LA PRESENTACION GRAFICA

inquiries regarding Darcy’s presence at Lydia’s wedding. She informs her that it was Darcy who discovered Wickham, and bribed him with his new job and payment of his various debts. Mr. Darcy then approached Mr. Gardiner with the details, and managed to have him arrange the particulars of the wedding without exposing Darcy’s involvement to the Bennets. It seems that Darcy felt that the situation was partly his fault, since he did not expose Wickham’s bad character earlier. Mrs. Gardiner reveals how much she likes Darcy, and makes references to the fact that Darcy’s actions are the result of his love for Elizabeth; she believes the two would be an excellent match. The letter deeply touches Elizabeth, who realizes how much he has done for her and her whole family. However, she still believes that the shame on her family, and their connection with Wickham will prevent his renewing his proposal to her. Soon after she reads the letter, Wickham opens a conversation with her, during which she guardedly implies that she knows more about his unpleasant history than he might like. She ends the conversation by telling him that they are now brother and sister, and that she hopes they will put the past behind them for good. Her kindness is all for her sister’s sake, as she wishes to have the Wickhams out of the house as soon as possible.

Lydia and Wickham depart for Newcastle at the beginning of chapter 11. Mrs. Bennet is very sad to see her daughter go, as they probably will not see one another for at least a year. Lydia continues to be self-involved, saying that she probably will not have much time to write to her family since she is now a married woman, but that her sisters, since they are not married, should write often, since they will have little else to do. Mr. Wickham is much more affectionate in his leave-taking than Lydia, and Mr. Bennet is ultimately amused with and pleased by him. Mrs. Bennet’s sadness is soon relieved by news from Mrs. Phillips that Mr. Bingley is expected at Netherfield

again soon. Elizabeth believes that Bingley is still partial to Jane, and that perhaps Darcy has revealed further information to Bingley, and perhaps approved of the match. She does not speak of any of this to Jane, who tries to be casual, and does not think she will see much of Bingley or his sisters after their recent treatment of her. Mrs. Bennet again insists that Mr. Bennet should visit Mr. Darcy, but he derides her inane attention to etiquette: “You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised if I went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool’s errand again” (253). All the talk of Bingley is terribly exhausting and embarrassing to Jane, who wishes no longer to think of Bingley or be reminded of what happened last year. Annoyed as ever with her husband, Mrs. Bennet insists that she will invite Bingley to dinner. But before such an invitation can be dispatched, Bingley arrives with Mr. Darcy. Both Jane and Elizabeth are enormously uncomfortable, but their mother is heedless of their concerns. Mrs. Bennet is obviously cold to Mr. Darcy, particularly in comparison to her warm welcome to Bingley. This is particularly painful to Elizabeth, who knows how much her family owes to Darcy. Elizabeth is mortified when Mrs. Bennet goes on about Lydia’s marriage to Wickham, and continues to make officious offers of hospitality to Bingley while nearly insulting Darcy. Elizabeth’s one relief from these shameful observations comes from seeing how quickly Bingley warms to Jane and their previous intimacy seems to return within a few minutes. Mrs. Bennet invites the men for dinner, insisting that Bingley owed them this visit since the previous year, when he departed so hastily from Netherfield.

The promised dinner party is the subject of chapter 12. Before the gathering, Jane insists that she was not at all disturbed by Bingley’s visit, and feels perfectly easy with their civil friendship. Elizabeth tells her that the only danger is that Bingley will fall in love with her again. At the dinner, Elizabeth observes that Bingley is clearly still enamored of Jane. Darcy is unfortunately seated next to Mrs. Bennet and far from Elizabeth, so the two have little chance to talk. After dinner,

they do have an opportunity to speak briefly, but Elizabeth cannot do much more than inquire after his sister. After the party, Mrs. Bennet is enormously pleased with herself, and believes she will soon have another daughter married off.

Mr. Bingley calls a few days after the dinner at the opening of chapter 13. He informs them that Darcy has gone to London, but will return in ten days. Mrs. Bennet invites him to dinner the following day. Mrs. Bennet does everything in her power to contrive to get Bingley and Jane alone, much to Jane’s alarm. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet arrange to hunt the next morning, and it is a pleasurable experience for both of them. Mrs. Bennet contrives again to get Jane and Bingley alone together, and this time she is successful. When Elizabeth returns to the drawing room, the two are in earnest conversation, Bingley whispers something to Jane, and then leaves quickly. Jane is overwhelmed with joy, and tells her sister that she is the happiest woman in the world. After receiving her sister’s congratulations, she goes to her mother to tell her the news of her betrothal to Bingley. Mr. Bingley has already gone to speak with Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bingley returns and Elizabeth offers her heartfelt congratulations to her new brother. Mr. Bennet tells Jane that he is very pleased with Bingley and believes that they make a very good match. Jane tells her sister that she was much relieved to learn that Bingley never knew she was in London, which accounted for his not visiting her. However, this makes her wonder at the bad behavior of Miss Bingley; though she hopes they will be pleased to see their brother happy with Jane, she realizes that they will never be as close as they were previously. Soon all of Meryton knows of the engagement, and the Bennets are considered to be a very lucky family. Their recent scandal with Lydia is immediately forgotten in favor of this joyful news.