Chapter Fifty-five

Originally published 7/22/2007.

Ah. In this chapter, we have Jane accepting Bingley's hand in marriage, together with all the interesting reactions to the engagement, silly or otherwise.

A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in ten days time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere.

Honorable men honor their first engagements unless it is an emergency.

"Next time you call," said she, "I hope we shall be more lucky."

He should be particularly happy at any time, &c. &c.;...

I believe this means, "and so on, and so on." Perhaps even Austen could get tired of writing certain things! She recognizes that, while not denigrating Bingley's politeness, perhaps her readers are not so interested in all the formalities.

...and if she would give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them.

"Can you come to-morrow?"

Mrs. Bennet.

Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was accepted with alacrity.

He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them dressed...

One rare instance, perhaps, in which Bingley is not quite so polite. Ladies want to know when their men arrive so that they can be ready for them. Witness the modern notion of actually calling your wife before you start home after work.

...In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's room, in her dressing gown, and with her hair half finished, crying out,

"My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come -- Mr. Bingley is come. -- He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss Lizzy's hair."

Here is Mrs. Bennet, perhaps, with the rare sense of oughtness about her this time. It is not good to keep a guest waiting.

"We will be down as soon as we can," said Jane; "but I dare say Kitty is forwarder than either of us, for she went up stairs half an hour ago."

"Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come be quick, be quick! Where is your sash, my dear?"

As Victor Melling said in the movie Miss Congeniality, "One brief, shining moment, and then that mouth!"

But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down without one of her sisters.

This is a propriety thing, I imagine, though Darcy and Lizzy had been by themselves a number of times with no comment. Jane, perhaps, does not wish to appear forward.

The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his custom, and Mary went up stairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of the five being thus removed,...

One being herself.

...Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her;...

Probably because Lizzy knew quite well what her mother was thinking; she was not about to make it easy for her mother to disgrace herself.

...and when at last Kitty did, she very innocently said, "What is the matter mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?"

"Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you."...

Mrs. Bennet; an obvious lie.

...She then sat still five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion,...

I like that word, "unable." We are unable to act outside our own natures. Thus, this statement means something about Mrs. Bennet's nature.

...she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty, "Come here, my love, I want to speak to you," took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her intreaty that she would not give in to it...

In all the movies, Lizzy is portrayed as having to leave and not come back until Jane and Bingley are engaged (and red-faced about it). However, in the book, we see that Lizzy sneaks right back into the room; after all, Mrs. Bennet only suggests that they leave Jane and Bingley alone. She doesn't command it. So Lizzy exercises her judgment and goes back in, which is undoubtedly better.

...In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half-opened the door and called out,

"Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you."

Elizabeth was forced to go.

"We may as well leave them by themselves you know;" said her mother, as soon as she was in the hall. "Kitty and I are going up stairs to sit in my dressing room."

Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but remained quietly in the hall, till she and Kitty were out of sight, then returned into the drawing room.

Mrs. Bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bingley was every thing that was charming, except the professed lover of her daughter. His ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their evening party; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the mother, and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter.

Meaning Jane, I take it.

He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper; and before he went away, an engagement was formed, chiefly through his own and Mrs. Bennet's means, for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband.

A male bonding experience. And, as with modern violent video games, a female exclusion experience.

After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference...

I'm sure we are meant to think that Jane is in love with Bingley; perhaps we are meant to think that even earlier. However, I think Austen makes it rather clear now, certainly with respect to Jane's outward behavior.

...Not a word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley; but Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy returned within the stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's concurrence.

I doubt anyone could come to any other conclusion. Bingley is not really confident enough to go against Darcy in so forward a manner as courting Jane right under Darcy's nose. I really think that Darcy being right there is a clear indication to anyone in possession of the fact that Darcy has "given his consent."

Bingley was punctual to his appointment; and he and Mr. Bennet spent the morning together, as had been agreed on. The latter was much more agreeable than his companion expected...

I find this rather amusing. I imagine plenty of suitors have, with rather a lot of trepidation, approached the fathers of women they're interested in, and found them to be loads of fun. It's happened to me more than once. Mr. Bennet is too sensible to try to hang on to his daughters too tightly.

...There was nothing of presumption or folly in Bingley that could provoke his ridicule, or disgust him into silence; and he was more communicative, and less eccentric, than the other had ever seen him. Bingley of course returned with him to dinner; and in the evening Mrs. Bennet's invention was again at work to get every body away from him and her daughter. Elizabeth, who had a letter to write, went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea; for as the others were all going to sit down to cards, she could not be wanted to counteract her mother's schemes.

But on returning to the drawing room, when her letter was finished, she saw, to her infinite surprise, there was reason to fear that her mother had been too ingenious for her. On opening the door, she perceived her sister and Bingley standing together over the hearth, as if engaged in earnest conversation; and had this led to no suspicion, the faces of both, as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other, would have told it all. Their situation was awkward enough; but her's she thought was still worse...

Interesting why that should be. Because she would think she was invading someone's privacy?

...Not a syllable was uttered by either; and Elizabeth was on the point of going away again, when Bingley, who as well as the other had sat down, suddenly rose, and whispering a few words to her sister, ran out of the room.

Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth, where confidence would give pleasure; and instantly embracing her, acknowledged, with the liveliest emotion, that she was the happiest creature in the world.

"'Tis too much!" she added, "by far too much. I do not deserve it. Oh! why is not every body as happy?"

This is the reaction we should expect from Jane.

Elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity, a warmth, a delight, which words could but poorly express. Every sentence of kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane...

And this is what we should expect from Lizzy: to rejoice with those who rejoice.

...But she...

Meaning Jane.

...would not allow herself to stay with her sister, or say half that remained to be said for the present.

"I must go instantly to my mother;" she cried. "I would not on any account trifle with her affectionate solicitude; or allow her to hear it from any one but myself. He is gone to my father already. Oh! Lizzy, to know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear family! how shall I bear so much happiness!"

Jane.

She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the card party, and was sitting up stairs with Kitty.

Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease with which an affair was finally settled, that had given them so many previous months of suspense and vexation.

"And this," said she, "is the end of all his friend's anxious circumspection! of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance! the happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!"

In passing, I'd like to point out that even Austen uses sentence fragments at times.

In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley, whose conference with her father had been short and to the purpose.

"Where is your sister?" said he hastily, as he opened the door.

"With my mother up stairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say."

Lizzy.

He then shut the door, and, coming up to her, claimed the good wishes and affection of a sister. Elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed her delight in the prospect of their relationship. They shook hands with great cordiality; and then, till her sister came down, she had to listen to all he had to say of his own happiness, and of Jane's perfections; and in spite of his being a lover,...

Gotta love that. Blind lovers is really a cliche, isn't it?

...Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself.

It was an evening of no common delight to them all; the satisfaction of Miss Bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face, as made her look handsomer than ever. Kitty simpered and smiled, and hoped her turn was coming soon. Mrs. Bennet could not give her consent or speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings, though she talked to Bingley of nothing else for half an hour;...

Reminds you of Collins at the end of Chapter 13, eh what?

...and when Mr. Bennet joined them at supper, his voice and manner plainly shewed how really happy he was.

Not a word, however, passed his lips in allusion to it, till their visitor took his leave for the night; but as soon as he was gone, he turned to his daughter, and said,

"Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman."

Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him for his goodness.

"You are a good girl;" he replied, "and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income."

He can't possible resist the tease. It's a rite of passage for all lovers, I dare say, lest they take themselves too seriously.

"I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me."

Jane.

"Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet," cried his wife, "what are you talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year, and very likely more."...

Mrs. Bennet, of course, totally misses the point.

...Then addressing her daughter, "Oh! my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it would be...

Yeah, right!

...I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was that you should come together. Oh! he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen!"

And this most definitely does not contradict her statement in Chapter 40 where she calls him "a very undeserving young man."

Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her favourite child. At that moment, she cared for no other. Her younger sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness which she might in future be able to dispense.

Meaning the following:

Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield; and Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter.

Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn; coming frequently before breakfast, and always remaining till after supper; unless when some barbarous neighbour, who could not be enough detested,...

Wonderfully put, don't you think?

...had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself obliged to accept.

Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister; for while he was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on any one else; but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours of separation that must sometimes occur...

No doubt to the great testing of the lovers' patience. ;-)]

...In the absence of Jane, he always attached himself to Elizabeth, for the pleasure of talking of her; and when Bingley was gone, Jane constantly sought the same means of relief.

"He has made me so happy," said she, one evening, "by telling me that he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring! I had not believed it possible."

"I suspected as much," replied Elizabeth...

Well, she knew as much. Darcy told her in the letter.

..."But how did he account for it?"

"It must have been his sister's doing. They were certainly no friends to his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. But when they see, as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we shall be on good terms again; though we can never be what we once were to each other."

Jane.

"That is the most unforgiving speech," said Elizabeth, "that I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard."

Lizzy really cannot tell Jane all that Darcy did. Indeed, she is happy that Bingley did not reveal it to Jane.

"Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to town last November, he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have prevented his coming down again!"

Jane.

"He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the credit of his modesty."

Lizzy.

This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence,...

What else?

...and the little value he put on his own good qualities. Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world, she knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him.

"I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!" cried Jane. "Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all! If I could but see you as happy! If there were but such another man for you!"

That is a good happiness: it spills over into others' lives.

"If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time."

Lizzy, who can't help having fun at a moment like this.

The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a secret. Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Phillips, and she ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her neighbours in Meryton.

I wonder if Mrs. Phillips was not, by this method, intentionally made into a messenger. Perhaps Mrs. Bennet does not want to spare the trouble.

The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune.

Ah, the fickleness of public opinion. Austen knew it, too.

Next week: the, alas Susanless, but yet charming visit of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.