 Chapter 57 of Pride and Prejudice this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Linda Lee Paquette pride and prejudice by Jane Austen chapter 57 the discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit through Elizabeth into could not be easily overcome nor could she for many hours learn to think of it less than incessantly Lady Catherine it appeared had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy it was a rational scheme to be sure but from what the report of their engagement could originate Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of Bingley and her being the sister of Jane was enough at a time when the expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another to supply the idea she had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together and her neighbors at Lucas Lodge therefore for through their communication with the Collins's the report she concluded had reached Lady Catherine had only set that down as almost certain and immediate which she had looked forward to as possible at some future time in revolving Lady Catherine's expressions however she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference from what she had said of her resolution to prevent their marriage it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to her nephew and how he might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a connection with her she dared not pronounce she knew not the exact degree of his affection for his aunt or his dependence on her judgment but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do and it was certain that in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own his aunt would address him on his weakest side with his notions of dignity he would probably feel that the arguments which to Elizabeth had appeared weak and ridiculous contained much good sense and solid reasoning if he had been wavering before as to what he should do which had often seemed likely the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity unblemished could make him in that case he would return no more Lady Catherine might see him in her way through town and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way if therefore an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a few days she added I shall know how to understand it I shall then give over every expectation every wish of his constancy if he is satisfied with only regretting me when he might have obtained my affections and hand I shall soon cease to regret him at all the surprise of the rest of the family on hearing who their visitor had been was very great but they obligingly satisfied it with the same kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennett's curiosity and Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject the next morning as she was going downstairs she was met by her father who came out of his library with a letter in his hand Lizzie said he I was going to look for you come into my room she followed him thither and her curiosity to know what he had to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held it suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations she followed her father to the fireplace and they both sat down he then said I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly as it principally concerns yourself you ought to know its contents I did not know before that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony let me congratulate you on a very important conquest the color now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew instead of the aunt and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at all or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself when her father continued you look conscience young ladies have great penetration in such matters as these but I think I may defy even your sagacity to discover the name of your admirer this letter is from Mr. Collins from Mr. Collins and what can he have to say something very much to the purpose of course he begins with congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter of which it seems he has been told by some of the good natured gossiping Lucas's I shall not sport with your impatience by reading what he says on that point what relates to yourself is as follows having thus offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event let me now add a short hint on the subject of another of which we have been advertised by the same authority your daughter Elizabeth it is presumed will not long bear the name of Bennett after her elder sister has resigned it and the chosen partner of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in this land can you possibly guess Lizzie who is meant by this this young gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way with everything the heart of mortal can most desire splendid property noble kindred and extensive patronage yet in spite of all these temptations let me warn my cousin Elizabeth and yourself of what evils you may incur by a precipitate closure with this gentleman's proposals which of course you will be inclined to take immediate advantage of of you any idea Lizzie who this gentleman is but now it comes out my motive for cautioning you is as follows we have reason to imagine that his aunt Lady Catherine de Berg does not look on the match with a friendly eye Mr. Darcy you see is the man now Lizzie I think I have surprised you could he or the Lucas's have pitched on any man within the circle of our acquaintance whose name would have given the lie more effectually to what they related Mr. Darcy who never looks at any woman but to see a blemish and who probably never looked at you in his life it is admirable Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry but could only force one most reluctant smile never had his wit been directed in a manner so little agreeable to her are you not diverted oh yes pray read on after mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her lady ship last night she immediately with her usual condescension expressed what she felt on the occasion when it became apparent that on the score of some family objections on the part of my cousin she would never give her consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match I thought it my duty to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin that she and her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about and not run hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned Mr. Collins more over ads I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad business has been so well hushed up and am only concerned that they're living together before the marriage took place should be so generally known I must not however neglect the duties of my station or refrain from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married it was an encouragement of vice and had I been the rector of Longbourn I should very strenuously have opposed it you ought certainly to forgive them as a Christian but never to admit them in your sight or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing that is his notion of Christian forgiveness the rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's situation and his expectation of a young olive branch but Lizzie you look as if you did not enjoy it you are not going to be missus I hope and pretend to be affronted at an idle report for what do we live but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn oh cried Elizabeth I am excessively diverted but it is so strange yes that is what makes it amusing had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothing but his perfect indifference and your pointed dislike make it so delightfully absurd much as I abominate writing I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration nay when I read a letter of his I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham much as I valued the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law and pray Lizzie what said Lady Catherine about this report did she call to refuse her consent to this question his daughter replied only with a laugh and as it had been asked without the least suspicion she was not distressed by his repeating it Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not it was necessary to laugh when she would rather have cried her father had most cruelly mortified her by what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of penetration or fear that perhaps instead of his seeing too little she might have fancied too much end of Chapter 57 recording by Linda Lee Paquette chapter 58 of Pride and Prejudice this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox dot org recording by Linda Lee Paquette Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin chapter 58 instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend as Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourne before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit the gentlemen arrived early and before Mrs. Bennett had time to tell him of their having seen his aunt of which her daughter sat in momentary dread Bingley who wanted to be alone with Jane propose they're all walking out it was agreed to Mrs. Bennett was not in the habit of walking Mary could never spare time but the remaining five set off together Bingley and Jane however soon allowed the others to outstrip them they lagged behind while Elizabeth Kitty and Darcy were to entertain each other very little was said by either Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution and perhaps he might be doing the same they walked towards the Lucas's because Kitty wished to call upon Maria and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern when Kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone now was the moment for her resolution to be executed and while her courage was high she immediately said Mr. Darcy I am a very selfish creature and for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings care not how much I may be wounding yours I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor sister ever since I have known it I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it words known to the rest of my family I should not have merely my own gratitude to express I am sorry exceedingly sorry replied Darcy in a tone of surprise and emotion that you have ever been informed of what may in a mistaken might have given you uneasiness I did not think Mrs. Gardner was so little to be trusted you must not blame my aunt Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter and of course I could not rest till I knew the particulars let me thank you again and again in the name of all my family for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble and bear so many mortifications for the sake of discovering them if you will thank me he replied let it be for yourself alone that the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on I shall not attempt to deny but your family owe me nothing much as I respect them I believe I thought only of you Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word after a short pause her companion added you are too generous to trifle with me if your feelings are still what they were last April tell me so at once my affections and wishes are unchanged but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation now forced herself to speak and immediately though not very fluently gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change since the period to which he alluded as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances the happiness which this reply produced was such as he had probably never felt before and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight diffused over his face became him but though she could not look she could listen and he told her feelings which improving of what importance she was to him made his affection every moment more valuable they walked on without knowing in what direction there was too much to be thought and felt and said for attention to any other objects she soon learned that they were indebted for their present good understanding to the efforts of his aunt who did call on him in her return through London and there relate her journey to long-born its motive and the substance of her conversation with Elizabeth dwelling in fatically on every expression of the latter which in her ladyships apprehension peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance in the belief that such a relation must assist her endeavors to obtain that promise from her nephew which she had refused to give but unlucky for her ladyship its effect had been exactly contrary wise it taught me to hope said he as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that had you been absolutely irrevocably decided against me you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine frankly and openly Elizabeth colored and laughed as she replied yes you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that after abusing you so abominably to your face I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations what did you say of me that I did not deserve for though your accusations were ill founded formed on mistaken premises my behavior to you at the time had merited the severest reproof it was unpardonable I cannot think of it without abhorrence we will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annex to that evening said Elizabeth the conduct of neither if strictly examined will be irreproachable but since then we have both I hope improved in civility I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself the recollection of what I then said of my conduct my manners my expressions during the whole of it is now and has been many months inexpressibly painful to me your reproof so well applied I shall never forget had you behaved in a more gentleman like manner those were your words you know not you can scarcely conceive how they have tortured me though it was some time I confess before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an impression I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such a way I can easily believe it you thought me then devoid of every proper feeling I am sure you did the turn of your countenance I shall never forget as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible way that would induce you to accept me oh do not repeat what I then said these recollections will not do at all I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it Darcy mentioned his letter did it said he did it soon make you think better of me did you on reading it give any credit to its contents she explained what its effect on her had been and how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed I knew said he that what I wrote must give you pain but it was necessary I hope you have destroyed the letter there was one part especially the opening of it which I should dredger having the power of reading again I can remember some expressions which might justly make you hate me the letter shall certainly be burnt if you believe it essential to the preservation of my regard but though we have both reason to think my opinions not entirely unalterable they are not I hope quite so easily changed as that implies when I wrote that letter replied Darcy I believed myself perfectly calm and cool but I am since convinced that it was written in a dreadful bitterness of spirits the letter perhaps began in bitterness but it did not end so the adieu is charity itself but think no more of the letter the feelings of the person who wrote and the person who received it are now so widely different from what they were then that every unpleasant circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten you must learn some of my philosophy think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind your retrospections must be so totally void of reproach that the contentment arising from them is not a philosophy but what is much better of innocence but with me it is not so painful recollections will intrude which cannot which ought not to be repelled I have been a selfish being all my life in practice though not in principle as a child I was taught what was right but I was not taught to correct my temper I was given good principles but left to follow them in pride and conceit unfortunately an only son for many years an only child I was spoiled by my parents who though good themselves my father particularly all that was benevolent and amiable allowed encouraged almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing to care for none beyond my own family circle to think meanly of all the rest of the world to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own such I was from eight to eight and twenty and such I might still have been but for you dearest loveliest Elizabeth what do I not owe you you taught me a lesson hard indeed at first but most advantageous by you I was properly humbled I came to you without a doubt of my reception you showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased had you then persuaded yourself that I should indeed I had what will you think of my vanity I believed you to be wishing expecting my addresses my manners must have been in fault but not intentionally I assure you I never meant to deceive you but my spirits might often lead me wrong how you must have hated me after that evening hate you I was angry perhaps at first but my anger soon began to take a proper direction I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when we met at Pemberley you blamed me for coming no indeed I felt nothing but surprise your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you my conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness and I confess that I did not expect to receive more than might do my object then replied Darcy was to show you by every civility in my power that I was not so mean as to resent the past and I hope to obtain your forgiveness to lessen your ill opinion by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to how soon any other wishes introduced themselves I can hardly tell but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you he then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption she soon learned that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend she expressed her gratitude again but it was too painful a subject to each to be dwelt on farther after walking several miles in a leisurely manner and too busy to know anything about it they found at last on examining their watches that it was time to be at home what could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane was a wonder which introduced the discussion of their affairs Darcy was delighted with their engagement his friend had given him the earliest information of it I must ask whether you were surprised said Elizabeth not at all when I went away I felt that it would soon happen that is to say you had given your permission I guessed this much and though he exclaimed at the term she found that it had been pretty much the case on the evening before my going to London said he I made a confession to him which I believe I ought to have made long ago I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent his surprise was great he had never had the slightest suspicion I told him more over that I believed myself mistaken in supposing as I had done that your sister was indifferent to him and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated I felt no doubt of their happiness together Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his friend did you speak from your own observation said she when you told him that my sister loved him or merely from my information last spring from the former I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here and I was convinced of her affection and your assurance of it I suppose carried immediate conviction to him it did Bingley is most uneffectedly modest his diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case but his reliance on mine made everything easy I was obliged to confess one thing which for a time and not unjustly offended him I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter that I had known it and purposely kept it from him he was angry but his anger I am persuaded lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments he has heartily forgiven me now Elizabeth long to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful friend so easily guided that his worth was invaluable but she checked herself she remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at and it was rather too early to begin in anticipating the happiness of Bingley which of course was to be inferior only to his own he continued the conversation till they reached the house in the hall they parted end of chapter fifty eight recording by Linda Lee Pequette chapter fifty nine of Pride and Prejudice this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox dot org recording by Linda Lee Pequette Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen chapter fifty nine my dear Lizzie where can you have been walking to was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room and from all the others when they sat down to table she had only to say in reply that they had wandered about till she was beyond her own knowledge she colored as she spoke but neither that nor anything else awakened a suspicion of the truth the evening passed quietly unmarked by anything extraordinary the acknowledged lovers talked and laughed the unacknowledged were silent Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth and Elizabeth agitated and confused rather knew that she was happy then felt herself to be so for besides the immediate embarrassment there were other evils before her she anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known she was aware that no one liked him but Jane and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away at night she opened her heart to Jane though suspicion was very far from miss Bennett's general habits she was absolutely incredulous here you are joking Lizzie this cannot be engage to mr. Darcy no no you shall not deceive me I know it to be impossible this is a wretched beginning indeed my soul dependence was on you and I am sure nobody else will believe me if you do not yet indeed I am in earnest I speak nothing but the truth he still loves me and we are engaged Jane looked at her doubtingly oh Lizzie it cannot be I know how much you dislike him you know nothing of the matter that is all to be forgot perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now but in such cases as these a good memory is unpardonable this is the last time I shall ever remember it myself miss Bennett still looked all amazement Elizabeth again and more seriously assured her of its truth good heaven can it be really so yet now I must believe you cried Jane my dear dear Lizzie I would I do congratulate you but are you certain forgive the question are you quite certain that you can be happy with him there can be no doubt of that it is settled between us already that we are to be the happiest couple in the world but are you pleased Jane shall you like to have such a brother very very much nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight but we considered it we talked of it as impossible and do you really love him quite well enough oh Lizzie do anything rather than marry without affection are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do oh yes you will only think I feel more than I ought to do when I tell you all what do you mean why I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley I am afraid you will be angry my dearest sister now be serious I want to talk very seriously let me know everything that I am to know without delay will you tell me how long you have loved him it has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know when it began but I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley another in treaty that she would be serious however produced the desired effect and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment when convinced on that article Miss Bennett had nothing further to wish now I am quite happy said she for you will be as happy as myself I always had a value for him worked for nothing but his love of you I must always have esteemed him but now as Bingley's friend and your husband there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me but Lizzie you have been very sly very reserved with me how little did you tell me of what past at Pemberley and Lampton I owe all that I know of it to another not to you Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy she had been unwilling to mention Bingley and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend but now she would no longer conceal from her his share in Lydia's marriage all was acknowledged and half the night spent in conversation good gracious cried Mrs. Bennett as she stood at a window the next morning if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley what can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here I had no notion but he would go a shooting or something or other and not disturb us with his company what shall we do with him Lizzie you must walk out with him again that he may not be in Bingley's way Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet as soon as they entered Bingley looked at her so expressively and shook hands with such warmth as left no doubt of his good information and he soon afterwards said aloud Mrs. Bennett have you know more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzie may lose her way again today I advise Mr. Darcy and Lizzie and Kitty said Mrs. Bennett to walk to Oakham Mount this morning it is a nice long walk and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view it may do very well for the others replied Mr. Bingley but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty won't it Kitty Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the mount and Elizabeth silently consented as she went upstairs to get ready Mrs. Bennett followed her saying I am quite sorry Lizzie that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself but I hope you will not mind it it is all for Jane's sake you know and there is no occasion for talking to him except just now and then so do not put yourself to inconvenience during their walk it was resolved that Mr. Bennett's consent should be asked in the course of the evening Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mother's she could not determine how her mother would take it sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man but whether she were violently set against the match or violently delighted with it it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy than the first vehemence of her disapprobation in the evening soon after Mr. Bennett withdrew to the library she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him and her agitation on seeing it was extreme she did not fear her father's opposition but he was going to be made unhappy and that it should be through her means that she his favorite child should be distressing him by her choice should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her was a wretched reflection and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again when looking at him she was a little relieved by his smile in a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty and while pretending to admire her work said in a whisper go to your father he wants you in the library she was gone directly her father was walking about the room looking grave and anxious Lizzie said he what are you doing are you out of your senses to be accepting this man have not you always hated him how earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable her expressions more moderate it would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give but they were now necessary and she assured him with some confusion of her attachment to Mr. Darcy or in other words you are determined to have him he is rich to be sure and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane but will they make you happy have you any other objection said Elizabeth then your belief of my indifference not at all we all know him to be a proud unpleasant sort of man but this would be nothing if you really liked him I do I do like him she replied with tears in her eyes I love him indeed he has no improper pride he is perfectly amiable you do not know what he really is then pray do not pay me by speaking of him in such terms Lizzie said her father I have given him my consent he is the kind of man indeed to whom I should never dare refuse anything which he condescended to ask I now give it to you if you are resolved on having him but let me advise you to think better of it I know your disposition Lizzie I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband unless you looked up to him as a superior your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage you could scarcely escape discredit and misery my child let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life you know not what you are about Elizabeth still more affected was earnest and solemn in her reply and at length by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day but had stood the test of many months suspense and enumerating with energy all his good qualities she did conquer her father's incredulity and reconcile him to the match well my dear said he when she ceased speaking I have no more to say if this be the case he deserves you I could not have parted with you my Lizzie to anyone less worthy to complete the favorable impression she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia he heard her with astonishment this is an evening of wonders indeed and so Darcy did everything made up the match gave the money paid the fellow's debts and got him his commission so much the better it will save me a world of trouble and economy had it been your uncle's doing I must and would have paid him but these violent young lovers carry everything their own way I shall offer to pay him tomorrow he will rant and storm about his love for you and there will be an end of the matter he then recollected her embarrassment a few days before on his reading Mr. Collins's letter and after laughing at her some time allowed her at last to go saying as she quitted the room if any young men come from Mary or Kitty send them in for I am quite at leisure Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight and after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room she was able to join the others with tolerable composure everything was too recent for gaiety but the evening passed tranquilly away there was no longer anything material to be dreaded and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time when her mother went up to her dressing room at night she followed her and made the important communication its effect was most extraordinary for on first hearing it Mrs. Bennett sat quite still and unable to utter a syllable nor was it under many many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them she began at length to recover to fidget about in her chair get up sit down again wonder and bless herself good gracious Lord bless me only think dear me Mr. Darcy who would have thought it and is it really true oh my sweetest Lizzie how rich and how great you will be what pin money what jewels what carriages you will have change is nothing to it nothing at all I am so pleased so happy such a charming man so handsome so tall oh my dear Lizzie pray apologize for my having disliked him so much before I hope he will overlook it dear dear Lizzie a house in town everything that is charming three daughters married ten thousand a year oh lord what will become of me I shall go distracted this was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted and Elizabeth rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself soon went away but before she had been three minutes in her own room her mother followed her my dearest child she cried I can think of nothing else ten thousand a year and very likely more this is good as a lord and a special license you must and shall be married by a special license but my dearest love tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of that I may have it tomorrow this was a sad omen of what her mother's behavior to the gentleman himself might be and Elizabeth found that though in the certain possession of his warmest affection and secure of her relations consent there was still something to be wished for but the moral passed off much better than she expected for Mrs. Bennett luckily stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to him unless it was in her power to offer him any attention or mark her deference for his opinion Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him and Mr. Bennett soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem I admire all my three sons-in-law highly said he Wickham perhaps is my favorite but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's end of chapter 59 recording by Linda Lee Paquette chapter 60 of pride and prejudice this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Linda Lee Paquette pride and prejudice by Jane Austin chapter 60 Elizabeth Spirits soon rising to playfulness again she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her how could you begin said she I can comprehend you're going on charmingly when you had once made a beginning but what could set you off in the first place I cannot fix on the hour or the spot or the look or the words which laid the foundation it is too long ago I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun my beauty you had early withstood and as for my manners my behavior to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not now be sincere did you admire me for my impertinence for the liveliness of your mind I did you may as well call it impertinence at once it was very little less the fact is that you were sick of civility of deference of officious attention you were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for your approbation alone I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them had you not been really amiable you would have hated me for it but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself your feelings were always noble and just and in your heart you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you there I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it and really all things considered I begin to think it perfectly reasonable to be sure you knew no actual good of me but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love was there no good in your affectionate behavior to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield dearest Jane who could have done less for her but make a virtue of it by all means my good qualities are under your protection and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible and in return it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarreling with you as often as may be and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last what made you so shy of me when you first called and afterwards dined here why especially when you called did you look as if you did not care about me because you were grave and silent and gave me no encouragement but I was embarrassed and so was I you might have talked to me more when you came to dinner a man who had felt less might how unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it but I wonder how long you would have gone on if you had been left to yourself I wonder when you would have spoken if I had not asked you my resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect too much I am afraid for what becomes of the moral if our comfort springs from a breach of promise for I ought not to have mentioned the subject this will never do you need not to stress yourself the moral will be perfectly fair lady Catherine's unjustifiable endeavors to separate us with the means of removing all my doubts I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude I was not in a humor to wait for any opening of yours my aunt's intelligence had given me hope and I was determined at once to know everything lady Catherine has been of infinite use which ought to make her happy for she loves to be of use but tell me what did you come down to Netherfield for was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed or had you intended any more serious consequence my real purpose was to see you and to judge if I could whether I might ever hope to make you love me my avowed one or what I avowed to myself was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley and if she were to make the confession to him which I have since made shall you ever have courage to announce to lady Catherine what is to be fall her I am more likely to want more time than courage Elizabeth but it ought to be done and if you will give me a sheet of paper it shall be done directly and if I had not a letter to write myself I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing as another young lady once did but I have an aunt too who must not be longer neglected from an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had been overrated Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long letter but now having that to communicate which she knew would be most welcome she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness and immediately wrote as follows I would have thanked you before my dear aunt as I ought to have done for your long kind satisfactory detail of particulars but to say the truth I was too cross to write you supposed more than really existed but now suppose as much as you choose give a loose reign to your fancy indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford and unless you believe me actually married you cannot greatly air you must write again very soon and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last I thank you again and again for not going to the lakes how could I be so silly as to wish it your idea of the ponies is delightful we will go round the park every day I am the happiest creature in the world perhaps other people have said so before but not one with such justice I am happier even than Jane she only smiles I laugh Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me you are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas yours etc Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style and still different from either was what Mr. Bennett sent to Mr. Collins in reply to his last dear sir I must trouble you once more for congratulations Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy console Lady Catherine as well as you can but if I were you I would stand by the nephew he has more to give yours sincerely etc Ms. Bingley's congratulations to her brother on his approaching marriage were all that was affectionate and insincere she wrote even to Jane on the occasion to express her delight and repeat all her former professions of regard Jane was not deceived but she was affected and though feeling no reliance on her could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved the joy which Ms. Darcy expressed on receiving similar information was as sincere as her brothers in sending it four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight and all her earnest desire of being loved by her sister before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife the long-born family heard that the Collins's were come themselves to Lucas Lodge the reason of this sudden removal was soon evident Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter that Charlotte really rejoicing in the match was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over her at such a moment the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth though in the course of their meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her husband he bore it however with admirable calmness he could even listen to Sir William Lucas when he complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country and expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James's with very decent composure if he did shrug his shoulders it was not till Sir William was out of sight Mrs. Phillips's vulgarity was another and perhaps a greater tax on his forbearance and though Mrs. Phillips as well as her sister stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good humor encouraged yet whenever she did speak she must be vulgar nor was her respect for him though it made her more quiet at all likely to make her more elegant Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either and was ever anxious to keep him to herself and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure it added to the hope of the future and she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley end of chapter 60 recording by Linda Lee Paquette chapter 61 of Pride and Prejudice this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Linda Lee Paquette Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen chapter 61 happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennett 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 Mr. Bennett 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. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a 12 month so near of a synod to her mother and maritime 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 neighboring county to Darbyshire and Jane and Elizabeth in addition to every other source of happiness were within 30 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 Mary was the only daughter who remained at home and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennett'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 sister's beauty and her own it was suspected by her father that she submitted to 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 my dear Lizzie I wish you joy if you love mr Darcy half as well as I do my dear Wickham you must be very happy it is a great comfort to have you so rich and when you have nothing else to do I hope you will think of us I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help any place would do of about three or four hundred a year but however do not speak to mr Darcy about it if you had rather not yours etc as it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not she endeavored 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 Bingley's they both of them frequently stayed so long that even Bingley's good humor was overcome and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone 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 here to for and paid off every a rear of civility to 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 10 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 offense 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 with the gardeners 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 End of Chapter 61 End of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Recording by Linda Lee-Piquette