Dear Mr. Darcy Part 9

Your loving niece, Lizzy

DECEMBER.

Mrs Gardiner to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Gracechurch Street, London, December 1 Dear Lizzy, Thank you for your letter, which as you will imagine I found impossible to put down. I did not know that Mr Collins planned to visit, and I am surprised your Mama did not mention it, which leads me to a.s.sume that you did not have much warning of his visit yourself. He certainly seems to be an extraordinary young man.

I am relieved that you refused him, though not surprised, for you have always had good sense. He must be very foolish, for who but a foolish man would propose to one woman he did not know, let alone propose to two? What can he have been thinking of? And after his rejection by you, to propose to another woman whilst staying under your roof? There is not only foolishness but a lack of delicacy in the matter.

Your mama has also written to me and feels herself very cruelly used, although at the time I did not understand what she was complaining of, as I had never heard of Mr Collins and her letter did not make it clear who he was, much less what he had been doing. Her talk of you rejecting an offer of marriage also made no sense as she gave me no details, so I am grateful that your letter has enlightened me.

Never fear, her anger will soon fade-far sooner than your problems would have faded had you indeed accepted Mr Collins.

You say that you are disappointed in Charlotte. I understand your feelings towards your friend, but remember that Charlotte is twenty-seven, and that her situation, as well as her temperament, is very different to your own. She has no congenial companion at Lucas Lodge, no sister with whom she shares everything, as you share everything with Jane, and this will necessarily give her less of an attachment to her home. Then, too, she knows that if she does not accept Mr Collins, she will very likely end up an old maid. Yes, my dear Lizzy, I know that you would far rather be unmarried than marry a man you did not love, but for Charlotte it is different. She has a practical nature, and, for her, being the mistress of her own home is preferable to remaining under her father's roof. I would rather she had been able to love her husband, but I think, knowing Charlotte, that she will not repine over her lot. She will rejoice that she has so much, rather than mourn that it is not enough.

Your uncle and I will be with you on the twenty-third for our visit, and if your mama has not given over her ill humour by then, I will do what I can to restore her to civility. And if your sister has not recovered her spirits, perhaps she will like to come back to London with us for a holiday and a change of scene. I believe that some time away from your mama might be beneficial to her.

Your loving aunt, Margaret Mr Collins to Mr Bennet Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, December 2 Dear Sir, The delightful and felicitous stay I have just enjoyed in your munificent home, where I was overwhelmed by the gracious hospitality and genteel congeniality of your entire family, not excepting yourself, dear sir, of whose condescension in receiving me I am fully and n.o.bly aware-also, I beg to a.s.sure you, most suitably and humbly obliged-has prompted me to write this letter of grateful and sincere thankfulness.

It has fallen to my happy lot in life to secure the affections of your most n.o.ble and amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, whose modesty and economy have already won her the favour of my most estimable and gracious patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. My esteemed patroness has humbled me by the excessive kindness of her reception of my news, and the a.s.surance that the future Mrs Collins will be welcome to partake of a hand of quadrille at Rosings Park whenever Lady Catherine should need to make up a table.

It was merely to enjoy the society of my amiable Charlotte that I closed so rapidly with your wife's kind invitation to visit Longbourn again when I last departed, whither I hope to be able to return on Monday fortnight, for Lady Catherine so heartily approves the marriage that she wishes it to take place as soon as possible. This will, of course, be an unanswerable argument with my amiable Charlotte for her to name an early day for making me the happiest of men.

William Collins Mrs Bennet to Mrs Gardiner Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 4 Ah, sister, how good it is I have you to turn to, for n.o.body here is on my side, no one listens to me and no one cares about my nerves. And now on top of everything I am to receive Mr Collins, who belongs to Lizzy, for you know he proposed to her, but who has turned, like a snake in the gra.s.s, and proposed to Charlotte Lucas instead. Lady Lucas crows about it all the time, saying how good it is to have a daughter well married, and talking of his parsonage and his Lady Catherine, till I have to bite my tongue in order not to tell her that she is welcome to him, for never a more disagreeable man have I ever met; and I am sure that the parsonage is nothing to brag about, for I am convinced it will be small and dark and, I dare say, full of pigs.

I do not see why he does not go to Lucas Lodge instead of plaguing us here at Longbourn. I hate having visitors in the house while my health is so indifferent, and lovers are of all people the most disagreeable, especially lovers who do nothing but talk all day long and never let one get away. Though if Mr Bingley were here it would be quite different, and do not go thinking I am meaning him. But ah! sister, there again I have been cruelly used, for Mr Bingley has been away a week and we have not heard a line from him. There is a report abroad that he does not mean to return to Meryton, but I never fail to contradict it as a scandalous falsehood.

Jane bears it like a saint, but if he does not come back she will think herself very ill used and most likely go into a decline and die. And then Mr Bingley will be sorry, I am sure, but of what use will it be to us then?

But here is Charlotte Lucas at the door, come to cast her eye over Longbourn, I make no doubt, and to antic.i.p.ate the hour of possession. That I should live to see Charlotte Lucas take my place as the mistress of Longbourn! I have told Mr Bennet he must outlive Mr Collins and he has promised to do his best, but oh! sister, when he dies, what will become of us? We will be turned out of the house before Mr Bennet is cold in his grave, and if my brother does not take us in, I do not know what we will do!

I cannot bear to think of the Collinses having this estate. If not for the entail, I should not mind it, but no one takes pity on me. How can anyone have the conscience to entail an estate away from their own daughters? I cannot understand, and all for the sake of Mr Collins, too. Why should he have it more than anybody else? He has done nothing to earn it, except be Mr Bennet's cousin, and I am sure anyone would be Mr Bennet's cousin if they knew there were such rich rewards to be had.

Do say you will come to us at Christmas, sister, and my brother must come too, we need you here. Your own children can manage without you if there is not room in the carriage for all of them. I have still not given up hope of Mr Bingley returning to Netherfield for Christmas, and I am sure he would be very welcome here, even if it meant we had to tolerate Mr Darcy.

Your poor sister, Janet Mr Darcy to Mr Philip Darcy Darcy House, London, December 6 Philip, I am once more in London and likely to be here for some time, so pray send all letters to Darcy House. Bingley is here as well and has at present no intention of returning to Netherfield. His sisters and brother-in-law are with him, and I have invited them to spend Christmas with Georgiana and myself. I have some thought of Bingley marrying Georgiana when she is old enough. He is just the sort of man I would like to see her with. He is honest, reliable, trustworthy, friendly, good-natured and good-humoured. I think he would be a good match for her. There is some disparity in fortune, it is true, but fortune is not everything and I want to see her happy. I believe such a match would suit him, too. He has always liked Georgiana, and he was much struck by the change in her when he dined here last night. She has grown considerably these last few months and is becoming a very lovely young woman. But such thoughts are for the future. It is enough that he will be spending some time with her over the next few weeks and renewing his friends.h.i.+p with her.

Tell me, Philip, as we are talking of matches, are you any nearer to finding a woman to take to wife? I have never heard you talk of anyone in particular, but perhaps you have never found anyone you were particularly attracted to. Unless...have you ever found yourself attracted to someone unsuitable? A woman whose standing was so far beneath your own that it would be a degradation to marry her because her family were, let us say, country gentry, with uncles engaged in the professions or in trade? Whose mother talked of nothing but marrying her daughters off, and whose father failed to correct the behaviour of either his wife or his children, allowing them to grow up wild and unrestrained? Did you ever find that, despite all these disadvantages, such a woman attracted you, against your will, and that a pair of fine eyes caught your attention and would give you no peace? Or that an impertinent manner, instead of revolting you, attracted you? Or that her lack of respect for your standing served to make you more interested, and not less?

Did you ever think it necessary to remove yourself from the company of such a woman, lest your interest should become ungovernable and your behaviour should give rise to expectations? And did a part of you feel that, if such expectations should arise, it would be no bad thing? That your feelings would actually like it if you were obliged to offer for her, though your character revolted against the idea? Did you find it difficult to be rational where she was concerned? Did you, in short, feel in the grip of something out of your control? Let me know if anything similar has ever happened to you.

Darcy Mr Philip Darcy to Mr Darcy Wilts.h.i.+re, December 8 Darcy, I was surprised by your last letter and took up my pen to reply to you straightaway. I never thought you would be the man to succ.u.mb to the charms of someone unsuitable. You are the last person I would ever expect to lose your sense of your own importance and become beguiled by someone as low as your object of desire seems to be. She is wholly unworthy of your hand, however, as you know yourself, and as she is from the gentry you cannot even a.s.suage your desires by offering her carte blanche; therefore, I advise you to put her out of your mind. Occupy yourself with business, take plenty of exercise, ride hard, make time for fencing every day, go to your club when you do not have company at home, never leave yourself with a moment to think of her. If you do all this, then by and by the attraction will fade. There is a great deal to be said for 'out of sight, out of mind' and you were wise to take yourself out of her way. And after Christmas, come to Wilts.h.i.+re. I am having a large party of friends here in the New Year. You will be amongst your own kind and they will soon drive this woman from your mind.

But before you banish her from your thoughts entirely, answer me this: who is she? I am curious to know just what woman has won your reluctant admiration, for I have never heard you speak so of a woman before. She must be something out of the common way to make such an impression on you.

PD.

Mr Darcy to Mr Philip Darcy Darcy House, London, December 10 Philip, you misunderstand me. It is not I who was bewitched by someone beneath my station, it was my friend Bingley. He became enamoured of a local girl when we were staying in Hertfords.h.i.+re. Her father was a gentleman but her mother was a silly, vulgar woman who was always trying to make a match, and her younger sisters spent their lives running after officers. However, we rescued him from the situation and all is well, for when he came to town on business, his sisters and I followed him and persuaded him to remain.

I have just been to Howards and Gibbs to have my mother's pearls restrung for Georgiana; I mean to give them to her for Christmas. I am debating whether or not to have some further items of family jewellery remodelled for her. She is still a little young for them, but as I am having the pearls restrung, I think it would be easier to have it all done together. She will look very well in them, for she has my mother's colouring.

I thank you for your invitation to Wilts.h.i.+re but I am engaged to go to c.u.mbria in the New Year to see my aunt and uncle there. Maud has just had a child and I am to be the G.o.dfather.

Darcy Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley Yorks.h.i.+re, December 12 Now, Caroline, what's all this I hear from your brother about this angel of his? Tell me all about it. I've had some of it from Charles, he sent me a letter, but such a letter! I thought, 'What's wrong with Charles?' It wasn't in his usual cheerful style; it was full of misery and gloom. He met her at that fancy house, he said, and never a prettier nor more agreeable girl lived, but somehow or other she didn't take to him? I'd like to see the girl silly enough not to take to my Charles. Any girl would be lucky to get him, and that's not just a mother talking. Now, what's the tale, Caroline? Has this Mr Darcy persuaded him the girl doesn't like him? Shall I come down to London and sort things out? Or shall I go to Hertfords.h.i.+re and see this girl for myself? I will in a trice if you think it will help, only Ned's not well and the little 'un has colic. I can't bear to think of your brother unhappy. A nice, pretty girl is just what he needs.

Your Ma Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley London, December 16 Greetings and felicitations, my dearest Mama.

There is no need for you to come to London or Hertfords.h.i.+re; indeed, I beg you will not leave my brothers and sisters if they have need of you, for you must not neglect them on any account. It is true that Charles became enamoured of a sweet girl in Hertfords.h.i.+re, but it was nothing more than a pa.s.sing fancy on her part. I am persuaded that it was nothing really but a pa.s.sing fancy on his part, either, and now that he has settled in London he will soon forget all about her, particularly as he has Miss Darcy to entertain him. She is just the sort of nice, pretty girl you would like for Charles. She is unaffected and sweet, and I am persuaded that her family would like the match as well as his. There is no need for you to meet her just yet, Mama, she is still young and nothing is fixed, but do not worry about Charles, he has already recovered from his infatuation with Miss Bennet.

Your dutiful daughter, Caroline Miss Caroline Bingley to Miss Jane Bennet London, December 16 My dear Friend, As I suspected, Charles is now settled in London for the winter, and we expect to remain here with him, to keep him company whilst he is in town. We will be celebrating the season with Mr Darcy and his sister. Georgiana Darcy grows more beautiful every day, and the bond of friends.h.i.+p between her and Charles is deepening into something more before our eyes. We are all very happy for it. They are well suited, and I am sure you will join with me in wis.h.i.+ng them every happiness when the accomplishment of all our wishes should come to pa.s.s.

Mr Darcy and Charles are seldom apart. It is good for Charles to have an older, steadier friend who can advise him in the ways of the world, but I believe the friends.h.i.+p is not all in Charles's favour: Mr Darcy asked his opinion only the other day on some new furniture he is buying, and Charles was able to give his approval of Mr Darcy's choice.

Charles is very sorry that he did not have time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfords.h.i.+re before he left, but he has asked me to repair the omission and I do it gladly, telling you how much he enjoyed his stay in Hertfords.h.i.+re and the delightful, friendly company he found there.

Write to me soon, my dearest friend, and tell me how you go on in Hertfords.h.i.+re.

Yours ever, Caroline Mr Wickham to Mrs Younge Meryton, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 18 Dear Belle, Luck has favoured me. Darcy has left the neighbourhood! His friend became attached to one of the local girls and so Darcy whisked him back to London.

It has been a relief to me, for it means that I can now stay here for as long as I want. Moreover, I can say of Darcy whatever I want, without fear of contradiction. His pride, his arrogance and his overbearing att.i.tude have already given the people of Meryton a dislike of him, and it is child's play for me to fan that dislike into disgust. Whilst speaking always in sorrow and not in anger I have let it be known that he ruined my chances in life. I was forced to whisper this before, but I now proclaim it in the open. The result is that Darcy is universally despised, and everyone feels how clever they were to dislike him, even before the full weight of his iniquities was known. In this way I have protected myself, for if he should happen to return to the neighbourhood, my friends will be so numerous and his so few that nothing he says will be believed. Indeed, the people of Meryton are happy to condemn him as the worst of men.

I have taken the opportunity to paint Miss Darcy as proud and disagreeable, too, so that if any rumour of my conduct there is abroad, it will look as though I am an innocent victim of a slander.

My standing as an officer allows me to live on credit but I cannot live on credit forever and so I must look about me for an heiress. I like Miss Elizabeth Bennet very much, in fact if she had a fortune I would be happy to marry her, but discreet enquiries have led me to understand that she has nothing but a thousand pounds, and that would be gone in a month. I am presently keeping my eyes and ears open, and hope to hear something of an heiress soon. Let me know if you hear of anything.

In the meantime, I hope all goes well with you. I wish you a wealthy husband and I wish myself a wealthy wife, and let neither of us end up in the position of Charlotte Lucas, being forced to marry a Mr Collins!

Love and what you will, George Miss Charlotte Lucas to Miss Susan Sotherton Lucas Lodge, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 20 Dear Susan, I am just returned from London, where Mama and I have been shopping for my wedding finery. We have bought white silk for the dress, which is to be trimmed with lace, and a short veil. Mama has promised to help me make the gown so that it will be ready in time. We do not yet have a date, but Mr Collins wishes to be married sooner rather than later and I believe the ceremony will be early in the New Year. I am particularly pleased with my shoes, which are of a silk so similar to the fabric I have bought for the dress as to be almost identical.

We are now busy cutting and st.i.tching. As well as my wedding gown, I am having three new gowns to take away with me: two evening gowns, such as I might wear at Rosings Park, and one for everyday wear. My sisters are all helping, and I think we will have them finished in time.

You ask about a wedding tour. We are not to have one, but are to go straightaway to Kent; indeed, we will be leaving from the church door. Mr Collins has already been away from his duties for weeks, and cannot expect Lady Catherine to allow him more time away. I am looking forward to meeting her. Although she seems to like her own way, as many great people do, she sounds to have a great deal of common sense, and I think we could have a far worse neighbour.

Warm wishes, Charlotte Miss Jane Bennet to Miss Susan Sotherton Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 23, four o'clock Dear Susan, I have not written to you for some time and I should have done. I have no excuse to make except low spirits. They are recovering, however, greatly helped by my aunt Gardiner, who arrived today bearing presents, and bringing us news of all the latest London fas.h.i.+ons.

She spent much of the day listening to my mother, which was a great relief to me, since Mama talks of Mr Bingley constantly and bemoans the fact that he has left us and has no plans to return. I wish she did not talk of it so relentlessly; she can have no idea how much she wounds me when she talks of it, but I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will soon be forgot; indeed, he must be, for it is clear that he means to return to Netherfield no more. His sister, you must know, put me on my guard, telling me that he is destined for Miss Darcy. Elizabeth would have me believe that it is his sister's wish only, but I must believe that it is his wish also, or else why would he not return?

With his sister Caroline I am still in communication, and I am glad of it. I would be sorry to lose her friends.h.i.+p. Lizzy is not of the same opinion-she thinks that Caroline simply uses me-but I am sure that Caroline is incapable of using or deceiving anyone.

Mr Bingley may live in my mind as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank G.o.d! I have not that pain. A little time is all I need to recover, and my aunt's company is of great help in that direction. It is of great help to Elizabeth, too: Mama has still not forgiven Lizzy for refusing Mr Collins and will not let the matter rest. She bemoans the fact to my aunt, saying that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before her, and that the estate is as much entailed as it ever was.

I must go. Mama has invited some of the officers to dinner and I hear their horses outside. Mr Wickham is one of them, and if all goes well, I believe he will soon propose to Elizabeth. He is certainly very warm in his regard and I know she likes him immensely. I will write more after dinner.

Eleven o'clock My dear aunt has invited me to stay with her in London. Nothing would give me greater pleasure, or more relief, for a sojourn away from home is just what I need. I hope that, as Caroline does not live in the same house as her brother, I might occasionally spend a morning with her, without the risk of seeing him.

I must go.

Truly yours, Jane Miss Susan Sotherton to Miss Jane Bennet Bath, December 24 My dear Jane, I envy you your visit to London, and your chance to visit the parks and the museums, and of course the shops! I am more sorry than I can say about Mr Bingley, but he must be very stupid to leave so good and lovely a woman as you, Jane, and I will console myself with the fact that you do not deserve a stupid husband.

I have some good news of my own to report. I think I am not precipitate in saying that, although our removal to Bath has had little effect on my father, it appears to have had a beneficial effect on my brother. He used to be courted wherever he went, and so he had no incentive to curb his taste for spending unwisely and drinking to excess. Now, however, instead of pursuing him, the mamas look at him coldly and draw their daughters out of his path. It has shaken him. He is beginning to realise that he is no longer Frederick Sotherton of Netherfield Park-a prime catch-but Frederick Sotherton of nowhere in particular, with nothing to inherit but a mountain of debt.

At first he sneered at those who treated him differently; then he laughed at them; but lately he has started to drink less, take more care over choosing those with whom he a.s.sociates and conduct himself in a more agreeable manner.

If Bath has not been the saving of my father, I believe it might be the saving of my brother.

Your dear friend, Susan Miss Lucy Sotherton to Miss Mary Bennet Bath, December 27 Hail!

Do not start back in horror, I beg you, when you see the enclosed, for I have not left the path of Athena, indeed I have opened my mind to her wisdom, for on reading the dedication of this book, which at first I took to be a novel, I see that it is in fact a true story, and that the events described, though seemingly impossible, actually took place. They are of great historical and geographical value, as they occurred in Italy in the sixteenth century. Lest you should be reluctant to open it, let me state the full t.i.tle here: The Mysteries of Udolpho: A Romance, Founded on Facts; Comprising the Adventures & Misfortunes of Emily St. Aubert.

Emily is a young woman of n.o.ble virtue, superior sense and understanding. In short, dear friend, she is a Learned Woman. She would make a very useful addition to our select circle, were it not for the fact that she has been dead these two hundred years. Her conduct is exemplary, despite the many trials she pa.s.ses through; similar, dear Mary, to the trials we daily pa.s.s through, though for her there were more dungeons and fewer bonnets.

With this in mind I read it thoroughly, learning much about the Italian landscape, and the cruel and barbarous banditti who inhabit the hills, as well as the villainous nature of many of the men across the ocean. I enjoin you to read it, and to share with me your thoughts on the nature of the citizens of Europe, who, it would seem from this informative book, are p.r.o.ne to locking up innocent women and sacrificing them upon the altar of matrimony to wealthy, ign.o.ble men. If you and I, dear Mary, were in such a position, forced into marriage by our coldhearted relations, I am sure that you and I, too, would escape by flying through the forests of England and taking refuge on holy ground.

Your sister in study, Lucy Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 29 Most n.o.ble Friend, Your gift has enlarged my knowledge of the Continent and its strange practises, for which I thank you. I perused it a.s.siduously this afternoon, and could scarcely put it aside when we had to leave for Lucas Lodge, so enlightening did I find it. I believe you are right in your conjecture that, should we ever be forced into marriage with wealthy counts who have murdered their previous wives, we would take refuge in holy places. It is therefore convenient that I am acquainted with Mr Collins, who would, I am sure, accommodate me at the rectory in the event of such a misfortune, and who, I am persuaded, would also find room for you.

Mr Collins was the chief topic of conversation at the Lucases' tonight. Sir William happened to mention that Charlotte had been blessed with her husband, who was in every way an estimable son-in-law, and who combined the virtues of an excellent living with the blessings of a n.o.ble patroness in the form of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mama was so annoyed that she said, 'If Elizabeth had not been such an obstinate girl, she could have had Mr Collins, and not Charlotte.'

I believe it was this very obstinacy which caused Mr Collins to withdraw his offer and seek consolation elsewhere. Mama was of the opinion that if Charlotte Lucas had not been so artful, Mr Collins would have proposed to me. If he had done so, I might have felt it my Duty to accept him, for although I have otherwise foresworn marriage, I think that Mr Collins has some intelligence and with a settled course of reading, such as that on which you and I are now embarked, he might have one day become, if not a Learned Woman, a Learned Gentleman. And might it not be our Duty, if such is the case, to put aside our own feelings and embrace the marital path?

However, as he was ensnared by the feminine wiles of Charlotte Lucas, such questions need not trouble us, dear Lucy.

Your sister in learning, Mary Miss Jane Bennet to Miss Caroline Bingley Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, December 31 My dear Caroline, Thank you for your letter. I was pleased to hear all your news and I am glad that you and Louisa are keeping well. I was sorry to hear you were not to return to Netherfield, but I hope we will be able to see each other soon, for I am happy to say that I will be travelling to London tomorrow, as I am to stay for some time with my aunt and uncle. I am enclosing my uncle's address so that we might arrange a meeting. I will be very glad to see you again.

Truly yours, Jane

JANUARY.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Miss Susan Sotherton Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, January 1 My dear Susan, My aunt and uncle have gone, taking Jane with them. I am glad she is to have a change of scene and, although I did not say so to her, I think there is some chance she might renew her acquaintance with Mr Bingley. My aunt told me it must not be thought of, as they live in such a different part of town that a meeting is unlikely, but if Mr Bingley learns that Jane is in London, I think it not unlikely that his former affection will be restored.

As for his sister Caroline, I wish that Jane could see her in her true colours, for she is a cold, supercilious young woman who will drop Jane just as soon as it suits her.

I hope your affair with Mr Wainwright is prospering, since our affairs all seem doomed at the moment. I am still very fond of Mr Wickham, who grows more agreeable every day, but my aunt has cautioned me against him-not because of his character but because of his lack of fortune. I have promised her to do my best not to fall in love with him. But it makes me think, Susan, where fortune is concerned, where does good sense end and avarice begin? If it is wrong to marry a man for his fortune, why is it then equally wrong to marry a man without a fortune? I will only hope that Mr Wickham will discover one of the wealthy great-uncles who have been so singularly lacking in our own lives, and that the said uncle will leave him a moderate fortune: not substantial enough to make me a fortune hunter, but large enough for us to live on with a degree of comfort.

Charlotte's-I cannot say love, I had better say affairs-are, however, prospering. Mr Collins has returned to Meryton, but thankfully this time he is staying at Lucas Lodge and not at Longbourn. Tomorrow is to be the wedding day.

Charlotte has asked me to write to her often and I have promised to do so. I have also promised to visit her in Kent in March, when her father and her sister go there. I promised only reluctantly at first, as there can never be the closeness between us that there once was, but I find that I am looking forward to it. It will make a welcome change from home, I must confess, for Mama has still not stopped complaining that she has been cruelly used by Mr Collins, by Mr Bingley and by everyone else of her acquaintance. Besides, I am curious to see the parsonage and to meet Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Your dear friend, Lizzy Miss Jane Bennet to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Gracechurch Street, London, January 2 My dear Lizzy, A short note to let you know that we have arrived safely and it is already doing me good to be here. I have nothing further to say, but when I write to you again, I hope to be able to give you news of the Bingleys. Now that Caroline knows I am in town, I am sure she will call here soon.

Your loving sister, Jane Mrs Charlotte Collins to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, January 5 Dear Eliza, You will be wanting to hear all about my new life and I am only too ready to tell you. Everything here is much as I expected, and it is all to my satisfaction. The parsonage is a good house, better even than I had hoped. It is well proportioned and although it is rather small it is well built and convenient. It is set back from the road amidst a large and well laid out garden which slopes down to the road at the front, so that we can see everyone who pa.s.ses and, beyond the road, we can see Rosings Park. To the back, we have fine views over fields, and I know you will enjoy walking in them.

We have dined already at Rosings. I believe that Lady Catherine wanted to take a look at me, her curiosity being natural, and I was not sorry to become acquainted with her. She is a respectable, sensible woman and a most attentive neighbour.

There is not much in the way of society, as the parsonage is some way from the nearest town, but I knew to begin with that it would take time for me to settle into my new neighbourhood and so I do not complain. I have my home and my housekeeping, my parish and my poultry to keep me busy, and I am getting to know my way about the place. I am pleased with everything and have no fault to find.

Write to me soon, Charlotte Miss Jane Bennet to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Gracechurch Street, London, January 6 My dearest Lizzy will forgive me for not writing sooner, but I have had very little to report. I have been a week in town without either seeing or hearing from Caroline. I am surprised, and I can only account for it by thinking that my last letter to her must have gone astray. My aunt is going tomorrow into that part of the town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street. I will write more then, when I hope I will have more to say.

January 7 I have paid my call. I did not think Caroline in spirits, but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London. I was right, therefore; my last letter had never reached her. I enquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged with Mr Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was not long, as Caroline and Mrs Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall see them soon here.

Your loving sister, Jane Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mrs Charlotte Collins Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, January 8 I am glad you find everything to your liking in Kent. The parsonage and garden sound everything you want, and if anyone could bring out the best in them, dear Charlotte, it is you.

Life in Hertfords.h.i.+re is much as it was before you left. My sister, Jane, as you know, has gone to London, and finds the amus.e.m.e.nts lively, but she has not had a chance to see Mr Bingley. It is obvious that his sisters do not mean to let her have him. Poor Jane! Always so good. She cannot see through Caroline's lies, for Caroline did not visit her in London and then, when Jane called, pretended that news of Jane's stay in London had not arrived. I do not know whether to wish that Jane would see through her false friend, or whether to wish that she should preserve her goodness despite the fact that Caroline does not deserve her confidence.

We have our share of amus.e.m.e.nts here. The weather is fine and I walk a great deal, sometimes accompanied by the officers. I must confess that I like Mr Wickham more and more each day, despite my efforts to resist his charms. If only he had a fortune! Or at least the rectory he was promised, and the living he should have had, if Mr Darcy had not deprived him of it. That odious man! To ruin forever the prospects of such an admirable young man as Mr Wickham. I am glad that Mr Darcy is not to return to the neighbourhood, for I would almost certainly tell him what I thought of him and his cruel behaviour.

I have heard from Susan. Her affair with Mr Wainwright proceeds apace. I think it is serious on both their sides and would not be surprised to hear news of an engagement soon.

Kitty and Lydia send their love.

Lizzy Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Meryton, Hertfords.h.i.+re, January 10 A stroke of luck. One of the Meryton ladies, Miss King, has been left a fortune of ten thousand pounds. I heard of it by chance and managed to pay her some compliments before it was generally known, so that she did not suspect me of being a fortune hunter. She was flattered and giggled encouragingly: she is a plain girl, and I believe it was the first time anyone had ever taken any notice of her. Ten thousand is not a great fortune, it is true, but in my present circ.u.mstances it is better than nothing.

I have had to gradually withdraw my attentions from Miss Elizabeth, which is a pity, as I like her very well; in fact, if things were different I might be tempted by her. But as they are, I cannot marry a woman with so little and I must look elsewhere. She has noticed my defection, of course, but there was a look of understanding and resignation in her eye and I think she does not despise me for it. She knows how the world works as well as I do. A man must have something to live on, and that is the way of things. And so I pursue Miss King and if I am lucky, I will soon be the master of her ten thousand pounds. Then you must come and stay with us. It will relieve you of the expense of living and give me some company, for Lord knows I need someone lively here. The other officers are well enough in their way, but their interests are not mine and I feel I am always playing a part in front of them. With you I can be myself, for you are as bad as I am.

Wickham Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, January 12 Most n.o.ble Friend, I am sending you my thoughts on our latest history, misleadingly ent.i.tled A Sicilian Romance, when A Young Lady's Exploration of the Geology of Her Native Country would have been a more suitable t.i.tle. It was a very illuminating doc.u.ment and I was enthralled by the account of the labyrinthine catacombs to be found beneath the marquis's castle. The rock on which it was built must have been of some soft variety, and the caves were no doubt made by the act of water upon the stone.

I was also entranced by the musical content of this most worthy tome, and interested to know that Julia's singing had alerted her dead mother's friend to her presence in the wilderness. This aspect of the human voice is often overlooked in histories, but its power for reuniting lost loved ones is nevertheless an important one. And how deeply philosophical were the reflections of Hippolitus. I am glad that you found such a useful book in the circulating library, and I am gratified that it was written by a woman. I have written to Mrs Radcliffe and invited her to join our select circle of Learned Women.

I have recommended the work to Mr Shackleton. It is good to know that there is one person in Meryton who has a brain, even if, when I told him I was thinking of becoming a bluestocking, he said that he was sure I would be the most intelligent girl in Meryton, whatever the colour of my stockings. I had to inform him that a bluestocking was a Learned Woman who spent her time in rational activities, and who discussed literature and other intellectual things, instead of wasting her time on b.a.l.l.s and bonnets. He listened attentively and then apologised earnestly for his mistake. I told him graciously that it was no matter, and we continued to have a lively discussion about music and literature.

To be sure, I thought I had misjudged him when I felt his hand on my knee. But when I reproved him, saying that we were in Meryton and not in Sodom and Gomorrah, he was heartily offended and said that he had merely been brus.h.i.+ng a moth from my gown.

It was then my turn to apologise.

Your sister in all but relatedness, Mary Miss Lydia Bennet to Miss Eleanor Sotherton Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, January 18 Dear Ellie, Such larks! We were at my aunt Philips's house last night and Captain Carter was there and he pretended to be Colonel Forster. He cut off a lock of my hair and used it to make a moustache. We laughed and laughed.

Talking of Colonel Forster, the rumours are true, he is to be married.

Miss Watson pretends to care nothing of it, but Kitty says that Miss Watson suspected something last November and told him that if he could not tell her it was a lie he had better not come to her house again. So that is why he stopped going there.

It seems he has known Miss Harriet Brown for years. She lives in his hometown and there was an understanding between them, but then she was cool to him the last time he was home on leave and so that is why he took up with Miss Watson. But now Miss Harriet is smiling on him again.

He is to be married next month, or soon after, and he is to bring Miss Harriet to Meryton. She is not much older than I am, and Mama said if he had not been spoken for already she was sure Colonel Forster would have proposed to me. I wonder what his wife will be like. I hope she will be fond of dancing and give lots of b.a.l.l.s.

Lizzy has not been so lucky. Mr Wickham has deserted her for Mary King-nasty freckled thing-just because Miss King inherited ten thousand pounds. I am sure I cannot blame Miss King for wanting him, he is ever so handsome, but I wish Lizzy could inherit ten thousand pounds and then she could have him. Or even better I could inherit it and then I could be Mrs Wickham! I will be sixteen in June and I hope to be married soon after. What fun it would be to be married before my sisters, and to be married to someone as handsome as Mr Wickham!