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Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came, as usual, to spend the Christmas at Longbourn.
Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentleman, superior to his sister, by nature as education. The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and agreeable.
Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a particular regard. They had frequently stayed with her in town.
The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen.
Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her girls had been upon the point of marriage, and after all, there was nothing in it.
"I do not blame Jane for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley if she could. But Lizzy! Oh, sister! It is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had it not been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused him. The consequence of it is that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have. And that the Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else."
When it seemed the monologue of her woes might never end, she concluded, "Your coming now is the greatest of comforts. And I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves."
The chief of this news had been given before to Mrs. Gardiner, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her.
When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, Mrs. Gardiner spoke more on the subject. "It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane. I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks. When accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent."
"An excellent consolation in its way, but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It is not often that the interference of friends will persuade a young man to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before," said Elizabeth.
"But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr. Bingley's love?"
"I never saw a more promising inclination. He was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball, he offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance. I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?"
"Oh, yes!—of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene might be of service—and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as anything."
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal and expected Jane's acquiescence.
"I hope, that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different. And as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, unless he comes to see her."
"And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend. Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it. And depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him."
"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane correspond with his sister? She will not be able to help calling."
"She will drop the acquaintance entirely."
But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth spoke about Bingley's being withheld from seeing Jane, she remained mindful. She did not consider their case hopeless. It was possible, perhaps probable, that his affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions.
Miss Jane Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure.
The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn. With the Phillipses, the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its engagement.
Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family dinner. When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always made part of it—of which Mr. Wickham was sure to be one. On these occasions, Mrs. Gardiner rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's warm commendation, narrowly observed them both.