Pride and Prejudice Part 16

At EDF, we don't just encourage you to use less electricity. We actually reward you for it. That's why when you use less during peak times on weekdays, we give you free electricity on Sundays. How you use it is up to you. EDF, change is in our power. Households to reduce their weekday peak electricity usage by 50% can run up to 16 hours of free electricity per week. Full details, eligibility and season sees visit EDFenergy.com forward slash our high for power. At New Balance, we believe if you run, you're a runner. However you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running's all about. In your way, at newbalance.com slash running. Welcome to Jane Austin Stories. I'm Julie Andrews. I'm from the Noiser Podcast Network. This is Pride and Prejudice Part 16. In the last episode, the Bennett sisters were finally reunited with Jane back from London and Lizard was returned from her surprisingly eventful stay in Kent. One would think they would have a lot to talk about. But it was Lydia and Kitty who had the most to say, giddily telling their older sisters all about the local regiment over an intimate lunch. As usual, the girls spent most of the time gossiping about the dashing young officers. Though Lizzie now knows these gentlemen aren't all as upright as they seem, having learned the truce about the lying Mr. Wickham. Do such men pose a danger to her sisters? Do Lizzie mostly kept quiet about her eventful trip to Kent? That is until she had some alone time with Jane. Then she told her sister about Mr. Darcy's proposal and their argument. Though she did not mention his interference in Jane's relationship with Mr. Bingley. Can such things stay secret forever? And how does Lizzie recover from what happened with Mr. Darcy? Now we once more join the Bennett girls at Longborn ready to console a distraught Kitty and Lydia as they mourn the imminent departure of the regiment. From the Noiser podcast network, this is Pride and Prejudice. Chapter 41 The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It was the last of the Regents' stay in Meriton and all the young ladies in the neighborhood were drooping a pace. The dejection was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennett's alone was still able to eat, drink and sleep, and pursue the usual course of their employments. Very frequently were they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia, whose own misery was extreme, who could not comprehend such hardheartedness in any of the family. Good heavens, what has to become of us? What do we do? Would they often explain in the bitterness of woe? How can you be smiling so Lizzie? Their affectionate mother shared all their grief. She remembered what she herself endured on a similar occasion five and twenty years ago. I am sure, said Mrs. Bennett, I cried for two days together, when Colonel Miller's regiment went away, I thought I should have broke my heart. I'm sure I shall break mine, said Lydia, if one could but go to Brighton, observe what Mrs. Bennett? Oh yes, if one could but go to Brighton, but Papar is so disagreeable," replied Lydia. A little seabathing would set me up forever, said Mrs. Bennett, and my aunt Phillips is sure it would do me a great deal of good, added Kitty. Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through Longborn House. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them, but all sense of pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew the justice of Mr. Dars' objections and never had she before been so much disposed to pardon his interference in the views of his friend. But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away, for she received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the Colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was a very young woman and very lately married, a resemblance in good humor and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of their three months acquaintance, they had been intimate, too. The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs. Forster, the delight of Mrs. Bennett and the mortification of Kitty, are scarcely to be described. Holy, inattentive to her sister's feelings, Lydia flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's congratulations and laughing and talking with more violence than ever. Whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent was pedish, I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask me as well as Lydia, said she, though I am not her particular friend, I have just as much right to be asked as she has and more too, for I am two years older. In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable and Jane to make her resigned. As for Elizabeth herself, this invitation was so far from exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia that she considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense for the latter, and the testable as such a step must make her what it known she could not help secretly advising her father not to let Lydia go. She represented to him all the improprieties of her general behaviour, the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with such a companion at Brighton where the temptations must be greater than at home. To Bennett heard her attentively and then said, Lydia will never be easy till she has attracted attention in some public place or other and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances. If you were aware, said Elizabeth, of the very great disadvantage to us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded and the imprudent manner, Nay which has already arisen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair. Already arisen replied Mr. Bennett, what, has she frightened away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy, but do not be cast down, such squeamish users cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity or not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of the pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly. "'Indeed you are mistaken,' said Lizzy, I have no such injuries to resent. It is not of peculiar but of general evils which I am now complaining. Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraints which mark Lydia's character. "'Excuse me for I must speak plainly, if you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits and of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and her family ridiculous. A flirt too in the worst and meanest degree of flirtation, without any attraction beyond use and a tolerable person, and from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her rage for admiration will excite. In this danger Kitty is also comprehended, she will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vane, ignorant, idle and absolutely uncontrolled. Oh my dear father, can you suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever they are known and that their sisters will not be often involved in the disgrace?' Mr. Bennett saw that her whole heart was in the subject, and affectionately taking her hand said in reply, "'Do not make yourself uneasy, my love, wherever you and Jane are known, you must be respected and valued, and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of, or I may say three, very silly sisters. We shall have no peace at long-born if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let her go then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man and will keep her out of any real mischief, and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common threat than she has been here. The officers will find women better worse with their notice. Let us hope therefore that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate she cannot grow many degrees worse without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life. With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content, but her own opinion continued the same, and she left him disappointed and sorry. It was not in her nature however to increase her vexations by dwelling on them. She was confident of having performed a duty, and to fret over unavoidable evils or augment them by anxiety was no part of her disposition. This episode is sponsored by Magic Radio. Magic Radio plays the best variety from the 80s to now. 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Run your way at newbalance.com slash running. Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference with her father, their indignation would have hardly found expression in their united volubility. In Lydia's imagination a visit to Brighton comprise every possibility of earthly happiness. She saw with the creative eye of fancy the streets of that merry bathing place covered with offices. She saw herself the object of attention to tens and to scores of them at present unknown. She saw all the glories of the camp, its tents stretched forth in beauties, uniformity of lines crowded with the young and the gay and dazzling with scarlet. And to complete the view she saw herself seated beneath the tent, tenderly flirting with at least six officers at once. Had she known that her sister sought to tear her from such prospects and such realities as these, what would have been her sensations? They could have been understood only by her mother who might have felt nearly the same. As going to Brighton was all the consultant for the melancholy conviction of her husbands, never intending to go there himself. But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed and their raptures continued with little intermission to the very day of Lydia's leaving home. Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having been frequently in company with him since her return, agitation was pretty well over. The agitations of former partiality entirely so. She had even learned to detect in the very gentleness which at first delighted her an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary. In his present behavior to herself moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure. For the inclination he soon testified of renewing those attentions which had marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve after what had since passed to prove vocal. She lost all concern for him in finding herself thus selected as the object of such idol and frivolous gallantry, and while she steadily repressed it could not but feel the reproof contained in his believing that however long and for whatever cause his attentions had been withdrawn, her vanity would be gratified and her preference secured at any time by their renewal. On the very last day of the regiments remaining in Meriton, he dined with others of the officers at Longbourn, and so little was Elizabeth disposed to part from him in good humour that on his making some enquiry as to the manner in which her time had passed at Hunsford. She mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliams and Mr. Darcy's having both spent three weeks at Rosings and asked him if he were acquainted with the former. He looked surprised, displeased, alarmed, but with a moment's recollection and a returning smile replied that he had formally seen him often, and after observing that he was a very gentleman like man, asked how she had liked him, her answer was warmly in his favour. With an air of indifference he soon afterwards added, how long did you say he was at Rosings? Nearly three weeks replied Lizzie, and you saw him frequently? Oh yes, almost every day. His memories are very different from his cousins, said Mr. Wickham. Oh yes, very different, but I think Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance, replied Lizzie. Indeed, cried Wickham, with a look which did not escape her, and pray may I ask. But checking himself he added in a gayer tone, is it in address that he improves? Has he dain't to add ought of civility to his ordinary style? For I dare not hope, he continued in a lower and more serious tone that he is improved in essentials. Oh no, said Elizabeth, in essentials I believe he is very much what he ever was. While she spoke, Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether to rejoice over her words, or what to distrust their meaning. There was something in her countenance, which made him listen with an apprehensive and anxious attention. While she added, when I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement, but that from knowing him better, his disposition was better understood. Wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated look. For a few minutes he was silent, till, shaking off his embarrassment, he turned to her again, and said in the gentlest of accents, You who so well know my feelings towards Mr. Darcy, will readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume even the appearance of what is right. His pride in that direction may be of service, if not to himself to many others, for it must deter him from such foul misconduct as I have suffered by. I only fear that the sort of cautiousness to which you, I imagine, have been eluding, is merely adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good opinion and judgement he stands much in awe. His fear of her has always operated when they were together, and a good deal is to be imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with Mr. Daborg, which I am certain he has very much at heart. Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this, but she answered only by a slight inclination of her head. She saw that he wanted to engage her on the old subject of his grievances, and she was in no humour to indulge him. The rest of the evening passed with the appearance on his side of usual cheerfulness, but with no further attempt to distinguish Elizabeth, and they parted at last with mutual civility and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again. When the party broke up, Lydia returned with Mrs. Forster to merit him from once they were to set out early the next morning. The separation between her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic. Kitty was the only one who shed tears, but she wept from vexation and envy. Mrs. Bennett was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter, and impressive in her injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible. Advice which there was every reason to believe would be attended to, and in the glamorous happiness of Lydia herself in bidding farewell, the more gentle addures of her sisters were uttered without being heard. Chapter 42 Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort. Her father captivated by use and beauty and that appearance of good humour which use and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem and confidence had vanished forever, and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown, but Mr. Bennett was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on in any of those pleasures which too often can soul the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of the country and of books, and from these tastes had arisen his principal enjoyment. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, then as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not the sort of happiness which a man would, in general, wish to ode to his wife, but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given. Elizabeth however had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain, but respecting his abilities and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of congeal obligation and decorum which in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so strongly as now, the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage, nor have ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged, a direction of talents. Talents which rightly used might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife. When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure, she found little other calls for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties abroad were less varied than before, and at home she had a mother and sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of everything around them through a real bloom over their domestic circle, and though Kitty might in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers of her brain were removed, her sister Lydia was likely to be hardened in all her folly and assurance by a situation of such double danger as a watering place and a camp. Upon the whole therefore, Lizzie found what has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had looked forward with impatient desire did not, in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to name some other period for the commencement of actual solicity to have some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, then sold herself for the present and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour to the lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts. It was her best consolation for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother and Kitty made inevitable, and could she have included Jane in the scheme every part of it would have been perfect. But it is fortunate, thought Lizzie, that I have something to wish for, where the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain, but here by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of pleasure realized. A scheme of which every part promises delight can never be successful and general disappointment is only warded off by the defense of some little culliovexation. When Lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely to her mother and Kitty, but her letters were always long expected and always very short. Those to her mother contained little else than that they would just return from the library where such and such officers had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite wild, that she had a new gown or a new parasol which she would have described more fully but was a blight to leave off in a vial that hurry as Mrs. Forced to call her and they were going to the camp. And from her correspondence with her sister they were still less to be learned, for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer were much too full of lines under the words to be made published. After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health, good humour and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longborn. Everything wore a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennett was restored to her usual queerness, serenity, and by the middle of June Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meriton without tears, an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope. That by the following Christmas she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention an officer above once a day unless by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the war office another regiment should be quartered in Meriton. At New Balance, we believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running's all about. Run your way at newbalance.com slash running. Hi, it's Kate Thornton from White Wine Question Time, and I'm thrilled to say we've been sponsored by Boots. Did you know that Boots pharmacists can diagnose, provide advice, and treatment on everyday common health concerns. I'm talking sinusitis, rashes, sore throats, UTIs, even advice on sleep routine and minor aches and pains. Simply walk in and speak to a pharmacist, no appointment needed. For advice and treatment, you're never too far from a Boots pharmacist. Just walk in at your local Boots today. The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast approaching, and the fortnight only was wanting of it when a letter arrived from Mrs. Gardner, which had once delayed its commencement and curtailed its extent. Mr. Gardner would be prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again within a month, and as that left to shorter period for them to go so far, and see so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up the lakes and substitute a more contracted tour, and according to the present plan, were to go no farther northward than Darbyshire. In that county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks, and to Mrs. Gardner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town, where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovdale, or the Peak. Elizabeth was excessively disappointed. She had set her heart on seeing the lakes, and still thought there might have been time enough, but it was her business to be satisfied and certainly her temper to be happy, and all was soon right again. With the mention of Darbyshire, there were many ideas connected, it was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pembley and its owner. But surely, said Lizzy, I may enter his county with impunity and Robert of a few crystals without his perceiving me. The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival, but they did pass away, and Mrs. Gardner, with their four children, did at length appear at Longborn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane, who was the general favorite, and who steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way, teaching them, playing with them, and loving them. The Gardner's stayed only one night at Longborn, and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment was certain, that of suitualness as companions, a suitualness which comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences, cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure and affection and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad. It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor any of the remarkable places through which their root, Vither, lay, Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenelworth, Birmingham, etc are sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little town of Lampton, the scene of Mrs. Gardner's former residence and where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained, they bent their steps after having seen all the principal wonders of the country, and within five miles of Lampton, Elizabeth discovered from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardner expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardner declared his willingness and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation. My love, should you not like to see a place of which you have heard so much, said her aunt? A place too, with which so many of your acquaintance are connected. Wiccom passed all his use there, you know. Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She must own that she was tired of great houses. After going over so many she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or sat in curtains. Mrs. Gardner abused her stupidity. If it were merely a fine house, richly furnished, said she, I should not care about it myself, but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the country. Elizabeth said no more, but her mind could not acquiesce. The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place instantly occurred, it would be dreadful. She blushed at the very idea and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But against this there were objections, and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource if her private inquiries as to the absence of the family were unfavorably answered. Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place. What was the name of its proprietor and with no little alarm whether the family were down for the summer? A most welcome negative followed the last question, and her alarms being now removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself. And when the subject was revived to the next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer and with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike to the scheme. To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go. In the next episode, we get our first glimpse of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's spectacular country home. What will this place reveal about the man? While they're Lizzie allows her fantasies to run wild, and she's surprised to hear what Darcy's staff have to say about him. But the biggest drama is still to come when the man himself makes a sudden appearance, but is his presence still unwelcome? That's next time on Jane Austen's stories, Pride and Prejudice. You can listen to the next two episodes of Pride and Prejudice right now without waiting by subscribing to Noiser Plus. Head to www.noiser.com slash subscriptions for more information or click the link in the episode description. Hello, we're Jane and Fee from the Off-Air Podcast, and we're currently sponsored by Stripenstair. Stripenstair nickers are some of the softest things I've ever worn made from breathable wood fibers that are perfect for women juggling a million things at once who want to be stylish and comfortable. They've got 10 shapes in size is 6 to 22, so there's a fit for everybody. Plus, their sleepwear is like sleeping in a cloud. Oprah and Vogue are obsessed for a reason go to Stripenstair.com and use the code Off-Air 20 for 20% off. At EDF, we don't just encourage you to use less electricity. We actually reward you for it. That's why when you use less during peak times on weekdays, we give you free electricity on Sundays. How you use it is up to you. EDF, change is in our power. Households to reduce their weekday peak electricity usage by 50% can run up to 16 hours of free electricity for week. Full details, eligibility and teasing fees visit edfenergy.com, full slash R-Hip and Power.