Chapter 63 In Memoriam
Mary was dressed in deep black, but her mother and sisters wore gray or white, and her brothers all wore black armbands.
The memorial service was intended to honor both Lydia and Mr. Collins, but because he had left behind a wife and two infant sons, all the Meryton neighbors and friends seemed to feel that the memorial was chiefly for Mary.
The minister spoke words of comfort that caused Mrs. Bennet to weep for the daughter who had passed from this world too young.
After the memorial service, their neighbors joined the Bennets at Longbourn. They gathered in groups of two and three, both inside the house and out in the rose garden, eating and conversing.
Mary brought out the twin boys. She held Thomas while Kitty held Edward. People came to where the two sisters sat to offer their condolences to Mary, but mostly they came to admire and play with her beautiful sons.
Lady Lucas said, "Why, Mary dear, your boys have a look of Miss Lydia. They have her blue eyes and her pretty face."
Once she had pointed out the resemblance, all the other neighbors stood by and agreed.
After four hours had passed, the guests began to take their leave.
At last, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy excused themselves.
"I am sorry to leave you so soon, Jane, but we cannot remain at Netherfield."
Jane raised a delicate brow.
"No, why is that? Is Miss Bingley not a good hostess?"
"No, Jane dear, she is not."
Elizabeth took her sister upstairs, where they shut themselves into their old bedchamber. Then Elizabeth recounted everything that had occurred during their visit.
Elizabeth had expected her sister to be scandalized, but instead Jane pressed her handkerchief to her mouth, bent over at the waist, and laughed soundlessly until tears ran down her face.
Elizabeth was not amused.
She had been angry with her husband the night before for having attracted the attentions of that atrocious woman in the first place, and when she awoke that morning, she was still angry with him. He had tried to coax her out of her black mood without success.
Now her dearest sister was laughing at the scandalous business.
Elizabeth sat nursing her indignation until, at last, she too began to see the absurdity of the situation.
But though she was able to laugh, she was still quite certain he had not heard the last of it.