at
all.’
‘I cannot imagine two men so dissimilar; I wonder how they first came to
be friends.’
‘Perhaps Darcy is so proud he has made no friends and therefore when Mr
Bingley came his way he snatched at the chance of having someone so affable to
talk to.’
Jane smiled. ‘Well, Mr Darcy cannot be all bad if Mr Bingley holds him
in such high regard. And do you not think that both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst
are kind as well? Think how they looked after me when I was ill, and they are
so experienced in the ways of the world we could both learn a lot about society
from being in their company.’
‘What those two ladies could teach us is something I would rather not
learn. I know that you like them both, but I think they are shallow. Their only
good points are that they appear to enjoy your company and wish to be on
intimate terms with you.’
* * * *
The following day Jane and Elizabeth decided to accompany Lydia into
Meryton. Unfortunately Mr Collins was also to attend at the request of their
father who appeared most anxious to get rid of him and regain his library for
himself. Jane had only agreed in the hope that she might meet Mr Bingley; she
had no idea why Elizabeth came unless it was to accompany her.
They walked together, Kitty and Lydia in front, Mr Collins, with herself
on one side and Elizabeth on the other, continuing to talk at great length of
nothing in particular. All that was required of her was to answer civilly when
he paused for breath.
Every time she heard the sound of a horse approaching she looked up
hoping it might be Charles. No sooner had they arrived at the High Street then
she was dismayed to see both Lydia and Kitty were immediately staring ahead in
their quest for officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or
a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. She looked in despair
at her sister who raised her eyebrows and shook her head, nodding towards Mr
Collins. It would not do to point out their sisters’ immodesty when he was with
them.
They had not been walking far when Jane saw a young man, a stranger to
them, but with the most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on
the other side of the way. This officer was the very Mr Denny, concerning whose
return from London Lydia came to enquire, and he bowed to them as he passed.
‘I wonder who that other officer is, Lizzy? No doubt, Kitty and Lydia
will find out, we shall not be obliged to wait to be introduced by Mrs Phillips.’
Mr Collins was slightly ahead of them, and they were able to confer
privately for a moment. ‘Look, Kitty and Lydia are already across the road, and
the gentlemen are turning back to speak to them. I must admit he is
prodigiously handsome, he will be a definite asset to social occasions.’
Jane pursed her lips. ‘I thought you had no time for military men,
Lizzy?’
Elizabeth laughed at her sally. ‘In the normal way, I do not. But I am
prepared to make exceptions for someone as pleasing as that gentleman.’
The girls led the two officers over and introductions were effected.
Jane found the young man to be charming, and have a happy readiness of
conversation, but at the same time was perfectly correct and unassuming. She
liked him immediately.
The sound of horses approaching made her look up and she felt her cheeks
colour. This time it was Charles and Mr Darcy riding down the street.
She glanced towards the new officer talking so animatedly with her sister, he
was handsome, but no comparison to Charles. For he rode his horse as if born to
it, looked so good-humoured, his eyes as blue as the sky.
She stepped away from the group
hoping that Mr Bingley would see her and she smiled as he approached. Both
gentlemen dismounted.
‘Good morning, Miss Bennet, we were on our way to Longbourn to enquire
how you did.’
‘As you see, sir, I am fully recovered.’ It was her intention to ask
after the health of his sisters when she noticed Mr Darcy staring at
all.’
‘I cannot imagine two men so dissimilar; I wonder how they first came to
be friends.’
‘Perhaps Darcy is so proud he has made no friends and therefore when Mr
Bingley came his way he snatched at the chance of having someone so affable to
talk to.’
Jane smiled. ‘Well, Mr Darcy cannot be all bad if Mr Bingley holds him
in such high regard. And do you not think that both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst
are kind as well? Think how they looked after me when I was ill, and they are
so experienced in the ways of the world we could both learn a lot about society
from being in their company.’
‘What those two ladies could teach us is something I would rather not
learn. I know that you like them both, but I think they are shallow. Their only
good points are that they appear to enjoy your company and wish to be on
intimate terms with you.’
* * * *
The following day Jane and Elizabeth decided to accompany Lydia into
Meryton. Unfortunately Mr Collins was also to attend at the request of their
father who appeared most anxious to get rid of him and regain his library for
himself. Jane had only agreed in the hope that she might meet Mr Bingley; she
had no idea why Elizabeth came unless it was to accompany her.
They walked together, Kitty and Lydia in front, Mr Collins, with herself
on one side and Elizabeth on the other, continuing to talk at great length of
nothing in particular. All that was required of her was to answer civilly when
he paused for breath.
Every time she heard the sound of a horse approaching she looked up
hoping it might be Charles. No sooner had they arrived at the High Street then
she was dismayed to see both Lydia and Kitty were immediately staring ahead in
their quest for officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or
a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. She looked in despair
at her sister who raised her eyebrows and shook her head, nodding towards Mr
Collins. It would not do to point out their sisters’ immodesty when he was with
them.
They had not been walking far when Jane saw a young man, a stranger to
them, but with the most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on
the other side of the way. This officer was the very Mr Denny, concerning whose
return from London Lydia came to enquire, and he bowed to them as he passed.
‘I wonder who that other officer is, Lizzy? No doubt, Kitty and Lydia
will find out, we shall not be obliged to wait to be introduced by Mrs Phillips.’
Mr Collins was slightly ahead of them, and they were able to confer
privately for a moment. ‘Look, Kitty and Lydia are already across the road, and
the gentlemen are turning back to speak to them. I must admit he is
prodigiously handsome, he will be a definite asset to social occasions.’
Jane pursed her lips. ‘I thought you had no time for military men,
Lizzy?’
Elizabeth laughed at her sally. ‘In the normal way, I do not. But I am
prepared to make exceptions for someone as pleasing as that gentleman.’
The girls led the two officers over and introductions were effected.
Jane found the young man to be charming, and have a happy readiness of
conversation, but at the same time was perfectly correct and unassuming. She
liked him immediately.
The sound of horses approaching made her look up and she felt her cheeks
colour. This time it was Charles and Mr Darcy riding down the street.
She glanced towards the new officer talking so animatedly with her sister, he
was handsome, but no comparison to Charles. For he rode his horse as if born to
it, looked so good-humoured, his eyes as blue as the sky.
She stepped away from the group
hoping that Mr Bingley would see her and she smiled as he approached. Both
gentlemen dismounted.
‘Good morning, Miss Bennet, we were on our way to Longbourn to enquire
how you did.’
‘As you see, sir, I am fully recovered.’ It was her intention to ask
after the health of his sisters when she noticed Mr Darcy staring at
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