Chapter 6
Mr Collins’s presence was difficult to bear, and acting in a friendly manner towards him proved to be a daunting task for the girls.
In the first two days, it rained continuously, so they were all trapped in the house, making the situation even more difficult.
Mrs Bennet spent quite a lot of time with Mr Collins; he mentioned Lady Catherine de Bourgh in every other sentence and repeated his intention of finding a wife, which induced Mr Bennet and Elizabeth to roll their eyes frequently.
It was not difficult for Elizabeth to recognise Mr Collins’s preference for her and Jane; then Mr Bingley called again, and afterwards, Mrs Bennet suggested the visit was on Jane’s behalf. After that, Mr Collins turned his attentions entirely towards Elizabeth, allowing her little time to breathe.
On the first dry day, the Bennet sisters decided to walk to Meryton.
“Mr Bennet, do you think we could take that ride around the estate today?” Mr Collins enquired.
“I am afraid it will not be possible after so much rain. But if the weather is still dry tomorrow, we might be able to do it then.”
“Very well. Then, if you do not mind, I would like to join my cousins in Meryton. I would like to visit the town and perhaps make new acquaintances.”
“I would not mind at all, sir. Quite the opposite,” Mr Bennet said in all honesty, while Lydia and Kitty expressed their frustration. Mr Collins, however, paid no attention to them and hurried to dress properly to accompany his fair cousins.
The short walk to Meryton, which was usually pleasant and quick, felt tiresome, especially for Elizabeth. The month of November was cold, and it already felt wintry; however, the walk was refreshing and beneficial, despite Mr Collins’s annoying chatter.
On their arrival in Meryton, their first destination was Mrs Phillips’s house.
However, on their way they encountered Sir William, and introductions were performed, followed by an invitation to Lucas Lodge, which flattered the clergyman exceedingly.
Shortly afterwards, Lydia and Kitty lost their patience and began to wave, drawing Elizabeth’s attention.
On the opposite side of the road, stood three officers, who walked towards their group.
“Lizzy, Jane, these are Lieutenants Denny and Finch that I told you about!” Lydia exclaimed.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, what a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance,” Lieutenant Denny answered. “I have heard so many things about your beauty and resemblance, and none seem exaggerated.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jane replied. “This is our sister Mary and our cousin Mr Collins.”
“Allow me to introduce to you Mr George Wickham,” Mr Denny added, gesturing towards the third man. “He joined our regiment two days ago.”
Mr Wickham greeted the party with flawless elegance, which added to his handsome figure, impressive posture, and enchanting smile — assets which all the sisters observed and appreciated.
Just like his fellow officers, Mr Wickham stared an instant too long at the eldest sisters, obviously trying to distinguish one from the other.
“Mr Wickham, you are certainly welcome in Meryton,” Lydia said with improper familiarity. “Denny, did Mr Bingley invite you to his dinner party?” she continued, drawing a mortified look from the eldest sisters.
“Lydia!” Jane cried.
“No, he has not yet,” the officer admitted.
“Perhaps he will. I shall ask him when I next see him, as he comes to our house all the time,” Lydia continued. “It will be a dinner party with dancing too. Like a ball! I shall ask him to invite you all, including Mr Wickham!”
“Lydia, stop!” Elizabeth interjected harshly. “Gentlemen, please disregard my sister’s words. We have no knowledge of whom Mr Bingley wishes to invite, and it is certainly not our business to insist upon it, as we are nothing but mere guests.”
“Elizabeth is right. This is a subject we should not even discuss in the absence of Mr Bingley,” Jane added.
“It is understandable if we do not receive an invitation,” Mr Wickham replied. “I hope we shall see you ladies again soon, regardless.”
His response was reasonable, and his smile showed no offence; Elizabeth smiled back, pleased by his manners.
“We shall surely meet again soon, sir.”
Mr Collins cleared his throat and said in a tone filled with self-importance, “Lady Catherine de Bourgh, my noble patroness, is particularly careful when inviting people into her home. I can safely declare I am the only person allowed to visit her daily.”
“Who cares?” Lydia whispered to Kitty, loud enough to be heard and make Mr Collins flush.
“Does it happen that Lady Catherine de Bourgh lives in Kent?” Mr Wickham suddenly enquired, wearing the same smile.
“Indeed, she does, sir,” Mr Collins answered. “She is the mistress of Rosings Park, and I serve in the parish of Hunsford. Are you by any chance acquainted with her ladyship?”
“Acquainted would be too strong a word. I doubt she would remember me, but I have met her a few times, many years ago.”
“This is quite extraordinary, sir!”
“Not really, Mr Collins,” Mr Wickham responded. “I spent a large part of my life in circumstances that allowed me to meet people from all social circles. And Lady Catherine is certainly not someone one would easily forget.”
Elizabeth looked at Mr Wickham with increasing curiosity. His statement was intriguing, as was the brief expression of secrecy on his countenance.
Mr Collins began to speak of Lady Catherine again, but he was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Mr Bingley. The gentleman was received with much enthusiasm and presented to the officers.
Lydia wasted no time and opened the subject of the party, enquiring whether Mr Bingley would invite the officers. He looked uneasy, glanced at Jane — who was pale with mortification — then said, “I have not completed the list yet. There are still five more days till the party.”
“Of course, sir. Your list is nobody else’s business, as I have mentioned to Lydia many times,” Elizabeth replied.
“Well, I am on my way to call on Colonel Forster now. I might stop at Longbourn before I return home,” Mr Bingley said.
“We hope you will, sir,” Elizabeth answered, since Jane did not dare to.
“Mr Darcy is feeling better, I hope?” Jane asked the question which most interested Elizabeth.
“He is. In fact, his ankle is entirely recovered. He is not allowed to ride yet, but with some caution, he may walk about.”
“We are glad to hear that,” Elizabeth said.
“Lady Catherine has a nephew named Mr Darcy,” Mr Collins interjected. “Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, from Derbyshire. That your friend shares the same name is a coincidence!”
“There is no coincidence,” Mr Bingley answered with apparent irritation. “My friend is Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, from Derbyshire. Now please excuse me, I am in a hurry.”
After Mr Bingley’s departure, Mr Collins expressed his rapture over such an occurrence.
“I could not have imagined this journey to Hertfordshire being so perfect! It would be my greatest wish to meet Mr Darcy, a gentleman who his aunt says was gifted with all the qualities a young man could hope for.”
“Mr Collins, let us try to calm ourselves,” Elizabeth interrupted him coldly. “I am not sure how pleased Mr Darcy would be to hear such praise, and I would suggest you make certain before expressing it to him. There are times when admiration might be exaggerated.”
“This is not the case now, dear cousin Elizabeth! According to Lady Catherine, no praise is exaggerated regarding Mr Darcy — and her ladyship is never wrong.”
“If I remember correctly, both Mr Darcy and Lady Catherine possess great fondness for praise and rarely admit to being wrong,” Mr Wickham said with a hint of sarcasm. All eyes turned to him, but he kept his mysterious smile.
“Do you know Mr Darcy?” Lydia asked directly.
“Somewhat. I cannot claim any more friendship with him than with Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The subject is not entirely pleasant for me.”
“Then we should not insist upon it,” Elizabeth concluded. “Besides, it is getting late, and we still have several calls to pay before we return home. We should leave now,” she decided, as she hastened her sisters towards Mrs Phillips’s house.
Despite her efforts to appear outwardly calm, Elizabeth could not help reflecting upon the encounter with Mr Wickham.
What were the chances that Mr Collins would meet another person who knew both Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr Darcy?
And in Meryton? Mr Wickham’s caustic comment in regard to Mr Darcy and his resemblance to his aunt also bothered Elizabeth.
From Mr Collins’ stories, she assumed Lady Catherine to be a ridiculously proud, arrogant, vain woman.
Whilst she also admitted Mr Darcy to be proud and perhaps arrogant in manners, the possibility of him being worse than that was distressing.
When the party finally returned to Longbourn, Mr Collins resumed his attentions towards Elizabeth, increasing her vexation past the edge of her patience.
Later that day, Mr Bingley, loyal to his word, called again, spending a little time with the ladies and some with Mr Bennet.
Mr Collins imposed his presence everywhere, all the time, even when there were clear hints that he was not welcomed.
To make matters even worse, Mr Bingley generously included Mr Collins in the formal invitation to his dinner party, causing the man as much joy as it caused vexation to the sisters.
“Mr Bingley, what about the officers?” Lydia insisted.
“I have extended an invitation to Colonel Forster and his officers. It will be his decision whom he decides to include in it,” Mr Bingley declared.
Lydia did not dare comment more on the subject while the gentleman was present, but she began complaining as soon as he had left, relating to her mother about the handsome Mr Wickham they had just met.