Chapter 35
Mr. Collins bustled in and made straight for Mr. Bennet, now seated at his desk.
“My dear Mr. Bennet, thank you for seeing me, and I do apologize for the short notice, but you will be glad I am come, for truly, I have the most shocking news to report…the most scandalous information regarding—” Mr. Collins, noticing Mary’s presence for the first time, broke off his speech a moment to bow his head to her.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet, I did not see you there.”
“Not at all, Mr. Collins,” said Mary in a frosty tone. “Papa and I were just finishing.” She nodded to her father and left the room.
“Won’t you sit down, Mr. Collins?” Mr. Bennet’s tone was only slightly warmer than his daughter’s. “What news have you to share?”
“It concerns your rector, Mr. Yarby. I have had some suspicions of him for quite some time, you see, and therefore felt it my duty to take steps to inquire as to his background. I had a suspicion he was not all he purported to be. And you will be pleased to learn, I was correct! I was entirely correct in my apprehension of him.”
“Will you please get to the point of the matter, Mr. Collins? I have much to do just now.”
“Of course, of course. Well—as you may know, the reverend Mr. Yarby came here with very little experience—I believe he had been a curate—or rather, he said he had been a curate for but a year or two.”
“Mr. Collins, I was the man who hired Mr. Yarby, so I am more than aware of his qualifications and background.”
“But are you aware, sir? Are you truly?” Mr. Collins pulled out a handkerchief and patted his damp upper lip before neatly folding the cloth again and returning it to his pocket.
“As I said, for some time now, I have worried that there was more to him than we know, and I became determined—oh yes, determined—to seek out the truth for the sake of all concerned!”
“Indeed? For all concerned—or just for you?” Mr. Bennet stared intently into his cousin’s eyes.
“Well…well…” Mr. Collins was briefly flustered before plunging on again. “My point being—what do we really know of Yarby’s background? Why did he come to the clergy so late in life?”
“As I understand it, he had a failed business venture then cared for his ailing father until that man’s passing. It was then that Mr. Yarby found his calling. And judging from his popularity in the parish, I cannot help but think he made the right choice. His sermons are much to my liking.”
“He may have a natural…talent for speaking, but when I show you this document”—Mr. Collins fumbled in his coat, brought forth a folded piece of paper, and waved it violently, punctuating his final words—“you will no doubt come to the same conclusion as I.”
“Which is…?” Mr. Bennet took a deep breath, his patience rapidly coming to an end.
“That Mr. Yarby is a fraud. He has foisted himself upon your good nature to take this valuable living without any prior experience whatsoever!” Mr. Collins sat back, a bit breathless.
“Whatever do you mean? I received a very good reference from his former rector…a Mr.…Mr.…”
“Smethurst, correct?”
“Ah yes, that is the name.”
Mr. Collins thrust forward the paper to Mr. Bennet with a look of triumph.
“Just you read that, sir, and learn the sad truth. For Mr. Smethurst has written a reply to my inquiries of Mr. Yarby that reveals he was not their curate! Indeed, Smethurst has never even heard of this Mr. Yarby—if that even is his true name. The entirety of his experience is a complete fabrication!”
Alarmed, Mr. Bennet opened the letter and began to read.
Mr. Collins,
I thank you for your recent letter asking about our curate—a Mr. Robert Yarby.
I can state without hesitation that I have no idea of whom you are referring.
There has never been such a person working in our parish, and anyone purporting to have been our curate here during the time you specified is being quite untruthful.
I know not by what means this Mr. Yarby has prevailed upon the good will of Longbourn parish to secure a position there, but please know that he is absolutely not someone who has worked here. Therefore, we would be unable to provide any reference for him.
Yours most sincerely,
The Reverend Thomas Smethurst
“I…cannot believe this,” Mr. Bennet murmured, as he set the letter down on his desk.
His mind was whirling. Had he been the victim of a nefarious scheme?
Were he and Amelia who they claimed to be, or were they, in fact, liars and cheats taking advantage of him?
But to what end? It is not as if he had a large fortune to swindle.
But the letter appeared in every way to be authentic.
Have I allowed my feelings for Amelia to blind me to the truth? Have I been a fool, after all?
“This is most disturbing, Mr. Collins,” he said softly. “For, if this is all true, it would appear I have been deceived in my trust of both Mr. Yarby and Mrs. Withers.” He continued to stare at the letter in his hands.
“If it is true? My dear Mr. Bennet, how can it not be true? You will, of course, fire Yarby immediately and send them away without reference,” gloated Mr. Collins. “My dear Charlotte and I shall be most happy to replace them at the parsonage as soon as you give word they have quit the place.”
The thought of Mr. Collins as the permanent rector at Longbourn shocked Mr. Bennet out of his sad reverie.
“Your offer is a bit premature, Mr. Collins. I shall need to do my own investigation, if you please, before I take any permanent steps.”
“But the proof! It is all right there written in the rector’s own hand! How can you even think of waiting an instant before you speak to the bishop and do what you must?” Mr. Collins sputtered. “If I were owner of Longbourn, I assure you—”
“But you are not the owner of Longbourn—not yet in any case,” Mr. Bennet interrupted, firmly.
He stood, trying to signal an end to the meeting.
“And until such time, I shall make the decisions I think best for the rectory; Longbourn’s advowson gives me that right.
I thank you for bringing this to my attention, but I must ask you now to depart and let me consider the proper course of action.
” He saw a sneer spread across Mr. Collins’s face.
“No doubt, you wish to consult your heart as well as your head on this matter, Mr. Bennet. Oh yes, I am aware of your attachment to Mrs. Withers. But I assure you, the only option open to you is quite obvious: Mr. Yarby and his sister must go. Good day, sir!”
He gave a curt nod of his head and stomped out of the library. A few seconds later, the front door loudly closed.
Mr. Bennet sighed and sat heavily, picking up the letter once more. A small tap at the entry drew his attention to Mary, who entered, shutting the door behind her before marching over to her father.
“Papa, I heard much of what Mr. Collins said. How can Mr. Yarby be thought a fraud? May I see this letter?”
Mr. Bennet’s mouth fell open. “You were listening at the door?”
Mary made a helpless gesture. “Apparently, my morals have gone missing yet again, Papa, but after what you just told me of his blackmailing Mr. Yarby, I had a feeling Mr. Collins’s visit here was not to bring happy news.
So, yes, I listened.” She held out her hand.
“May I please see the letter he brought?”
Mr. Bennet passed it to her, and she quickly scanned it before slamming it down on the desk.
“And how do we know this is, in fact, a legitimate letter? Could it have been perhaps manufactured—and I deplore to even suggest such an uncharitable thing, but it must be said—by Mr. Collins himself?”
“It certainly looks authentic” was her father’s sad reply. “You can see the postal mark for yourself.”
“But you will give Mr. Yarby a chance to defend himself against such outrageous, slanderous accusations, will you not? Even if that letter appears…authentic?” Mary’s voice cracked a bit at the end.
“I…don’t know.” He shook his head. “It might be best to simply end things now. Mr. Collins had one thing correct: we do not know all that much about the Yarbys. Robert was the least experienced of all the curate applicants last year, and when he visited, perhaps I was too easily swayed by his charming manners to do proper research into his background. Who knows what more may be revealed about him and…Amelia. No, perhaps I should send them both away.”
“But it was the bishop himself who sent you Rob—Mr. Yarby’s recommendation, is that not true?
That must count for something. And you love Amelia, Papa!
She has made you so happy, and your current feelings only spring from the fact that I made up stories so you would doubt them.
Do not be so hasty to throw away the very thing that has brought you great joy of late.
And Mr. Yarby is such a fine pastor. Please—for my sake? At least speak to him.”
Mr. Bennet could see tears shining in Mary’s hopeful eyes.
Oh, dear—she is so in love with Mr. Yarby.
Perhaps as much as I am with Amelia. But despite Amelia’s hopes, he cannot possibly return her feelings.
I have not seen any sign that he favors Mary above any other.
It would spare her heart if I just removed them both from our lives.
And in time she would forget him. Still…
After a long pause, Mr. Bennet replied. “Very well, Mary. We shall send for both Amelia and Yarby.”