CHAPTER XXIV.

1MISS BINGLEY’S letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. 2The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother’s regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country.

3Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. 4Miss Darcy’s praise occupied the chief of it. 5Her many attractions were again dwelt on; and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. 6She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother’s being an inmate of Mr. Darcy’s house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to new furniture.

7Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, heard it in silent indignation. 8Her heart was divided between concern for her sister and resentment against all others. 9To Caroline’s assertion of her brother’s being partial to Miss Darcy, she paid no credit. 10That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of proper resolution, which now made him the slave of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the caprice of their inclinations. 11Had his own happiness, however, been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in whatever manner he thought best; but her sister’s was involved in it, as she thought he must be sensible himself. 12It was a subject, in short, on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. 13She could think of nothing else; and yet, whether Bingley’s regard had really died away, or were suppressed by his friends’ interference; whether he had been aware of Jane’s attachment, or whether it had escaped his observation; whichever were the case, though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the difference, her sister’s situation remained the same, her peace equally wounded.

14A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last, on Mrs. Bennet’s leaving them together, after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could not help saying,—

15“O that my dear mother had more command over herself! 16she can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. 17But I will not repine. 18It cannot last long. 19He will be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before.”

20Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said nothing.

21“You doubt me,” cried Jane, slightly colouring; “indeed, you have no reason. 22He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance but that is all. 23I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. 24Thank God I have not that pain. 25A little time, therefore—I shall certainly try to get the better——”

26With a stronger voice she soon added, “I have this comfort immediately, that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it has done no harm to anyone but myself.”

27“My dear Jane,” exclaimed Elizabeth, “you are too good. 28Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. 29I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you deserve.”

30Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister’s warm affection.

31“Nay,” said Elizabeth, “this is not fair. 32You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody. 33I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. 34Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good-will. 35You need not. 36There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. 37The more I see of the world the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. 38I have met with two instances lately: one I will not mention, the other is Charlotte’s marriage. 39It is unaccountable! 40in every view it is unaccountable!”

41“My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. 42They will ruin your happiness. 43You do not make allowance enough for difference of situation and temper. 44Consider Mr. Collins’s respectability, and Charlotte’s prudent, steady character. 45Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe, for everybody’s sake, that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin.”

46“To oblige you, I would try to believe almost anything, but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her understanding than I now do of her heart. 47My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man: you know he is, as well as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him cannot have a proper way of thinking. 48You shall not defend her, though it is Charlotte Lucas. 49You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security for happiness.”

50“I must think your language too strong in speaking of both,” replied Jane; “and I hope you will be convinced of it, by seeing them happy together. 51But enough of this. 52You alluded to something else. 53You mentioned two instances. 54I cannot misunderstand you, but I entreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking that person to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. 55We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. 56We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. 57It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. 58Women fancy admiration means more than it does.”

59“And men take care that they should.”

60“If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine.”

61“I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley’s conduct to design,” said Elizabeth; “but, without scheming to do wrong, or to make others unhappy, there may be error and there may be misery. 62Thoughtlessness, want of attention to other people’s feelings, and want of resolution, will do the business.”

63“And do you impute it to either of those?”

64“Yes; to the last. 65But if I go on I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. 66Stop me, whilst you can.”

67“You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him?”

68“Yes, in conjunction with his friend.”

69“I cannot believe it. 70Why should they try to influence him? 71They can only wish his happiness; and if he is attached to me no other woman can secure it.”

72“Your first position is false. 73They may wish many things besides his happiness: they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great connections, and pride.”

74“Beyond a doubt they do wish him to choose Miss Darcy,” replied Jane; “but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. 75They have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. 76But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother’s. 77What sister would think herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very objectionable? 78If they believed him attached to me they would not try to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. 79By supposing such an affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy. 80Do not distress me by the idea. 81I am not ashamed of having been mistaken—or, at least, it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. 82Let me take it in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood.”

83Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley’s name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.

84Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more; and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. 85Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. 86Mrs. Bennet’s best comfort was, that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.

87Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. 88“So, Lizzy,” said he, one day, “your sister is crossed in love, I find. 89I congratulate her. 90Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. 91It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. 92When is your turn to come? 93You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. 94Now is your time. 95Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. 96Let Wickham be your man. 97He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.”

98“Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. 99We must not all expect Jane’s good fortune.”

100“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.”

101Mr. Wickham’s society was of material service in dispelling the gloom which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. 102They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. 103The 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 everybody was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known anything of the matter.

104Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances 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.