Page 35 of Obligation and Redemption
ON FRIDAY MORNING, but four days before the expected wedding, Mr. Bennet sat at the breakfast table finishing his meal when he calmly but decisively announced to the ladies of the home that Mr. Wickham was not to visit Longbourn, nor were any of them to speak with him in the village until after the conclusion of the wedding.
He had told Mrs. Bennet the details of the edict the evening before, and after a heated exchange, achieved her final acquiescence – due mostly to the ultimatum given by Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Bennet was explaining to the younger family members what his expectations on the matter entailed when their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage.
They were astonished to see a chaise and four driving up the lawn.
It was too early in the morning for visitors, and the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours.
The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them.
Mr. Bennet who was never fond of company made his escape to his own study before he could be detained, rejoicing in his propitious evasion of the expected complaints concerning Mr. Wickham’s dismissal from their society.
The conjectures amongst the ladies relating to their unexpected caller continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door of the breakfast room was thrown open, and their visitor entered.
She was announced as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and with her walked Mr. Collins, her vicar.
The ladies were of course all intending to be surprised, but their astonishment was beyond their expectation.
The guests entered the room, Lady Catherine with an ungracious air and Mr. Collins with his own form of condescension, and sat down without saying a word as Lady Catherine prepared to burden those assembled with her reason for coming.
She turned to Mr. Collins, who was standing beside her and said, “Which of these ladies, may I ask, is Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
Elizabeth, finding it nonsensical not to reply herself, indicated very concisely that she was the one to whom she referred.
Turning to Miss Elizabeth with a glance to Mrs. Bennet, she continued, “This is your mother?”
“Yes, Madam.”
“And these others I suppose are your sisters. Which one of you is to marry my parson here?”
Mary did not know to be intimidated by a grand lady and so spoke up without trepidation, “I am Mr. Collins’s betrothed.
He has told me much about you, but I own that I did not think you so solicitous as to plan to bring him here in an unannounced visit before we were to be married.
” Mr. Collins was too afraid to say anything in his defence, and so remained unusually quiet.
“I am not here to see you; I have come to speak with your sister, about whom my nephew has written to me. Miss Elizabeth Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.”
“Go, my dear,” cried her mother, “and show her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage. We can enjoy the unexpected visit with Mr. Collins.”
Elizabeth obeyed. After running into her own room for her parasol, Elizabeth attended her noble guest downstairs.
As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the formal dining-parlour and drawing room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.
Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it.
They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was insolent and demanding.
Now I see that contemptuousness is a family trait not limited to Mr. Darcy alone.
What can she mean by this audacious visit?
As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began, “You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. “Indeed, you are mistaken, madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of meeting you without the benefit of Mr. Darcy’s introduction.”
“Miss Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such a moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A letter from Darcy reached me three days ago. Although I was already aware of your sister’s plan to marry my rector, I was told in writing that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would be united to my own nephew, Mr. Darcy himself.
I know it must be a scandalous union, for he would never shirk his duty to his own family.
Though I would not injure him so much as to suppose his own complaisance, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you and demand that you release him from this ridiculous connection. ”
“I wonder at your coming all this way to make this request, madam. You know Mr. Darcy better than myself, I will wager. You must realise that he is his own man and makes his own decisions. If he asked me to marry him, and I accepted, what business can that be of yours?”
“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”
“But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this ever induce me to do your bidding.”
“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place – no, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”
“Only this; that if he is so, he would never have been free to make an offer for me. However, he has offered, and I, in turn, accepted.”
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, “The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union; and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished through their marriage, it is to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends, to his tacit engagement with Miss De Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Do you hear me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin? ”
“Yes, and I had heard it before from Mr. Collins. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice. And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?”
“Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”
“These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Elizabeth. “But he has asked, and I have accepted. There is nothing that you, your family, nor anyone unconnected with me can say that will cause me to rescind on my acceptance of his proposal.”
“Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment. ”
“That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.”
“I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended on the maternal side, from the same noble line, and on the father’s, from respectable, honourable, and ancient, though untitled families.
Their fortune on both sides is splendid.
They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them?
–The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune?
Is this to be endured? But it must not, shall not be.
If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.
All of Darcy’s relations and friends will know you to be a mercenary harlot, who seeks to raise herself by entrapment. ”
“Your nephew’s holdings mean nothing to me. And in marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere into which I have been raised. He is a gentleman – I, a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.”
“True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But who is your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”
“Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”