Chapter 23 The Burial
When Elizabeth returned from her errands, she went directly to Kitty’s room. She found her sister curled upon the bed, weeping without restraint.
“Kitty,” she said gently, “would you wish to see Mama? Hill has prepared her for viewing, and I thought you might want to look upon her once more before she is carried down to the front parlor.”
Kitty pushed herself upright and brushed hastily at her tears. “Yes, I should like to see her one last time, though I confess I am afraid.”
“Come. I shall remain beside you.”
Together they entered their mother’s bedchamber and stood near the wall, gazing upon the still figure upon the bed. After a moment, Elizabeth asked softly, “Would you care to hold her hand once more, Kitty?”
The younger girl shook her head, her voice scarcely above a whisper. “No, Lizzy. I wish to return to my room.”
Elizabeth took her sister’s trembling hand and led her quietly away.
Early on April 9, 1811, the four Bennet sisters, dressed in black, stood at the front entrance of their home and watched as Mr. Hill, the two footmen, Sir William Lucas, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Gardiner loaded the casket onto the hearse.
Mr. Bennet and Kitty sat near an upstairs window and observed the proceedings from there.
Mrs. Hill and Cook stood off to the side and watched as they watched their mistress of three and twenty years leave Longbourn forever.
Jane pressed Elizabeth’s hand when the cart turned down the lane and was lost from view. Lydia began to weep.
Elizabeth turned to her sisters. “Let us sit in Mamma’s rose garden and have our tea. I will see Papa back to bed, and I will return directly.”
She hurried up the stairs, but stopped when she heard her father weeping. Kitty was weeping as well. Elizabeth waited for several minutes before she drew near.
“Come, Papa. Let me help you to bed. It will not do to bring on a relapse.”
She turned to her sister. “Kitty, go back to your bed, dear. I do not want you to sicken either.”
Mr. Bennet rose and allowed himself to be led back to his room. Elizabeth helped him into his bed, then offered him a cup of hot tea, which he accepted.
“Elizabeth, I am sorry that I taunted your mother at every opportunity. It was unforgivable.”
Elizabeth knew his constant sarcasm had wounded their mother, and it had pained her to witness it, but it would do no good to press that truth now.
“Papa, we both know what Mamma was. You rubbed each other wrong. She taunted you whenever she could, and you answered her in kind. I believe the matter stands equal between you. No one was the winner, and now you will have some years of peace. You will be better behaved with your daughters, and with your grandchildren.”
She looked at him.
“Now lie down and try to sleep.”
He managed a smile. “You are right, Lizzy. She gave as good as she got. We were not suited, but we did make it work for many years. I will take comfort in that.”
Elizabeth returned to the garden, where her sisters were taking their tea. Of them all, only Lydia was weeping. Elizabeth drew a chair close to her youngest sister.
“Do you wish to speak of Mamma?”
“Lizzy, why could we not go to the graveside? I wanted to hear what the rector had to say. It is not fair. I am strong enough to walk to the cemetery and to see my mother buried.”
She broke down into loud wails.
“My dear, it is not the custom for women to be present. Take comfort that Uncle Edward was there. He is her brother, and he loves her very much. When you return to London, you may ask him all about it. He will tell you everything you wish to know about the service.”
Elizabeth paused, then added, “If you would like it, I can ask the rector for his notes, and I will mail them to you so that you may read them for yourself.”
Lydia’s sobbing quieted, and she listened.
“Would you do that?”
“Yes, my dear.”
“I want to know what will happen to Mamma now. Where is she, now that she has left us?”
“Very well. I will ask the rector, who is learned in these matters, and mine shall be the first letter you receive from Longbourn, I promise.”
Lydia reached for her sister, as if to embrace her, but Elizabeth drew back.
“I am sorry, Liddie, but I have been with Papa, and though he is likely no longer contagious, I cannot risk making you ill with this dreadful disease. I will give you a long embrace the next time we meet.”
Lydia smiled through her tears. “Very well, Lizzy. I shall hold you to it.”
Elizabeth turned to Jane. “Are you returning with Uncle Gardiner, or will you remain at Longbourn?”
“I packed all my things and brought them back with me. Since there is now no fear of being compelled into a marriage with Mr. Goulding, I am no longer exiled from my home.”
“And what of Mr. Bingley?”
Jane’s eyes fell away. “I have not heard from him since that night at the theatre.”
“He did not call upon you?”
“No. I have not heard from him at all.”
Elizabeth's eyes filled with compassion. “I saw Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst the day before I received Mamma’s letter calling me back to Longbourn. Mrs. Hurst was kind to me. We met in a haberdashery, and they were just leaving. She did not speak of Mr. Bingley, but she was open and amiable. I did not notice anything amiss.”
Jane’s voice trembled. “Lizzy, I cannot think what could have happened. Have you heard from Miss Darcy? Perhaps she knows something of Mr. Bingley through her brother.”
“No, Jane. Mr. Darcy was called away on business to the north, and I have not heard from his sister either.”
Elizabeth paused. “I should write to Georgiana. I promised I would, but I have been so occupied with Papa that it slipped my mind. I will write to her today and ask after the Hursts and the Bingleys. Perhaps she will write about his whereabouts. I will also tell her that you have returned home, in case she has an opportunity to speak with Mr. Bingley.”
Jane’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I begin to sound like our mother with her incessant matchmaking.”
All the sisters smiled at that.
Lydia spoke through her tears. “How will I get along without her? Who will buy me dresses and bonnets, and care for me as she did?”
Elizabeth lifted her eyes to meet Mary’s and saw anger there. Jane answered the young girl.
“My dear, you will be at school, and so engaged with new friends and new experiences, and seeing new places, that you will hardly have time to miss her. It will not be so different, in truth, for you know that our mother would never have taken the time to write a letter.”
This made all the sisters smile. After a while, Elizabeth asked, “Uncle returns tonight?”
“Yes,” Jane replied. “He will not risk bringing the influenza home to little Edward, or to Aunt Maddie, who is with child. Uncle Gardiner made me swear not to allow Lydia into the house, lest she fall ill.”
“No indeed,” Elizabeth agreed. “That would never do.”
An hour later, they saw Mr. Gardiner walking up the lane with Mr. Hill and the two footmen. He soon reached them and called to Lydia.
“Come, niece. We must return to London before it gets much later.”
Then he turned to Elizabeth. “Is there anything you need before I go?”
“No, Uncle, thank you for coming to us, and thank you for all you have done for your nieces. I will write if we require anything. God grant that Papa may recover from this dreadful illness.”
“Yes, Lizzy. We will keep him in our thoughts and prayers as well. Farewell, my girls.”
The sisters curtsied, and then he was gone.
Elizabeth watched him depart, then turned back to Jane and Mary.
“Once again, it is just the three of us. Lydia will be well looked after. Mary, you will soon be Mrs. Collins, and you will secure our family against the entail.” She took her younger sister’s hands.
“You cannot know the relief I feel. Such a blessing to us all.” She turned to Jane.
“If I can discover what has become of Mr. Bingley, perhaps you will soon be married as well.”
She rose. “As Uncle Edward always says, what must be done eventually is best done immediately. I am going to write to Georgiana. Perhaps we may learn what has become of Mr. Bingley.”
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
April 09, 1811
My Dear Georgiana,
How much has happened in the few days since I left you.
I arrived home to find my father ill with an inflammation of the lungs, and both my mother and my younger sister fallen sick with the influenza.
I worked day and night for seven days on behalf of my father, and at the end of it, I found him sitting upright at his bedside, with color returned to his cheeks and having eaten a light breakfast. I was so happy to see him improved, my dear, but on that very day, my mother passed away in her sleep.
We buried her today, and my sister Lydia, of whom you and I have spoken before, has left with our uncle. She is to be placed at a school on the Isle of Wight.
I apologize for not writing sooner, but this is the first moment I can call my own.
Pray tell me how you go on. Have you heard from your brother?
Have Mr. and Miss Bingley paid you a call?
I confess I like Mrs. Hurst very much. She was kind to us when we met her and Miss Caroline at the haberdashery.
I hope I may see you all again one day. Pray send them our regards if they should visit you.
Jane has returned to Longbourn and sends her love, as I do.
Sincerely yours,
Lizzy