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Mr。 Darcy had been over…rated； 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：
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‘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 chuse； give a
loose 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 err。 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。 Your’s； &c。’
Mr。 Darcy’s letter to Lady Catherine； was in a different style；
and still different from either； was what Mr。 Bennet 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。
‘Your’s sincerely； &c。’
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Miss 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 Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar
information； was as sincere as her brother’s 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 Longbourn family
heard that the Collinses 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。
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。 Philips’s vulgarity was another； and perhaps a greater tax
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on his forbearance； and though Mrs。 Philips； as well as her sister；
stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which
Bingley’s good humour 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。
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CHAPTER XIX
appy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which
Mrs。 Bennet got rid of her two most deserving
H
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。 Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly； his
affection for her drew him oftener from home than any thing else
cou