Chapter 55

A FEW days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in ten days’ time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere.

A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley visited again, this time alone. His friend had left for London that morning but was due to return home in ten days. Mr. Bingley stayed with them for over an hour and was in especially good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dinner. But he apologized repeatedly and explained that he had already agreed to dine elsewhere.

“Next time you call,” said she, “I hope we shall be more lucky.”

“Next time you visit,” she said, “I hope we’ll have better luck.”

He should be particularly happy at any time, etc., etc.; and if she would give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them.

He would be especially happy at any time, etc., etc. And if she gave him permission, he would visit them soon.

“Can you come to-morrow?”

“Can you come tomorrow?”

Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was accepted with alacrity.

Yes, he had no plans at all for tomorrow, and he eagerly accepted her invitation.

He came, and in such very good time, that the ladies were none of them dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughters’ room, in her dressing-gown, and with her hair half finished, crying out,—

He arrived so early that none of the ladies were dressed. Mrs. Bennet rushed into her daughters’ room in her dressing gown, her hair half done, calling out:

“My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come—Mr. Bingley is come. He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss Lizzy’s hair.”

“My dear Jane, hurry up and come downstairs. He’s here. Mr. Bingley is here. He really is. Hurry, hurry. Sarah, come here to Miss Bennet right now and help her put on her dress. Don’t worry about Miss Lizzy’s hair.”

“We will be down as soon as we can,” said Jane; “but I dare say Kitty is forwarder than either of us, for she went upstairs half an hour ago.”

“We’ll be down as soon as we can,” said Jane. “But I expect Kitty is closer to being ready than either of us. She went upstairs half an hour ago, after all.”

“Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come, be quick, be quick! where is your sash, my dear?”

“Oh, forget Kitty! What does she have to do with it? Come on, hurry, hurry! Where is your sash, my dear?”

But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down without one of her sisters.

But after her mother left, no one could persuade Jane to go downstairs without one of her sisters.

The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his custom, and Mary went upstairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of the five being thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last Kitty did, she very innocently said, “What is the matter, mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?”

The same eagerness to get them alone was clear again that evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet went to the library, as he usually did, and Mary went upstairs to her instrument. With two of the five obstacles now removed, Mrs. Bennet spent a long time looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine. But neither responded. Elizabeth refused to notice her. When Kitty finally did notice, she said very innocently, “What’s the matter, mamma? Why do you keep winking at me? What am I supposed to do?”

“Nothing, child, nothing. I did not wink at you.” She then sat still five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty,—

“Nothing, child, nothing. I did not wink at you.” She sat still for five more minutes. But she could not bear to waste such a precious opportunity. She suddenly stood up and said to Kitty:

“Come here, my love, I want to speak to you,” took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her entreaty that she would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half opened the door and called out,—

“Come here, my love. I want to speak to you,” she said, taking her out of the room. Jane immediately looked at Elizabeth, showing her distress at such deliberate planning and pleading that she would not cooperate. A few minutes later, Mrs. Bennet opened the door halfway and called out:

“Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you.”

“Lizzy, my dear, I want to talk to you.”

Elizabeth was forced to go.

Elizabeth had no choice but to go.

“We may as well leave them by themselves, you know,” said her mother as soon as she was in the hall. “Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in my dressing-room.”

“We might as well leave them alone, you know,” her mother said as soon as she reached the hall. “Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in my dressing room.”

Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but remained quietly in the hall till she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned into the drawing-room.

Elizabeth did not try to reason with her mother. Instead, she waited quietly in the hall until her mother and Kitty were out of sight. Then she returned to the drawing room.

Mrs. Bennet’s schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bingley was everything that was charming, except the professed lover of her daughter. His ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their evening party; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the mother, and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter.

Mrs. Bennet’s plans for the day came to nothing. Bingley was charming in every way, except that he had not declared his love for her daughter. His relaxed, cheerful manner made him very pleasant company at their evening gathering. And he patiently put up with Mrs. Bennet’s tactless meddling and listened to all her silly remarks. Her daughter was especially grateful for his patience and his ability to keep his expression under control.

He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went away an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. Bennet’s means, for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband.

He hardly needed an invitation to stay for supper. Before he left, they arranged for him to return the next morning to shoot with Mrs. Bennet’s husband. He and Mrs. Bennet were chiefly responsible for the plan.

After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference. Not a word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman’s concurrence.

After that day, Jane said no more about her lack of interest. The sisters did not exchange a word about Bingley. But Elizabeth went to bed happily believing everything would soon be settled, unless Mr. Darcy returned within the time mentioned. On serious reflection, however, she felt fairly sure that all this must have happened with Mr. Darcy’s approval.

Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent the morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more agreeable than his companion expected. There was nothing of presumption or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the other had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner; and in the evening Mrs. Bennet’s invention was again at work to get everybody away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter to write, went into the breakfast-room for that purpose soon after tea; for as the others were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be wanted to counteract her mother’s schemes.

Bingley arrived on time, and he and Mr. Bennet spent the morning together, as agreed. Mr. Bennet was much more pleasant than Bingley had expected. Bingley showed no arrogance or foolishness to tempt Mr. Bennet to mock him or drive him into disgusted silence. So Mr. Bennet was more talkative and less eccentric than Bingley had ever seen him. Bingley naturally returned with him for dinner. That evening, Mrs. Bennet was again dreaming up ways to get everyone away from Bingley and her daughter. Elizabeth had a letter to write, so she went into the breakfast room soon after tea to write it. Since everyone else was about to sit down to cards, she could not be needed to thwart her mother’s schemes.

But on her returning to the drawing-room, when her letter was finished, she saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her mother had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she perceived her sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as if engaged in earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion, the faces of both, as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other, would have told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but hers she thought was still worse. Not a syllable was uttered by either; and Elizabeth was on the point of going away again, when Bingley, who as well as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and, whispering a few words to her sister, ran out of the room.

But when Elizabeth finished her letter and returned to the drawing-room, she was astonished. She saw reason to fear that her mother had been too clever for her. As she opened the door, she saw her sister and Bingley standing together by the fireplace. They seemed to be deep in conversation. Even if that had raised no suspicions, their faces would have revealed everything. Both turned quickly and moved away from each other. Their situation was awkward enough, but she thought hers was even worse. Neither said a word. Elizabeth was just about to leave again when Bingley suddenly stood up. He and her sister had both sat down. He whispered a few words to her sister, then ran out of the room.

Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give pleasure; and, instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world.

Jane could keep nothing from Elizabeth when sharing her feelings would bring joy. She immediately hugged Elizabeth and admitted, with intense emotion, that she was the happiest person in the world.

“’Tis too much!” she added, “by far too much. I do not deserve it. Oh, why is not everybody as happy?”

“It’s too much!” she added, “far too much. I don’t deserve it. Oh, why isn’t everyone as happy?”

Elizabeth’s congratulations were given with a sincerity, a warmth, a delight, which words could but poorly express. Every sentence of kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane. But she would not allow herself to stay with her sister, or say half that remained to be said, for the present.

Elizabeth’s congratulations were so sincere, warm, and joyful that words could hardly express her feelings. Every kind word brought Jane fresh happiness. But for now, Jane would not let herself stay with her sister or say half of what remained to be said.

“I must go instantly to my mother,” she cried. “I would not on any account trifle with her affectionate solicitude, or allow her to hear it from anyone but myself. He is gone to my father already. Oh, Lizzy, to know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear family! how shall I bear so much happiness?”

“I must go to my mother at once,” she cried. “I would never make light of her loving concern or let her hear the news from anyone but me. He has already gone to my father. Oh, Lizzy, just knowing how much joy my news will bring to all my dear family! How can I bear so much happiness?”

She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the card-party, and was sitting upstairs with Kitty.

She then hurried off to her mother, who had deliberately ended the card game. Her mother was sitting upstairs with Kitty.

Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease with which an affair was finally settled, that had given them so many previous months of suspense and vexation.

Left alone, Elizabeth now smiled at how quickly and easily the matter had finally been settled. It had caused them so many months of uncertainty and frustration.

“And this,” said she, “is the end of all his friend’s anxious circumspection! of all his sister’s falsehood and contrivance! the happiest, wisest, and most reasonable end!”

“And this,” she said, “is the result of all his friend’s anxious caution! Of all his sister’s lies and schemes! The happiest, wisest, and most reasonable outcome!”

In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose conference with her father had been short and to the purpose.

A few minutes later, Bingley joined her. His conversation with her father had been brief and to the point.

“Where is your sister?” said he hastily, as he opened the door.

“Where is your sister?” he asked quickly as he opened the door.

“With my mother upstairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say.”

“Upstairs with my mother. She’ll be down in a moment, I expect.”

He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good wishes and affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed her delight in the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands with great cordiality; and then, till her sister came down, she had to listen to all he had to say of his own happiness, and of Jane’s perfections; and in spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself.

He then shut the door and approached her, asking for her good wishes and affection as a sister. Elizabeth sincerely and warmly expressed her delight at the thought of becoming his sister-in-law. They shook hands with great warmth. Then, until her sister came downstairs, Elizabeth had to listen to all he said about his happiness and Jane’s perfections. Despite his being in love, Elizabeth truly believed all his hopes for happiness had a sound basis. Those hopes rested on Jane’s excellent judgment and even more excellent nature. They also rested on the feelings and tastes Jane and he generally shared.

It was an evening of no common delight to them all; the satisfaction of Miss Bennet’s mind gave such a glow of sweet animation to her face, as made her look handsomer than ever. Kitty simpered and smiled, and hoped her turn was coming soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her consent, or speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings, though she talked to Bingley of nothing else, for half an hour; and when Mr. Bennet joined them at supper, his voice and manner plainly showed how really happy he was.

It was an unusually delightful evening for them all. Miss Bennet’s happiness gave her face such a sweet, lively glow that she looked more beautiful than ever. Kitty smiled coyly and hoped her turn would come soon. Mrs. Bennet could not express her consent or approval warmly enough to match her feelings. Yet she talked of nothing else to Bingley for half an hour. When Mr. Bennet joined them at supper, his voice and manner clearly showed how truly happy he was.

Not a word, however, passed his lips in allusion to it, till their visitor took his leave for the night; but as soon as he was gone, he turned to his daughter and said,—

However, he said nothing about it until their visitor left for the night. But as soon as the visitor was gone, he turned to his daughter and said:

“Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman.”

“Jane, congratulations. You’ll be a very happy woman.”

Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him for his goodness.

Jane went to him right away, kissed him, and thanked him for his kindness.

“You are a good girl,” he replied, “and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income.”

“You are a good girl,” he replied, “and I’m very pleased to think you’ll be so happily married. I have no doubt you’ll do very well together. Your personalities are quite similar. You’re both so willing to give in that you’ll never decide on anything. You’re so easygoing that every servant will cheat you. And you’re so generous that you’ll always spend more than you earn.”

“I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me.”

“I hope not. Being reckless or thoughtless with money would be unforgivable for me.”

“Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet,” cried his wife, “what are you talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely more.” Then addressing her daughter, “Oh, my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I am sure I shan’t get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was that you should come together. Oh, he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen!”

“Spend more than their income! My dear Mr. Bennet,” his wife cried, “what are you talking about? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely more.” Then she turned to her daughter. “Oh, my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I’m sure I won’t sleep a wink all night. I knew how things would turn out. I always said you two would end up together. I was sure you couldn’t be so beautiful for nothing! I remember when I first saw him, as soon as he came to Hertfordshire last year. I thought even then how likely you two were to end up together. Oh, he is the most handsome young man anyone has ever seen!”

Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her favourite child. At that moment she cared for no other. Her younger sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness which she might in future be able to dispense.

Wickham and Lydia were all forgotten. Jane was by far her favourite child. At that moment she cared about no other child. Jane’s younger sisters soon began trying to win her favour. They hoped for things that would make them happy, which she might be able to provide in the future.

Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; and Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter.

Mary asked to use the library at Netherfield. And Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter.

Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; coming frequently before breakfast, and always remaining till after supper; unless when some barbarous neighbour, who could not be enough detested, had given him an invitation to dinner, which he thought himself obliged to accept.

From then on, Bingley was, of course, a daily visitor at Longbourn. He often came before breakfast and always stayed until after supper, unless some barbaric neighbour had invited him to dinner. No one could hate such a neighbour enough, but Bingley felt obliged to accept the invitation.

Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for while he was present Jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else: but she found herself considerably useful to both of them, in those hours of separation that must sometimes occur. In the absence of Jane, he always attached himself to Elizabeth for the pleasure of talking of her; and when Bingley was gone, Jane constantly sought the same means of relief.

Elizabeth now had little time to talk with her sister. When Bingley was present, Jane had no attention to spare for anyone else. But Elizabeth found herself very useful to both of them during the hours they inevitably spent apart. Whenever Jane was absent, Bingley always sought Elizabeth’s company for the pleasure of talking about Jane. And when Bingley was gone, Jane always sought the same relief by talking to Elizabeth about him.

“He has made me so happy,” said she, one evening, “by telling me that he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring! I had not believed it possible.”

“He has made me so happy,” she said one evening. “He told me he had no idea I was in town last spring! I hadn’t believed that was possible.”

“I suspected as much,” replied Elizabeth. “But how did he account for it?”

“I suspected as much,” Elizabeth replied. “But how did he explain it?”

“It must have been his sisters’ doing. They were certainly no friends to his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we shall be on good terms again: though we can never be what we once were to each other.”

“It must have been his sisters’ doing. They certainly didn’t approve of his relationship with me. I can’t be surprised, since he could have made a much better match in many ways. But when they see that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to accept it. I trust they will see that he is happy. Then we shall be on good terms again, though we can never be as close as we once were.”

“That is the most unforgiving speech,” said Elizabeth, “that I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley’s pretended regard.”

“That’s the most unforgiving thing,” said Elizabeth, “I’ve ever heard you say. Good girl! It really would upset me to see you fooled again by Miss Bingley’s fake affection.”

“Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last November he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have prevented his coming down again?”

“Can you believe it, Lizzy? When he went to town last November, he really loved me. And only being convinced of my lack of interest could have stopped him from coming back.”

“He made a little mistake, to be sure; but it is to the credit of his modesty.”

“He made a small mistake, certainly. But the mistake reflects well on his modesty.”

This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and the little value he put on his own good qualities.

This naturally led Jane to praise his shyness enthusiastically, along with how little he valued his own good qualities.

Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him.

Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had not revealed his friend's interference. Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world. Even so, Elizabeth knew that learning about his friend's interference would make Jane think less of his friend.

“I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!” cried Jane. “Oh, Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all? If I could but see you as happy! If there were but such another man for you!”

“I’m certainly the luckiest person who ever lived!” cried Jane. “Oh, Lizzy, why have I been singled out from my family and blessed more than all the others? If only I could see you just as happy! If only there were another man like him for you!”

“If you were to give me forty such men I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time.”

“Even if you gave me forty men like him, I could never be as happy as you. Until I have your temperament and goodness, I can never have your happiness. No, no, let me look after myself. And perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet another Mr. Collins in time.”

The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a secret. Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Philips, and she ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her neighbours in Meryton.

The news about the Longbourn family could not stay secret for long. Mrs. Bennet had the privilege of whispering the news to Mrs. Philips. And Mrs. Philips, without anyone’s permission, took the liberty of telling all her neighbours in Meryton.

The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world; though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune.

The Bennets were soon declared the luckiest family in the world. Yet only a few weeks earlier, when Lydia first ran away, people had generally agreed the family was doomed to misfortune.