‘Perhaps it will be as well,if you discourage his coming here so very often.At least,you should not remind your mother of inviting him.’
‘As I did the other day,’said Elizabeth,with a conscious smile;‘very true,it will be wise in me to refrain from that.But do not imagine that he is always here so often.It is on your account that he has been so frequently invited this week.You know my mother's ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her friends.But really,and upon my honour,I will try to do what I think to be wisest;and now,I hope you are satisfied.’
Her aunt assured her that she was;and Elizabeth having thanked her for the kindness of her hints,they parted;a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point without being resented.
Mr Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted by the Gardiners and Jane;but as he took up his abode with the Lucases,his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs Bennet.His marriage was now fast approaching,and she was at length so far resigned as to think it inevitable,and even repeatedly to say in an ill natured tone that she ‘wished they might be happy.’Thursday was to be the wedding day,and on Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit;and when she rose to take leave,Elizabeth,ashamed of her mother's ungracious and reluctant good wishes,and sincerely affected herself,accompanied her out of the room.As they went down stairs together,Charlotte said,
‘I shall depend on hearing from you very often,Eliza.’
‘That you certainly shall.’
‘And I have another favour to ask.Will you come and see me?’
‘We shall often meet,I hope,in Hertfordshire.’
‘I am not likely to leave Kent for some time.Promise me,therefore,to come to Hunsford.’
Elizabeth could not refuse,though she foresaw little pleasure in the visit.
‘My father and Maria are to come to me in March,’added Charlotte,‘and I hope you will consent to be of the party.Indeed,Eliza,you will be as welcome to me as either of them.’
The wedding took place;the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the church door,and every body had as much to say or to hear on the subject as usual.Elizabeth soon heard from her friend;and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been;that it should be equally unreserved was impossible.Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over,and,though determined not to slacken as a correspondent,it was for the sake of what had been,rather than what was.Charlotte's first letters were received with a good deal of eagerness;there could not but be curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home,how she would like Lady Catherine,and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to be;though,when the letters were read,Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen.She wrote cheerfully,seemed surrounded with comforts,and mentioned nothing which she could not praise.The house,furniture,neighbourhood,and roads,were all to her taste,and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most friendly and obliging.It was Mr Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened;and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there,to know the rest.
Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their safe arrival in London;and when she wrote again,Elizabeth hoped it would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys.
Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience generally is.Jane had been a week in town,without either seeing or hearing from Caroline.She accounted for it,however,by supposing that her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been lost.
‘My aunt,’she continued,‘is going to morrow into that part of the town,and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor Street.’
She wrote again when the visit was paid,and she had seen Miss Bingley.‘I did not think Caroline in spirits,’were her words,‘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 inquired 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 soon see them here.’
Elizabeth shook her head over this letter.It convinced her that accident only could discover to Mr Bingley her sister's being in town.
Four weeks passed away,and Jane saw nothing of him.She endeavoured to persuade herself that she did not regret it;but she could no longer be blind to Miss Bingley's inattention.After waiting at home every morning for a fortnight,and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her,the visitor did at last appear;but the shortness of her stay,and yet more,the alteration of her manner,would allow Jane to deceive herself no longer.The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister,will prove what she felt.
