Page 31

On the way home from that evening’s entertainment, Miss Bingley began what was becoming her usual report by declaring that Mrs. Bennet was a dreadful gossip.

“I heard her say it is unfortunate that Miss Partridge has set her sights on the curate since he doesn’t have two pennies to rub together.”

“There must be something wrong with your ears,” Mr. Bingley said. “You obviously misunderstood. Mrs. Bennet is fond of birdwatching. She was probably talking about having sighted a partridge among the currants.”

“And two hennies,” Mr. Darcy helpfully contributed. “Eating grubs together, as they commonly do.”

For the first time in their acquaintance, Miss Bingley glared at him. “I am certain of what I heard. And she also said that her daughters have snapped up all the eligible gentlemen.”

“That sounds nothing like her,” Mr. Bingley said. “She must have been referring to another type of bird that sounds like daughters.”

“Dartford warblers,” Mr. Darcy said, although he would be astounded to find them in Mrs. Bennet’s garden.

Mr. Bingley happily seized upon this offering. “Yes, I remember her mentioning having seen some the other day. They must have snapped up all the edible…”

“Geraniums,” Mr. Darcy supplied.

“Dartford warblers doesn’t sound much like daughters,” Miss Bingley snapped. “And I doubt that they eat geraniums. Which doesn’t sound like gentlemen either. And Mrs. Bennet was definitely talking about the curate because she said his name.”

“Well, she might have mentioned him,” Mr. Bingley said. “Mr. Charlton lives close to Longbourn, and he also has a great interest in nature. I expect he was watching birds with her.”

“She wasn’t talking about birds,” Miss Bingley cried. “You are excessively willing to make excuses for her, but this is clear evidence that she is a scheming matchmaker who has been contriving to get husbands for her daughters by any means, and will stop at nothing to achieve her ambition.”

Mr. Bingley, who had spent much of the evening immersed in conversation with Jane, still looked unconcerned. “Even if she did say such a thing, which I doubt, it isn’t anything more than evidence of her brain having been a bit addled again.”

Mr. Darcy, who had spent much of the evening laughing and joking with Elizabeth, and was consequently feeling giddy, said, “That is very likely. I heard her say something about clothing growing on trees.”

“Well that proves it,” Mr. Bingley declared triumphantly. “She had no idea what she was saying.”

“You are the one with an addled brain,” his sister declared.

***

“You won’t persuade Charles by getting aggravated with him,” Mrs. Hurst said.

“He is exasperating! Going on about stupid birds and other nonsense. And why must Mr. Darcy back him up in this foolishness?”

“Perhaps he is infatuated as well.”

“That is not possible. Mr. Darcy is the most rational of men.”

“Men tend to lose their hearts easily. But they usually recover quickly, and then go back to their old ways.” Mrs. Hurst sighed.

“I hope so. If you are right, then Charles should recover what little sense he had any day now.”

“I fear that he may be the exception.”

“Do not be so gloomy, Louisa. We have only just begun to work upon him. There is a great deal more which can be said. And I am still hopeful of getting Mr. Darcy on our side.”

***

Another walk had been planned, and Longbourn was again the point of assembly.

On the way there, Mr. Bingley was at first quiet, but then he suddenly said, “This is so disappointing. I had hoped for my sister’s misconceptions to be cleared up quickly, but I am beginning to fear that they will never like the Bennets. ”

“That is a possibility,” Mr. Darcy agreed.

“I know they just want what is best for me, and perhaps I should be more appreciative of that, but I find their concerns excessive.”

Mr. Darcy was convinced that they only wanted what was best for themselves, and that would be for their brother to marry into the highest possible circles.

It had not escaped him that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were particular in their friends and ambitious in their social aspirations.

It was not surprising that they disapproved of the Bennets, especially after observing their brother’s attentions to Miss Bennet.

Not liking to be critical of a friend’s family, he kept these thoughts to himself.

However, Mr. Bingley himself said, “It doesn’t help that they have such a low opinion of country manners. And people who lack consequence. I suppose they do like to hold themselves to a particularly high standard.”

That was one way of saying that they were snobbish.

“I am not so particular,” Mr. Bingley declared. “But you are, which I can understand. I very much appreciated you supporting my position yesterday despite having high standards yourself. And I was being rather absurd. Incidentally, do Dartford warblers exist?”

“They do indeed, although Mrs. Bennet isn’t likely to have seen any. And they don’t eat geraniums.”

Mr. Bingley chuckled. “That was pushing it. No wonder Caroline was irritated with us. But she brings it on herself with all this nonsense. Although I suppose it’s possible that Mrs. Bennet might have said something along the lines of what she reported.”

“She could have done, but it isn’t worth worrying about it. I have heard much worse in the way of both matchmaking and gossiping, some of it from the lips of duchesses.”

“So have I, come to think of it. And no one thinks any less of them.”

Mr. Bingley seemed much more cheerful, but a few minutes later he said, “I do wonder if I should be more concerned though. About the Bennets, I mean. Especially Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty. I haven’t wanted to admit it to my sisters, but I have noticed that their behaviour is wanting.”

“It could use some improvement,” Mr. Darcy acknowledged. “But they are young. Their characters are not yet fixed.”

Mr. Bingley looked happier. “Yes, it is just as we said the other evening, isn’t it.

They will mature and their manners will improve.

Although I suppose Caroline was also right that they really shouldn’t be out.

That is a failure on their parents’ part .

And Mr. and Mrs. Bennet don’t seem to be taking any steps to correct them either. ”

“They can’t be so very negligible. They must have done something right for their eldest daughters to be exceptionally well behaved.

I’m sure they will step in to deal with the younger ones before long.

Indeed, they might already be doing so. I noticed that Miss Kitty was quiet and well-mannered yesterday. ”

“Come to think of it, Miss Mary was not as blunt as usual. I think you could be right. But what about Mrs. Bennet? She does occasionally make some odd remarks. I have been thinking my sisters too critical, but could they be right about her being vulgar?”

“No,” Mr. Darcy firmly declared. “I have myself also noticed an occasional lack of elegance on Mrs. Bennet’s part, but I would not go so far as to call it vulgarity.”

“Then it cannot be, for you are the most particular person I know.” Mr. Bingley looked much relieved.

But Mr. Darcy was wondering what had happened to his particularity. Had his pleasure in Elizabeth’s company caused him to be biased in favour of her family? Were their flaws as insignificant as he was so blithely willing to believe? Had they worse faults?

Was it foolish of him to turn his back on his own high standards? To refrain from advising greater caution to Mr. Bingley? Although he wanted to approve of a choice which made his friend so happy, he couldn’t help feeling a little uncertain.

But upon arriving at Longbourn, he was made more confident by a polite greeting from a mild-mannered Mrs. Bennet to whom no reasonable person could object.

She had her opera glasses at hand and Bewick’s History of British Birds in her lap.

The sight of that familiar book endeared her to Mr. Darcy, and so did her interest in a bird she had spotted in her garden.

She was wanting his opinion in identifying it, which he was happy to give.

There was nothing untoward in Lydia’s behaviour either.

Of course, there were no officers present to provide temptation, but seeing her sitting quietly gave Mr. Darcy hope.

He saw no fault in Kitty’s manners, and a brief, but diverting conversation with Mr. Bennet had him very willing to disregard a little oddness.

This was far from being a concerning family. A few little foibles were insufficient reason to feel any qualms about Mr. Bingley’s intentions. Nor his own rapidly growing interest in Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy was in an excellent mood as they set out to explore her charming wood, minus the bluebells, but he had thoughts of being able to see them in the spring.

He was not in any hurry to depart Hertfordshire.

There was no finer county in England. Nor any better company than he had found in this splendid place.