Chapter 10 Lydia wants to go to a ball, and the Netherfield party leaves for Town.
Lydia wants to go to a ball, and the Netherfield party leaves for Town.
Longbourn
The morning following the Netherfield ball, the Bennet family’s breakfast table was lively with the older sisters’ descriptions of the dancing, decorations and dresses. Lydia and Kitty raptly devoured every word. Mr. Bennet took a moment to enjoy the cheerful banter of his beloved daughters.
“Oh, I wish I were out so that I could see all this for myself,” said Lydia. “Perhaps next time there is a ball, I shall dress up in my prettiest gown. Papa, when you see how well I look, you will let me attend.”
“With your impetuosity, I do not think it is wise for you to attend a ball so young,” said Mary.
“As much as I like to please you, Lydia, you have some growing up to do before you may be out in society,” her father added with conviction. “You know that I would prefer you to wait until Kitty is Mary’s age, and then I shall consider whether both of you are sufficiently mature.”
“But it is not fair,” said Lydia, stamping her foot. “They get to have all the fun, and I am left behind with only Kitty. She is always sketching and reading and pays no attention to me.”
“That is the type of outburst you will have to control if you want to be out in society,” Mary said in a tone meant to admonish. “Your childish antics will not recommend you, even in Meryton where they know and like you.”
“Oh, I would be a good girl. Lizzy told me that I have already gained an ability to check myself before acting in a manner that would cause embarrassment to our family.”
Elizabeth countered, “Lydia, I can own up to saying that you have indeed matured well, and by the time you come out in society, you will have mastered the skills necessary for a young lady to represent herself. For now, we all appreciate your liveliness and are proud of your efforts to control your exuberance and impatience.”
“Mama, Papa, please?” Lydia wheedled. “Can I attend a ball? I promise you, I would behave. I would not dance; I would just like the opportunity to see all the lovely ball gowns and pretend that I am a lady who is out in society.”
“No, my dear, I am firm on this point,” said her father.
“I am in agreement with your Papa,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“Remember, you have three older sisters unmarried yet, and Kitty has precedence and will most certainly be promoted before you. At least one of your eldest sisters should be married before we add you and Kitty to the group. It would be considered improper to have all five daughters out at once.”
“I should not like to come out in society too soon,” Kitty responded.
“I am concerned about the expectations that would be placed upon us. I worry that in my effort to be a proper lady, I would be self-conscious, and that would make me appear aloof and unapproachable. I would rather wait until I feel much more comfortable in company. For now, I am content to be useful to my sisters by assisting them in their preparations.”
“Perhaps next time there is a ball,” Mrs. Bennet offered, “you and Kitty could dress up as if you were going and have your own party at home. It would be a good opportunity for both of you to practise the dance steps and decorum that you would be expected to display once you are out.” Lydia made no reply, so her mother continued, “And, my love, if you are a good girl, I shall stay at home and play for your dancing. We can ask Cook to prepare some refreshments. What say you, Kitty?”
“I should like to help Lydia trim her gown in the proper design for a ball.”
“Kitty, we shall be a merry pair!” Lydia cried.
Kitty smilingly agreed that they could have fun together, and that it would be almost as good as going to the ball.
The two youngest daughters happily discussed the activity, and Kitty expressed delight about the chance to trim their gowns with ribbons and lace while Lydia was in raptures over the opportunity to play-act, even though it would be in her own home with an audience of only two.
As much as she would enjoy pouring her nonsense into Kitty’s ear, she still wished she could attend a real ball but decided this small indulgence would please her for now.
Elizabeth mentioned to her family that she had seen Mr. Wickham at the ball, which caught the attention of Lydia, and they discussed meeting him at Aunt Philips’s card party.
Lydia expressed dismay and embarrassment over not knowing how to disentangle herself from his inappropriate flirtation.
She had been relieved when Mary skilfully came to her rescue.
“Although your initial reactions to Mr. Wickham’s forwardness could be improved on,” said Elizabeth, “your grace during the uncomfortable conversation shows your budding maturity.”
Mrs. Bennet agreed and offered additional compliments and good advice.
The discussion reminded Mr. Bennet that he had not yet shared Darcy’s revelations about Mr. Wickham.
“As you know, I am not one for dancing at a ball,” he began, “and although he made an exception with our Lizzy, neither is my friend Darcy. Thus, I had the opportunity to hear an account of his experiences with Mr. Wickham as well as his defence of the charges laid against him as related to Lizzy.”
Carefully wording his comments so as not to offend the sensibilities of the ladies, Bennet related Wickham’s true history to his family.
“However, that did not stop Mr. Wickham’s infamy,” he concluded.
“Darcy told me of his dissolute behaviour towards young women, and in particular, Wickham very nearly disgraced a young lady of considerable fortune by attempting an elopement.” Turning to his youngest daughter, he said, “So my poor Lydia, you are not the first young girl to be gulled by the manipulations of Mr. Wickham.”
He continued speaking of Wickham’s gaming and spendthrift way of life and Mr. Darcy’s role in discharging Wickham’s debts.
Mrs. Bennet interjected, “Well, I for one, am more than relieved that we have already warned our neighbours about Mr. Wickham’s licentious behaviour, but now we need to apprise the local tradesmen of his tendency towards accumulating debts that he cannot repay.”
“I shall be speaking to Colonel Forster about Mr. Wickham’s gambling habits and history of leaving unpaid debts behind,” said Mr. Bennet. “With his help, we can perhaps warn the tradesmen and his fellow officers to limit the extent of credit they allow Mr. Wickham.”
“But would that not put him into a greater state of poverty?” Elizabeth asked. “How would he be able to procure his necessities?”
“His wages in the militia would be sufficient to support him if he were not betting them away. Remember, Mr. Darcy gave him ￡4000 just three years ago. That alone could have supported him for many years. I do not have sympathy for a gamester.”
After more discussion in a similar vein, Elizabeth was persuaded that Mr. Darcy’s version of the story was more likely to be trustworthy than Mr. Wickham’s.
While Mr. Bennet was visiting Colonel Forster to impart the additional knowledge regarding Mr. Wickham, a note came to Longbourn for Jane from Miss Bingley saying that the entire Netherfield party had departed for London and did not intend to return.
Caroline further implied that her brother wished to further his acquaintance with Miss Darcy and expressed her hopes for a match in that quarter.
Observing Jane’s fallen face and concluding that disappointment was the cause, Mrs. Bennet cheerfully suggested that perhaps the Bingleys wished to be in town for late autumn and Christmastide, and that Miss Bingley’s conjectures were just that—her own hopes and not facts.
That evening, Mrs. Bennet told her husband about Miss Bingley’s communication.
“I am surprised that Mr. Bingley left without calling to bid us farewell or to thank our girls for their company at his ball,” she said.
“I admit that I am just as astonished as you are.”
“I am very concerned about Jane’s response to this news. I was certain she and Mr. Bingley were close to an understanding.”
“I had no doubt of it,” Mr. Bennet replied. “He singled her out at every opportunity these last weeks. I expected any day for him to request my consent.”
“Miss Bingley wrote as if their departure was planned, but we heard nothing of it until this letter.”
“Darcy mentioned it to me last evening, but he seemed to think that only he and Bingley were going to Town while the rest of the party remained at Netherfield, and Bingley was to return in a few days. Darcy is to Town for business and then to Pemberley for Christmas. But that does not explain the others departing so quickly without mention.”
“Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst singled out Jane with their invitation to Netherfield for dinner, and Miss Bingley treated Jane as a favourite. I wonder that they would not have given her some idea of their travel plans, unless there was a will to deceive.”
Mr. Bennet looked at his wife with an inquisitive expression, and she obliged him by explaining her suspicion of ill intentions in the affair.
“I am sure that Jane interpreted Miss Bingley’s expression of particular friendship as being in favour of the match, but Miss Bingley’s tone and carriage often seemed to reflect a sort of falseness in her words, and thus, I have been wary of her sincerity.”
Mr. Bennet replied, “My Jane is an intelligent girl and usually able to temper her tendency for making arguments designed to minimize the questionable motives of others.”
“But in this case, her perspective is altered. I am convinced that she is striving to show a neutral disposition despite feeling betrayed.” Mrs. Bennet paused and considered the letter before continuing, “Miss Bingley also spoke of Miss Darcy as a future sister, but Miss Darcy is much too young for such an arrangement to be made. She is Lydia’s age, is she not? ”