennet girls were gracious enough to include Mr. Collins on their walk to Meryton, which was undertaken several mornings each week for exercise, society, to shop and to visit the circulating library.
Their lively discussions always punctuated the walk, but this day, some part of the conversation had to be sacrificed to the exclamations of Mr. Collins.
Although he was beginning to heed Mr. Bennet’s admonitions regarding his tendency to monopolise conversations, he still tended to go on at some length in his opinions.
The young ladies had a system they used whenever one of them was in need of gentle extrication from an uncomfortable situation.
Thus, when one sister seemed near her wits’ end as the centre of attention of the foolish man, another would silently acknowledge the situation and engage Mr. Collins away from his exasperated victim.
As such, Mr. Collins had equal society with each of them and was in a quandary as to which of the three elder sisters he should choose as his wife.
The happy group was greeted in Meryton by an officer of the militia, Lieutenant Denny, who had made their acquaintance not one week prior.
Lt. Denny introduced his friend, a Mr. Wickham, who was to join the regiment.
A tall, handsome man with light brown hair and ice blue eyes, Mr. Wickham was charming in conversation, and the sisters soon found they enjoyed his company.
While they were agreeably engaged with their new acquaintance, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrived on horseback and greeted the group, revealing their intention to call at Longbourn.
Jane responded they would be pleased to accept the call once their errands were concluded and they returned home.
Bingley suggested he and Darcy accompany the Bennets on foot.
Lt. Denny then introduced the gentlemen to Mr. Wickham.
During the exchange, Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy seemed uncomfortable.
Upon seeing Darcy, Wickham reddened with embarrassment and contrition, but quickly donned a somewhat smug look.
In contrast, Darcy blanched with shock and seemed upset before assuming a stony expression, deigning only a brief nod to Wickham’s bow.
Had Elizabeth not seen Mr. Darcy so frequently at Longbourn and become familiar with his expressions, she would have missed his fleeting discomfort.
She was impressed that a man who was already quite reserved could affect an even more inhospitable countenance.
She was curious about the men’s strong reactions to each other but, as she did not expect an explanation, soon dismissed the thought.
When the Bennets concluded their business in Meryton, the gentlemen were waiting to escort them home.
Mr. Bingley offered his arm to Jane and joined the discourse with ease.
Mr. Darcy walked alongside Elizabeth, and she was grateful not to have Mr. Collins for company.
At first she did not mind Mr. Darcy’s silence, but her good breeding required her to exert herself to those less inclined to converse in company, and she attempted to engage him with a question.
“Mr. Darcy, when my family and I called at Netherfield Park, you commented on the variety of people in Town, but I suspect, with your estate in Derbyshire, you also have a liking for the pleasures of the country. Tell me, how does Pemberley’s landscape compare to Hertfordshire?”
Elizabeth was surprised at how much Mr. Darcy appeared to enjoy describing the natural beauty of the Peak district and found herself captivated by his delightful account.
When she mentioned that her Aunt Gardiner had grown up in Lambton and the praises she had heard of Derbyshire, she was surprised to be told that Lambton was only five miles from Pemberley.
It was the longest time he had participated in a conversation not including her father, and he seemed quite different from his competitive personality during their previous discussions.
She revelled in securing his attention for the short time they walked together.
As they continued on, the subject turned to the beauties of Hertfordshire, and Elizabeth pointed out various landmarks.
She wondered at the reason for his lighter mood, especially after seeing the recent disagreeable greeting between him and Mr. Wickham; however, she decided not to spoil the moment by asking about the exchange.
When the party arrived at Longbourn, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy expressed regrets and took their leave as they were expected at Netherfield Park.
Before their departure, Mr. Bingley requested from Jane the first dance at his upcoming ball, and Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, if you are not engaged, may I request the honour of dancing the first set with you?”
Elizabeth hesitated despite the companionable half-hour they had just spent together.
She still felt the slight of his refusal to dance with her at the assembly and the confusion of her own feelings towards him, but was honoured by his preference and decided she had no choice but to agree.
She also secretly hoped to be asked to dance by Mr. Wickham, whose good looks and pleasing conversation had charmed her.
However, her proper upbringing obliged her to accept Mr. Darcy’s request.
September 1791
Near Lambton, Derbyshire