Chapter 5
The following day brought cold yet sunny weather and excellent news arrived at Longbourn, delivered by Mr Bingley himself straight after breakfast.
Much to the ladies’ surprise, he announced the upcoming ball and was immediately surrounded by happy faces, cries of joy, and countless questions.
The gentleman did not stay long but the mere fact that he brought the news in person showed his consideration and affection for the family, as Mrs Bennet readily declared afterwards.
“I am sure he is giving this ball for Jane. It cannot be any other way. And perhaps there will be an announcement, too, at the ball. Or before! Oh, what a lovely turn of events. Not that I did not expect it!”
“A ball can be very pleasant if planned carefully,” Mr Collins declared. “I would just prefer to have it sooner.”
“But what difference would it make to you, sir?” Mr Bennet asked.
“My dear cousin, I am worried that it might be too long for me to be absent from my duties in my parish.”
“It depends on how long Lady Catherine approved of your leave,” the host replied.
“We only discussed a fortnight,” Mr Collins answered with obvious concern.
“Then It would surely be too long and perhaps unwise to prolong it for a ball,” Elizabeth replied hastily. “Of course, it is for you to decide between the dance and your duties as a clergyman.”
“I am not certain what would be the best decision. But I will give it thorough consideration, my dear cousin Elizabeth. I might write to her ladyship and ask if my presence is needed at Hunsford.”
“I was wondering…would it be sensible to suggest to Lady Catherine that your presence is not needed for such a long while? What if she responds that you are not needed–would such a notion not be worrisome?” Elizabeth continued, despite her mother’s scolding glances.
Mr Collins paled. “That is…Indeed… I did not think of it.”
“Could you not return to your duties in Kent in the next few days and then come back for the ball, if you desire? And perhaps you could then accomplish your other unfinished business?” Mrs Bennet interjected.
Mr Collins was lost between so many suggestions and options, looking from one to another. He did not miss the sharp glares exchanged between mother and daughter, but decided to ignore them. He had more important things to ponder for the time being.
“My dear Mrs Bennet, that is very sound advice. This is what I will do. I am going to pack my belongings and return to Hunsford tomorrow. And there I will examine the situation with Lady Catherine and see what she counsels me to do.”
“A truly sagacious decision, if I may say so,” Mr Bennet concluded. “I will send John to help with your luggage. Now you must excuse me. If anyone urgently needs me and cannot delay, I will be in my library, reading.”
∞∞∞
As soon as Mr Collins left the drawing room, Mrs Bennet demanded a private talk with Elizabeth, asking the other girls to leave.
“Mama, I am sure there is nothing we have to discuss that my sisters cannot hear.”
“Lizzy, I will not be ignored or disobeyed,” Mrs Bennet said. “You will listen to me, even if I have to force you in this! Girls, leave us now!”
Elizabeth reluctantly accepted, well aware that a refusal was out of the question. She sat on the sofa, clasping her hands together, and waiting for her mother’s upcoming reproaches.
“Mama, I am afraid I do not understand why you are upset.”
“You do understand perfectly well, young lady. I am talking of your rude manners towards Mr Collins. Instead of praising his intention to choose a wife from among his cousins, you hold his good will against him. Instead of encouraging him, you pushed him away before he even had time to declare himself.”
“I am not rude to anyone. But I shall never encourage any man’s fictitious inclination towards me, as long as I know I will never be able to accept it, even less to reciprocate it.
Mr Collins has no real partiality to me or to any woman.
He only searches for an easy way to comply with Lady Catherine’s demands. ”
“And why would you care about his reasons, Lizzy? Mr Collins might not be the most desirable man, but he is a perfectly eligible one and I am sure he would be a good husband to any reasonable woman.”
“Mama, I do not intend to even discuss Mr Collins’ qualities as a husband. The mere notion of him declaring himself is ridiculous. To me, he is of no interest except as a distant relative.”
“So you are decided not to have him?”
“Mama, I am decided not to have any man that I cannot respect. And any conversation on this subject cannot be sound or serious. I hope such arguments will cease as soon as Mr Collins leaves.”
“Would you rather wait to be thrown out on the street when your father dies, than be polite to Mr Collins?”
“I trust we have no reason to worry about that for a long time. But yes, any alternative would be better than an unhappy marriage.”
“Lizzy, I will never speak to you again if you do not behave more politely to Mr Collins when he returns! You must try at least to know him better. Will you promise me that? I am your mother, you owe me as much!”
“Very well, Mama. I promise I will be impeccably polite to Mr Collins when he returns. May I be excused now?”
“Yes, you may! You should be more grateful for my efforts to ensure your future and a happy family! I want nothing but the best for you all!”
“I know that, Mama. I do appreciate your care and I do know you are doing everything in our best interest; I am sorry if I do not show my gratitude often enough.”
“You have always been wild, Lizzy. You are clever and pretty, but not the type that men usually look for. And you have almost no dowry. Please keep in mind you might not get a better marriage proposal–or any other marriage proposal at all.”
“I am well aware of that, Mama,” Elizabeth smiled.
“I know you are, and still you are stubborn and self-sufficient. Keep in mind that Charlotte Lucas is seven and twenty and already a spinster, although her father was introduced at St James’! Times passes and you will be twenty-seven in no time!”
“My greatest hope is that Jane will marry as well as she deserves and she will keep me to be governess to her beautiful and bright children.”
Mrs Bennet rolled her eyes. “You are so vexing and so indifferent to my poor nerves! You find as much pleasure in tormenting me as your father does. Just wait and see what happens if I die at the same time as your father. What will then happen to you all?”
“I am sorry, Mama. I truly do not intend to torment you. And I am confident both you and Papa will lead healthy and happy lives for many years to come. I will leave you now so you may rest.”
She hurried out before her mother had time to reply and hastened her pace even more, when she heard Mr Collins calling her name. If she was fortunate enough, Mr Collins would depart without her having to talk to him again.
∞∞∞
Two more days passed and the fever of ball preparations enveloped the ladies of Longbourn.
Luckily, the chaos of it diminished the importance of Mr Collins’ departure back to Kent, and the prospect of his return was rarely even mentioned.
Mrs Bennet was too busy imagining the happy outcome of the dance and, compared to the notion of having Mr Bingley as her son-in-law, Mr Collins was not worthy of consideration.
The entirety of Meryton–or at least those families closely acquainted with Mrs Bennet–agreed that the ball must be dedicated to Jane.
The Bennets were the envy of the village, but it was universally admitted that the eldest Miss Bennet–by beauty and kindness–deserved the good fortune of a happy marriage.
Jane was the most restrained of all her sisters; she attempted to temper her mother’s expectations and the rumours that had been spread around, yet she met with little success.
Elizabeth, her confidante and support, understood and shared Jane’s concern but neither of them had much success countering the general speculations, started by none other than Mrs Bennet.
“Lizzy, I fear we are reading too much into Mr Bingley’s generous gesture and are seeing something that does not exist. It pains me to imagine how disappointed Mama will be if her hopes are shattered, but I will die of shame if such reports reach Mr Bingley’s ears and they are not true.”
“I understand your worry, dearest. However, not even you can doubt Mr Bingley’s admiration for you.”
“I am not a fool, Lizzy. I have long recognised his admiration, but I am uncertain if he intends to turn it into more than a friendship. We are rarely alone for more than a few minutes and we barely discuss anything at all, without others being part of the conversation. If he wished for more, would he not have found a way to show me that?”
“Perhaps. But my darling, have you indicated to him your feelings and your wishes? Maybe he needs more encouragement.”
“What do you mean, Lizzy? Could anyone doubt my preference for him? I was worried that I might have been unwisely obvious in showing what I feel.”
Elizabeth smiled and embraced her lovingly.
“Unwisely obvious? My darling, on this you are completely wrong. You could safely consider showing much more; men are rarely perceptive and, while some of them presume more than they should, others do not dare to see the truth if it is not laid out in front of them.”
“But Lizzy, I cannot throw myself at Mr Bingley’s feet! I cannot push him to propose to me! Surely he must understand his heart and his wishes first, and then he will act accordingly.”
Elizabeth embraced her again. “You are right again, dearest. How can I ever argue with you, when you are reasonable and just most of the time?”
“Lizzy, do not trifle with me. I know that sometimes I look silly to you, but I am doing my best; not everyone possesses your strength and your self-confidence. I just hope Mr Bingley can see more even if I show less.”