Jane Austin - Pride and Prejudice

atonement—for inheriting their father’s estate; and he thought it

an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and

excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.

His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet’s lovely face

confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of

what was due to seniority; and for the first evening _she_ was

his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an

alteration; for in a quarter of an hour’s _tête-à-tête_ with Mrs.

Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his

parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his

hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn,

produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general

encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on.

“As to her _younger_ daughters, she could not take upon her to

say—she could not positively answer—but she did not _know_ of any

prepossession; her _eldest_ daughter, she must just mention—she

felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon

engaged.”

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was

soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire.

Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded

her of course.

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might

soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not

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

Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every

sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to

attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious

to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither

Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast; and there he would

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

collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little

cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings

discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been

always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as

he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other

room of the house, he was used to be free from them there; his

civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to

join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact

much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely

pleased to close his large book, and go.

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his

cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The

attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by

_him_. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in

quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet

indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall

them.

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man,

whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike

appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the

way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return

from London Lydia came to enquire, and he bowed as they passed.

All were struck with the stranger’s air, all wondered who he

could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find

out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting

something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained

the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached

the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated

permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned

with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had

accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it

should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him

completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he

had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good

figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed

up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness

at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole

party were still standing and talking together very agreeably,

when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley

were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of

the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and

began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman,

and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on

his way to Longbourn on purpose to enquire after her. Mr. Darcy

corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to

fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by

the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the

countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all

astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour,

one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few

moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy just

deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was

impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.

In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have

noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the

door of Mr. Phillip’s house, and then made their bows, in spite

of Miss Lydia’s pressing entreaties that they should come in, and

even in spite of Mrs. Phillips’s throwing up the parlour window

and loudly seconding the invitation.

Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two

eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and

she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return

home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she

should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see

Mr. Jones’s shop-boy 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 civility was claimed

towards Mr. Collins by Jane’s introduction of him. She received

him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much

more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous

acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering

himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the

young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Phillips was

quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her

contemplation of one stranger was soon put to an end by

exclamations and enquiries about the other; of whom, however, she

could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny

had brought him from London, and that he was to have a

lieutenant’s commission in the ——shire. She had been watching him

the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and

had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have

continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed windows now

except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the

stranger, were become “stupid, disagreeable fellows.” Some of

them were to dine with the Phillipses the next day, and their

aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give

him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come