Page 24

After taking her seat, Elizabeth was somewhat puzzled when Mr Elliot entered the vestry instead of mounting into the pulpit. His disappearance was soon explained when he re-emerged, assisting the rector, Mr Delaney, to ascend the steps of the pulpit. Clearly, Mr Delaney had made the effort to commemorate the squire himself. The sermon was, as usual, eloquent, but rather than being delivered by the clear voice of his instrument, Mr Elliot, it was enunciated by the halting voice of its aged author. Somehow, this seemed especially poignant. Mindful of her promise to her uncle, Elizabeth blinked back her tears throughout and hid a single sniff in her handkerchief when they rose for the hymn.

Afterwards the ladies returned to Longbourn while the gentlemen proceeded to the churchyard. Parting ways with her aunt in the vestibule of the house, Elizabeth spent the rest of her morning lying on her bed, more cast down by the service than she had expected to be.

At one, the family gathered for the reading of the will over a cold collation in Mr Bennet’s study. It was read by Mr Gardiner, who, along with his brother-in-law, Mr Philips, had been deemed the executors. The document contained no surprises. Mr Bennet had bequeathed a large part of his collection of books to Lizzy. To Jane, as his eldest, he gave his pocket watch. To Mary, he gifted his books on ecclesiastical topics—for Mr Bennet had studied for the church for a year before his distant cousin had died without an heir and he had learned he was to inherit Longbourn. Freed of the necessity of studying religion, Mr Bennet had subsequently turned to the classics. To Kitty and Lydia, he bequeathed any monies arising from the sale of the remainder of his personal effects; to the Hills, ten guineas each; and to Sarah and John Coachman, five. To his cousin, Mr Collins, went the remainder of his library, purchased with the proceeds of the estate, to keep or dispose of as he wished.

Afterwards, the ladies retired to the upstairs sitting room to avoid their odious cousin. Although she knew she could eat little, Lizzy descended with her mother and sisters for dinner at Jane’s urging. During the meal, they all had to endure Mr Collins’ ruminations on the changes he fancied he would be making now that he was master. These were deflected skilfully by the Gardiners, but not entirely successfully. Edward could see a storm brewing within his sister Fanny, and he was relieved when the ladies finally withdrew before it broke. Mr Gardiner kept Mr Collins long over the port; drawing on every reminiscence of Longbourn he could dredge from his memory. Finally, hearing the ladies ascend the stairs for an early night, Mr Gardiner deemed it safe to bid the clergyman goodnight himself.

Mr Collins returned to Kent early in the morning, taking a short detour to Lucas Lodge for breakfast. The Gardiners and the two eldest Bennet sisters saw him off at dawn and breathed a sigh of relief.

After the clergyman’s departure, Mr Gardiner sat for a long time in Mr Bennet’s library, occasionally drawing a letter from his waistcoat pocket to study it before frowning and tucking it away. He was relieved from his unsatisfactory ruminations when his wife came to remind him of breakfast.

Taking his place at the head of the table, Edward Gardiner cleared his throat as their nurse bundled the last of the Gardiner children, who had all been fed and watered, out into the hallway. The Bennets all looked at him expectantly.

“Well! You know I must unfortunately head back to London today because one of my ships has docked, but Madeleine has agreed to stay here to buoy your spirits until I return next Saturday. I have been thinking long and hard about how we are to get on now that Matthew has passed. Fanny, your husband has preserved your five-thousand-pound dowry to return to you and asked me to manage it. This will yield an income of about 250 pounds per year. I have spoken to my brother Philips, and together we have decided we can spare another 125 pounds per year…”

“Oh, Brother! How are we to live on such a sum?” wailed Mrs Bennet. Her knowledge of reckoning did not allow her to instantly add these two values, but she was sufficiently number-wise to know that the sum being discussed was a fraction of her previous income. “My economy was severely stretched when we had 2000 a year! How am I to live in this house for less? Aye! And pay the servants too!”

This outburst severely tested Mr Gardiner’s patience with his sister. His own gross income was roughly 1000 a year, and the greater part of it was reinvested in his business. The 100 pounds he had pledged was a quarter of his own household expenses and would severely test his wife’s economy. His brother-in-law Mr Philips, the attorney, could only spare 25 pounds. His sister Fanny had always been rather selfish. Nonetheless Edward Gardiner quashed these rebellious thoughts and reminded himself that Fanny was to be pitied. Of all the Gardiner siblings, she had the most adjusting to do to accommodate the change in her family’s circumstances.

“I know it will be difficult, Fanny,” Edward agreed; “but remember, the estate’s expenses will be paid for by Mr Collins. It is unfortunate that he is not paying the servants, if for no other reason than to retain their services, but he has at least agreed to waive rent for the manor house in return for Lizzy’s help with management of the estate.”

“Oh, Brother!” exclaimed Mrs Bennet wiltingly as Kitty and Lydia patted their mother’s shoulder.

“I agree, it will be difficult feeding and clothing you all in the manner you are accustomed to on such a sum,” continued Mr Gardiner, “and keeping the carriage is a considerable expense, but I suppose we must not forgo that.”

“How will I be able to visit my sister else?” bemoaned Mrs Bennet, who could not contemplate the fall in status associated with the loss of her chariot.

“Yes, I think that will be important to keep your spirits up,” conceded Mr Gardiner. “Nonetheless, it will be difficult… and that is why I am so grateful to Madeleine for providing another potential avenue of support.”

Here, Mr Gardiner’s courage finally failed him, and he looked hopefully at his wife.

“Well…,” said Mrs Gardiner. “You know my sister was fortunate enough to marry a banker… I had tea with her on the day… before we departed London. She was telling me of an unfortunate accident, which befell the governess of a friend who is married to her husband’s business partner. The poor lady slipped down the servant’s stairs and broke her leg. The doctor says she will be in bed for several months. Well… apparently it is very difficult to get a good governess as a short-term replacement—the quality of those available from the agency is not good. It occurred to me when I got home and… received your news, that perhaps Lizzy would be just the thing. So, before leaving London, I wrote to my sister, telling her that one of my nieces, a gentleman’s daughter, might be available. She has written this morning to say her friend is very keen to interview the young lady… They are offering a very good wage—50 pounds a year, pro rata. Well, of course, it is impossible for you to go now, Lizzy, because you are required to help manage the estate; but I thought possibly, Jane…”

“No!” gasped Lizzy, grasping her elder sister’s arm possessively.

Jane had looked down quickly into her lap to hide her face. She was to be the first of the sisters to lose her status. Gone was any hope of wedding Mr Bingley. That aspiration now seemed to belong to a dream. Despite Caroline’s letter, Jane had still clung to the hope that Mr Bingley’s trip to London might have been precipitated by some emergency; that he would return to Netherfield and thence Longbourn as he had originally promised at the ball. But now, she would not even be here if he did return.

“Not Jane!” interjected Lizzy hotly. “Let me go!”

“I’m sorry, Lizzy. You know that is quite impossible,” said Mr Gardiner quietly. “Your presence here at Longbourn is required to keep a roof over your mother’s and sisters’ heads. We arranged that with Mr Collins.”

“It is all right, Lizzy,” said Jane haltingly as she regained her equanimity, giving her sister a brave smile. Then, looking back at her uncle, she said in a stronger voice, “our continued residence here at Longbourn is only temporary anyway. The experience will be beneficial when I must earn my bread in earnest.”

“There! Good girl!” said Mr Gardiner approvingly.

Mrs Gardiner squeezed her eldest niece’s hand.

Mr Gardiner cleared his throat once more. “Forgive me, Jane, but in the circumstances, I think it would be best if you come back to London with me today. Your aunt only received the letter in this morning’s post, but it would not do to put off the interview for another week. If you are agreeable, your aunt will write back, saying you can come for the interview at their convenience. I expect that they will, by necessity, ask you to present yourself as early as Monday. If you are unsuccessful, I can return you to Longbourn next week.”

“If I am unsuccessful, Uncle, surely it would be better if I remain in London where I have a better chance of employment?”

“Well, perhaps,” conceded Mr Gardiner, “but let us cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Chapter 10: Jane Too

Jane left for London with her uncle in the early afternoon. For her sister’s sake, Lizzy tried to be brave. The two eldest Bennet sisters clung to each other near the carriage door, Lizzy whispering fiercely to her sibling that they would be reunited soon. Jane climbed in, followed by Mr Gardiner. The step was put up and they were off. Fighting back tears, Jane watched her family recede into the distance as she waved her handkerchief from the window. Then the carriage was out the gates, and she could see them no more.

The departure of Mr Gardiner’s coach had been delayed somewhat when Mrs Bennet demanded a last-minute tête-a-tête with her brother. During this hastily convened conference in Mr Bennet’s study, Fanny insisted that her brother demand satisfaction of Mr Darcy for compromising her daughter. This, Mr Gardiner was in no way inclined to do; but as a concession, Fanny’s reluctant brother agreed to at least visit Mr Darcy and lay the family’s case before him.