Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen [classic books for 10 year olds TXT] 📗
- Author: Jane Austen
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Darcy.
[Gravely.] I can readily believe that reports may vary greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either.
Elizabeth.
But if I do not take your likeness now I may never have another opportunity.
Darcy.
[Very stiffly.] I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours.
[Miss Bingley enters from the ball-room. She comes directly to Darcy and Elizabeth.]
Miss Bingley.
Oh, Mr. Darcy—would you be so good as to go to Charles? He wishes very much to consult with you about some of the table arrangements. You will find him in the dining-parlour. [With exaggerated politeness to Elizabeth.] That is, if Miss Bennet will permit you.
Elizabeth.
[Carelessly.] Oh, certainly.
[Darcy bows and goes out.]
Miss Bingley.
[To Elizabeth, after a moment's silence.] So, Miss Bennet, I hear that you are quite delighted with George Wickham. He must have told you all a pretty tale. As to Mr. Darcy's using him ill, it is perfectly false. I do not know the particulars, but I do know that George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. His coming into the county at all is a most insolent thing. I feel very strongly on this point, Miss Bennet, as Mr. Darcy's interests are so intimately associated with our own. [She watches Elizabeth.] We hope Miss Georgiana Darcy may some day be my sister. My brother admires her greatly.
Elizabeth.
[With indifference.] Ah!
Miss Bingley.
Yes, and therefore we resent these falsehoods and this presumption on the part of George Wickham. But, really, considering his descent, we could not expect much better. He has evidently forgotten to tell you that he is the son of old Wickham, steward to the late Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth.
[Angrily.] His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same. I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of that, I can assure you, he informed me himself.
Miss Bingley.
[With a sneer.] Oh! I beg your pardon. Excuse my interference; it was kindly meant.
[She goes out.]
Elizabeth.
Insolent girl! You are much mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack at this. I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr. Darcy.
[Footmen now come in with small tables, which they place about the stage. Bingley comes in and directs them. Darcy follows him.]
Bingley.
[To Elizabeth, Jane, his sister, and others who have entered.] I thought it would be pleasant to have some of the tables here. [To Jane.] We must have places together.
[With some bustle, all seat themselves. At the table on one side are seated Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley and Jane: A little behind them are Miss Bingley with Colonel Forster, Charlotte Lucas with an officer. At the table on the opposite side is Mrs. Bennet with Sir William and Lady Lucas. Behind them are more tables at which other guests are seated.]
Lydia.
[Entering with Denny, much excited, goes to Mrs. Bennet.] Mamma, have you heard the news? Mr. Denny has just told me that the regiment is to leave Meryton, and go to Brighton! Good heavens! What is to become of us, mamma?
Mrs. Bennet.
[Sympathetically.] Are they really going? Well, my love, it is too bad! I know how you feel. I am sure I cried for two days together when Colonel Millar's regiment went away, five-and-twenty years ago. I thought I should have broken my heart.
Lydia.
I am sure I shall break mine. [Coaxingly.] Mamma, might we not all go to Brighton?
Mrs. Bennet.
Oh, if we only could! But I fear your father will not hear of it.
Lydia.
Oh, papa is so disagreeable! I am sure a little sea-bathing would set me up forever! Wouldn't it, Mr. Denny?
Denny.
Surely, Miss Lydia. Oh, you must manage it in some way.
[They move off and take their places at one of the tables.]
Mrs. Bennet.
[Looking after them.] Well, Lady Lucas, it is hard for a lively young girl like my Lydia to be cooped up in a place where there is so little going on. However, [Looking at Bingley and Jane.] we are not likely to have it so very dull in the future. [In a loud whisper to Lady Lucas.] You know what I mean—[Nudging her and laughing.] Jane and Bingley!
Lady Lucas.
Ah! Indeed!
Mrs. Bennet.
[With importance and in a still louder tone.] Oh, yes! It's quite settled. Such a charming young man—and Netherfield only three miles from Longbourn! And Jane's marrying will be a fine thing for my other girls. They will be sure to meet other rich men who will fall in love with them.
Elizabeth.
[Who has heard the beginning of this conversation, makes a pretext to go to arrange her mother's scarf and says in low tones.] Oh, mamma! Be careful, I beg. Mr. Darcy can hear you!
Mrs. Bennet.
What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear!
Elizabeth.
[In distress.] For heaven's sake, Madam, speak lower! What advantage can it be to you to offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his friend by so doing.
Mrs. Bennet.
That is enough, Lizzy! I think I can take care of myself. I never knew before that it was a crime to speak to one's friends about what everybody can see plainly enough, who has eyes in his head. [Turning to Sir William.] Did you, Sir William?
Sir William.
[Smiling.] Our friends usually have very sharp eyes for what is going on, Mrs. Bennet! [Significantly.] I have, indeed, sometimes expected that you would observe what has been going on in our own household of late.
Mrs. Bennet.
[Sharply.] Going on? What has been going on, Sir William?
Sir William.
[With an important air.] It is only this, Mrs. Bennet, that Lady Lucas and myself have to ask your congratulations on our very great satisfaction in the recent engagement of our daughter, Charlotte.
Mrs. Bennet.
Charlotte! Engaged! Why, who in the world is going to marry her?
[Sir William draws himself up with offended dignity; Lady Lucas bridles.]
Sir William.
The gentleman whom my daughter has honoured with her hand is your husband's cousin—Mr. Collins!
Mrs. Bennet.
[Rising in rage and amazement.] Mr. Collins! Marry your Charlotte? Good Lord, Sir William, how can you tell such a story! Do not you know that Mr. Collins is going to marry my Lizzy—or—or one of my other girls!
Lady Lucas.
Well, really, Mrs. Bennet!
Sir William.
[Offended.] What I have told you is quite true, nevertheless, Mrs. Bennet. The whole matter was settled before Mr. Collins returned to Hunsford. I am sorry we are not to receive your good wishes.
Elizabeth.
[Hastily.] Oh, but you are, Sir William! Charlotte has already told me all about her engagement, and we shall be most happy to welcome her as a cousin.
Sir William.
[Mollified and with gallantry.] Thank you, Miss Elizabeth! I am sure other congratulations will shortly be in order.
[He glances significantly at Darcy; Elizabeth draws herself up. Sir William, smiling, makes a little bow and then turns to the table, where he and Lady Lucas busy themselves with their supper.]
Mrs. Bennet.
[To Elizabeth.] So Charlotte has told you, has she? I don't believe a word of it!
Elizabeth.
Oh, mamma!
Mrs. Bennet.
I am sure Mr. Collins has been taken in. Well, I trust they will never be happy together, and I hope the match will be broken off.
Elizabeth.
[Imploringly.] Mamma!
Mrs. Bennet.
[Turning on Elizabeth in a rage.] And you are the cause of the whole mischief, Lizzy! I think I have been barbarously used by you all!
[While this conversation has been going on, the other guests have been taking their supper. Colonel Forster now rises with a glass of wine in his hand.]
Colonel Forster.
Ladies and gentlemen—— [The buzz of conversation ceases.] Ladies and gentlemen, I should like to propose the health of Mr. Bingley.
All.
Mr. Bingley!
Colonel Forster.
[Raising his glass.] To Mr. Bingley—may the pleasure which he has given us all to-night be but a foretaste of the future happiness which he will both receive and give in this community.
All.
Mr. Bingley—Colonel Forster!—Mr. Bingley!
[All drink as Bingley bows.]
Sir William.
[Rising.] And may I be allowed to still farther express the sentiments of this community, by proposing another toast in which I am sure you will all join me with enthusiasm? [Raising his glass.] To the Master of Netherfield! May he retain that title from his present fortunate youth, to his future green and honoured old age!
All.
[Drinking.] Mr. Bingley! Sir William! Mr. Bingley!
Bingley.
[Rising.] Ladies and gentlemen! Friends!
All.
Hear! Hear!
Bingley.
I—I really cannot tell you how much I am touched by the very kind words of Colonel Forster and Sir William! And—and I only wish that I deserved them.
All.
Indeed, you do!
Bingley.
[Embarrassed and looking toward Darcy, who with folded arms, is staring at the ceiling.] No, I do not. I—I did not like to speak of such a painful thing on an occasion like this, and so I have told no one of the fact that I am about to—to leave Netherfield.
All.
Leave Netherfield! Oh! Oh!
Bingley.
[Still more ill at ease.] Yes.—It is a very sudden decision, but—but important interests have made it necessary for me to—[Lamely.] to leave Netherfield.
Sir William.
But only for a time, Mr. Bingley! Let us hope it will only be a—a temporary separation.
Mrs. Bennet.
Why, surely, Mr. Bingley, you will be back again very soon.
Bingley.
[In a dogged manner.] No—no. I am afraid my returning at all is extremely uncertain. In fact, I—I expect to leave Netherfield permanently.
[Great consternation. Jane looks down. Elizabeth looks at Darcy. Miss Bingley has a triumphant smile.]
Colonel Forster.
[Incredulously.] Oh, my dear Mr. Bingley!
Sir William.
[Solemnly.] This is, indeed, a calamity.
Mrs. Bennet.
[To Elizabeth.] Good Lord, Lizzy, poor Jane! What——
Elizabeth.
Oh, hush, mamma!
Bingley.
[Looks again at Darcy, who remains perfectly calm through all this commotion. This time the sight of him seems to make Bingley somewhat angry, and he pulls himself together and speaks in a firmer tone and in a more cheerful manner.] But, my friends, nobody knows what may happen. We shall undoubtedly all meet again sometime, and meanwhile, you must not let what I have said spoil your pleasure. [The music is now heard again in the ball-room.] There is the music. We must have another dance together.
[There is a general movement among the guests. Those at the back of the room begin to go into the ball-room.]
Bingley.
[To Jane, Colonel Forster, and others near him.] Let us make up a set here; I think there will be room.
Colonel Forster.
Capital idea!
[The Footmen remove the tables.]
Miss Bingley.
Oh, yes, capital! [With meaning, to Darcy.] Do not you think so, Mr. Darcy?
[Darcy bows stiffly, without speaking.]
Colonel Forster.
Miss Bingley, may I have the pleasure?
[She bows, looks daggers at Darcy, and takes her place in the dance.]
Bingley.
[To Jane.] Miss Bennet,
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