HappyforallhermaternalfeelingswasthedayonwhichMrs. Bennetgotridofhertwomostdeservingdaughters. WithwhatdelightedpridesheafterwardsvisitedMrs. Bingley, andtalkedofMrs. Darcy, maybeguessed. I wish I couldsay, forthesakeofherfamily, thattheaccomplishmentofherearnestdesireintheestablishmentofsomanyofherchildrenproducedsohappyaneffectastomakeher a sensible, amiable, well-informedwomanfortherestofherlife; thoughperhapsitwasluckyforherhusband, whomightnothaverelisheddomesticfelicityinsounusual a form, thatshestillwasoccasionallynervousandinvariablysilly.
1
Mr. Bennetmissedhisseconddaughterexceedingly; hisaffectionforherdrewhimoftenerfromhomethananythingelsecoulddo. HedelightedingoingtoPemberley, especiallywhenhewasleastexpected.
2
Mr. BingleyandJaneremainedatNetherfieldonly a twelvemonth. Sonear a vicinitytohermotherandMerytonrelationswasnotdesirableeventohiseasytemper, orheraffectionateheart. Thedarlingwishofhissisterswasthengratified; heboughtanestatein a neighbouringcountytoDerbyshire, andJaneandElizabeth, inadditiontoeveryothersourceofhappiness, werewithinthirtymilesofeachother.
AsforWickhamandLydia, theircharacterssufferednorevolutionfromthemarriageofhersisters. HeborewithphilosophytheconvictionthatElizabethmustnowbecomeacquaintedwithwhateverofhisingratitudeandfalsehoodhadbeforebeenunknowntoher; andinspiteofeverything, wasnotwhollywithouthopethatDarcymightyetbeprevailedontomakehisfortune. ThecongratulatoryletterwhichElizabethreceivedfromLydiaonhermarriage, explainedtoherthat, byhiswifeatleast, ifnotbyhimself, such a hopewascherished. Theletterwastothiseffect:
6
"MYDEARLIZZY,
7
"I wishyoujoy. IfyouloveMr. Darcyhalfaswellas I domydearWickham, youmustbeveryhappy. Itis a greatcomforttohaveyousorich, andwhenyouhavenothingelsetodo, I hopeyouwillthinkofus. I amsureWickhamwouldlike a placeatcourtverymuch, and I donotthinkweshallhavequitemoneyenoughtoliveuponwithoutsomehelp. Anyplacewoulddo, ofaboutthreeorfourhundred a year; buthowever, donotspeaktoMr. Darcyaboutit, ifyouhadrathernot.
8
"Yours, etc."
9
AsithappenedthatElizabethhadmuchrathernot, sheendeavouredinheranswertoputanendtoeveryentreatyandexpectationofthekind. Suchrelief, however, asitwasinherpowertoafford, bythepracticeofwhatmightbecalledeconomyinherownprivateexpences, shefrequentlysentthem. Ithadalwaysbeenevidenttoherthatsuchanincomeastheirs, underthedirectionoftwopersonssoextravagantintheirwants, andheedlessofthefuture, mustbeveryinsufficienttotheirsupport; andwhenevertheychangedtheirquarters, eitherJaneorherselfweresureofbeingappliedtoforsomelittleassistancetowardsdischargingtheirbills. Theirmannerofliving, evenwhentherestorationofpeacedismissedthemto a home, wasunsettledintheextreme. Theywerealwaysmovingfromplacetoplaceinquestof a cheapsituation, andalwaysspendingmorethantheyought. Hisaffectionforhersoonsunkintoindifference; herslasted a littlelonger; andinspiteofheryouthandhermanners, sheretainedalltheclaimstoreputationwhichhermarriagehadgivenher.
10
ThoughDarcycouldneverreceivehimatPemberley, yet, forElizabeth's sake, heassistedhimfurtherinhisprofession. Lydiawasoccasionally a visitorthere, whenherhusbandwasgonetoenjoyhimselfinLondonorBath; andwiththeBingleystheybothofthemfrequentlystaidsolong, thatevenBingley's goodhumourwasovercome, andheproceededsofarastotalkofgivingthem a hinttobegone.