Chapter 25A

CHAPTER 25 

After a week spent in professions of love and schemes offelicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotteby the arrival of Saturday. The pain of separation,however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for thereception of his bride, as he had reason to hope, that shortly afterhis next return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed that wasto make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his relations atLongbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his faircousins health and happiness again, and promised their fatheranother letter of thanks.On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure ofreceiving her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend theChristmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible,gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister as well by natureas education. The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty inbelieving that a man who lived by trade, and within view of hisown warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable.Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennetand Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, anda great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the twoeldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particularregard. They had frequently been staying with her in town.The first part of Mrs. Gardiner’s business on her arrival, was todistribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. Whenthis was done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, andmuch to complain of. They had all been very ill-used since she lastsaw her sister. Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage,and after all there was nothing in it.‘I do not blame Jane,’ she continued, ‘for Jane would have gotMr. Bingley, if she could. But, Lizzy! Oh, sister! it is very hard tothink that she might have been Mr. Collins’s wife by this time, hadnot it been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in thisvery room, and she refused him. The consequence of it is, thatLady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and thatLongbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever. The Lucasesare very artful people indeed, sister. They are all for what they canget. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. It makes me verynervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and tohave neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else.However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts,and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves.’Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been givenbefore, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth’s correspondence withher, made her sister a slight answer, and in compassion to hernieces turned the conversation.