Chapter 5 #2
“I was obliged to read a few of them. Otherwise, anyone might have deceived me—”
“Which is precisely my argument. Education is essential to independence, to the power of judging for oneself, whether man or woman.”
“Then you are an advocate for education regardless of gender, race, or station?” Elizabeth’s tone betrayed surprise.
“Most assuredly. We have formed a society of philanthropists and reformers, inspired by Mr Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian philosophy, and we hope soon to lay the foundations of a university in London.”
“But this would be a radical departure from the exclusivity of Oxford and Cambridge.” Mr Darcy’s interest was plain.
“That is indeed our intention.”
“And do you contemplate admitting young ladies also?” Elizabeth ventured.
Here, Mr Clinton hesitated, but at length replied, “Not at present. The university shall be for young men only; yet, in parallel, we shall endeavour to reorganise the existing academies for young ladies, such as that founded by my late wife, to which I attach greater value than to any other mission I may pursue.”
“An excellent academy indeed!” Lord Ashcombe interjected. “Both our daughters attended for three years, and I was fully satisfied with their education. Lady Catherine may say that a woman—”
“Enough of this!” cried Lady Catherine.
“Lady Catherine may affirm,” continued Lord Ashcombe, undeterred, “that a woman need only know how to manage her household; yet I assure you that Elizabeth, who shall inherit our estate, will govern it jointly with her husband. For, regardless of what the law may declare, and though it will be in his name, she is the mistress and true proprietor of the place.”
“An admirable sentiment, Lord Ashcombe,” observed Mr Clinton. “It is a beginning, even if equality before the law may never be achieved. But perhaps it would be simplest if Lady Elizabeth herself declared her thoughts.”
Elizabeth looked at the young lady with interest and kindness, who had already blushed; yet, to her surprise, her voice sounded almost confident, a sign that she was accustomed to speaking in company. However, she could never entirely overcome her timidity.
“My father used to take me with him, from the time I was a little girl, to see the affairs of the estate. I must confess that I find this far more engaging than sitting to embroider—”
“But she can embroider, and do everything else that pertains to household management,” Lady Ashcombe interposed at once.
Elizabeth instantly thought of her own mother, who would have said precisely the same had there been two unmarried gentlemen at the table, as there were that evening.
Lady Elizabeth blushed even more deeply at her mother’s words, which embarrassed her as much as similar interference would have mortified Jane.
“I believe that most young ladies would be capable of doing far more than is expected of them, if the occasion required it,” observed Elizabeth. “As Mr Clinton remarked, most things may be learnt.”
“I should prefer only to be mistress of the house,” said Elinor; and all eyes turned towards her, while her mother answered in a manner that reminded Elizabeth irresistibly of Mrs Bennet:
“And it is your right to wish for that. There is nothing amiss in desiring to be a wife and mother and to manage your own household. In this modern age, there is far too much stress on young ladies to be independent...when some do not desire it at all. What say you, Miss Bennet?”
“I say precisely what I have always said—that every woman ought to be free to do as she wishes. It is a fine thing to long to be a wife and mother. Yet I, too, would wish for the right to support myself by some employment suitable to a woman, and to be regarded by society as a normal person, not a curiosity.”
“And what employment would you choose in such a case?”
“You see, that is the difficulty. There are no employments open to women. We cannot study to be lawyers or physicians…”
“Oh,” exclaimed Lady Ashcombe, “I believe such dreams can never be realised.”
“For the present,” returned Mr Clinton. “But indeed I see no reason why professions such as these, or that of a professor, should not be performed by women with the greatest success.”
“Let us have the card-tables better arranged this evening,” declared Lady Catherine abruptly, showing little concern either for the conversation or for the wishes of her guests.
To Elizabeth’s surprise, her ladyship chose partners entirely different from those she had expected; for at her own table seated themselves Mr and Mrs Collins and Countess Ashcombe, while the others were left to arrange themselves as they pleased.
It was perhaps the only occasion upon which Lady Catherine appeared to feel no necessity to impose her will.
Elizabeth glanced curiously towards the table where Lady Catherine had already taken her place, when she heard Mr Darcy murmur near her, “Lady Catherine is fond of winning.”
She turned towards him, and for a brief instant their eyes met and held—he was smiling, while she wondered how it could be that he read her thoughts with such ease.
Their glance lasted but a second, for Mr Clinton immediately invited them both to a table where Lord Ashcombe had already seated himself.
With that easy and unstudied manner which attended Colonel Fitzwilliam in all that he did, he accompanied the remaining ladies to a distant sofa, and Elizabeth found herself left alone with the three gentlemen.
“At last a serious table,” declared Lord Ashcombe, and they all laughed; for, during the long winter evenings, he had doubtless been often obliged to play at Lady Catherine’s table.
The game of whist might indeed prove interesting in such company.
Yet Elizabeth again felt that, beside the game of cards, another kind of play was going forward.
For no sooner were the cards dealt than Mr Clinton began, “Now, Miss Bennet, tell me, I pray you, what you meant the other evening when you declared that your dream was to live in a world where women might be regarded in society beyond their duties as wives and mothers.”
The question was so direct, and so perfectly struck at the subject which had ever engaged her thoughts, that Elizabeth recovered all the self-command she had for a moment lost amidst that assembly of which she knew so little.
The difference in age no longer appeared an obstacle, for Mr Clinton’s tone was exceedingly friendly and composed, and his interest evidently sincere.
Elizabeth looked first at her cards, then raised her eyes and replied quietly, “Mr Clinton, allow me first to put a question to you.” Without waiting for his assent, she continued, “What is it that you expect from a wife?”
The inquiry was so unexpected that all three gentlemen regarded her with undisguised astonishment. Yet Mr Clinton smiled at once, seeming even pleased by her boldness.
“Miss Bennet, you remind me exceedingly of my wife when she was of your age. But allow me not to answer you myself. Lord Ashcombe and I married in another century... Let us rather inquire of Mr Darcy what he expects from a wife.”
All eyes turned towards Mr Darcy, who did not appear delighted by the appeal, yet could not evade so direct a question.
“In my family,” he began, “my maternal grandfather, Lord Matlock, was the absolute master. All was conducted according to his will; yet I have often observed that when my grandmother followed him after a decision was made, matters would, upon her return, proceed a little differently from what he had ordered. She, moreover, raised two wise and independent daughters—Lady Catherine and my mother. My mother often accompanied my father about our estate. Though she took no part in the harvest, her role was essential, for she cared for the families who lived and laboured upon Pemberley. Without doubt, I desire a wife who is wise and independent, one who shall be my companion and friend, besides fulfilling the noble mission of motherhood.”
“I am perfectly of Mr Darcy’s opinion.” Mr Clinton inclined his head with approval.
“My wife and I lived in London, and both shared the same passion for the education of the young. We laboured together for the advancement of our ideas... What say you, Miss Bennet? Would such be what you expect from marriage?”
Again, Elizabeth was surprised by the question, for after all, it was of a rather intimate nature and far removed from her own inquiry.
“My original question,” she reminded him, “was about the role of women in society.”
“But you yourself have turned it,” observed Mr Darcy, now somewhat more at ease.
“Yes, for generally the manner in which a woman is regarded within her family is identical to that in which she is regarded by society. Beyond wife and mother, society desires nothing from her.”
“It is a justified reproach,” Mr Clinton conceded with elegance. “I am certain the future will bring change once men such as we shall wish women to hold a greater place in society. We return then to education, and how essential it is to the progress of mankind.”
“To answer you nevertheless,” Elizabeth concluded, “I should wish that we might have the possibility of holding occupations, of maintaining ourselves without the dowry of a father or the fortune of a husband. To me, that would be true progress.”
∞∞∞
Long after she had finished her nightly preparations, Elizabeth could not fall asleep.
It had been an engaging evening, and the conversation at the whist table most instructive.
She took pleasure in observing that there existed men, like her father, who would gladly have women independent and free.
Yet she strongly wondered whether their discussion had indeed concerned the role of women in family and society, or whether Mr Clinton had merely sought to learn how a young lady such as herself might think of marriage.
She recalled, with great distinctness, the look he had given her as soon as the whist game had ended.
It was, beyond doubt, an interest he did not hesitate to reveal.
Elizabeth fell asleep endeavouring to imagine her life otherwise than she had ever dreamed it with Jane—not built around a great and single love.