that both Miss Bingley and
Mrs Hurst would take her side, they had shown themselves to be good friends to
her. Had they not given her a pretty scarf as a parting gift?
She knew that she loved him,
she was almost sure that he returned her affection, but until he made it clear
she must keep her feelings to herself. There was nothing she disliked more than
a young lady who wore her heart on her sleeve. If her mother had the slightest
inkling that she might become Mrs Bingley the news would be all over the
village and into Meryton in no time.
This would not happen. Until
Charles…she believed she could call him that to herself now… until Charles made
an offer, or at least spoke of having a future with her she would insist that
she was merely a friend of his sisters and nothing more. It would be easier
that way.
Chapter
Seven
Jane went down for breakfast secure in the knowledge that her sister had
answered all her mother’s questions about their visit to Netherfield. She took
her place at the table, about which the rest of her family were gathered, glad
that no one remarked on how little she had put on her own plate.
Mr Bennet rested his arms upon the table and gazed at his wife. ‘I hope,
my dear, that you ordered a good dinner today, because I have every expectation
there shall be an addition to the family party.’
‘Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming I am sure,
unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinner is a good
enough for her . I do not believe she often sees such a thing at her own
house.’
‘The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger.’
Mrs Bennet’s eyes sparkled. ‘A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr
Bingley I am sure. Well, Jane, you never dropped a word of this; you sly thing!
Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr Bingley. But, good Lord!
How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got today. Lydia, my love, ring
the bell. I must speak to Hill this moment.’
Jane put down her knife and fork leaving her coddled egg and slice of
ham untouched. She knew it was not to be Mr Bingley, for he would have
mentioned it when they were talking last night. She waited, as eager as the
others, to know to whom her father was referring.
‘It is not Mr Bingley. It is a person I never saw in the whole course of
my life.’ Eventually her father explained that he had received a letter a
fortnight before from his cousin, one Mr Collins, who would inherit Longbourn
after his death. Jane knew, as did they all, that Longbourn was entailed, but
this was the first time she had heard mention of the man himself.
Both she and her sister had attempted to explain to their mother the
nature of an entail. However, it was a subject upon which Mrs Bennet was beyond
the reach of reason; she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of
settling the estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man
whom nobody cared anything about.
Her father then proceeded to read out a very long letter from Mr
Collins, who it seemed was a clergyman who had just moved to a living under the
patronage of someone called Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Jane was relieved when
the letter came to an end.
‘At four o’clock, therefore, we expect this peacemaking gentleman to
arrive. He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word;
and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady
Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.
There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he’s
disposed to make many amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.’
Jane had heard this part of the letter without understanding exactly
what Mr Collins had meant. ‘It is difficult to guess in what way he can mean to
make us the atonement he thinks our due, but the wish is certainly to his
credit.’
Elizabeth was disgusted by the manner in which Mr Collins deferred to
Lady
Mrs Hurst would take her side, they had shown themselves to be good friends to
her. Had they not given her a pretty scarf as a parting gift?
She knew that she loved him,
she was almost sure that he returned her affection, but until he made it clear
she must keep her feelings to herself. There was nothing she disliked more than
a young lady who wore her heart on her sleeve. If her mother had the slightest
inkling that she might become Mrs Bingley the news would be all over the
village and into Meryton in no time.
This would not happen. Until
Charles…she believed she could call him that to herself now… until Charles made
an offer, or at least spoke of having a future with her she would insist that
she was merely a friend of his sisters and nothing more. It would be easier
that way.
Chapter
Seven
Jane went down for breakfast secure in the knowledge that her sister had
answered all her mother’s questions about their visit to Netherfield. She took
her place at the table, about which the rest of her family were gathered, glad
that no one remarked on how little she had put on her own plate.
Mr Bennet rested his arms upon the table and gazed at his wife. ‘I hope,
my dear, that you ordered a good dinner today, because I have every expectation
there shall be an addition to the family party.’
‘Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming I am sure,
unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinner is a good
enough for her . I do not believe she often sees such a thing at her own
house.’
‘The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger.’
Mrs Bennet’s eyes sparkled. ‘A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr
Bingley I am sure. Well, Jane, you never dropped a word of this; you sly thing!
Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr Bingley. But, good Lord!
How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got today. Lydia, my love, ring
the bell. I must speak to Hill this moment.’
Jane put down her knife and fork leaving her coddled egg and slice of
ham untouched. She knew it was not to be Mr Bingley, for he would have
mentioned it when they were talking last night. She waited, as eager as the
others, to know to whom her father was referring.
‘It is not Mr Bingley. It is a person I never saw in the whole course of
my life.’ Eventually her father explained that he had received a letter a
fortnight before from his cousin, one Mr Collins, who would inherit Longbourn
after his death. Jane knew, as did they all, that Longbourn was entailed, but
this was the first time she had heard mention of the man himself.
Both she and her sister had attempted to explain to their mother the
nature of an entail. However, it was a subject upon which Mrs Bennet was beyond
the reach of reason; she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of
settling the estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man
whom nobody cared anything about.
Her father then proceeded to read out a very long letter from Mr
Collins, who it seemed was a clergyman who had just moved to a living under the
patronage of someone called Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Jane was relieved when
the letter came to an end.
‘At four o’clock, therefore, we expect this peacemaking gentleman to
arrive. He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word;
and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady
Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.
There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he’s
disposed to make many amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.’
Jane had heard this part of the letter without understanding exactly
what Mr Collins had meant. ‘It is difficult to guess in what way he can mean to
make us the atonement he thinks our due, but the wish is certainly to his
credit.’
Elizabeth was disgusted by the manner in which Mr Collins deferred to
Lady
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