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“Then I would remind you that the world includes Mr. Bingley, who should be allowed to know as much of her heart as possible. She was so composed last night that he could not have perceived anything more in her feelings than a liking for dancing. We are, however, speaking of Mr. Darcy, and regardless of whose idea it was to call this morning, I see some promising signs in his behaviour. But that may come to nothing if he perceives that your interest is limited to friendship.”

“It can hardly be anything more,” Elizabeth protested. “We have only just met.”

“Yesterday you had only just met. But now you have moved beyond first acquaintance. Tomorrow evening will be your third meeting—unless he calls here again in the morning.” Charlotte eyed Elizabeth speculatively.

“I’m sure he won’t, and anyway we will not be here. Mama intends to call at Netherfield tomorrow.”

“Then you will probably see him there.”

“I doubt it. He and Mr. Bingley are very likely to be out shooting.”

“Well, he is certain to be at Mrs. Peacocks soirée in the evening,” Charlotte said firmly.

“I wouldn’t count on it. Mr. Bingley told us that Mr. Darcy has a habit of declining invitations.”

“I have a feeling he won’t be doing so in this neighbourhood. Which I shall take as further evidence of his interest in you.”

“While I shall view it as mere civility.”

“Will you really, Lizzy? Or are you just trying to avoid the possibility of disappointment by persuading yourself that there is nothing more in his attention to you.”

Taken aback by this assessment, Elizabeth hesitated for a moment and then replied with honesty. “I cannot hide anything from you, can I? We have known each other too long for there to be any secrets between us.”

“Or for me to have any hesitation in speaking bluntly. I worry that you might cause your own disappointment by holding back because you doubt that the best can happen.”

“I have seen so few instances of it.”

“Haven’t we all,” Charlotte agreed. “I have no great opinion of my own chances of finding a husband even though I would accept far less than you. I only want a home of my own and a moderate amount of comfort, for which I would willingly marry anyone who could supply these simple needs.”

“Surely you jest.”

“No, I don’t. Although we are not talking of me—or at least we weren’t—I think this point worth clarifying just in case such a man does miraculously come along for me.

I really would accept any reasonable offer.

I do not require affection, nor even any great respect for the man, to be perfectly honest.”

“I wish that were an exaggeration, but I begin to believe that you mean this.”

“I do indeed. But you want love, don’t you?”

“That is the only reason for marrying that I can think of.”

“And you would turn down a man with ten times Mr. Darcy’s fortune if you did not love him, wouldn’t you?”

“Oh, yes. I would not be tempted by wealth.”

“But what if you and he are ideally suited?”

“Then I will not object to having a rich husband,” Elizabeth joked.

“I do love you, Lizzy, and your wit, but sometimes you take things too lightly. Now consider this. If you are determined to follow Jane’s example of restraint, you will be giving Mr. Darcy the impression that you have no feelings for him.

In consequence, he might choose not to act upon his own feelings. ”

“You are very dear to me as well, Charlotte, but I have to say that these are very hasty ideas. Mr. Darcy cannot possibly have any feelings to act upon.”

“It is never too soon to begin assessing possibilities. Particularly in your case. I think that a lady who is trying not to expect too much could inadvertently discourage the gentleman, and then a great opportunity might be lost. And I do not use that word in the sense of which you disapprove. I mean the opportunity for two people to discover how much they mean to each other.”

“In such a case, the man’s feelings must be of the most trifling sort. If he can so easily give up on the lady, then I contend that he cannot have loved her in the first place.”

“But what if he is just like you, doubting that his hopes can be realized, and already prepared to avoid disappointment by tempering his own expectations.”

“That is a complication to be sure. Yet it seems to me that if two people truly love each other, then a little caution will do no harm.”

“I must disagree. I think one has to be willing to take chances in order to discover what possibilities exist. Don’t let love pass you by because you’re too busy protecting yourself from disappointment.”

***

When the Lucases left, Lydia went with them. Despite having already seen so many of the officers that morning, she and Emily were still wanting to go to Meryton. Kitty, however, said that she was going to call upon Susan Partridge.

Mrs. Bennet resumed her surveillance of the garden through the opera glasses. From her muttering of numbers and the use of her fingers, it was evident that she was attempting to count the birds in the garden.

As she was also sitting at the other end of the room, Elizabeth felt free to continue speaking openly.

“Whatever can be up with Kitty?” she said to Jane.

“Contemplating the qualities of clergymen. Finding Mr. Wickham unworthy of that profession. And I’m very curious about this other person who thinks that Mr. Wickham speaks too much of himself.

It sounds as though Kitty has been influenced by someone with excellent sense.

Do you have any idea who this might be?”

Jane declared herself to be as much in the dark as Elizabeth, but Mary, who had just gotten up to leave, turned to say, “It might be John Lucas. He could have said something when he was dancing with Kitty yesterday. And we have seen him this morning as well. He and Edward Partridge came to call while the officers were still here. I believe they heard what Mr. Wickham said about deciding not to go into the church, and they were both sitting next to Kitty, so either of them could have made a comment to her.”

“It probably was John,” Elizabeth said. “Edward rarely has a serious turn of mind.”

“I don’t know,” Mary mused. “He is a bit like you, Lizzy. I mean in the way that you can say such amusing things one minute, but make a very astute observation the next. I suppose it could have been Edward. Either way, the point was valid, wasn’t it?

I’ve never given Mr. Wickham much thought, but now it occurs to me that he is rather full of himself.

Definitely not the making of a clergyman.

Mr. Fordyce would say—well, never mind that. I must go and practice.”

“I wonder which Mr. Fordyce she was referring to,” Elizabeth said after Mary had left the room.

“But either way, to borrow her phrase, it is evident that recollections of him still pain her. I have wished that I could offer some comfort, but I’m not sure that she wishes for it, or that I would be any good at saying the right things. ”

“I have had a few words with her about him,” Jane said. “I hope it helped.”

“I’m sure it did. Your words could not have failed to be kind and understanding.

And I do think that Mary is regaining better spirits.

The assembly must have been a difficult occasion for her, but I never saw her looking dismal.

And she seemed a little amused about Mr. Darcy not wanting her.

If she has discovered the healing power of humour, that should do her a great deal of good. ”

However, at that moment they heard the melancholy notes, not of a requiem, but still a sombre piece of music.

“She needs more time yet,” Jane said.

“That sounds quite good,” Elizabeth said. “Have you noticed that Mary’s music is different lately?”

“You know that I do not have much of an ear for music.”

“She is playing with such feeling that it comes across in the notes. Her execution used to be pedantic, but now it is animated. The difference is remarkable. I don’t want to call this a bright side to her disappointment, but if it makes music more meaningful to her, that may be a great source of satisfaction. ”

As snores were now coming from the end of the room where Mrs. Bennet was nestled into her chair, Elizabeth added, “And a much better source of consolation than our mother’s ideas.

But at least those unwelcome suggestions have been encouraging Mary to speak up more than she used to do.

I think everyone ought to speak their mind. ”

“As long as they aren’t too blunt.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I rather like Mary’s newfound bluntness. I know it can be irritating to Mama, but she ought to understand how her daughters feel. Her disappointment would only be all the greater if we let her think that we will all fall in with her plans.”

“No chance of that with everyone being so outspoken lately. Even me. I just hope that Mary’s willingness to speak her mind will not cause Mama too much irritation.”

“Perhaps it will open her mind to facts which she will be better off accepting rather than denying.”