Chapter 14 #2
One minute he is arguing with me, and the next he is as quiet as the grave and acts as if I do not exist. One evening, I sought a book in the library.
(Such as it is, Mr Bingley has added no books to it.) Mr Darcy was seated and reading.
I was in the room for a half hour complete, and he never said one word to me, not even a greeting.
The next day when I walked out in the morning with Mrs Hurst, we found him and Miss Bingley walking.
My walking partner abandoned me with relish and attached herself to Mr Darcy’s other arm (no, he did not offer it) as they walked ahead.
Mr Darcy seemed embarrassed by their rude behaviour and suggested we walk on the avenue where there was room for all of us to walk abreast. As shocked as I was, I refused and returned to Jane.
Mama came to see Jane when I asked her to, but she brought Lydia with her.
It could not have been more mortifying. Mama was going on about the cost of everything she saw in the drawing room, denigrating me and Charlotte Lucas, and she said that Jane could not be moved for another 3 to 4 days.
In the meanwhile, Lydia was lamenting that she was not out and could not go see the officers.
When Mr Bingley raised the topic of the ball, she asserted there should be no ball because she was not allowed to attend.
Mr Bingley ignored her and said that Jane would name the date as soon as she was well.
The next day, I was approaching the dining parlour when I heard Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. I know, I know, nothing good comes from eavesdropping. I would have proceeded to break my fast had I not heard talk of the Bennets.
My assumption that the invitation to Jane had not been well meant was proved when they regaled the men with tales of the entail, our relations in trade, and our small dowries.
Mr Bingley said that he cared not if Jane had relations to fill Cheapside, but Mr Darcy retorted that it meant we Bennets would not marry men of consequence. Just when I was beginning to think he was not so bad, Mr Darcy took the opportunity to denigrate the Bennets once again.
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” Maddie opined.
“That could be why the insult Mr Darcy delivered cut Lizzy so deeply. She must have been attracted to him. I remember in the past an insult to her would roll off her like water off a duck’s back.
It was only a hurt directed at one of her sisters which would cause a reaction like this,” Gardiner surmised.
“She will not admit it, certainly not now, but I believe you have the right of it.” Maddie let her eyes drop to the page she was reading and continued.
By that evening, Jane had been a day without a fever, so after dinner she came down to the drawing room with me. Mr Bingley was all that was solicitous to her, and his sisters feigned caring about Jane’s health for a few minutes.
As she had no fever overnight, I sent a note to Mama to send the carriage. She, of course, refused until the next Tuesday.
As Jane did not want to impose on the hospitality of ‘her friends,’ she agreed that I could request Mr Bingley’s carriage to convey us home.
The man protested on the grounds that he was afraid my sister would have a relapse, but he agreed that we would be returned home after church the following day.
Thankfully those at Netherfield Park worship at St Alfred’s in Meryton, and the Bennets at St Hugh’s, so Mama was not able to attempt to stop us from returning home.
We arrived at Longbourn before our family from the Longbourn Village church. Mama was not pleased that we were home and, of course blamed me.
Before I broke my fast this morning, I was to end my letter here, but Papa, in his desire to discompose Mama, read us the most ridiculous letter at the table while we broke our fasts.
It was from the heir presumptive, William Collins, who is, from his letter, more in love with his patroness, one Lady Catherine de Bourgh, than he is with God, whom he is supposed to serve.
Mama had an attack of her nerves with flutterings, spasms, and palpitations.
For once I cannot blame her; it was not well done by Papa to inform her the morning of the day that Mr Collins is to arrive.
He has known for more than 6 weeks that this distant cousin was to come.
Based on his letter, I think that this oddity of a man means to marry one of us. Heaven forfend! His letter shows both pomposity and obsequiousness in the same paragraphs.
I will write more in the morning on the morrow after we meet this man who claims he will arrive at exactly 4 o’clock this afternoon.
With regards, Lizzy
“Lizzy is correct; that was not well done by Bennet,” Gardiner stated distastefully.
“It is good she can see that Thomas is fallible and that all the fault does not lie with Fanny. We will discuss the rest after I read what she added to the letter.” Maddie paused.
“In this case, knowing what we do about Lady Catherine from Adam, I believe that Lizzy’s judgement about Mr Collins’s character will be accurate. ”
19 November 1811
(Early morning before I walk.)
Mr Collins is far worse than I thought!
He is not an attractive specimen, perhaps 5 and a ⒈／⒉ feet tall, and he is almost as wide as he is tall.
Yes, he is very corpulent. He sweats all the time, which means that he is rather odiferous, regardless of how often he does or does not bathe.
When he bowed to us, the bow was as low as I would imagine one would do before the King.
How he did not topple over, I know not. He removed his hat and showed a balding head on top.
There were a few long hairs stuck to his head with far too much pomade used.
When he began to speak, he did not stop, using 20 words when 1 would suffice (much like his letter) and mentioning his ‘beneficent’ patroness in every breath.
At dinner, we were treated to the worst display of table manners I have ever seen.
He stuffs his mouth and has no compunction about speaking with his mouth full of food, spraying half-masticated offerings all around him.
He told us, more than once, how honoured he is that the ‘great’ Lady Catherine invites him for meals.
I cannot imagine he employs the same table manners at her table.
After dinner, he volunteered to read to us from Fordyce’s Sermons. Even Mary, who in years past read that drivel, groaned. Thankfully Mama called him to her to speak.
They thought they were quiet, but it was easy to hear what they said. He told Mama he is to marry one of us as a way of making amends that he is next in line to inherit Longbourn because of the entail. He had, of course, chosen Jane to be his wife.
Mama disabused him, telling him Jane was to receive a proposal of marriage any day now. She directed him to me! The lecherous man leered at me and told her I would do!
I will never accept that buffoon as my husband, even if he were to compromise me!
Hopefully a brisk walk will calm me and restore my equanimity. I will write again soon and let you know more news. I know Janey, Mary, and Kitty will write as well.
Kiss my little cousins for me. With my warmest regards,
Lizzy
“Maddie, I think we will need to visit Longbourn before Christmastide this year. I will have some time at the end of this month,” Gardiner stated.
“You have the right of it, Edward. It is time to take a more active role.