And that, you see, is why my letter comes to you from Netherfield Park. In fact, I am writing to you from your old room.

It seems very strange to be here without you. The company was much better when you were here, for, apart from Mr Bingley, there is not one person I wish to see again, and I am glad that we will be leaving this very day. Mr Bingley’s sisters have been kind to Jane, to be sure—who could not be kind to someone so good?—but they have done everything in their power to make me feel unwelcome. They laughed at my taste and despised my occupations. But despite this, Miss Bingley fears me, I think. She sees me as a rival for Mr Darcy’s attention.

Why she should have such an absurd notion I cannot imagine, for he never looks at me but to find fault. And yet she asked me to take a turn about the room with her one evening in order to try and catch his attention; then, once it had been caught, she did everything possible to keep his attention on herself.

He saw through her at once, however, and refused her when she invited him to walk with us. I suggested we tease him when she wanted to punish him for it, but Mr Darcy, arrogant, conceited man that he is, agreed with Miss Bingley that he was impossible to tease since he has no faults—except, perhaps, that his good opinion, once lost, was lost forever, but that is not a fault I could laugh at, and I said so.

He merely gave a superior smile, and Miss Bingley, tired of his attentions to me, suggested we have some music.

She need not have worried. As if realising that he had been too agreeable—agreeable by his own standards, though not by anyone else’s—Mr Darcy relapsed into a hostile silence, which he has preserved ever since.

We are now waiting only for Mr Bingley’s carriage to be brought round to take us home, and I hear it below. I will write some more when we are back at Longbourn.

Lizzy


Miss Susan Sotherton to Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Bath, November 17

Dearest Elizabeth,

I have been hearing so much about Netherfield from you and Charlotte that I feel almost as though I had never left. I am very glad that Mr Bingley is such an agreeable gentleman—and already halfway in love with Jane, Charlotte says. I think Charlotte is right, Lizzy: if Jane likes him, she should encourage him. Jane has always been of a calm and equable temper and, not knowing her as we do, he might mistake her gentleness for indifference. It would be a good match for her and I would be happy to see her so well settled in life.

What a pity that all young men cannot be as pleasant as Mr Bingley, for I hear nothing but bad reports about Mr Darcy. However, I know you will tolerate him, for Jane’s sake. Perhaps he will return to town, leaving Mr Bingley behind. That would be better for everyone.

We have our own share of conceited company here. There are two titled people in Bath, and they expect the rest of us to give way to them in all things. Luckily, we do not see them very often, for it is tiresome to be always having to bow and scrape to those who have nothing to recommend them but their illustrious name.

There are some interesting people here, too, however, and we meet them regularly at the assemblies and concerts. Mama and Papa do not particularly enjoy going out, but Mama makes sure we attend all the entertainments because she is hoping that my sisters and I will find wealthy husbands and so relieve her of our keep. It is for this reason that she thinks the expense of all our outings worth it.

I am sure I would like to find a wealthy husband as well as the next person, as long as he should happen to be young, handsome and agreeable as well. Alas, the young men in Bath are poor and the wealthy men are disagreeable, so much so that the thought of dwindling into an old maid seems positively welcome next to the thought of marrying any of them. But we are expecting an influx of new visitors next week and must hope that some of them are more inspiring.

Do not forget what I have said: tell Jane to encourage Mr Bingley. If anything could reconcile me to the loss of Netherfield Park, it would be knowing that my dear friend was living there.

Your friend,

Susan


Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton

Longbourn, Hertfordshire,

November 18

Most noble Friend,

Our family circle has been much improved by the arrival of Mr Collins, one of Papa’s cousins and the heir to the Longbourn estate. He has made clear his intention of marrying one of us, in order not to deprive us of our home when Papa dies. Jane must be his first choice, she being the eldest, though she is perhaps as good as betrothed to Mr Bingley. Elizabeth must be his next choice, but she is unsuited in every way to being a clergyman’s wife. Were it not for the fact that I have foresworn the nuptial veil, I might be prevailed upon to marry him. He is a man of taste, refinement and solid worth, as evidenced by his company and his letter to Papa. His ideas were well expressed, if all of them were not new, and I have used them, as well as my brief knowledge of him, to make a thorough analysis of his character.

He is a clergyman with a pleasing gallantry not unbecoming to a man of his profession; indeed, his comment that he did not doubt of seeing us all well disposed of in marriage in due time was delicately expressed, for he could not be expected to know that I have foresworn the state of matrimony.

He is a man of some ability, for he has won the patronage of a very great lady, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is a woman of sound understanding and intelligence, as Mr Collins himself has said. She is thought proud by many who know her, but Mr Collins has found her to be all affability—no doubt because she appreciates his superior powers.

He is a man of foresight, for he prepares elegant compliments with which to compliment Lady Catherine and her daughter, Anne, when the chance arises.

He is also a man of great perspicacity, for he looked with disapproval on Kitty’s novel and chose to read from Fordyce’s Sermons instead.

As befits his calling as a clergyman, he is full of the milk of human kindness and Christian charity, for when Papa apologised to him for Lydia’s inattention, he remarked that he bore her no ill will.

If I were ever to abandon the ways of Intellect and embrace the Fleshpots of Matrimony, I believe it would be with a man such as Mr Collins.

Your sister in the pursuit of learning,

Mary


Miss Lucy Sotherton to Miss Mary Bennet

Bath, November 19

Hail!

The clarion call of alarm sounded in my bosom when I received your last epistle. Although it was written in no less erudite a style than that which I have come to expect from you, it showed a disturbing wavering in your devoutly held principles, never to forsake the path of Learning and succumb to the Lure of the World. Take succour from me, dear friend, and let the strength of womanly sisterhood flow into your veins from a fellow ardent supporter of Athena. The owl sees all but flies alone. Pray reassure me that Mr Collins has not ensnared you with his masculine charms.

Your ardent friend,

Lucy


Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton

Longbourn, Hertfordshire,

November 19

Most noble Friend,

Your letter made me think, for I must own that I was considering whether or not it might be my Duty to forsake the path of spinsterhood in order to spread my gifts amongst the parishioners of Rosings. But your remark about the owl gave me pause, for it was very well expressed; indeed, I have copied it into my book of extracts. With your help, dear friend, I have seen that I can best spread my wisdom by helping Mr Collins to write his next sermon. I have given him the benefit of my thoughts on the Iniquity of Frivolity and the Wickedness of Vanity. My sister Lydia could gain much by such a sermon. It would prevent her from running after the officers, a habit which has grown worse since the arrival of Mr Wickham, a handsome young man from London. But as I said to Lydia, a handsome face does not always auger a handsome heart. She only laughed and continued to trim her new bonnet, but Mr Shackleton said the thought was well expressed.

If not for the fact that he is a man, I would invite him to join our exclusive group of Learned Women.

Your dearest friend,

Mary


Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,

November 19

Dear Henry,

Wickham is here! In Hertfordshire—indeed, in Meryton! I saw him not an hour ago. It was an unpleasant shock, and I cannot help wondering what mischief he is planning. He has never forgiven me for denying him the living, though he knows he should never have had it, and he has hated me even more since I frustrated his attempts to elope with Georgiana. After that, I was sure I would never see him again, and yet here he is, in my very neighbourhood. I cannot think it is an accident, it must be by design, yet he seemed as shocked as I was at our meeting. What can it mean?

It happened like this. Bingley and I were riding over to Longbourn to see how Miss Bennet did, when we saw the Miss Bennets walking to their aunt’s house with a small party. They were all talking together with perfect ease until we came upon them, when they stopped to talk to us. Bingley enquired after Miss Bennet’s health and I was in the act of turning away from her sister when I saw Wickham. He saw me at the same moment and went red, and then touched his hat with the coolest impudence I have ever seen. Does he mean to torment me with his presence? Is that his idea in coming here? Is it his revenge, to force himself into my company, knowing that if he is with the officers there is nothing I can do about it?