Chapter 2 #2
“Lizzy, do not tease me!”
“I do not! I truly like Mr Bingley and I think he would be a good match for you–unless you discover some unpleasant traits that might ruin your admiration.”
“I am sure everything else I might discover would be to his merit, Lizzy. Do you think he might like me?”
“He might like you? Dear Jane, whoever sees you both even for an instant, could not doubt his admiration. Just wait for him to be more in your company and to become aware of your sweet and generous heart. I still wonder how someone can have equal beauty and kindness and still be as modest as you are.”
“Lizzy darling, you spoil me with your praises. I hope Mr Bingley will see at least a small part of what you see in me.”
“If he does not, he must be blind. And I am sure that is not the case,” Elizabeth concluded, embracing her sister.
“I hope he will not be frightened by our mother's insistence,” Jane whispered. “Sometimes, all her talk of Mr Bingley seems a little too much.”
“That is true, but I hope he is strong enough to bear it all, for your sake.” What Elizabeth did not tell Jane was her concern about Mr Darcy, of whom she found herself thinking more than she wished to.
Would he oppose Mr Bingley's connection with Jane or would he encourage it?
Mr Darcy's opinion about their family could not be too high since he had never joined Mr Bingley to call on Mr Bennet, which was not very surprising considering his argument with their mother.
He seemed uninterested in attempting to know them better before judging and dismissing them as being unworthy.
If only he would not influence his friend against his inclination for Jane.
Elizabeth decided it was useless to share her concerns with anyone else.
For the time being, everything was just speculation and assumption.
She did not know any more of Mr Darcy than he knew of them and she admitted to herself that she was tempted to judge him too, based on the little information she had gathered about him.
They all needed more time and more proof before establishing a sound conclusion. And for the benefit of Jane, she was willing to grant it.
∞∞∞
Several more days passed until a piece of news stirred up daily life at Longbourn. It came in the form of a letter, received by Mr Bennet and shared with his family in wry amusement.
“You will be as happy as I am to find that my cousin Mr Collins, the one who will inherit Longbourn at my death, has decided to pay us a visit. He seems willing to become better and more closely acquainted with you all and to restore peace between our families.”
“My dear Mr Bennet, please do not even speak of that horrible man,” Mrs Bennet cried.
“Well, my dear, I know we cannot forgive him for the impertinence of being my heir, but we cannot reject his attempt at friendliness either,” Mr Bennet answered.
“It appears he is a clergyman in Kent, and has the honour of benefiting from the generosity of a noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“Could he be a sensible, reasonable man, Papa?” Elizabeth enquired.
Mr Bennet smiled. “I doubt it, my dear. In fact, if the letter is any indication of his true self, I would rather say he must be completely the opposite. I am counting on a few days of amusement and follies.”
“Well, I shall not spend a single moment with that man if I can avoid it,” Mrs Bennet declared. “He might do whatever he wants once you are gone, Mr Bennet, but until then, I shall do what I please in my own home.”
“That is as fair as can be expected, my dear. But let us not plan to hate him before we actually meet him. I last saw my cousin when he was only a young boy, so I am determined to give him an opportunity to prove himself, even against my intuition.”
“Very well. But I will ignore the matter completely for now; I will have enough time to worry about him once he arrives. Jane my dear, go and change your gown, Mr Bingley will be here soon.”
The master of Netherfield called at Longbourn that day and several more times over the coming days.
Mr Darcy never joined him, but his sisters did–once.
The ladies remained only half an hour, refused to eat anything, spoke only to ‘their dear Jane’, and invited her alone to spend a day with them ‘sometime very soon, when their mutual schedules allowed’.
Elizabeth found their presence more offensive and unpleasant than Mr Darcy’s absence and openly declared her relief when they left.
“Lizzy, you are too harsh on Louisa and Caroline,” Jane scolded her gently. “They are caring sisters and quite pleasant companions. I agree their manners are not as friendly as Mr Bingley’s, but it is because they are accustomed to a different society from ours.”
“They are very elegant indeed,” Mrs Bennet said, silently hoping the named ladies would not join their brother on future visits.
“They might be elegant, but to me, they look more like Mr Darcy’s sisters; they surely resemble him in manners,” Elizabeth laughed.
“True,” Mrs Bennet admitted. “But Lizzy, you should refrain from being too blunt in your opinions about them. We do not want to upset Mr Bingley in any way. I hope he will come to dinner soon. What do you say, Jane?”
“Mama, I cannot guess Mr Bingley’s intentions,” Jane answered, blushing slightly.
“Of course not, my dear. And you do not have to. Just smile nicely and be as beautiful as you are, and I am sure Mr Bingley’s intentions will soon become clear.”
“Mama!” Jane cried. “Please do not make such statements in the presence of strangers! It would be deeply embarrassing to start rumours that have no foundation! Mr Bingley is only a mere acquaintance to me, as I am to him.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Mrs Bennet replied, barely listening to her daughter while she thought of a plan to bring Mr Bingley back as soon as possible.
“Mama, will we speak only of Mr Bingley forever?” Lydia intervened. “You do not even seem to care that the regiment have arrived in town! There are many officers at least as handsome and pleasant as Mr Bingley.”
“Indeed, Mama,” Kitty continued, “Lieutenant Denny and Mr Sanderson; we met them yesterday, when we visited Maria Lucas.”
“Yes, you told me. But what can I do about the officers? Besides, I doubt any of them have an income of five thousand a year. Of course, half that sum would suffice, if I knew any of them intended to marry. They should be camped in Meryton for at least six months, so we have plenty of time to know more about them. Now, I wonder when we should invite Mr Bingley to dinner and if it would be rude to send the invitation for him only.”
∞∞∞
Despite Mrs Bennet’s efforts, due to some unfortunate circumstances, Mr Bingley did not dine at Longbourn in the following days. He seemed caught up with other engagements and they barely saw him for almost a week.
Elizabeth easily noticed Jane’s distress every time the gentleman’s name was mentioned and her frequent glances outside, as well as her sudden preference for strolls in the garden, where the main road was easily observable.
It was obvious that Jane’s affection for Mr Bingley was slowly growing, whether he was present or absent.
However, to everyone else except Elizabeth, the eldest Miss Bennet looked unchanged in manners, serenity and calmness.
Therefore, Mrs Bennet continued to make plans to bring the gentleman to Longbourn, while Mr Bennet mocked her about the subject whenever the opportunity arose.
Everything was handled by Jane with graceful silence and tentative smiles that suggested more indifference than inclination. This was what Charlotte Lucas told Elizabeth during one of their meetings.
“If Mr Bingley’s admiration for Jane is clear, her opinion about him is not easy to guess even for us, and I am afraid it must be even more difficult to read for the gentleman himself.
Jane’s behaviour is elegant and praiseworthy, but it conceals her affection and might diminish his as a consequence.
In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels.
Mr Bingley undoubtedly likes your sister, but he may never do more than like her if she does not help him on. ”
“Charlotte, what more help does he need? She is doing everything that her nature will allow. He must be a simpleton not to perceive her regard for him.”
“You should keep in mind that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do, Lizzy. Besides, they have only met a few times and have never been alone or spent a long time together. They have barely had time to converse, so if you want my advice, I would say Jane should make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention.”
“I believe Jane is showing as much of her feelings as she feels she should. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton and has met him a few other times. This is not enough to make her understand his character.”
“I wish Jane success with all my heart,” said Charlotte.
“If she were married to him tomorrow, I should think she has as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is a matter of chance; it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.”
“You make me laugh, Charlotte; but you know you would never act in this way yourself.”
“Of course I would, Lizzy, and I will do it as soon as I have the chance.”
“Charlotte, if I were to follow your reasoning, I might very well try to marry Mr Darcy and hope for a reasonable chance for happiness,” Elizabeth laughed.