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Chapter 59 ~ The End of the Beginning
"Will you ask Mr. Bennet today?" asked Bingley as he and Darcy made their way down the road to Longbourn.
"Yes. Unless Elizabeth has done otherwise, I doubt Mr. Bennet - or the rest of her family, for that matter, has any notion of our attachment."
"So you shall be the one to tell him?" said Bingley. He laughed a little to himself. "I believe the surprise he will experience when you ask him will be a sight to see."
"It would."
Darcy was slightly apprehensive at asking Elizabeth's father. He knew not what opinion the man had of him but he believed it was not very favorable. But he knew that Mr. Bennet loved his daughters very much, so perhaps he would support Elizabeth's decision in accepting Darcy as her husband.
He smiled. No matter. He would cross that hurdle when he got there. For the present, all that mattered was that he had Elizabeth's approval. Compared to that challenge, everything else was much simpler.
"We shall have to arrange for another walk, won't we, Darcy?"
"That is a good idea."
As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at Elizabeth so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth that told Elizabeth that Darcy had informed his friend of their attachment. He soon afterwards said aloud, "Mr. Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again?"
For his own part, Darcy could do no more than smile discreetly at his beloved. She did as well and gave a careful nod towards her mother as Mrs. Bennet spoke.
"I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty," said Mrs. Bennet, "to walk to Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view."
"It may do very well for the others," replied Bingley; "but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?"
Darcy silently gave his friend his thanks and vocally expressed a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount. Elizabeth nodded and she and Jane proceeded upstairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet following behind. Darcy could here her speak a little before her voice was lost to his ears.
Very soon, the two couples were making their way towards Oakham Mount. Only when they were out of sight of Longbourn, would they speak.
Jane was the first to do so. "Mr. Darcy, let me offer you my congratulations on your engagement to Lizzy," she said, the warmth in her voice adding another layer of her delight to her words.
By Jane's side, Bingley gave a brief bow to Elizabeth. "My congratulations must be given to you as well, dear sister," said he. "Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to see you attached to my friend."
Elizabeth laughed and blushed as she replied to Bingley. Still slightly embarrassed, Darcy could do nothing more than smile and express his own thanks.
This was but merely the beginning of a walk full of laughter and conversation, in which all four parties were perfectly at ease with each other that gave a hint of what joys were to come, for both couples and for them all as friends and relations. There was much to discuss; plans for a double wedding, events of the months past. Darcy even found the chance - and courage - to apologise to Jane for his actions in keeping her and Bingley apart when she had been in London. Jane forgave him heartily. Arriving at Oakham Mount, they spent several minutes admiring the view across the field, even to where Netherfield was visible in the distance. On the way back, the four split into twos and separated, content to walk in silence in the close company of each other.
"I presume your family, save Jane, are unaware of our engagement?" asked Darcy as he and Elizabeth walked behind Jane and Bingley, their pose a reflection of their own, with Elizabeth's hand in his.
"They are, but I think all shall be revealed tonight," replied Elizabeth.
"Then I shall ask for your father's permission after dinner, then?"
"Yes. But be discreet about it, for I will tell Mama myself, once you have left."
Darcy didn't protest against this arrangement. Whatever Mrs. Bennet's reaction might be to the news of Elizabeth's acceptance of his proposal, he imagined it would be better if he was not present to see it, and he well understood Elizabeth's desire to tell her mother at a time when he would not be around.
"Elizabeth, what does your father think of me?" asked Darcy suddenly.
Elizabeth frowned slightly as she thought. "I am afraid that the only knowledge Papa has of you is through me," she admitted slowly. "And you know very well what I thought I felt about you before. But I was mistaken, and if I tell that to him, then he will understand."
There was something in her voice that Darcy did not miss. "Elizabeth," he said, stopping in his walk and looking at her. "Do not feel guilty about expressing your dislike of me to your father. That is in the past, and have little bearing on the present."
She smiled at him. "Thank you for such sentiments. I am now more worried about how I will convince him that my feelings have changed."
"I am sure that will not be as difficult as you believe it to be."
The inevitable happened as they drew even closer together. Darcy marveled at the sensation of her mouth on his and reluctantly drew away when his embarrassment overcame the pleasure of such an experience.
By now it was time to return to Longbourn. Darcy and Elizabeth caught up with Jane and Bingley and arranged themselves in a manner more fitting two casual and indifferent acquaintances, then proceeded back to the house.
In the evening when Darcy observed Mr. Bennet arise and go to his library, he followed him and knocked firmly on the door. Mr. Bennet called for his visitor to enter and Darcy did so, closing the door behind him.
It would have seemed that Mr. Bennet had been intending to settle down in front of the fire with a book but upon Darcy's entrance, he got up, an expression of astonishment on his features.
It was Mr. Bennet who spoke first. "Mr. Darcy this is a surprise. Can I be of service to you?"
The man's tone was perhaps more formal and cold than Darcy remembered it to be. Darcy stood, uncertain of what to say. He did not know Mr. Bennet very well and had never exchanged any words with him apart from the occasional greeting. How he was to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage he did not know.
"Mr. Bennet, I have come to ask for your permission on a matter of great importance," he began slightly hesitantly.
Mr. Bennet frowned. "Oh? And what might that be, sir?"
Darcy took a deep breath. "I am not quite certain how to say this, sir, but I have come to ask for your permission to wed your daughter, Elizabeth."
Under any other circumstances, the expression on Mr. Bennet's face would have been comical, but the matter was too delicate to warrant Darcy's laughter. Mr. Bennet's eyes widened and he stared at the younger man with an expression of a man who had been caught completely off-guard.
"I - ah," began Mr. Bennet, as he sat down in the nearby chair. "This is quite an unexpected development. When, may I ask did this come about?"
"My proposal was given to Elizabeth yesterday, though I have harbored my feelings towards her for many months now."
"I see," said Mr. Bennet. There was a look of worry on his face that Darcy did not like. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"My friend Bingley and your eldest daughter, Jane Bennet." When Mr. Bennet did not reply, Darcy continued earnestly, "Please sir, do not question my love for Elizabeth or my motives in proposing marriage to her. I truly love her as I have loved no one ever before. I will always love her, care for her and protect her. I know that your opinion of me is not as high as I would like it to be but -"
"Come now, young man," said Mr. Bennet cutting off his flow of words. "Do sit down."
Darcy did so. There was an amusement in Mr. Bennet's features that quieted Darcy more than anything else had. Once he was seated. Mr. Bennet spoke.
"I must admit, Mr. Darcy, that your application has taken me quite by surprise, even with the prior information I received from my cousin Mr. Collins. I had no idea that three of my daughters would become engaged in such a short space of time. You must understand that I wish for my daughters to marry only men who are worthy of them, though in Lydia's case there was little room for argument. Forgive me for asking, but your aunt, what says she to your engagement?"
Darcy grimaced slightly. "She is not happy, though I believe she will eventually come to accept it."
Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair. "Yet despite her disapproval, you are still willing to marry Elizabeth." A statement, not a question.
"Yes, despite her disapproval, despite the censure of the world if need be," replied Darcy firmly.
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows at the younger man's declaration and sat thoughtfully for some moments.
"Have I your approval?" asked Darcy.
Mr. Bennet stood up and after the briefest second of hesitancy, extended his hand across the gap between them. "If that is the way your feelings lie," said he, "then I can do nothing more than give you my . . . congratulations, and every wish for your future together."
Darcy smiled, the last of his worries falling away, too exuberantly joyful to notice anything other than the fact that Elizabeth was to be his wife.
"Thank you, sir," said he, shaking Mr. Bennet's hand.
"Yes, yes, be off with you now," chastised Mr. Bennet waving him away. Darcy walked quickly to the door. Just before he opened it, Mr. Bennet asked, "Send Lizzy in here would you please, Mr. Darcy? I wish to speak to her."
"Yes, sir."
Darcy exited the library and proceeded towards the drawing room where the rest of the Bennet family was seated, talking over cups of tea. Elizabeth immediately turned towards him, her worry plainly seen on her face but it was relieved by his smile. She was sewing at the table, her sister Catherine beside her. Darcy walked over to her, and, while pretending to admire her work, whispered, "Go to your father, he wants you in the library." She was gone directly, and then it was his turn to wait anxiously
Though Mr. Bennet had given his approval, Darcy was certain that the man hesitant about letting Darcy marry his daughter. Darcy could well understand Mr. Bennet's feelings and wryly agreed that if such a man had asked to marry Georgiana, he also would be unsure about the prospect. But though he could understand Mr. Bennet's misgivings, it didn't make it any easier for him not to worry.
Elizabeth did not return for over half an hour, a period of time in which Darcy's feeling of foreboding grew and grew. Just at the time when he was about to knock on Mr. Bennet's door for a second time, Elizabeth returned to the drawing room and gave him a smile that told him that everything was settled and there was nothing to worry about.
Mr. Bennet had also come in to join them, much to the surprise of everyone. Darcy was even more surprised when Mr. Bennet voluntarily sought his company and engaged him in conversation. He could only venture that Elizabeth had told her father everything and Mr. Bennet was now taking pains to amend any past relations, and to become acquainted with his future son-in-law. To his even greater surprise, Darcy found that he quite enjoyed the older man's company, for his dry humor and quick wit made any conversation a pleasure.
Everything was too recent for real gaiety, and for the most part, the evening passed tranquilly away. There was nothing material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time.
Darcy did wish that he had the liberty of displaying a more affectionate farewell to Elizabeth, as Bingley did to Jane, but was comforted by the fact that tonight was the last night they had to conceal their relationship.
"From Mr. Bennet's behaviour towards you, I take it that your suit has been successful?" asked Bingley as they rode in the moonlight back to Netherfield.
Darcy smiled but said nothing.
Bingley sighed in exasperation and reigned in his horse. "Darcy, come now, lighten up a little! Surely you can display more emotion than that!"
Darcy stopped as well. "I am sorry, but I am not quite sure what I should be feeling now, relief or happiness or both."
"Why must you think about it?"
They began to ride again, coming to the field below Oakham Mount. Suddenly Darcy urged his horse into a gallop, drawing in front of his friend and calling back, "If that is the way you want it, then I shall race you back to Netherfield!"
"Give a man some warning before you start, Darcy!"
Laughing with the gaiety of those who had begun their lives anew, the two friends chased each other back home.
Chapter 60 ~ Letters
When news of the engagement spread, there was no end to the flow of congratulations that came in. It seemed to Darcy that the whole of the local populace had heard of it by the next day after asking Mr. Bennet's approval.
Hardly a day went by without a visit to Longbourn and the joy that the daily meeting with Elizabeth brought to Darcy's heart was but slightly diminished at the fact that he (thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Bennet) had to bear with numerous visits from the neighboring families.
Darcy helped to spread the news further through his own efforts, and took great pleasure in writing numerous (if short) letters to friends and members of his family announcing his engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
My dearest Georgiana,I have done my utmost best to fulfil your every wish, but your desire for a sister was rather difficult. However, I cannot contain my joy in informing you of the fact that Elizabeth Bennet has done me the greatest honour in consenting to be my wife.
She expresses her impatience in seeing you again and to continue the acquaintance that was unfortunately interrupted last summer at Pemberley. We are impatient for you to join us here in Hertfordshire at Bingley's estate at the soonest possible occasion. Elizabeth's elder sister Jane is also anxious to meet you.
Your brother is now ecstatically happy - a profound change from those days in London. Elizabeth loves me, and there are no two women I think more highly of or love more than you and her. After so many trials and hardships it is difficult to believe my good fortune. Surely the man I was merely months ago, does not deserve this. But I have not only Elizabeth to thank - you, dear Georgiana I am forever indebted to for your kind understanding and patience with me. I know, young lady, that Father and Mother would be proud of you.
Yours etc.
Cousin Fitzwilliam,
I am sure that you have opened this letter in a state of great anticipation, wondering perhaps if this missive is the harbinger of tragedy or joy. But cousin, put all your fears for me to rest for I have the greatest pleasure in writing to inform you that at long last, I am engaged to marry my dearest Elizabeth.
I know that you are smiling as you read this missive. You may indulge yourself in much-deserved congratulations in the part you played in bringing us together. Without your support of me even when I was rather difficult our engagement would not have been possible.
Your advice to me had been taken to heart. All I had to tell Elizabeth was that I loved her - that was all nothing else. And in return I heard the most wondrous thing - that she loved me as I do her. I have changed, and so has she. We both apologised profusely for our past disagreements, though I still believe that Elizabeth has nothing to be sorry for. The fault was all on my part. But that is all forgotten. We are to married at the same time as Bingley and his Jane. You must grant me the title of happiest man in the world, though Bingley strongly protests that the title belongs to him.
I thank you again and again. You must come to Netherfield as soon as you can. Elizabeth sends you her sincerest regards and all the love she can spare from me.
Yours etc.
P.S. It would be greatly appreciated if no word my engagement reaches Lady Catherine for the time being. I am still debating on the most diplomatic way on breaking the news to her.
P.P.S. You have my permission to break this news to W.
More letters of a similar nature followed to family and friends in Derbyshire, London and more. However Darcy hesitated over one of the most important letters.
How he was to inform Lady Catherine de Bourgh of his engagement to Elizabeth he did not know. However he phrased it, Lady Catherine would not take it well.
"Darcy," called Bingley from the door of the study. Darcy looked up from the blank sheet of paper, a small pile of letters, all addressed and waiting to be sent off beside him. There were three crumpled balls of paper near the inkpot - discarded letters to his Aunt.
"It is just before lunchtime - shall we go to Longbourn?" asked Bingley.
This news immediately brought a smile to Darcy's face and he quickly stood up. "Of course. These letters can be completed at a later time."
Bingley laughed. "There is no question as to the more appealing - writing tedious letters to people or spending time with Elizabeth is there."
"I heartily agree, but do you not think that you should write to your sisters and tell them of the latest developments?" asked Darcy as he took his hat from the servant.
Bingley sighed. "I suppose that it will have to be done sooner or later."
"But not now. After we return from Longbourn, and Jane and Elizabeth."
By now it was custom that the gentlemen come over to Longbourn practically everyday, usually for lunch and sometimes for dinner as well. After the midday meal, in which it was not unusual for Mrs. Bennet to bring a friend or three of hers over, the two gentlemen would go walking with their respective ladies for perhaps a more private conversation.
Today in the Longbourn garden, Elizabeth wished for Darcy to account for his ever falling in love with her, a subject that caused the gentleman much speculation, for he did not quite know.
"How could you begin?" said she, "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what set you off in the first place?"
Darcy laughed wryly at Elizabeth's description of 'charmingly'. "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
This answer would not do for Elizabeth. She went into thought and then said, "My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners - my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere," she said playfully, "did you admire me for my impertinence?"
"For your liveliness of your mind I did," answered Darcy.
"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little else. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking of your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not really been amiable you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who ad so assiduously courted you."
Darcy was pleasantly surprised at Elizabeth's analysis of him, which was a near perfect reflection of him. Even more pleasing was Elizabeth's recognition that he had always been noble and just throughout their acquaintance, even when he had realised he had perhaps not been so. "There," continued Elizabeth, "I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and really, all tings considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me - but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love."
Darcy thought back to when he had thought Elizabeth to be less than perfect and to the occasion when she and Jane had stayed at Netherfield, in order to prove to Elizabeth that he had known some good in her. He was not a man who could easily tell a joke from seriousness.
"Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane, while she was at Netherfield?"
"Dearest Jane!" was her reply, "who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under you r protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me?"
"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement," said Darcy. He was not sure if he would enjoy being teased, and he was not about to give Elizabeth more reason to laugh at him by saying he had been under the impression she had been in love with his cousin.
"But I was embarrassed."
"And so was I."
"You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner," said Elizabeth in mock-reproach.
"A man who felt less, might."
"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I should be so unreasonable as to admit it!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "But I wonder how long you would have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia certainly had great effect. Too much, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a breach of promise, for I ought not to have mentioned the subject? This will never do."
As Elizabeth got herself into a state over her worry over the Lydia-Wickham affair being the basis for their current standing, Darcy stood and took her hands in his.
"You need not distress yourself," he said comfortingly. "The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us, were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait for any opening of yours. My aunt's intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know everything."
Elizabeth smiled at him, a loving and relieved smile that warmed Darcy despite the autumn chill.
"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? Or had you intended and more serious consequences?"
"My real purpose was to see you, and to judge, if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister as still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made."
They sat again on the bench in the garden for some moments, contented with the explanations of the other, until Elizabeth spoke.
"Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine, what is to befall her?"
"I am more likely to want time, than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly."
No sooner was these words spoken than Elizabeth went to fetch writing materials out to the garden, as it was such a fine day.
"And if I had not a letter to write myself," said Elizabeth as she gave him paper and such, then sitting down beside him, "I might sit by you, and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must no longer be neglected."
Darcy nodded as Elizabeth began to compose her own letter to Mrs. Gardiner, then returned to the dilemma he had faced that morning. Finally, he wrote,
Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park,There is no manner in which I can put this news to you so that you can accept it in a sagacious manner. I am aware that I go through with this engagement without your approval, and that I risk severing contact between us for a considerable period of time, if not forever. I am aware of your arguments against this union, and of the consequences threatened by you. Please do not think that I have not given your words a hearing when you spoke to me. However, I have decided that the advantages considerably outweigh the disadvantages - what little that exist and that you have imagined, and so I have become engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn. I know that you will give my future wife every respect and the appreciation she deserves - and receives from me.
You are, of course, invited to the wedding, which will be shared with Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet.
Yours, etc.
He finished this missive before he could begin to have second thoughts about what he had written. Elizabeth was still writing to Mrs. Gardiner and Darcy asked her to convey his gratitude and warmth of feeling to them, for he already considered them as his own family.
Chapter 61 ~ Epilogue
The weeks before the wedding passed like a dream. Darcy paid no attention to the arrangements for the ceremony, hardly noticed the plethora of parties and gatherings which he attended for no other reason than to see Elizabeth again and learnt to forbear the less than refined comments emanating from various members of Hertfordshire society.
He did not have to encourage Bingley to write to his sisters and brother-in-law in Scarborough with the news of Darcy's engagement to Elizabeth, for he did it without reminder. Darcy often wondered what Miss Bingley's reaction to the news was, and how she would act when she returned to Netherfield. He needn't have worried, however, for Miss Bingley's behaviour towards Elizabeth and himself was all that was polite and friendly, perhaps forced in the beginning, but left hope for future relations.
Georgiana's response to her brother's coming wedding was all that was expected. Her four-page reply was filled with joy and excitement of having Elizabeth as her sister-in-law and happiness for her brother. The letter's sender arrived soon afterwards, escorted by her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had been granted leave to attend the wedding. He also rejoiced in the match and made light of Darcy's change in demeanor, saying more than once how good they were for each other.
The relations of Bingley and Darcy were not the only ones to travel to Hertfordshire that month. Mr. Collins and his expectant wife also came before they sent any congratulations by post. Darcy understood from the clergyman's obsequious talk to him, that Lady Catherine de Bourgh was most exceedingly displeased with her nephew and had severed all connections with him for the present. Whether the breach could be healed was a matter of time. Not surprisingly, Lady Catherine and her daughter sent no congratulations, nor did they attend the wedding.
Nor did Darcy take much notice of the wedding itself. As far as he was concerned, this was merely ceremonial to officially acknowledge his and Elizabeth's union. In his opinion, they had already been united a long time ago.
Spring had once again arrived as it always did, melting the snow and causing the stream to run merrily over the rocks again, and allowing the fish to increase in number, a fact that would no doubt make Mr. Gardiner happy when he came again to Pemberley. But for now there were no fishermen, only a couple admiring the beauty of the Park in the light of the dying sun, content to sit in silence with each other after so long a story.
The lady was the first to break the silence. "I never truly realised just how sorely I hurt you."
The gentleman, his arm around his lady's shoulders smiled. "I would not worry about that, love. It is all in the past, and it was worth it, to be able to live this day with you."
Elizabeth Bennet Darcy looked at her husband with the laughing smile he knew so well. She had looked at him like that at the Meryton Assembly, so long ago. "But you did hate me for a while, did you not?"
"If I ever did, I remember not. I cannot ever believe that I might had entertained such feelings now."
The lady's response to this was to laugh at him. He smiled, then wrapped his free arm around her.
They remained like this, watching the last rays of sunlight disappear allowing the stars to twinkle brightly. A shooting star streaked its way across the blue-black tapestry of night, disappearing as quickly as it came.
"Jane wrote to me today," said Elizabeth, her head resting on Darcy's shoulder. "She says that she and Bingley are thinking about moving to another estate."
Darcy laughed. "Has Bingley tired of Netherfield already?"
"I believe it is more the neighbors that are the cause than the house itself," replied the lady wryly. "Has Lady Catherine replied to your letter yet?"
"Not my aunt exactly. Anne de Bourgh wrote and said that her mother had perhaps finally come to terms with our marriage."
"I am glad to hear it. I should be unhappy to be the cause of a loss of a relation."
"But what I have gained is far better."
She looked up at him with a loving smile that was lost to sight as he kissed her.
They broke off after some moments, suddenly aware of the chill of being out doors in the evening. Darcy rose from his seat, and offered his arm to his wife.
"Georgiana and the Colonel are probably waiting for us inside. We should join them."
She took his arm and they slowly walked back to the house.
"Will you play for me tonight?" he asked her.
"Of course, if you will not watch me so intently that I lose my place in the music," she said playfully.
He laughed as they approached the path. The warm lights from the house illuminated them and they could see a familiar silhouette waiting from them just inside the doorway.
"You know, you never told me what your side of our story was," commented Darcy, waving at Georgiana. "I know one - what about the other side?"
"You wish for me to tell you what happened to me that year?" asked Elizabeth. "It will a long tale and you will not enjoy it all."
"You did not enjoy all of mine."
"True." She thought intently for a moment. "Now, where shall I begin?"
"At the beginning, when you first heard of Bingley's arrival at Netherfield, of course."
"How right you are. Now, it is a truth universally acknowledged..."
The End.