Chapter 61

HAPPY for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of 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 was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and invariably silly.

Mrs. Bennet’s motherly heart was happy the day she got her two most deserving daughters off her hands. You can imagine her delighted pride as she later visited Mrs. Bingley and talked about Mrs. Darcy. For her family’s sake, I wish I could say that fulfilling her greatest wish had changed her for the better. She had seen so many of her children settled in life. I wish that success had made her sensible, pleasant, and well-informed for the rest of her life. But perhaps her husband was lucky that she remained occasionally nervous and always silly. He might not have enjoyed happiness at home in such an unfamiliar form.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter terribly. His love for her brought him away from home more often than anything else could. He loved visiting Pemberley, especially when he was least expected.

Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified: he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire; and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.

Mr. Bingley and Jane stayed at Netherfield for only a year. Living so close to her mother and her relatives in Meryton was more than even his easygoing nature or her loving heart could welcome. His sisters’ dearest wish then came true: he bought an estate in a county next to Derbyshire. And Jane and Elizabeth, besides all their other sources of happiness, now lived within thirty miles of each other.

Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia; and, removed from the influence of Lydia’s example, she became, by proper attention and management, less irritable, less ignorant, and less insipid. From the further disadvantage of Lydia’s society she was of course carefully kept; and though Mrs. Wickham frequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise of balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going.

Kitty spent most of her time with her two older sisters, much to her benefit. Their company was far better than what she had usually known, and she improved greatly. Her temper was not as uncontrollable as Lydia’s. Away from Lydia’s influence, and with proper care and guidance, she became less irritable, less ignorant, and less dull. Naturally, she was carefully protected from the further harm of Lydia’s company. Although Mrs. Wickham often invited Kitty to stay with her, promising balls and young men, their father never agreed to let Kitty go.

Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet’s being quite unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters’ beauty and her own, it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance.

Mary was the only daughter still at home. She had to set aside her studies and practice because Mrs. Bennet could not bear to sit alone. Mary was forced to socialize more, but she could still draw moral lessons from every morning visit. And she no longer felt humiliated by comparisons between her sisters’ beauty and her own. Because of this, her father suspected she accepted the change without much reluctance.

As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from the marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction that Elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude and falsehood had before been unknown to her; and, in spite of everything, was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received from 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 this effect:—

As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters did not change at all when her sisters married. Wickham calmly accepted that Elizabeth would now learn of any ingratitude and dishonesty he had previously hidden from her. Despite everything, he still had some hope that Darcy might be persuaded to make him wealthy. Lydia’s letter congratulating Elizabeth on her marriage made it clear that at least Wickham’s wife shared this hope, if not Wickham himself. The letter went something like this:

As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practice of what might be called economy in her own private expenses, she frequently sent them. It had always been evident to her that such an income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when the restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the extreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference: hers lasted a little longer; and, in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage had given her. Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth’s sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently stayed so long, that even Bingley’s good-humour was overcome, and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone.

As Elizabeth would much rather not, she tried to make her reply end all such requests and expectations. Still, she frequently sent them whatever help she could manage by cutting back on her own spending. She had always known their income could never support two people with such extravagant wants and so little thought for the future. Whenever they moved, either Jane or Elizabeth was sure to be asked for a little help paying their bills. Even when peace came and they returned to a home, their way of life remained extremely unsettled. They were always moving from place to place, looking for somewhere cheap, and always spending more than they should. His affection for her soon faded into indifference. Hers lasted a little longer. Despite her youth and her manners, she kept all the respectability her marriage had given her. Though Darcy could never welcome him at Pemberley, he helped him advance further in his career for Elizabeth’s sake. Lydia occasionally visited Pemberley when her husband had gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath. Both of them often stayed with the Bingleys for so long that even Bingley lost his good humour. He went so far as to talk of hinting that they should leave.

Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy’s marriage; but as she thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she dropped all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility to Elizabeth.

Miss Bingley was deeply humiliated by Darcy’s marriage. But because she thought it wise to remain welcome at Pemberley, she let go of all her resentment. She was fonder than ever of Georgiana and almost as attentive to Darcy as before. She also made up for every bit of politeness she had failed to show Elizabeth.

Pemberley was now Georgiana’s home; and the attachment of the sisters was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each other, even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive manner of talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way. By Elizabeth’s instructions she began to comprehend that a woman may take liberties with her husband, which a brother will not always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself.

Pemberley was now Georgiana’s home, and the affection between the sisters was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They managed to love each other just as much as they had intended. Georgiana thought more highly of Elizabeth than of anyone else in the world. Yet at first, Elizabeth’s lively, playful way of talking to her brother often left Georgiana astonished and almost alarmed. Georgiana had always felt such respect for him that it nearly overshadowed her affection. Now she saw him being openly teased. She was learning things she had never encountered before. Through Elizabeth’s guidance, she began to understand that a woman may take liberties with her husband. A brother will not always allow the same freedom to 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, in her reply to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent him language so very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some time all 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 further resistance on the part of his aunt, her resentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosity to see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait on them at Pemberley, in spite of that pollution which its woods had received, not merely from the presence of such a mistress, but the visits of her uncle and aunt from the city.

Lady Catherine was extremely angry about her nephew’s marriage. In her reply to the letter announcing the marriage plans, she gave full rein to her naturally outspoken character. Her language was so abusive, especially toward Elizabeth, that all contact stopped for some time. But eventually Elizabeth persuaded him to overlook the insult and seek a reconciliation. After a little more resistance, his aunt’s resentment gave way, either to affection for him or curiosity about his wife’s behavior. She lowered herself to visit them at Pemberley, despite the pollution its woods had suffered. Not only did they now have such a mistress, but her uncle and aunt from the city had visited too.

With the Gardiners they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.

Elizabeth and Darcy always remained very close to the Gardiners. Darcy, like Elizabeth, truly loved them. And both always felt deeply grateful to the Gardiners, who had brought Elizabeth to Derbyshire and so brought them together.