“What are we to do?” asked Lydia, and all looked towards her as it was the question upon every lip.
“We have three months in which to determine. You must know that I have discussed the matter with Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner, and we have formed a plan which, I hope, comes as near as possible to what you yourselves would wish.”
“We should wish to remain here,” murmured Jane.
“But that is not possible, evidently, my dear,” said Elizabeth, with a firmness she did not feel, yet which she must display for her family. With her mother still overcome by grief, it was she who remained to answer and to see any plan of her uncles carried into effect.
“This discussion of what is to follow after the three months, we may yet defer,” said Mr Gardiner; and his brother-in-law assented with a slight inclination of the head.
“No,” said Mrs Bennet unexpectedly. At first, she had hoped for more time—had even asked to defer the discussion;but, seeing her husband’s empty place, she began to accept the truth that they had not much time left. “We must know what is to become of us after three months.”
“It is simple,” continued Mr Gardiner. “We are a family, and each of you has a home to which she may go, where she will be kindly received and cared for; but we have also considered, in some detail, a more distant future. For the present, Lydia has been invited, with great civility, by Colonel Forster and his wife to stay with them, at least for the summer, and she will depart immediately. I see no reason to delay it.”
“And I?” cried Kitty in distress, because she could not conceive of being separated from Lydia.
“Unfortunately, the invitation is only for your sister,” replied Mrs Gardiner. “But you will come to London, where we have many friends, all desirous of making your stay agreeable.”
For how long? Elizabeth thought with deep distress. She did not doubt her family’s kindness or their wish to assist them, but they could not remain a burden forever. And, in truth, for herself and her sisters, there was only one thing left, and unfortunately, that was marriage at any cost.
“We shall seek a house to rent for you, in Meryton,” said Mr Phillips; “but until then you will stay with us, or in London, with the Gardiners.”
“I will stay here in Meryton,” said Mrs Bennet, still holding her sister’s hand.
“That is decided, my dear. Our house is so large, and we are quite alone, Mr Phillips and I.”
“I wish so much to stay with Mama,” Mary murmured hesitantly, looking at her aunt, who nodded with a bright smile, answering her without a word. It was well known that Mrs Phillips was particularly fond of her.
“So do I,” said Jane, making Elizabeth look at her in some surprise. She had not wished to return to London—that was new.Perhaps the search for Mr Bingley was finally over, and that was not bad after all.
“What will become of our things?” asked Elizabeth, unwilling for the present to determine anything. She still had three months in which to reflect.
“Well,” replied Mr Gardiner with composure, “that gentleman receives the land and the walls. Nothing more.”
“Then everything else is ours?” said Mrs Bennet, looking about her at that dear place where her husband had lived. “My dear Mr Bennet, we shall take everything with us, wherever we go! We shall keep you in our hearts, but everything else shall be preserved exactly as you left it, and that is a promise!”
Elizabeth had not wept before her family in the days since her father’s death, but at these words the tears rose all at once, since she felt, more strongly than ever, how much she had loved him—and, quite unexpectedly, how much she loved her mother too.
Chapter 7
Mr Collins’s visit was regarded as the last trial they had to endure, though the matter was already clear, and Mr Phillips had explained at length what was to follow.
Under the influence of Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Phillips, they succeeded, for a time, in suppressing their great anger and resentment, which, though justified, could not be directed solely towards Mr Collins. It was not he who had established the entail, but, strangely enough, a near relation of their own, one of Mr Bennet’s direct ancestors, who, in deep disdain of his family, had thought only of the estate.
During one of her sleepless nights, Mrs Bennet had examined with care the name of that Bennet upon the entail document; and, after some search in the attic, she at last discovered a portrait she had seen long ago, cast aside in a dusty corner. At the time, she had been young and indifferent. She had forgotten the explanation her husband once gave of his want of regard for that ancestor. But now it was clear that man had imposed upon her family that dreadful burden.
Alerted by Mrs Gardiner, Elizabeth, and Jane found their mother gazing upon the painting she had brought down from the attic, her expression lost and fixed.
“This is the only thing we shall not take,” she said. “But neither shall we leave him to be honoured by Mr Collins.
“We shall burn it,” she added with bitterness.
“By no means,” said Mr Gardiner, entering the room at his wife’s summons.
“It would give me some sense of revenge,” replied Mrs Bennet.
“My dear, I can offer you a better one if you seek such satisfaction. Among the few valuable items left by Mr Bennet.”
“I did not know such a list existed,” said Mrs Bennet.
