CHAPTER XIX.
Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet gotrid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride sheafterwards visited Mrs. Bingley and talked of Mrs. Darcy may be guessed.I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishmentof her earnest desire in the establishment of so many of her children,produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable,well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it waslucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity inso unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous andinvariably silly.
Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for herdrew him oftener from home than any thing else could do. He delighted ingoing to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected.
Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So neara vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to_his_ easy temper, or _her_ affectionate heart. The darling wish of hissisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring countyto Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other sourceof happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.
Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time withher two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generallyknown, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable atemper as Lydia, and, removed from the influence of Lydia's example, shebecame, by proper attention and management, less irritable, lessignorant, and less insipid. From the farther disadvantage of Lydia'ssociety she was of course carefully kept, and though Mrs. Wickhamfrequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise ofballs and young men, her father would never consent to her going.
Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarilydrawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet's being quiteunable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, butshe could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was nolonger mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own,it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change withoutmuch reluctance.
As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution fromthe marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction thatElizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitudeand falsehood had before been unknown to her; and in spite of everything, was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed onto make his fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth receivedfrom Lydia on her marriage, explained to her that, by his wife at least,if not by himself, such a hope was cherished. The letter was to thiseffect:
MY DEAR LIZZY,
I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but, however, do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not.
Yours, &c.
As it happened that Elizabeth had _much_ rather not, she endeavoured inher answer to put an end to every intreaty and expectation of the kind.Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practiceof what might be called economy in her own private expences, shefrequently sent them. It had always been evident to her that such anincome as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant intheir wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient totheir support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane orherself were sure of being applied to, for some little assistancetowards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when therestoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in theextreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheapsituation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection forher soon sunk into indifference; her's lasted a little longer; and inspite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims toreputation which her marriage had given her.
Though Darcy could never receive _him_ at Pemberley, yet, forElizabeth's sake, he assisted him farther in his profession. Lydia wasoccasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himselfin London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequentlystaid so long, that even Bingley's good humour was overcome, and heproceeded so far as to _talk_ of giving them a hint to be gone.
Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage; but as shethought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, shedropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost asattentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civilityto Elizabeth.
Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; and the attachment of the sisterswas exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love eachother, even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinionin the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with anastonishment bordering on alarm, at her lively, sportive, manner oftalking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respectwhich almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of openpleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen inher way. By Elizabeth's instructions she began to comprehend that awoman may take liberties with her husband, which a brother will notalways allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself.
Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew;and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character, inher reply to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent himlanguage so very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some timeall intercourse was at an end. But at length, by Elizabeth's persuasion,he was prevailed on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation;and, after a little farther resistance on the part of his aunt, herresentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosityto see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait onthem at Pemberley, in spite of that pollution which its woods hadreceived, not merely from the presence of such a mistress, but thevisits of her uncle and aunt from the city.
With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy,as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both eversensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringingher into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.
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Transcriber's note:
Spelling and hyphen changes have been made so that there is consistencywithin the book. Any other inconsistencies with modern spellings havebeen left as printed.