Pride and Prejudice Chapter 12 to 17

8/12/2019 Pride and Prejudice Chapter 12 to 17

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$leasure it would always gi#e her to see her either at ongbourn or Netherfield,

and embracing her most tenderly, she e#en shoo" hands with the former. Elizabeth

too" lea#e of the whole $arty in the li#eliest s$irits.

They were not welcomed home #ery cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet

wondered at their coming, and thought them #ery wrong to gi#e so much trouble,and was sure ane would ha#e caught cold again. But their father, though #ery

laconic in his ex$ressions of $leasure, was really glad to see them& he had felt

their im$ortance in the family circle. The e#ening con#ersation, when they were

all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense, by the

absence of ane and Elizabeth.

They found Mary, as usual, dee$ in the study of thorough bass and human

nature& and had some new extracts to admire, and some new obser#ations of

threadbare morality to listen to. /atherine and ydia had information for them

of a different sort. Much had been done, and much had been said in the regimentsince the $receding 0ednesday& se#eral of the officers had dined lately with

their uncle& a $ri#ate had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that

/olonel 1orster was going to be married.

Chapter XIII

2I %-3E, my dear,! said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at brea"fast the

next morning, 2that you ha#e ordered a good dinner to4day, because I ha#e

reason to ex$ect an addition to our family $arty.!

20ho do you mean, my dear5 I "now of nobody that is coming, I am sure,

unless /harlotte ucas should ha$$en to call in& and I ho$e mydinners are good

enough for her. I do not belie#e she often sees such at home.!

2The $erson of whom I s$ea" is a gentleman and a stranger.! Mrs. Bennet!s eyes

s$ar"led. 2' gentleman and a stranger6 It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. 0hy, ane(

you ne#er dro$$ed a word of this(you sly thing6 0ell, I am sure I shall be

extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. But(good ord6 how unluc"y6 there is not a

bit of fish to be got to4day. ydia, my lo#e, ring the bell. I must s$ea" to %ill thismoment.!

2It is notMr. Bingley,! said her husband& 2it is a $erson whom I ne#er saw in

the whole course of my life.!

This roused a general astonishment& and he had the $leasure of being eagerly

questioned by his wife and fi#e daughters at once.


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'fter amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus ex$lained+

(2'bout a month ago I recei#ed this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered

it& for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from

my cousin, Mr. /ollins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as

soon as he $leases.!

2-h, my dear,! cried his wife, 2I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. 3ray do not

tal" of that odious man. I do thin" it is the hardest thing in the world that your

estate should be entailed away from your own children& and I am sure, if I had been

you, I should ha#e tried long ago to do something or other about it.!

ane and Elizabeth attem$ted to ex$lain to her the nature of an entail. They had

often attem$ted it before+ but it was a sub)ect on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond

the reach of reason& and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of

settling an estate away from a family of fi#e daughters, in fa#our of a man whom

nobody cared anything about.

2It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,! said Mr. Bennet& 2and nothing can clear

Mr. /ollins from the guilt of inheriting ongbourn. But if you will listen to his

letter, you may, $erha$s, be a little softened by his manner of ex$ressing himself.!

2No, that I am sure I shall not& and I thin" it was #ery im$ertinent of him to

write to you at all, and #ery hy$ocritical. I hate such false friends. 0hy could not

he "ee$ on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him5!

20hy, indeed, he does seem to ha#e had some filial scru$les on that head, as you

will hear+(

2%unsford, near 0esterham,

7ent, 89th -ctober.

2*E': I:(The disagreement subsisting between yourself and

my late honoured father always ga#e me much uneasiness& and, since

I ha#e had the misfortune to lose him, I ha#e frequently wished to

heal the breach+ but, for some time, I was "e$t bac" by my owndoubts, fearing lest it might seem disres$ectful to his memory for me

to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always $leased

him to be at #ariance.!(;There, Mrs. Bennet.


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widow of ir ewis *e Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has

$referred me to the #aluable rectory of this $arish, where it shall be

my earnest endea#our to demean myself with grateful res$ect towards

her adyshi$, and be e#er ready to $erform those rites and ceremonies

which are instituted by the /hurch of England. 's a clergyman,

moreo#er, I feel it my duty to $romote and establish the blessing of

$eace in all families within the reach of my influence& and on these

grounds I flatter myself that my $resent o#ertures of goodwill are

highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in

the entail of ongbourn estate will be "indly o#erloo"ed on your side,

and not lead you to re)ect the offered oli#e branch. I cannot be

otherwise than concerned at being the means of in)uring your amiable

daughters, and beg lea#e to a$ologise for it, as well as to assure you

of my readiness to ma"e them e#ery $ossible amends& but of this

hereafter. If you should ha#e no ob)ection to recei#e me into yourhouse, I $ro$ose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your

family, Monday, No#ember 8=th, by four o!cloc", and shall $robably

tres$ass on your hos$itality till the aturday se!nnight following,

which I can do without any incon#enience, as ady /atherine is far

from ob)ecting to my occasional absence on a unday, $ro#ided that

some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain,

dear sir, with res$ectful com$liments to your lady and daughters, your

well4wisher and friend,

20II'M

/-IN

.!

2't four o!cloc", therefore, we may ex$ect this $eacema"ing gentleman,! said Mr.

Bennet, as he folded u$ the letter. > 2%e seems to be a most conscientious and

$olite young man, u$on my word& and, I doubt not, will $ro#e a #aluable

acquaintance, es$ecially if ady /atherine should be so indulgent as to let him

come to us again.!

2There is some sense in what he says about the girls, howe#er& and, if he is

dis$osed to ma"e them any

amends, I shall not be the

$erson to discourage him.!

2Though it is difficult,! said ane, 2to guess in what way he can mean to

ma"e us the atonement he


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thin"s our due, the wish is

certainly to his credit.!

Elizabeth was chiefly struc" with his extraordinary deference for ady /atherine,

and his "ind intention of christening, marrying, and burying

his $arishioners whene#er it were required.

2%e must be an oddity, I thin",! said she. 2I cannot ma"e him out. There is

something #ery $om$ous in his style. 'nd what can he mean by a$ologising for

being next in the entail5 0e cannot su$$ose he would hel$ it, if he could. /an he

be a sensible man, sir5!

2No, my dear& I thin" not. I ha#e great ho$es of finding him quite the

re#erse. There is a mixture of ser#ility and self4im$ortance in his

letter which $romises well. I am im$atient to see him.!

2In $oint of com$osition,! said Mary, 2his letter does not seem defecti#e. The

idea of the oli#e branch $erha$s is

not wholly new, yet I thin" it is well

ex$ressed.!

To /atherine and ydia neither the letter nor its writer was in any degree

interesting. It was next to

im$ossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some

wee"s since they had recei#ed $leasure from the society of a man in any other

colour. 's for their mother, Mr. /ollins!s letter had done away much of her ill4will, and she was $re$aring to see him with a degree of com$osure which

astonished her husband and daughters.

Mr. /ollins was $unctual to his time, and was recei#ed with great $oliteness by

the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little& but the ladies were ready enough

to tal", and Mr. /ollins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to

be silent himself. %e was a tall, hea#y4loo"ing young man of fi#e4and4twenty. %is

air was gra#e and stately, and his manners were #ery formal. %e had not been long

seated before he com$limented Mrs. Bennet on ha#ing so fine a family of

daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, famehad fallen short of the truth& and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in

due time well dis$osed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of

some of his hearers& but Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no com$liments,

answered most readily,(

2?ou are #ery "ind, sir, I am sure& and I wish with all my heart it may $ro#e


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so& for else they will be

destitute enough. Things

are settled so oddly.!

2?ou allude, $erha$s, to the entail of this estate.!

2'h, sir I do indeed. It is a grie#ous affair to my $oor girls, you must confess. Not

that I mean to find fault withyou,for such things I "now are all chance in this

world. There is no "nowing how estates will go when once they come to be

entailed.!

2I am #ery sensible, madam, of the hardshi$ to my fair cousins, and could say

much on the sub)ect, but that I am cautions of a$$earing forward and $reci$itate.

But I can assure the young ladies that I come $re$ared to admire them. 't $resent I

will not say more, but, $erha$s, when we are better acquainted(!

%e was interru$ted by a summons to dinner& and the girls smiled on each other.

They were not the only ob)ects of Mr. /ollins!s admiration. The hall, the dining4

room, and all its furniture, were examined and $raised& and his commendation of

e#erything would ha#e touched Mrs. Bennet!s heart, but for the mortifying

su$$osition of his #iewing it all as his own future $ro$erty. The dinner, too, in its

turn, was highly admired& and he begged to "now to which of his fair cousins the

excellence of its coo"ery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet,

who assured him, with some as$erity, that they were #ery well able to "ee$ a

good coo", and that her daughters had nothing to do in the "itchen. %e begged

$ardon for ha#ing dis$leased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at alloffended& but he continued to a$ologise for about a quarter of an hour.

Chapter XIV

*@:INA dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely s$o"e at all& but when the ser#ants were

withdrawn, he thought it time to ha#e some con#ersation with his guest, and

therefore started a sub)ect in which he ex$ected him to shine, by obser#ing that he

seemed #ery fortunate in his $atroness. ady /atherine *e Bourgh!s attention to

his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, a$$eared #ery remar"able. Mr.

Bennet could not ha#e chosen better. Mr. /ollins was eloquent in her $raise. The

sub)ect ele#ated him to more than usual solemnity of manner& and with a most

im$ortant as$ect he $rotested that 2he had ne#er in his life witnessed such

beha#iour in a $erson of ran"(such affability and condescension, as he had

himself ex$erienced from ady /atherine. he had been graciously $leased to

a$$ro#e of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of $reaching


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before her. he had also as"ed him twice to dine at :osings, and had sent for him

only the aturday before, to ma"e u$ her $ool of quadrille in the e#ening. ady

/atherine was rec"oned $roud by many $eo$le, he "new, but hehad ne#er seen

anything but affability in her. he had always s$o"en to him as she would to any

other gentleman& she made not the smallest ob)ection to his )oining in the society

of the neighbourhood, nor to his lea#ing his $arish occasionally for a wee" or two

to #isit his relations. he had e#en condescended to ad#ise him to marry as soon

as he could, $ro#ided he chose with discretion& and had once $aid him a #isit in

his humble $arsonage, where she had $erfectly a$$ro#ed all the alterations& he had

been ma"ing, and had e#en #ouchsafed to suggest some herself,(some shel#es in

the closets u$stairs.!

2That is all #ery $ro$er and ci#il, I am sure,! said Mrs. Bennet, 2and I daresay

she is a #ery agreeable woman. It is a $ity that great ladies in general are

not more li"e her. *oes she li#e near you, sir5!2The garden in which stands my humble abode is se$arated only by a lane

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2I thin" you said she was a widow, sir5 has she any family5!

2he has one only daughter, the heiress of :osings, and of #ery extensi#e

$ro$erty.!

2'h,! cried Mrs. Bennet, sha"ing her head, 2then she is better off than many

girls. 'nd what

sort of young

lady is she5 Is

she

handsome5!

2he is a most charming young lady, indeed. ady /atherine herself says that, in

$oint of true beauty, Miss *e Bourgh is far su$erior to the handsomest of her sex&

because there is that in her features which mar"s the young woman of

distinguished birth. he is unfortunately of a sic"ly constitution, which has

$re#ented her ma"ing that $rogress in many accom$lishments which she could not

otherwise ha#e failed of, as I am informed by the lady who su$erintended her

education, and who still resides with them. But she is $erfectly amiable, and often

condescends to dri#e by my humble abode in her little $haeton and $onies.!


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2%as she been $resented5 I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.!

2%er indifferent state of health unha$$ily $re#ents her being in town& and by that

means, as I told ady /atherine myself one day, has de$ri#ed the British /ourt of

its brightest ornament. %er adyshi$ seemed $leased with the idea& and you may

imagine that I am ha$$y on e#ery occasion to offer those little delicatecom$liments which are always acce$table to ladies. I ha#e more than once

obser#ed to ady /atherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a

duchess& and that the most ele#ated ran", instead of gi#ing her consequence, would

be adorned by her. These are the "ind of little things which $lease her adyshi$,

and it is a sort of attention which I concei#e myself $eculiarly bound to $ay.!

2?ou )udge #ery $ro$erly,! said Mr. Bennet& 2and it is ha$$y for you that you

$ossess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I as" whether these $leasing

attentions $roceed from the im$ulse of the moment, or are the result of

$re#ious study5!

2They arise chiefly form what is $assing at the time& and though I sometimes

amuse myself with suggestions and arranging such little elegant com$liments

as my be ada$ted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to gi#e them as

unstudied an air as $ossible.!

Mr. Bennet!s ex$ectations were fully answered. %is cousin was a absurd as he had

ho$ed& and he

listened to him with the "eenest en)oyment, maintaining at the same time the most

resolute com$osure of countenance, and, exce$t in an occasional glance atElizabeth, requiring no $artner in his $leasure.

By tea4time, howe#er, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to ta"e

his guest into the drawing4room again, and when tea was o#er, glad to in#ite him to

read aloud to the ladies. Mr. /ollins readily assented, and a boo" was $roduced&

but on beholding it for e#erything announced it to be from a circulating libraryC he

started bac", and, begging $ardon, $rotested that he ne#er read no#els. 7itty started

at him, and ydia exclaimed. -ther boo"s were $roduced, and after some

deliberation he chose 1ordyce!s ermons. ydia ga$ed as he o$ened the #olume&

and before he had, with #ery monotonous solemnity, read three $ages, sheinterru$ted him with,(

2*o you "now, mamma, that my uncle 3hili$s tal"s of turning away :ichard5 and

if he does, /olonel 1orster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on aturday. I

shall wal" to Meryton to4morrow to hear more about it, and to as" when Mr.

*enny comes bac" from town.!


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s, much offended, laid aside his boo", and said,(

!I ha#e often obser#ed how little young ladies are interested by boo"s of a serious

stam$, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess& for

certainly there can be nothing so ad#antageous to them as instruction. But I will

no longer im$ortune my young cousin.!

Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at bac"gammon.

Mr. Bennet acce$ted the challenge, obser#ing that he acted #ery wisely in lea#ing

the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters

a$ologised most ci#illy for ydia!s interru$tion, and $romised that it should not

occur again, if he would resume his boo"& but Mr. /ollins, after assuring them that

he bore his young cousin no ill4will, and should ne#er resent her beha#iour as any

affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and $re$ared for

bac"gammon.

Chapter XV

M:. /-IN was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but

little assisted by education or society& the greatest $art of his life ha#ing been s$ent

under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father& and though he belonged to

one of the uni#ersities, he had merely "e$t the necessary terms without forming at

it any useful acquaintance. The sub)ection in which his father had brought him u$

had gi#en him originally great humility of manner& but it was now a good deal

counteracted by the self4conceit of a wee" head, li#ing in retirement, and theconsequential feelings of early and unex$ected $ros$erity. ' fortunate chance had

recommended him to ady /atherine *e Bourgh when the li#ing of %unsford was

#acant& and the res$ect which he felt for her high ran", and his #eneration for her

as his $atroness, mingling with a #ery good o$inion of himself, of his authority as a

clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of $ride and

obsequiousness, self4im$ortance and humility.

%a#ing now a good house and a #ery sufficient income, he intended to marry& and

in see"ing a

reconciliation with the ongbourn family he had a wife in #iew, as he meant tochoose one of the

daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were re$resented by

common re$ort. This

was his $lan of amends(of atonementDfor inheriting their father!s estate& and he

thought it an excellent

one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessi#ely generous and disinterested


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on his own $art.

%is $lan did not #ary on seeing them. Miss Bennet!s lo#ely face confirmed his

#iews, and established

all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority& and for the first e#ening she

was his settled choice. The next morning, howe#er, made an alteration& for in a

quarter of an hour!s tte4F4tte with Mrs. Bennet before brea"fast, a con#ersation

beginning with his $arsonage4house, and leading naturally to the a#owal

of his ho$es that a mistress for it might be found at ongbourn, $roduced from her,

amid #ery

com$laisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the #ery ane

he had fixed on. 2's to heryoungerdaughters, she could not ta"e u$on her to say

(she could not $ositi#ely answer(but she did not knowof any $re$ossession&(

her eldestdaughter she must )ust mention(she felt it incumbent on her

to hint, was li"ely to be #ery soon engaged.!

Mr. /ollins had only to change from ane to Elizabeth(and it was soon done(

done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to

ane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.

Mrs. Bennet treasured u$ the hint, and trusted that she might soon ha#e two

daughters married& and the man whom she could not bear to s$ea"

of the day before was now high in her good graces.

ydia!s intention of wal"ing to Meryton was not forgotten+ e#ery sister exce$t

Mary agreed to go with her& and Mr. /ollins was to attend them, at the request of

Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him and ha#e his library to

himself& for thither Mr. /ollins had followed him after brea"fast, and there he

would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection,

but really tal"ing to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at

%unsford. uch doings discom$osed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had

been always sure of leisure and tranquillity& and though $re$ared, as he told

Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in e#ery other room in the house, he was

used to be free from them there+ his ci#ility, therefore, was most $rom$t in in#iting

Mr. /ollins to )oin his daughters in their wal"& and Mr. /ollins, being in fact much

better fitted for a wal"er than a reader, was extremely well $leased to close hislarge boo", and go.

In $om$ous nothings on his side, and ci#il assents on that of his cousins, their

time $assed till entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no

longer to be gained by him.Their eyes were immediately wandering u$ the

street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a #ery smart bonnet indeed,


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or a really new muslin in a sho$ window could recall them.

But the attention of e#ery lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had

ne#er seen before, of most gentlemanli"e a$$earance, wal"ing with an offer on the

other side of the way. The officer was the #ery Mr. *enny concerning whose

return from ondon ydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they $assed. 'll werestruc" with the stranger!s air, all wondered who he could be& and 7itty and ydia,

determined if $ossible to find out, led the way across the street, under $retence of

wanting something in an o$$osite sho$, and fortunately had )ust gained the

$a#ement, when the two gentlemen turning bac", had reached the same s$ot. Mr.

*enny addressed them directly, and entreated $ermission to introduce his friend,

Mr. 0ic"ham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and, he was

ha$$y to say, had acce$ted a commission in their cor$s. This was exactly as it

should be& for the young man wanted only regimentals to ma"e him com$letely

charming. %is a$$earance was greatly in his fa#our& he had all the best $arts ofbeauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and #ery $leasing address. The

introduction was followed u$ on his side by a ha$$y readiness of con#ersation(a

readiness at the same time $erfectly correct and unassuming& and the whole $arty

were still standing and tal"ing together #ery agreeably, when the sound of horses

drew their notice, and *arcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. -n

distinguishing the ladies of the grou$ the two gentlemen came directly towards

them, and began the usual ci#ilities. Bingley was the $rinci$al s$o"esman, and

Miss Bennet the $rinci$al ob)ect. %e was then, he said, on his way to ongbourn

on $ur$ose to inquire after her. Mr. *arcy corroborated it with a bow, and was

beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenlyarrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth ha$$ening to see the

countenance of both as they loo"ed at each other, was all astonishment at the effect

of the meeting. Both changed colour, one loo"ed white, the other red. Mr.

0ic"ham, after a few moments, touched his hat(a salutation which Mr. *arcy

)ust deigned to return. 0hat could be the meaning of it5 It was im$ossible to

imagine& it was im$ossible not to long to "now.

hat $assed, too" lea#e and rode on with his friend.

Mr. *enny and Mr. 0ic"ham wal"ed with the young ladies to the door Mr.3hili$s!s house, and then made their bows, in s$ite of Miss ydia!s $ressing

entreaties that they would come in, and e#en in s$ite of Mrs. 3hili$s!s throwing

u$ the $arlour window, and loudly seconding the in#itation.

Mrs. 3hili$s was always glad to see her nieces& and the two eldest, from their

recent absence, were $articularly welcome& and she was eagerly ex$ressing her


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sur$rise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched

them, she should ha#e "nown nothing about if she had not ha$$ened to see Mr.

ones!s sho$4boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any

more draughts to Netherfield, because the Miss Bennets were come away, when

her ci#ility was claimed towards Mr. /ollins by ane!s introduction of him. he

recei#ed him with her #ery best $oliteness, which he returned with as much more,

a$ologising for his intrusion without any $re#ious acquaintance with her, which he

could not hel$ flattering himself howe#er might be )ustified by his relationshi$ to

the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. 3hili$s was quite awed by

such an excess of good breeding& but her contem$lation of one stranger was soon

$ut to an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, howe#er,

she could only tell her nieces what they already "new, that Mr. *enny had brought

him from ondon, and that he was to ha#e a lieutenant!s commission in the ((

shire. he had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he wal"ed u$ and

down the street, and had Mr. 0ic"ham a$$eared, 7itty and ydia would certainlyha#e continued the occu$ation& but unluc"ily no one $assed the windows now

exce$t a few of the officers, who, in com$arison with the stranger, were become

2stu$id, disagreeable fellows.! ome of them were to dine with the 3hili$ses the

next day, and their aunt $romised to ma"e her husband call on Mr. 0ic"ham, and

gi#e him an in#itation also, if the family from ongbourn would come in the

e#ening. This was agreed to& and Mrs. 3hili$s $rotested that they would ha#e a

nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tic"ets, and a little bit of hot su$$er

afterwards. The $ros$ect of such delights was #ery cheering, and they $arted in

mutual good s$irits. Mr. /ollins re$eated his a$ologies in quitting the room, and

assured, with unwearying ci#ility, that they were $ertectly needless.

's they wal"ed home, Elizabeth related to ane what she had seen $ass between

the two gentlemen& but though ane would ha#e defended either or both, had they

a$$eared to be wrong, she could no more ex$lain such beha#iour than her sister.

Mr. /ollins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs.

3hili$s!s manners and $oliteness. %e $rotested that, exce$t ady /atherine and

her daughter, he had ne#er seen a more elegant woman& for she had not only

recei#ed him with the utmost ci#ility, but had e#en $ointedly included him

in her in#itation for the next e#ening, although utterly un"nown to her before.omething, he su$$osed

might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had ne#er met with so

m

u

c

h


14/26

at

te

nt

io

n

in

th

e

w

h

ol

e

c

o

urse

of

hi

s

lif

e.

Chapter XVI

' no ob)ection was made the young $eo$le!s engagement with their aunt, and all

Mr. /ollins!s scru$les of lea#ing Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single e#ening during

his #isit were most steadily resisted, the coach con#eyed him and his fi#e cousins

at a suitable hour to Meryton& and the girls had the $leasure of hearing, as they

entered the drawing4room, that Mr. 0ic"ham had acce$ted their uncle!s in#itation,

and was then in the house.

0hen this information was gi#en, and they had all ta"en their seats, Mr. /ollins

was at leisure to loo" around him and admire, and he was so much struc" with

the size and furniture of the a$artment, that he declared he might almost ha#esu$$osed himself in the small summer brea"fast $arlour at :osings& a

com$arison that did not at first con#ey much gratification& but when Mrs. 3hili$s

understood from him what :osings was, and who was its $ro$rietor, when she

had listened to the descri$tion of only one of ady /atherine!s drawing4rooms,

and found that the chimney4$iece alone had cost eight hundred $ounds, she felt

all the force of the com$liment, and would hardly ha#e resented a com$arison


15/26

with the house"ee$er!s room.

In describing to her all grandeur of ady /atherine and her mansion, with

occasional digressions in $raise of his own humble abode, and the im$ro#ements it

was recei#ing, he was ha$$ily em$loyed until the gentlemen )oined them& and he

found in Mrs. 3hili$s a #ery attenti#e listener. whose o$inion of his consequenceincreased with what she heard, and who was resol#ing to retail it all among her

neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin,

and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own

indifferent imitations of china on the mantel$iece, the inter#al of waiting a$$eared

#ery long. It was o#er at last, howe#er. The gentlemen did a$$roach+ and when Mr.

0ic"ham wal"ed into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him

before, nor thin"ing of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable

admiration. The officers of the ((shire were in general a #ery creditable,

gentlemanli"e set, and the best of them were of the $resent $arty& but Mr.0ic"ham was as far beyond them all in $erson, countenance, air, and wal", as they

were su$erior to the broad4faced stuffy uncle 3hili$s, breathing $ort wine, who

followed them into the room.

Mr. 0ic"ham was the ha$$y man towards whom almost e#ery female eye was

turned, and Elizabeth was the ha$$y woman by whom he finally seated himself&

and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into con#ersation, though

it was only on its being a wet night, and on the $robability of rainy season, made

her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare to$ic might be rendered

interesting by the s"ill of the s$ea"er.

0ith such ri#als for the notice of the fair as Mr. 0ic"ham and the officers, Mr.

/ollins seemed to sin" into insignificance& to the young ladies he certainly was

nothing& but he had still at inter#als a "ind listener in Mrs. 3hili$s, and was, by her

watchfulness, most abundantly su$$lied with coffee and muffin.

, by sitting down to whist.

2I "now little of the game at $resent,! said he, 2but I shall be glad to im$ro#e

myself& for in my situation of life((! Mrs. 3hili$s was #ery than"ful for

his com$liance but could not wait for his reason.Mr. 0ic"ham did not $lay at whist, and with ready delight was he recei#ed at the

other table between Elizabeth and ydia. 't first there seemed danger of ydia!s

engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined tal"er& but being li"ewise

extremely fond of lottery tic"ets, she soon grew too much interested in the game,

too eager in ma"ing bets and exclaiming after $rizes, to ha#e attention for any one

in $articular. 'llowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. 0ic"ham was


16/26

therefore at leisure to tal" to Elizabeth, and she was #ery willing to hear him,

though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not ho$e to be told, the history of

his acquaintance with Mr. *arcy. he dared not e#en mention that gentleman. %er

curiosity, howe#er, was unex$ectedly relie#ed. Mr. 0ic"ham began the sub)ect

himself. %e required how far Netherfield was from Meryton& and , after recei#ing

her answer, as"ed in a hesitating manner how long Mr. *arcy had been staying

there.

2'bout a month,! said Elizabeth& and then, unwilling to let the sub)ect dro$,

added, 2he is a man

of #ery large

$ro$erty in

*erbyshire, I

understand.!

2?es,! re$lied 0ic"ham& 2his estate there is a noble one. ' clear ten thousand $erannum. ?ou could not ha#e met with a $erson more ca$able of gi#ing you certain

information on that head than myself(for I ha#e been connected with his family,

in a $articular manner, from my infancy.!

Elizabeth could not but loo" sur$rised.

2?ou may well be sur$rised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as

you $robably might, the #ery cold manner of our meeting

yesterday. 're you much acquainted with Mr. *arcy5!

2's much as I e#er wish to be,! cried Elizabeth, warmly. 2I ha#e s$ent four days

in the same house

with him, and I

thin" him #ery

disagreeable.!

2I ha#e no right to gi#e myo$inion,! said 0ic"ham, 2as to his being agreeable or

otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I ha#e "nown him too long and too

well to be a fair )udge. It is im$ossible for me to be im$artial. But I belie#e your

o$inion of him would in general astonish(and, $erha$s, you would not ex$ressit quite so strongly anywhere else. %ere you are in your own family.!

2@$on my word I say no more hereI might say in any house in the

neighbourhood, exce$t Netherfield. %e is not at all li"ed in %ertfordshire.

E#erybody is disgusted with his $ride. ?ou will not find him more fa#ourably

s$o"en of by any one.!


17/26

2I cannot $retend to be sorry,! said 0ic"ham, after a short interru$tion, 2that he

or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts& but with himI

belie#e it does not often ha$$en. The world is blinded by his fortune and

consequence, or frightened by his high and im$osing manners, and sees him

only as he chooses to be seen.!

! 0ic"ham only shoo" his head.

n this country much longer.!

2I do not at all "now& but I heardnothing of his going away when I was at

Netherfield. I ho$e your $lans in fa#our of the ((shire will not

be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.!

2-h no(it is not for meto be dri#en away by Mr. *arcy. If hewishes to a#oid

seeing me,he must go.

0e are not on friendly terms, and it always gi#es me $ain to meet him, but I ha#e

no reason for a#oiding himbut what I might $roclaim to all the world(a sense of

#ery great ill usage, and most $ainful regrets at his being what he is. %is father,

Miss Bennet, the late Mr. *arcy, was one of the best men that e#er breathed, and

the truest friend I e#er had& and I can ne#er be in com$any with this Mr. *arcy

without being grie#ed to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. %is beha#iour

to myself has been scandalous& but I #erily belie#e I could forgi#e him anything

and e#erything, rather than his disa$$ointing the ho$es and disgracing the memory

of his father.!

Elizabeth found the interest of the sub)ect increase, and listened with all her

hea

rt&

but

the

deli

cac

y of

it

$re#en

ted

furt

her

inq

uir


18/26

y.

Mr. 0ic"ham began to s$ea" on more general to$ics, Meryton, the

neighbourhood, the society, a$$earing highly $leased with all that he had yet

seen, and s$ea"ing of the latter, es$ecially, with gentle but #ery intelligible

gallantry.

2It was the $ros$ect of constant society, and good society,! > he added, 2which

was my chief inducement to enter the ((shire. I "now it to be a most

res$ectable, agreeable cor$s& and my friend *enny tem$ted me further by his

account of their $resent quarters, and the #ery great attentions and excellent

acquaintance Meryton had $rocured them. ociety, I own, is necessary to me. I

ha#e been a disa$$ointed man, and my s$irits will not bear solitude. I mustha#e

em$loyment and society. ' military life is not what I was intended for, but

circumstances ha#e now made it eligible. The church oughtto ha#e been my

$rofession(I was brought u$ for the church& and I should at this time ha#e beenin $ossession of a most #aluable li#ing, had it $leased the gentleman we were

s$ea"ing of )ust now.!

2Indeed6!

2?es(the late Mr. *arcy bequeathed me the next $resentation of the best

li#ing in his gift. %e was my godfather, and excessi#ely attached to me. I cannot

do )ustice to his "indness. %e meant to $ro#ide for me am$ly, and thought he

had done it& but when the li#ing fell, it was gi#en elsewhere.!

2Aood hea#ens6! cried Elizabeth& 2but how could thatbe5 %ow could his will be

disre

garde

d5

0hy

did

not

you

see"

legalredre

ss5!

2There was )ust such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to gi#e me no

ho$e from law. ' man of honour could not ha#e doubted the intention, but Mr.

*arcy chose to doubt it(or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation,


19/26

and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extra#agance, im$rudence, in

short, anything or nothing. /ertain it is that the li#ing became #acant two years

ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was gi#en to another man& and

no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of ha#ing really done anything to

deser#e to lose it. I ha#e a warm unguarded tem$er, and I may $erha$s ha#e

sometimes s$o"en my o$inion ofhim, and tohim, too freely. I can recall nothing

worse. But the fact is, that we are #ery different sort of men, and that he hates me.!

2This is quite shoc"ing6 %e deser#es to be $ublicly disgraced.!

ther, I can ne#er defy or ex$ose him.!

Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than e#er

as he ex$ressed them.

2But what,! said she, after a $ause, 2can ha#e been his moti#e5 what can ha#e

induced him to beha#e so

cruelly5!

2' thorough, determined disli"e of me(a disli"e which I cannot but attribute in

some measure to )ealousy. %ad the late Mr. *arcy li"ed me less, his son might

ha#e borne with me better& but his father!s uncommon attachment to me irritated

him, I belie#e, #ery early in life. %e had not a tem$er to bear the sort of

com$etition in which we stood(the sort of $reference which was often gi#en

me.!

2I had not thought Mr. *arcy so bad as this(though I ha#e ne#er li"ed him, I hadnot thought so #ery ill of him(I had su$$osed him to be des$ising his fellow4

creatures in general, but did not sus$ect him of descending to such malicious

re#enge, such in)ustice, such inhumanity as this6!

'fter a few minutes! reflection, howe#er, she continued,(> 2I doremember his

boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the im$lacability of his resentments& of his

ha#ing an unforgi#ing tem$er. %is dis$osition must be dreadful.!

2I will not trust myself on the sub)ect,! re$lied 0ic"ham+ 2Ican hardly be )ust to

him.!

Elizabeth was again dee$ in thought, and after a time exclaimed, 2To treat in

such a manner the godson, the friend, the fa#ourite of his father6! he could ha#e

added, 2' young man, too, li"eyou,whose #ery countenance may #ouch for your

being amiable.! But she contented herself with(2'nd one, too, who had

$robably been his own com$anion from childhood, connected together, as I thin"


20/26

you said, in the closest manner.!

20e were born in the same $arish, within the same $ar"& the greatest $art of our

youth was $assed together+ inmates of the same house, sharing the same

amusements, ob)ects of the same $arental care.My father began life in the

$rofession which your uncle, Mr. 3hili$s, a$$ears to do so much credit to+ but hega#e u$ e#erything to be of use to the late Mr. *arcy, and de#oted all his time to

the care of the 3emberley $ro$erty. %e was most highly esteemed by Mr. *arcy, a

most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. *arcy often ac"nowledged himself to be

under the greatest obligations to my father!s acti#e su$erintendence& and when,

immediately before my father!s death, Mr. *arcy ga#e him a #oluntary $romise of

$ro#iding for me, I am con#inced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to

himas of affection to myself.!

2%ow strange6! cried Elizabeth. 2%ow abominable6 I wonder that the #ery

$ride of this Mr. *arcy has not made him )ust to you. If from no better moti#e,that he should not ha#e been $roud to be dishonest,(for dishonesty I must call

it.!

2It iswonderful,! re$lied 0ic"ham& 2for almost all his actions may be traced

to $ride& and $ride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer

with #irtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent& and in his

beha#iour to me there were stronger im$ulses e#en than $ride.!

2/an such abominable $ride as his ha#e e#er done him good5!

2?es& it has often led him to be liberal and generous& to gi#e his money freely, to

dis$lay hos$itality, to assist his tenants, and relie#e the $oor. 1amily $ride, and

filial$ride, for he is #ery $roud of what his father was, ha#e done this. Not to

a$$ear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the $o$ular qualities, or lose the

influence of the 3emberley %ouse, is a $owerful moti#e. %e has also brotherly

$ride, which, withsomebrotherly affection, ma"es him a #ery "ind and careful

guardian of his sister& and you will hear him generally cried u$ as the most

attenti#e and best of brothers.!

20hat sort of a girl is Miss *arcy5!

%e shoo" his head. 2I wish I could call her amiable. It gi#es me $ain to s$ea" ill

of a *arcy& but she is too much li"e her brother,(#ery, #ery $roud. 's a child,

she was affectionate and $leasing, and extremely fond of me& and I ha#e de#oted

hours and hours to her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. he is a

handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accom$lished.

ince her father!s death her home has been ondon, where a lady li#es with her,


21/26

and su$erintends her education.! 'fter many $auses and many trials of other

sub)ects, Elizabeth could not hel$ re#erting once more to the first, and saying,(

2I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley. %ow can Mr. Bingley, who

seems good4humour itself, and is, I really belie#e, truly amiable, be in

friendshi$ with such a man5 %ow can they suit each other5 *o you "now Mr.Bingley5!

2Not at all.!

2%e is a sweet4tem$ered, amiable, charming man. %e cannot "now what Mr.

*arcy is.!

23robably not& but Mr. *arcy can $lease where he chooses. %e does not want

abilities. %e can be a

con#ersible com$anion if he thin"s it worth his while. 'mong those who are at

all his equals in

consequence, he is a #ery different man from what he is to the less $ros$erous.

%is $ride ne#er deserts

him& but with the rich he is liberal4minded, )ust, sincere, rational, honourable,

and, $erha$s,

agreeable,(allowing something for fortune and figure.!

The whist $arty soon afterwards brea"ing u$, the $layers gathered round the other

table, and Mr./ollins too" his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. 3hili$s. The usual

inquiries as to his

success were made by the latter. It had not been #ery great& he had lost e#ery $oint&

but when Mrs.

3hili$s began to ex$ress her concern thereu$on, he assured her, with much earnest

gra#ity, that it was not

of the least im$ortance& that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged

she would not ma"e

herself uneasy.

2I "now #ery well, madam,! said he, 2that when $ersons sit down to a card table

they must ta"e their

chance of these things,(and ha$$ily I am not in such circumstances as to ma"e

fi#e shillings any ob)ect.

There are, undoubtedly, many who could not say the same& but, than"s to ady


22/26

/atherine de Bourgh, I

am remo#ed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters.!

Mr. 0ic"ham!s attention was caught& and after obser#ing Mr. /ollins for a

few moments, he as"edElizabeth in a low #oice whether her relations were #ery intimately acquainted

with the family of *e

Bourgh.

2ady /atherine de Bourgh,! she re$lied, 2has #ery lately gi#en him a li#ing.

I hardly "now how Mr. /ollins was first introduced to her

notice, but he certainly has not "nown her long.!

2?ou "now of course that ady /atherine de Bourgh and ady 'nne *arcywere sisters&

consequently that

she is aunt to the

$resent Mr.

*arcy.!

2No, indeed, I did not. I "new nothing at all of ady /atherine!s

connections. I

ne#er heard of

her existence tillthe day before

yesterday.!

2%er daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will ha#e a #ery large fortune, and it is belie#ed

that she and her cousin

will unite the two estates.!

This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of $oor Miss Bingley.

Gain indeed must be all her attentions, #ain and useless her affection for his

sister and her $raise of himself, if he were already self4destined to another.

2Mr. /ollins,! said she, 2s$ea"s highly both of ady /atherine and her daughter&

but, from some $articulars that he has related of her adyshi$, I sus$ect his

gratitude misleads him& and that, in s$ite of her being his $atroness, she is an

arrogant, conceited woman.!

2I belie#e her to be both in a great degree,! re$lied 0ic"ham+ 2I ha#e not seen her


23/26

for many years& but I #ery well remember that I ne#er li"ed her, and that her

manners were dictatorial and insolent. he has the re$utation of being remar"ably

sensible and cle#er& but I rather belie#e she deri#es $art of her abilities from her

ran" and fortune, $art from her authoritati#e manner, and the rest from the $ride of

her ne$hew, who chooses that e#ery one connected with him should ha#e an

understanding of the first class.!

Elizabeth allowed that he had gi#en a #ery rational account of it, and they

continued tal"ing together with mutual satisfaction till su$$er $ut an end to cards,

and ga#e the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. 0ic"ham!s attentions. There

could be no con#ersation in the noise of Mrs. 3hili$s!s su$$er $arty, but his

manners, recommended him to e#erybody. 0hate#er he said, was said well& and

whate#er he did, done gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him.

he could thin" of nothing but of Mr. 0ic"ham, and of what he had told her, all

the way home& but there was not time for her e#en to mention his name as theywent, for neither ydia nor Mr. /ollins was once silent. ydia tal"ed incessantly of

lottery tic"ets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won& and Mr. /ollins, in

describing the ci#ility of Mr. and Mrs. 3hili$s, $rotesting that he did not in the

least regard his losses at whist, enumerating all the dishes at su$$er, and re$eatedly

fearing that he crowded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage

before the carriage sto$$ed at ongbourn %ouse.

Chapter XVII

EIH'BET% related to ane, the next day, what had $assed between Mr.0ic"ham and herself. ane listened with astonishment and concern+ she "new not

how to belie#e that Mr. *arcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley!s regard& and

yet it was not in her nature to question the #eracity of a young man of such

amiable a$$earance as 0ic"ham. The $ossibility of his ha#ing really endured

such un"indness was enough to interest all her tender feelings& and nothing

therefore remained to be done but to thin" well of them both, to defend the

conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mista"e whate#er could

not be otherwise ex$lained.

2They ha#e both,! said she, 2been decei#ed, I daresay, in some way or other, ofwhich we can form no idea. Interested $eo$le ha#e $erha$s misre$resented each

to the other. It is, in short, im$ossible for us to con)ecture the causes or

circumstances which may ha#e alienated them, without actual blame on either

side.!

2Gery true, indeed& and now, my dear ane, what ha#e you got to say in behalf of


24/26

the interested $eo$le who ha#e $robably been concerned in the business5 *o clear

them,too, or we shall be obliged to thin" ill of somebody.!

2augh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my o$inion. My

dearest izzy, do but

consider in what a disgraceful light it $laces Mr. *arcy, to be treating hisfather!s fa#ourite in such a manner,(one whom his father had $romised to

$ro#ide for. It is im$ossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had

any #alue for his character, could be ca$able of it. /an his most intimate

friends be so excessi#ely decei#ed in him5 -h no.!

2I can much more easily belie#e Mr. Bingley!s being im$osed on than that Mr.

0ic"ham should in#ent such a history of himself as he ga#e me last night& names,

facts, e#erything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. *arcy

contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his loo"s.!

2It is difficult, indeed(it is distressing. -ne does not "now what to thin".!

2I beg your $ardon&(one "nows exactly what to thin".!

But ane could thin" with certainty on only one $oint,(that Mr. Bingley, if

he had been im$osed on, would

ha#e much to suffer when the affair

became $ublic.

The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery, where this

con#ersation $assed, by the arri#al of some of the #ery $ersons of whom they hadbeen s$ea"ing& Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to gi#e their $ersonal in#itation

for the long4ex$ected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following

Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again, called it an

age since they had met,

and re$eatedly as"ed what she had been doing with herself since their

se$aration. To the rest of the family they $aid little attention& a#oiding Mrs. Bennet

as much as $ossible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others.

They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an acti#ity which

too" their brother by sur$rise, and hurrying off as if eager to esca$e from Mrs.Bennet!s ci#ilities.

The $ros$ect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to e#ery female of

the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as gi#en in com$liment to her eldest

daughter, and was $articularly flattered by recei#ing the in#itation from Mr.

Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card. ane $ictured to herself a ha$$y


25/26

e#ening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother& and

Elizabeth thought with $leasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. 0ic"ham, and of

seeing a confirmation of e#erything in Mr. *arcy!s loo" and beha#iour. The

ha$$iness antici$ated by /atherine and ydia de$ended less on any single e#ent, or

any $articular $erson& for though they each, li"e Elizabeth, meant to dance half the

e#ening with Mr. 0ic"ham, he was by no means the only $artner who could

satisfy them, and a ball was, at any rate, a ball. 'nd e#en Mary could assure her

family that she had no disinclination for it.

20hile I can ha#e my mornings to myself,! said she, 2it is enough. I thin" it is no

sacrifice to )oin occasionally in e#ening engagements. ociety has claims on us all&

and I $rofess myself one of those who consider inter#als of recreation and

amusement as desirable for e#erybody.!

Elizabeth!s s$irits were so high on the occasion, that though she did not often

s$ea" unnecessarily to Mr. /ollins, she could not hel$ as"ing him whether heintended to acce$t Mr. Bingley!s in#itation, and if he did, whether he would thin"

it $ro$er to )oin in the e#ening!s amusement& and she was rather sur$rised to find

that he entertained no scru$le whate#er on that head, and was #ery far from

dreading a rebu"e, either from the 'rchbisho$ or ady /atherine de Bourgh, by

#enturing to dance.

2I am by no means of o$inion, I assure you,! said he, 2that a ball of this "ind,

gi#en by a young man of character, to res$ectable $eo$le, can ha#e any e#il

tendency& and I am so far from ob)ecting to dancing myself, that I shall ho$e to

be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the e#ening&

and I ta"e this o$$ortunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first

dances es$ecially& a $reference which I trust my cousin ane will attribute to the

right cause, and not to any disres$ect for her.!

Elizabeth felt herself com$letely ta"en in. he had fully $ro$osed being engaged

by 0ic"ham for those #ery dances& and to ha#e Mr. /ollins instead6(her

li#eliness had been ne#er worse timed. There was no hel$ for it, howe#er. Mr.

0ic"ham!s ha$$iness and her own was $erforce delayed a little longer, and Mr.

/ollins!s $ro$osal acce$ted with as good a grace as she could. he was not the

better $leased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. It

now first struc" her thatshewas selected from among her sisters as worthy of

being the mistress of %unsford 3arsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table

at :osings, in the absence of more eligible #isitors. The idea soon reached to

con#iction, as she obser#ed his increasing ci#ilities towards herself, and heard his

frequent attem$t at a com$liment on her wit and #i#acity& and though more


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astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before

her mother ga#e her to understand that the $robability of their marriage was

exceedingly agreeable to her.Elizabeth, howe#er, did not choose to ta"e the hint,

being well aware that a serious dis$ute must be the consequence of any re$ly. Mr.

/ollins might ne#er ma"e the offer, and, till he did, it was useless to quarrel about

him.

If there had not been a Netherfield ball to $re$are for and tal" of, the younger

Miss Bennets would ha#e been in a $itiable state at this time& for from the day of

the in#itation to the day of the ball there was such a succession of rain as

$re#ented their wal"ing to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be

sought after& the #ery shoe4roses for Netherfield were got by $roxy. E#en Elizabeth

might ha#e found some trial of her $atience in weather which totally sus$ended the

im$ro#ement of her acquaintance with Mr. 0ic"ham& and nothing less than a

dance on Tuesday could ha#e made such a 1riday, aturday, unday, and Mondayendurable to 7itty and ydia

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Pride and Prejudice Chapter 12 to 17