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Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young
ladies in the country。 Let Wickham be your man。 He is a pleasant
fellow； and would jilt you creditably。’
‘Thank you； Sir； but a less agreeable man would satisfy me。 We
must not all expect Jane’s good fortune。’
‘True；’ said Mr。 Bennet； ‘but it is a comfort to think that；
whatever of that kind may befall you； you have an affectionate
mother who will always make the most of it。’
Mr。 Wickham’s society was of material service in dispelling the
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gloom； which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many
of the Longbourn family。 They saw him often； and to his other
recommendations was now added that of general unreserve。 The
whole of what Elizabeth had already heard； his claims on Mr。
Darcy； and all that he had suffered from him； was now openly
acknowledged and publicly canvassed； and every body was
pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr。 Darcy
before they had known any thing of the matter。
Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there
might be any extenuating circumstance in the case； unknown to
the society of Hertfordshire； her mild and steady candour always
pleaded for allowances； and urged the possibility of mistakes—but
by everybody else Mr。 Darcy was condemned as the worst of men。
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CHAPTER II
fter a week spent in professions of love and schemes of
Afelicity； Mr。 Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte
by the arrival of Saturday。 The pain of separation；
however； might be alleviated on his side； by preparations for the
reception of his bride； as he had reason to hope； that shortly after
his next return into Hertfordshire； the day would be fixed that was
to make him the happiest of men。 He took leave of his relations at
Longbourn with as much solemnity as before； wished his fair
cousins health and happiness again； and promised their father
another letter of thanks。
On the following Monday； Mrs。 Bennet had the pleasure of
receiving her brother and his wife； who came as usual to spend the
Christmas at Longbourn。 Mr。 Gardiner was a sensible；
gentlemanlike man； greatly superior to his sister as well by nature
as education。 The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in
believing that a man who lived by trade； and within view of his
own warehouses； could have been so well bred and agreeable。
Mrs。 Gardiner； who was several years younger than Mrs。 Bennet
and Mrs。 Philips； was an amiable； intelligent； elegant woman； and
a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces。 Between the two
eldest and herself especially； there subsisted a very particular
regard。 They had frequently been staying with her in town。
The first part of Mrs。 Gardiner’s business on her arrival； was to
distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions。 When
this was done； she had a less active part to play。 It became her
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turn to listen。 Mrs。 Bennet had many grievances to relate； and
much to complain of。 They had all been very ill…used since she last
saw her sister。 Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage；
and after all there was nothing in it。
‘I do not blame Jane；’ she continued； ‘for Jane would have got
Mr。 Bingley； if she could。 But； Lizzy！ Oh； sister！ it is very hard to
think that she might have been Mr。 Collins’s wife by this time； had
not it been for her own perverseness。 He made her an offer in this
very room； and she refused him。 The consequence of it is； that
Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have； and that
Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever。 The Lucases
are very artful people indeed； sister。 They are all for what they can
get。 I am sorry to say it of them； but so it is。 It makes me very
nervous and poorly； to be thwarted so in my own family； and to
have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else。
However； your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts；
and I am very glad to hear what you tell us； of long sleeves。’
Mrs。 Gardiner； to whom the chief of this news had been given
before； in the course of Jane and Elizabeth’s correspondence with
her； made her sister a slight answer； and in compassion to her
nieces turned the conversation。
When alone with Elizabeth afterwards； she spoke more on the
subject。 ‘It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane；’
said she。 ‘I am sorry it went off。 But these things happen so often！
A young man； such as you describe Mr。 Bingley； so easily falls in
love with a pretty girl for a few weeks； and when accident
separates them； so easily forgets her； that these sort of
inconstancies are very frequent。’
‘An excellent consolation in its way；’ said Elizabeth； ‘but it will
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not do for us。 We do not suffer by accident。 It does not often
happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man
of independent fortune to think no more of a girl； whom he was
violently in love with only a few days before。’
‘But that expression of “violently in love” is so hackneyed； so
doubtful； so indefinite； that it gives me very little idea。 It is as often
applied to feelings which arise from an half…hour’s acquaintance；
as to a real； strong attachment。 Pray； how violent was Mr。
Bingley’s love？’
‘I never saw a more promising inclination。 He was growing
quite inattentive to other people； and wholly engrossed by her。
Every time they met； it was more decided and remarkable。 At his
own ball he offended two or three young ladies； by not asking
them to dance； and I spoke to him twice myself； without receiving
an answer。 Could there be finer symptoms？ Is not general
incivility the very essence of love？’
‘Oh； yes！—of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt。
Poor Jane！ I am sorry for her； because； with her disposition； she
may not get over it immediately。 It had better have happened to
you； Lizzy； you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner。 But
do you think she would be prevailed on to go back with us？
Change of scene might be of service—and perhaps a little relief
from home； may be as useful as anything。’
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal； and felt
persuaded of her sister’s ready acquiescence。
‘I hope；’ added Mrs。 Gardiner； ‘that no consideration with
regard to this young man will influence her。 We live in so different
a part of town； all our connections are so different； and； as you well
know； we go out so little； that it is very improbable they should
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meet at all； unless he really comes to see her。’
‘And that is quite impossible； for he is now in the custody of his
friend； and Mr。 Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in
such a part of London！ My dear aunt； how could you think of it？
Mr。 Darcy may perhaps have h