The words produced immediate confusion.
“Pardon?” Mrs. Bennet cried. “What nonsense is that?”
Jane opened the letter again. “Miss Bingley writes that her brother is to remain in London for the present, and that they have all determined to join him there.”
Mrs. Bennet stared at her. “To London!”
“Yes, Mama.”
“And without even calling here first?”
Jane shook her head gently. “It appears the decision was made suddenly.”
Mrs. Bennet pressed her hand to her forehead.
“Well! I declare I never heard anything so unfeeling. To leave the neighbourhood in such a manner – and after all our attentions!”
Lydia, who had been only half attending, now spoke with sudden alarm. “But the officers are not leaving, are they?”
“No one has mentioned the officers,” Elizabeth said dryly.
Mrs. Bennet continued in great distress. “And without so much as a visit! My poor dear Jane – after all the civility you have shown Miss Bingley! When are they to return?”
“They plan to spend the winter in London. I am sure there must be some good reason for their departure.”
“And Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth heard herself ask.
Jane offered her the letter. Elizabeth took it and read it more carefully.
The language was polite – even affectionate – yet something in the tone struck her as strangely decisive.
“London has many attractions,” Lydia observed carelessly. “Perhaps they have found better society there.”
Mrs. Bennet turned toward her in despair. “Better society! I am sure no one ever treated them with more attention than we did.”
“She speaks very kindly of our acquaintance,” she said quietly.
Elizabeth returned the letter to her. “Yes,” she said thoughtfully, “she does.”
Yet as she spoke, she could not help thinking that kindness had very little to do with the matter.
Mrs. Bennet sank back in her chair. “To leave without saying goodbye!” she exclaimed. “It is beyond anything I ever heard.”
For several minutes, the room remained full of exclamations and speculation.
It was during this moment of general agitation that Mr. Collins, who had listened to the entire discussion with great seriousness, rose from his chair and cleared his throat. In his eagerness, he scarcely seemed to comprehend that Miss Bennet’s prospects, whatever they had lately appeared, were now evidently at an end.
The sound immediately commanded attention.
“My dear cousins,” he began with solemn composure, “while I deeply sympathise with the disappointment which this letter must naturally occasion, I cannot but feel that circumstances of a more private nature now require my attention.”
Elizabeth felt a sudden suspicion. Mr. Collins turned toward Mary.
“Miss Mary Bennet, might I request the honour of a few minutes’ private conversation with you?”
Mary looked up in surprise. “With me, sir?”
“If it should not be disagreeable.”
