Pride and Prejudice Part 14

You know what you're getting with a wedding? Wedding hats. A baby in a waistcoat crying throughout the vows. Themed tables. Awkward best man's speech. The plus one. People dancing in a circle. Ruined rental suit. Sometimes in life you just know what you're getting. Like a luxury bed and a great night's sleep. You know what you're getting with Premier Inn. 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 true and 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 C's visit EDF-energy.com-ar-power. Welcome to Jane Austin Stories. I'm Julie Andrews and from the Noisabh podcast network this is Pride and Prejudice. Part 14. In the previous episode, Elizabeth's world was shaken as she received another shocking proposal. This time from none other than Mr. Darcy, a man she thought was her enemy. One evening at Mr. Collins' passingage Darcy professed his love for Lizzie and asked for her hand in marriage. From that moment all was thrown into disarray. Our heroine received the proposal with anything but favour for alongside his offer of marriage, Darcy delivered a series of disparaging remarks about Lizzie's family and their social standing. It also seems he is the one who warned Mr. Bingley away from Lizzie's sister Jane. Confused and angry, Elizabeth turned Darcy down and had a few choice words for him too. She could never marry a cruel and arrogant man who harmed her sister and who denied Mr. Wickham his rightful inheritance. Wounded and perplexed by this response Darcy retreated, leaving Lizzie to try to make sense of what had just happened. From the Noisabh podcast network, this is Pride and Prejudice. Chapter 35 Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations which had at length closed her eyes. She could not yet recover from the surprise of what had happened, it was impossible to think of anything else, and totally indisposed for employment, she resolved soon after breakfast to indulge herself in air and exercise. She was proceeding directly to her favourite walk when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's sometimes coming there stopped her. Instead of entering the park, she turned up the lane which led her father from the turnpike road. The park pailing was still the boundary on one side and she soon passed one of the gates into the ground. After walking two or three times along that part of the lane, she was tempted by the pleasantness of the morning to stop at the gates and look into the park. The five weeks which she had now passed in Kent had made a great difference in the country and every day was adding to the verdiour of the early trees. She was on the point of continuing her walk when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which edged the park and fearful of its being Mr. Darcy, she was directly retreating but the person who advanced was now near enough to see her and stepping forward with eagerness pronounced her name. She had turned away but unhearing herself called, though in a voice which proved it to be Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the gate. He had by that time reached it also and holding out a letter which he instinctively took said with a look of horny composure, I have been walking in the grove sometime in the hope of meeting you. Would you do me the honour of reading that letter and then with a slight bow Mr. Darcy turned again into the plantation and was soon out of sight. With no expectation of pleasure but with the strongest curiosity Elizabeth opened the letter and to her still increasing wonder perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter paper written quite through in a very close hand the envelope itself was likewise full. Assuming her way along the lane she then began it, it was dated from brozings at eight o'clock in the morning and was as follows. Be not alarmed Madame on receiving this letter by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any intention of painting you or humbling myself by dwelling on wishes which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten and the effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion should have been spared had not my character required it to be written and read. You must therefore pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention. Your feelings I know will bestow it unwillingly but I demand it of your justice. Two offenses of a very different nature and by no means of equal magnitude you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was that regardless of the sentiments of either I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister and the other that I had in defiance of various claims in defiance of honor and humanity ruined the immediate prosperity and lasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Willfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth the acknowledged favorite of my father a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage and who had been brought up to expect its exertion would be at a gravity to which the separation of two young persons whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks could bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last right so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance I shall hope to be in future secured when the following account of my actions and their motives has been read. If in the explanation of them which is due to myself I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed and further apology would be absurd. I had not been long in heart for sure before I saw in common with others that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that wall while I had the honor of dancing with you I was first made acquainted by Sir William Lucas' accidental information that Bingley's attentions to your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. He spoke of it as a certain event of which the time alone could be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behavior attentively and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennett was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful and engaging as ever but without any symptom of peculiar regard and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny that those she received his attentions with pleasure she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. If you have not been mistaken here I must have been in an error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict pain on her your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I shall not scruple to assert that the serenity of your sister's countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that however amiable her temper her heart was not likely to be easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is certain. But I will venture to say that my investigations and decisions are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe her to be indifferent because I wished it. I believed it on impartial conviction as truly as I wished it in reason. My objections to the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have required the utmost force of passion to put aside in my own case. The want of connection could not be so great and evil to my friend as to me. But there were other causes of repugnance, causes which though still existing and existing to an equal degree in both instances I had myself endeavoured to forget because they were not immediately before me. These causes must be stated though briefly. The situation of your mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally in by your father, pardon me, it pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest relations and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that to have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like, censure is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your elder sister than it is honorable to the sense and disposition of both. I will only say, father, that from what passed that evening my opinion of all parties was confirmed and every inducement heightened which could have led me before to preserve my friend from what I esteemed the most unhappy connection. He left Neverfield for London on the day following, as you I am certain remember, with the design of soon returning, the part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters uneasiness had been equally excited with my own. Our coincidence of feeling was soon discovered and a like sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching their brother Bingley, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London. We accordingly went and there I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described and enforced them earnestly but however this remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination I do not suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage had it not been seconded by the assurance which I hesitated not in giving of your sisters in difference. He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere if not with equal regard but Bingley has great natural modesty with the stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own. To convince him therefore that he had deceived himself was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into hearted share when that conviction had been given was scarcely the work of a moment I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. There is but one part of my conduct and the whole affair and which I do not reflect with satisfaction. It is that I can't descend to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sisters being in town. I knew it myself as it was known to miss Bingley but her brother is even yet ignorant of it that they might have met without ill consequence is perhaps probable but his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished to him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this concealment this disguise was beneath me it is done however and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say no other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings it was unknowingly done and though the motives which govern me may to you very naturally appear insufficient I have not yet learned to condemn them. With respect to that other more weighty accusation of having injured Mr. Wickham I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant but of the truth of what I shall relate I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity. Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man who had for many years the management of all the pembley estates and whose good conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to support him and on George Wickham who was his god son his kindest was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at school and afterwards at Cambridge most important assistants as his own father always poor from the extravagance of his wife would have been unable to give him a gentleman's education. My father was not only fond of this young man's society whose manners were always engaging he had also the highest opinion of him and hoping the church would be his profession intended to provide for him in it as for myself it is many many years since I first began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities the want of principle which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments which the elder Mr. Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain to what degree you only can tell but whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character it adds even another motive. My excellent father died about five years ago and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in best manner that his profession might allow and if he took orders in the church desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant there was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long survive mine and within half a year from these events Mr. Wickham wrote to inform me that having finally resolved against taking orders he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate pecuniary advantage in view of the preferment by which he could not be benefited. He had some intention he added of studying the law and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished then believed him to be sincere but at any rate was perfectly ready to exceed to his proposal I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman. The business was therefore soon settled he resigned all claim to assistance in the church were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it and accepted in return three thousand pounds all connection between a seemed now dissolved I thought to ill of him to invite him to Pembley or admit his society in town in town I believe he chiefly lived but his studying the law was a mere potence and being now free from all restraint his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. For about three years I heard little of him but on the deceased of the incumbent of the living which had been originally designed for him he applied to me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances he assured me and I had no difficulty in believing it were exceedingly bad he had found the law a most unprofitable study and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained if I would present him to the living in question of which he trusted there could be little doubt as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this in treaty or for resisting every repetition of it his resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every appearance of acquaintance was dropped how he lived I know not but last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice. I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being having said thus much I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister Georgiana who is more than 10 years my junior was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself. About a year ago she was taken from school and an establishment formed for her in London and last summer she went with a lady Mrs. Young who presided over her to Ramsgate and Vither also went Mr. Wickham undoubtedly by design for their proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Young in whose character we were most unhappily deceived and by her connivance and aid he so far recommended himself to Georgiana whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child that she was persuaded to believe herself in love and to consent to an elopement. She was then but 15 which must be her excuse and after stating her impudence I'm happy to add that I owed the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement and then Georgiana unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regardless of my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure but I wrote to Mr. Wickham who left the place immediately and Mrs. Young was of course removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune which is 30,000 pounds but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revendering himself on me was a strongly inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed. This madam is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together and if you do not absolutely reject it as false you will I hope acquit me hence force of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. I know not in what manner under what form of falsehood he has imposed on you but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either. Detection could not be in your power and suspicion certainly not in your inclination. You may possibly wonder why all this was not told to you last night but I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam who from our near relationship and constant intimacy and still more as one of the executives of my father's will has been unavoidably acquainted with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin and that there may be the possibility of consulting him I shall endeavour to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add God bless you Fitzwilliam Darcy. This episode is sponsored by Magic Radio. Magic Radio plays the best variety from the 80s to now. The songs you love, the ones you know and the ones that lift your die. From Wamp and Whitney in the 80s to take that and the spy skills in the 90s or pink and kelly clots and in the noughties and a delt and Bruno Mars in the tans. Right through to today with artists like Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Miles Smith and with Magic's no repeat workday you won't hear the same song twice between 9 and 5. Magic Radio has had a real glow up. It's the home of Magic Radio breakfast with Gokwan and Harriet Start and the world's famous mellow magic is back now hosted by Nikki Chapman. Plus weekends we've more fun with Gabby Roslin, Mel Gedroich and Anna Richardson. Listen to Magic Radio on your digital radio on the free radio app or just ask your smart speaker to play Magic Radio. Here's the new Citron C3 Aircross, the perfect SUV for bears and lovers of the great outdoors. Sure and comfort too. Inside it easily goes from 5 to 7 seats and for you Cubs look it's got Apple CarPlay and your favorite apps. Yes, Mr. Grizzly available in petrol full electric or hybrid. So ready for a family adventure? The new Citron C3 Aircross, the lovers of the wilderness and everyday comfort, now with a £1,500 electric car grant. Chapter 36 If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter did not expect it to contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of its contents. But such as they were, it may be well supposed how eagerly she went through them and what a contraryity of emotion they excited. Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined. With amazement did she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power and steadfastly was sheep assuaded that he could have no explanation to give, which a just sense of shame would not conceal. With a strong sense of prejudice against everything he might say she began his account of what had happened at Netherfield. She read with an eagerness which hardly left her power of comprehension. And from impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring was incapable of attending to the sense of the one before her eyes. His belief of her sisters in sensibility she instantly resolved to be false, and his account of the real the worst objections to the match made her too angry to have any wish of doing him justice. He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied her. His style was not penitent but haughty. It was all pride and insolence. But when this subject was succeeded by his account of Mr. Wickham when she read with somewhat clearer attention a relation of events which if true must overthrow every cherished opinion of his worth and which bore so alarmingly an affinity to his own history of himself. Her feelings were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition. Astonishment, apprehension and even horror oppressed her. She wished to discredit it entirely, repeatedly exclaiming this must be false. Now this cannot be this must be the grossest falsehood. And when she had gone through the whole letter, though scarcely knowing anything of the last page or two, put it hastily away, protesting that she would not regard it that she would never look in it again. In this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on nothing she walked on, but it would not do. In half a minute the letter was unfolded again and collecting herself as well as she could, she again began the mortifying perusal of all that related to Wickham and commanded herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence. The account of his connection with the Pembley family was exactly what he had related himself and the kindness of the late Mr. Darcy, though she had not before known its extent, agreed equally well with his own words. So far each recital confirmed the other, but when she came to the will the difference was great. What Wickham had said of the living was fresh in her memory, and as she recalled his very words it was impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the other, and for a few moments she flattered herself that her wishes did not err. When she read and reread with the closest attention the particulars immediately following of Wickham resigning all pretensions to the living of his receiving in new so considerable as some as three thousand pounds again was she forced to hesitate. She put down the letter weighed every circumstance with what she meant to be impartiality, deliberated on the probability of each statement but with little success. On both sides it was only assertion. Again she read on, but every line proved more clearly that the affair which she had believed it impossible that any contrivance could so represent as to render Mr. Darcy's conduct in it less than infamous was capable of a turn which must make him entirely blameless throughout the whole. The extravagance and general proflicacy which he scrupled not to lay to Mr. Wickham's charge exceedingly shocked her. The more so is she could bring no proof of its injustice. She had never heard of him before his entrance into the militia in which he had engaged at the persuasion of the young man who, on meeting him accidentally in town, had there annued a slight acquaintance. Of his form away of life nothing had been known in Hartfordshire but what he told himself. As to his real character had information been in her power she had never felt a wish of inquiring. His countenance, voice and manner had established him at once in the possession of every virtue. She tried to recollect some instance of goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy or at least by the predominance of virtue atone for those casual errors under which he would endeavour to class what Mr. Darcy had described as the idleness and vice of many years' continuance. But no such recollection befriended her. She could see Mr. Wickham instantly before her in every charm of air and dress, but she could remember no more substantial good than the general approbation of the neighborhood and the regard which his social powers had gained him in the mess. After pausing on this point a considerable while she once more continued to read. But alas, the story which followed of his designs on Mr. Darcy received some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before. And at last she was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitzwilliam himself from whom she had previously received the information of his near concern in all his cousins affairs and whose character she had no reason to question. At one time she had almost resolved on applying to him, but the idea was checked by the awkwardness of the application and that length wholly banished by the conviction that Mr. Darcy would never have has it did such a proposal if he had not been well assured of his cousin's corroboration. She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation between Wickham and herself in their first evening at Mrs. Phillips. Many of his expressions were still fresh in her memory. She was now struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger and wondered it had escaped her before. She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done and the inconsistency of his professions with his conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear of seeing Mr. Darcy, that Mr. Darcy might leave the country but that he should stand his ground. Yet he had avoided the Neverfield ball of very next week. She remembered also that till the Neverfield family had quitted the country, he had told his story to no one but herself, but that after their removal it had been everywhere discussed, that he had then no reserves, no scruples, in syncing Mr. Darcy's character, though he had a shorter that respect for the father would always prevent his exposing the son. How differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned? His attentions to his former fiancee Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and hatefully mercenary and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer the moderation of his wishes but his eagerness to grasp at anything else. His behavior to Lizzie herself could now have had no tolerable motive. He had either been deceived with regard to her fortune or had been gratifying his vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most incorciously shown. Every lingering struggle in his favor grew fainter and fainter and in further justification of Mr. Darcy she could not but allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago asserted his blamelessness in the affair that proud and repulsive as were his manners, she had never in the whole course of their acquaintance, an acquaintance which had latterly brought them much together and given her a sort of intimacy with his ways, seen anything that betrayed him to be unprincipled or unjust, anything that spoke him of irreligious or immoral habits. That among his own connections he was esteemed and valued, that even Wycombe had allowed him marriage as a brother and that she had often heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to prove him capable of some amiable feeling, that had his actions been what Wycombe represented them so gross of violation of everything right could hardly have been concealed from the world and that friendship between a person capable of it and such an amiable man as Mr. Bingley would have been incomprehensible. Lizzie grew absolutely ashamed of herself, of neither Darcy nor Wycombe could she think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd. How despicably have I acted, she cried, I, who have prided myself on my discernment, I, who have valued myself on my abilities, who have often disdained the generous candor of my sister and gratified my vanity in useless or blameless distrust? How humiliating is this discovery, yet how just a humiliation? Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind, but vanity not love has been my folly, pleased with the preference of one and offended by the neglect of the other on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prejudice and ignorance and driven reason away where either were concerned till this moment I never knew myself. From herself to Jane, from Jane to Bingley, her thoughts were in a line which soon brought to her recollection that Mr. Darcy's explanation there had appeared very insufficient and she read it again. Widely different was the effect of a second perusal. How could she deny that credit to his assertions in one instance which she had been obliged to give in the other? He declared himself to have been totally unsuspicious of her sister's attachment and she could not help remembering what Charlotte's opinion had always been, neither could she deny the justice of his description of Jane. She felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were little displayed and that there was a constant complacency in her air and manner not often united with great sensibility. When she came to that part of the letter in which her family were mentioned in terms of such mortifying yet merited reproach, her sense of shame was severe. The justice of the charge struck her too forcibly for denial and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as having passed at the Neverfield Wall and as confirming all his first disaprovation could not have made a stronger impression on his mind than on hers. The compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt. It soothed but it could not console her for the contempt which had been thus self-attracted by the rest of her family and as she considered that Jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest relations and reflected how materially the credit of both sisters must be heard by such impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything she had ever known before. After wandering along the lane for two hours, giving way to every variety of thought, reconsidering events, determining probabilities and reconciling herself as well as she could to change so sudden and so important, fatigue and a recollection of her long absence made her at length return to the passinage and she entered the house with a wish of appearing cheerful as usual and the resolution of repressing such reflections as must make her unfit for conversation. She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings had each called during her absence. Mr. Darcy only for a few minutes to take leave but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least an hour hoping for her return and almost resolving to walk after her till she could be found. Elizabeth could but just affect concern in missing him. She really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no longer an object. She could think only of her letter. Ah, nature. People were calling it just the right time. When life plays dirty, water wipes. Now two times stronger and even softer, ready for whatever happens back there, available online and install. Water wipes, cleans, cares and protects sensitive skin. Two times stronger material than previous water wipes. Chapter 37 The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodgers to make them his parting o'bearsons was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing and very good health and in us tolerable spirits as could be expected after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened to console Lady Catherine and her daughter and on his return brought back with great satisfaction a message from her leadership, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her. Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that had she chosen it she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece. Nor could she think without a smile of what her leadership's indignation would have been. What would she have said? How would she have behaved? Were the questions with which she amused herself? Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. I assure you I feel it exceedingly, said Lady Catherine. I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do, but I am particularly attached to these young men and know them to be so much attached to me. They were excessively sorry to go, but so they always are. The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just last, but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely. More I think than last year his attachment to Rosings certainly increases. Mr. Collins had a compliment and an illusion to throw in here which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. Lady Catherine observed after dinner that Miss Bennett seemed out of spirits and immediately accounting for it herself by supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon she added. But if that is the case you must write to your mother to beg that you may stay a little longer Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company I am sure. I am very much obliged to your leadership for your kind invitation reply to Elizabeth, but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next Saturday. Why at that rate you will have been here only six weeks? I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came there can be no occasion for you going so soon. Mrs. Bennett could certainly spare you for another fortnight, but my father cannot reply, Lizzy. He wrote last week to hurry my return. Oh, your father of course may spare you if your mother can reply, Lady Catherine. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London for I am going there early in June for a week and as Dawson does not object to the barouche mocks there will be very good room for one of you and indeed if the weather should happen to be cool I should not object to taking you both as you are neither of you large. You are all kindness, madam, but I believe we must abide by our original plan. Lady Catherine seemed resigned. Mrs. Collins you must send a servant with them. You know I always speak my mind and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling by post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world at that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer I made a point of her having two men's servants go with her. Miss Darcy the daughter of the late Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Lady Anne could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young ladies Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone. My uncle is to send a servant for us said Charlotte. Oh your uncle he keeps a man servant does he? No I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things. Where shall you change horses? Oh, broadly of course. If you mention my name at the bell you will be attended to. Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey and as she did not answer them all herself attention was necessary which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her or with a mind so occupied she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours. Whenever she was alone she gave way to it as the greatest relief and not a day went by without a solitary walk in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections. Mr. Darsie's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence and her feelings toward its writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address she was still full of indignation but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upgraded him her anger was turned against herself and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment excited gratitude his general character respect but she could not approve him nor could she for a moment repent her refusal or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past behavior there was a constant source of vexation and regret and in the unhappy effects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin they were hopeless of remedy. Her father contented with laughing at them would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters and her mother with manners so far from write herself was entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia but while they were supported by their mothers indulgence what chance could there be of improvement. Catherine weak spirited, irritable and completely under Lydia's guidance had been always affronted by their advice and Lydia self-willed and careless would scarcely give them a hearing they were ignorant idle and vain. While there was an officer in Meriton they would flirt with him and while Meriton was within a walk of long-born they would be going there forever. Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern and Mr. Dars' explanation by restoring Bingley to all her former good-apillion heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been sincere and his conduct cleared of all blame unless any could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then was the thought that of a situation so desirable in every respect so replete with advantage so promising for happiness Jane had been deprived by the folly and indecorum of her own family. When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's character it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before were now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for Lizzy to appear tolerably cheerful. Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there and her leadership began inquired minutely into the particulars of their journey gave them directions as to the best method of packing and were so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way that Maria thought herself obliged on her return to undo all the work of the morning and pack her trunk of fresh. When they parted Lady Catherine was great condescension wished them a good journey and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year and Mr. Borg exerted herself so far as to Curtsy and hold out her hand to both. In the next episode Elizabeth departs from the excitement and modifications of Kent returning at last to Longborn only to find that peace is no more easily added home. Troubled by what has happened and what she has learned Lizzy struggles to know what to do next. How much does she tell her family? Can she protect her siblings from similar distress? And with her younger sisters still chasing after the militia officers, it's impossible to predict what's going to happen. That's next time on Jane Austin 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. Power of you by Emporio Armani. Humans it is I, Hypnocat. Never been batteries or electricals they cause fires when crushed in binneries. Always recycle them separately from your regular rubbish and recycling. Search recycle your electricals to find shops and recycling banks where you could drop them 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. How so 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 Hypn power.