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Elizabeth could not have formed a very good opinion of marital bliss or domestic comfort from observing her own family. She had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain and endeavoured to forget what could not be overlooked.
Respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment, she banished from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and decorum which was so reprehensible, exposing his wife to the contempt of her children.
Elizabeth had never felt so strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage. Nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged a direction of talents. Talents which might have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife.
When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure, she found little cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties abroad were less varied than before. At home, a mother and sister threw a real gloom over their domestic circle by complaining of the dullness of everything around them.
Upon the whole, Elizabeth found that an event she had waiting for with impatient desire did not bring the hoped for satisfaction when it took place. It became necessary to have some other point on which to fix her wishes and hopes. By again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, she consoled herself for the present.
Her tour to the Lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts. It was her best consolation for all the uncomfortable hours which her mother and Kitty made inevitable. Could she have included Jane in the scheme, every part of it would have been perfect.
When Lydia went away, she promised to write often and minutely to her mother and Kitty. But her letters were always long expected, and always very short.
Those to her mother contained little else than that they were just returned from the library. Such and such officers had attended them, and she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite wild. That she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which she would have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a violent hurry, as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going off to the camp. From her correspondence with her sister, there was still less to be learnt. For her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were much too full of lines under the words to be made public.
After a few weeks of her absence, health, good humour, and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn. Everything wore a happier aspect.
The families who had been in town for the winter came back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose.
Mrs. Bennet was restored to her usual querulous serenity. By the middle of June, Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears. An event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by Christmas she might mention an officer not above once a day. Unless, by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the War Office, another regiment should be quartered in Meryton.
The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast approaching. A letter arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and curtailed its extent.
Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out till two weeks later in July and must be in London again within a month. That left too short a period for them to go so far, and see so much as they had proposed. They were obliged to give up the Lakes and substitute a more contracted tour.
According to the present plan, they were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire. In that county, there was enough to see to occupy the chief of their three weeks. To Mrs. Gardiner, it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had passed some years of her youth was probably a great an object of her curiosity. They were now to spend a few days in that town as well as visiting celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.
Elizabeth was excessively disappointed. She had set her heart on seeing the Lakes and still thought there might have been time enough. But it was her business to be satisfied—and certainly her temper to be happy, and all was soon right again.
With the mention of Derbyshire, there were many ideas connected. It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner. But she did not believe it inevitable that she would see Mr. Darcy in that short time.
The period of expectation was now doubled.
Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane. She was the general favourite. Her sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted for attending to them in every way—teaching them, playing with them, and loving them.
The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment was certain that of the suitableness of companions.
Their route to Derbyshire passed through remarkable places Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, and Kenilworth.
After seeing all the principal wonders of the county, their final destination was the little town of Lambton. It was the location of Mrs. Gardiner's former home, and where she had lately learned some acquaintance remained.
Pemberley was situated within five miles of Lambton. Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?" said her aunt. "A place with which so many of your acquaintances are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you know."
Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She must own that she was tired of seeing great houses. After going over so many, she had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine house richly furnished, I should not care about it myself. But the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the country."
Elizabeth said no more—but her mind could not acquiesce.
The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But against this there were objections. She resolved that it could be the last resource after her private inquiries to the absence of the family.
Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley was a very fine place. And the name of its proprietor. These questions she followed with an inquiry as to whether the family were down for the summer. A most welcome negative followed the last question—and her alarms now being removed.
When the subject was revived the next morning, Elizabeth answered with a proper air of indifference, that she had no objection. She was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself.
To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.