“Those girls are yet young and immature, Miss Bingley,” said Fitzwilliam.
“They are fifteen and seventeen,” rejoined Miss Bingley, “andif I am not mistaken, are near their birthdays. At that age, they should have some measure of understanding.”
“As I advised Mrs. Bennet,” said Lady Catherine, “I believe they would do well with the guidance a companion would provide. When next I speak to the lady, I shall be more explicit.”
The notion of Lady Catherine exercising greater frankness brought much amusement to Darcy, and by the grins of his sister and cousins, he expected they were considering the same. Miss Bingley, however, appeared determined to press her point, for she simpered at the lady.
“It is well that you are so generous with your advice, Lady Catherine. Unfortunately, a companion would only improve the youngest, for the eldest are already set in their ways. Miss Bennet is a good sort of girl, but she is also dull and possesses little to recommend her, while Miss Elizabeth is uneducated, trying to show the world that she knows many things through cleverness, which she does not lack. Miss Mary is at the very edge of being a misanthrope, and every time she opens her mouth, she spouts some homily designed to shame others with her prudish ways.”
“This is not nearly an accurate portrait of Mary at all!” exclaimed Georgiana. “I had a most engaging conversation about our favorite composers, and she was not at all lacking.”
“And Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet are not deficient,” added Darcy. “While there are many accomplishments young ladies can claim, as I said in the autumn, extensive reading is one of those that broadens the mind of anyone. In that, Miss Elizabeth is not deficient.”
“That anyone could say she possesses little education is farcical,” said Fitzwilliam. “I declare I could raiseanysubject with Miss Elizabeth and could speak intelligently about it, even if she is not familiar with its substance.”
“I too must add my voice to my family’s,” said Lady Catherine,nodding to Darcy. “While I sometimes espouse concerns about Miss Elizabeth’s forthrightness, she is quite intelligent and capable. I know less of her sisters, but they appeared good sorts of girls, though I think a few accomplishments would not go amiss.”
“If you will pardon my saying it,” said Bingley, “there is nothing amiss with Miss Bennet. She possesses accomplishments, talent, intelligence, wit, and understanding sufficient for any man, and more particularly, for me.”
“Yes, Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Catherine, a hint of wryness entering her reply. “We all understand your affinity for Miss Bennet. There is nothing the matter with her manners, for she appears a most estimable lady.”
“This is most surprising,” said Miss Bingley, giving the company a reproachful look. “Had I proof of the bewitchment the Bennets wrought upon you all I might understand what I am hearing, but this is beyond my expectation. You all have the benefit of the highest society—can you honestly say the Bennets meet the standards of behavior to which we are all accustomed?”
“In saying that, Miss Bingley,” said Darcy, unwilling to allow her attacks but not wishing to go so far as he had when he reprimanded her before, “you suppose we are all enamored with society. The so-called high society to which you refer is not at all agreeable to me.”
“Indeed,” said Fitzwilliam. “Many of those of high society are debauchers, behaving in a manner repulsive to anyone of good morals. And arrogance and conceit are hallmarks of the rest, looking down on those about them for little more reason than their fortunate birth.”
“In short, Miss Bingley,” said Lady Catherine, eyeing Miss Bingley with distaste, “we understand propriety. Good behavior is not confined to the higher classes, nor is it absent from those lower. I already stated my agreement about the younger Bennetgirls; I hope Mr. and Mrs. Bennet will take steps to rectify that situation. Yet I can see nothing in the elder to give me pause. It is best to focus more attention on one’s own situation and conduct rather than to judge others harshly.”
That comment silenced Miss Bingley neatly, for she did not trouble herself to impose her opinion again. As she had to know she could not impose herself on Darcy or provoke his admiration, whence these attacks sprung he could not say, unless she meant to prevent Miss Elizabeth from capturing the prize she had failed to secure. Or perhaps it was to dissuade her brother from offering for Miss Bennet; if that was her ploy, her efforts were doomed to failure, given Bingley’s ardent attention to Miss Bennet.
For some time after, the company stayed together, speaking quietly amongst themselves, or engaging in whatever interested them. Georgiana went to the pianoforte in the adjacent room and played quietly, unsurprising given her affinity for the instrument. The interesting development was Miss Bingley’s disinclination to join her. Darcy had a book at hand and focused on its pages for a time, though he was aware of what happened in the room about him. At length, Miss Bingley excused herself to see to something of the house or the evening meal—Darcy was not at all certain she had not contrived it to enable her to leave the room. Mrs. Hurst, who might have followed her in other circumstances, stayed there, though that may be as much because Hurst was quietly talking with her as from any inclination.
“Though I might wish better for you, Darcy,” said Lady Catherine when Miss Bingley had gone, “I commend you for choosing the better-behaved woman. It is unfortunate, but I often observe that those whose conduct is suspect often accuse others of that same failing. It is a characteristic of the lower classes who strive to emulate those who are their betters.”
Fitzwilliam was almost choking on his tongue while trying to restrain his laughter, while Anne’s eyes were suspiciously bright. There was nothing he could do to stop her when she wished to have her say, so he refrained from making the situation worse. While Bingley had grounds to take offense, he proved his genial nature by grinning.
“I cannot agree more, Lady Catherine. I have often thought it would do my sister good to be taken down a peg or two. If nothing else, it would be much easier to endure her.”
That comment provoked Fitzwilliam to lose the battle with his laughter, as he allowed it free rein, as did several others. The comment scandalized Mrs. Hurst.
“Charles! Do not speak of Caroline in such a way!”
“Why not?” asked Hurst, his merriment clear in the shaking of his shoulders. “It is nothing less than the truth.”
“Caroline will be impossible,” muttered Mrs. Hurst, shaking her head in dismay.
“Not if you do not inform her of this conversation,” said Bingley. “If asked, I suspect she would say she preferred not to know.”
Mrs. Hurst appeared to agree, for she looked contemplative thereafter, while Hurst continued to whisper in her ear. Bingley, Darcy noted, began a conversation with Lady Catherine, in which his sister appeared to be a prominent subject. The notion of Lady Catherine speaking to Darcy’s close friend about his sister’s behavior and giving advice concerning how to control her struck Darcy as hilarious. It was also not a situation he wished to investigate too closely, so he contented himself with his book, determined not to become involved.
The rest of that day, Elizabeth noted her mother’s pensive demeanor, and how she regarded her daughters as if she was seeing them for the first time. Perhaps itwasthe first time, foras Elizabeth had noted many times, Mrs. Bennet had never had the firmest grasp of propriety herself. Before that moment, she never had a reason to want to change her daughters’ behavior, for she had seen nothing wrong with it.
That afternoon and evening, however, Mrs. Bennet saw something she had not before, would not have even noticed, let alone disapproved of had Lady Catherine not pointed it out to her.
Elizabeth did not miss the intent scrutiny of the younger girls versus herself and Jane, the little grimaces her mother made as some part of Lady Catherine’s concerns manifested themselves in her younger daughters’ behavior. Several times Elizabeth thought her mother might say something, but she remained quiet and watchful. The girls were oblivious, and Mary was considering thoughts of her own, though Elizabeth knew Jane understood. Jane was also not one to say much, her agreement with Elizabeth’s intention to provoke Lady Catherine’s support notwithstanding.
While Elizabeth noted her mother’s preoccupation, she did not remain unaware of what else was happening in the room. Georgiana Darcy had impressed Kitty and Lydia, and they were not hesitant about sharing their opinions.
