Chapter 24D

Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at hisreturning no more, and though a day seldom passed in whichElizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chanceof her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughterendeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself,that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a commonand transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; butthough the probability of the statement was admitted at the time,she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet’s bestcomfort was, that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. ‘So, Lizzy,’ said heone day, ‘your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her.Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little nowand then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort ofdistinction among her companions. When is your turn to come?You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time.Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the youngladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasantfellow, and would jilt you creditably.’‘Thank you, Sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. Wemust not all expect Jane’s good fortune.’‘True,’ said Mr. Bennet, ‘but it is a comfort to think that,whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an affectionatemother who will always make the most of it.’Mr. Wickham’s society was of material service in dispelling the gloom, which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on manyof the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his otherrecommendations was now added that of general unreserve. Thewhole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr.Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openlyacknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every body waspleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcybefore they had known any thing of the matter.Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose theremight be any extenuating circumstance in the case, unknown tothe society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour alwayspleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes—butby everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.