by Linda Phelps
“Mrs. Collins! Come quickly! I need you!”
Never had Mr. Collins summoned her in this fashion. Charlotte rose and ran to his study, where she found him red-faced and round –eyed.
“My dear husband, what is wrong?” she asked. “Are you ill? Do you need brandy?”
“See this!” he demanded, waving a letter at her. “Only see this and see if you will not also be ill! See what news Sir William sends us!”
Fear struck her. “Is something wrong with my mother, or one of my brothers or sisters? I pray you sir, tell me what is the matter.”
“Worse!” cried he “It is my cousin Lydia. She has disgraced her family and me. Oh, what will Lady Catherine say when she discovered that she entertained in her own house a sister of Lydia Bennet.”
In her very relief that no one in the Lucas family had died, Charlotte could not think what to say. Several moments later she asked, “And what has happened to Lydia Bennet? Did she drown in Brighton? Was she run down by a carriage? What?”
“It would be better if either of those things have happened. But here is your father’s letter. Read for yourself.” He thrust the paper to her.
My dear son,
It is with regret that I inform you of a certain scandal that has occurred in the family of your cousins, the Bennets. We have heard from several sources that Lydia Bennet has eloped with Mr. Wickham, who you may remember as an officer you met in Meryton. The hostler reports that an express mail arrived from Colonel Forster two days ago. We could only speculate as to the contents of the letter, but today Col.l Forster himself appeared in Meryton & was soon seen on the road to Longbourn, which fact seems to confirm our fears. If any innocent harm had come to Lydia, the Bennets would have told of it, but they have said nothing so far, which convinces us that the elopement did take place.
However, there is no clear indication that Wickham & Lydia Bennet have gone to Gretna Green to marry. If they have, or if they plan to, this situation will be rather less shameful than it appears to be at present. Let us all hope for such an outcome.
Charlotte handed the letter back to her husband. “I am astonished, Mr. Collins. I have known that Lydia is flighty, but she is not yet sixteen. It was hoped she would become more staid as she became older. That she would throw her life away and disgrace her family in this fashion is inconceivable. How they must be feeling the shame of her actions!”
“We must go at once to tell Lady Catherine of this scandal,” said Mr. Collins. “It would not do for her to hear it from any other person.”
“But why?” cried Charlotte. “Why must she hear of it at all?” Even as she spoke, she knew this story would travel the miles from Hertfordshire to Hunsford as fast as a coach with four horses could carry it. It might this minute be the talk of the village.
“Lydia is my cousin!” cried Mr. Collins. “Her father is my uncle. Were he to die, I would be the head of the Bennet family. Even at this early day I must assume a certain amount of responsibility for her behavior. I stayed in the house for a fortnight and did not recognize the need she had for spiritual guidance. At one point I read aloud from Fordyce, but she was not attending. As I recall now, she was abominably unmannerly at that instance. I must blame myself for not then attempting to put her on the right path.”
“Mr. Collins, no sensible person would think of blaming you for any part of this,” said Charlotte.
“I hope you are right. I will take a moment to neaten myself, and then you and I must go directly to Rosings so as to be the first with this news and with our apologies for Lydia’s actions.”
Charlotte began to protest. Then she remembered the letter from her mother. Perhaps it contained later news or a more benign account of the elopement.
My dear daughter Charlotte,
I take pen in hand to tell you of a dreadful event that has happened to the Bennet household. It seems certain that Lydia has run off with that soldier, the handsome one, you remember, Wickham. We all thought he had taken a fancy to Elizabeth, but it seems that was not so.
I have been to Longbourn to see Mrs. Bennet, who has not left her house since the news arrived. She granted me a short audience, during which she showed me a letter Lydia left for Mrs. Forster, in which the wicked girl congratulates herself on the step she has taken. It is a very silly letter, even for Lydia Bennet. Mrs. Bennet cries and repines without cease. She suffers from her nerves, as you surely remember, and this crisis has put her in bed.
Maria, who is just back from Longbourn, has managed to speak to Kitty. This is her news. Elizabeth is expected back from her tour very soon. It appears that the wicked girl & Mr. Wickham have not gone to Gretna Green. Rather it is thought they have run to ground in London. Mrs. Bennet has insisted that Mr. Bennet follow them & make them marry, but now that he has left to do so, she is fearful that he will challenge Wickham to a duel and be killed. If that were to happen, Mrs. Bennet rightly points out that Mr. Collins would immediately become master of Longbourn & that she and her daughters would not have a home. I would like very much to have you living so near in such a splendid house, but I do not in any circumstances hope that Mr. Bennet will be killed.
I will write more of this shameful situation when there is more to tell
Charlotte had read this letter twice when Mr. Collins guided her to the door. Once on the road, he walked very fast in his haste to get to Rosings with the news before anyone else could.
“Husband, I cannot keep pace with you. I must go more slowly.”
Instantly he turned to her. “I am so sorry, my dear. I sometimes forget that you are not stronger.”
“Stay back with me, Mr. Collins. We will still get to Lady Catherine in good time.”
“My dear wife,” said Mr. Collins, “I cannot risk it. I must be first with this news, but I have no objection to you following more slowly, and I am sure any objection Lady Catherine might have will vanish when I assure her you are coming soon.” Increasing his steps even more, he was soon out of sight.
Some time later Charlotte was greeted by the butler, who looked somewhat taken aback when he recognized her. She was wearing the same faded clothes that she had worn to feed her chickens and ducks. Never had he seen her in such a costume. Never had he greeted anyone so unkempt at the massive front doors of Rosings. He showed her to the drawing room and quickly retreated.
“I say again, Mr. Collins,” said Lady Catherine, “that I am not at all surprised by this distressful event. I well remember Elizabeth Bennet in this very drawing room saying that there had been no governess for her or her sisters. I said then that had I been there, I would have strongly advised her mother to hire one.”
“I quite agree with you, Lady Catherine. In point of fact, since I was sure I knew what opinion you would voice were you in the household as I was, I spoke to both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet on that very topic.”
“And they paid you no heed, I see,” said Lady Catherine. “And this is their reward”
Charlotte was certain that Mr. Collins had not discussed the subject of governesses with either Mr. or Mrs. Bennet. She said nothing.
“Ah, there you are, Mrs. Collins,” said Lady Catherine.
Charlotte bowed. “I must apologize for how I must appear to you, but we wished to give you the news as quickly as possible.”
“I think it’s exciting,” said Lady Anne. Her eyes were bright with enjoyment of the scandal. “It is exactly like a story written by Mrs. Radcliffe.”
“You do not read novels, Anne,” said Lady Catherine, and then to Mr. Collins, “I suppose the home of this dreadful girl is full of novels.”
“You are right, Lady Catherine,” said Mr. Collins, shaking his head in sorrow. “Why this very girl, Lydia Bennet, suggested that I read aloud from one as they did their needle work. I saw immediately that it was from one of those circulating libraries which ladies of the lower classes patronize. And you may be sure that I refused.”
Charlotte thought of the cache of novels secreted this very moment in a dr
awer in her husband’s desk. She took care not to meet the eye of Lady Anne. “Lady Catherine, I am so sorry, but I have developed a thirst from walking. May I ask—”
“Poor Mrs. Collins!” exclaimed Lady Anne. “I will take her to get something to drink. Some wine, Mrs. Collins? We could drink it in the garden where it is cooler.”
Lady Catherine was already ringing the bell to summon a servant. “I apologize, Mrs. Collins. I was so distressed by this news that I quite forgot to think of my guests.”
Lady Anne turned sharp eyes on her mother. “If you must know, I suspect that Mrs. Collins has much more to say on this matter, and I intend to hear her.”
Mr. Collins spoke. “Here at Rosings you are safe from such influences. Lady Anne. You should thank your mother for the efforts she has made to assure you of a gentle life without knowledge of such sordid events.”
“I did take a fancy to that Elizabeth Bennet, which I must now regret,” said Lady Catherine. “I am afraid that this disgrace will eliminate any chance she or her sisters might have had to make good matches. I would not be surprised to learn that none of them ever married at all. What man would willingly marry into such a family?”
“I fear you are correct, madam,” said Mr. Collins. “I hope you do not consider that I, their eventual guardian if they should not marry, will neglect my responsibilities to keep them far away from scandal.”
“Oh, my heavens!” cried Lady Anne. “I have never before heard of a girl who would run away with the man she loves. What is he like, Mrs. Collins? Is he handsome? Do you think he loves her very much?”
“Anne, I forbid you to think of this again,” said Lady Catherine. “Just see what ideas it is putting in your head.”
‘“But is he handsome?” insisted the girl. “What are his features? What are his manners?”
“The neighbourhood was agreed that he was quite handsome,” said Charlotte, “but Lady Catherine is right. You do not want to be interested in this sad adventure.”
“But you will tell me what happens!” the girl said. She gave Charlotte a sly smile.
“There will be no more talk of this matter in your presence,” said Lady Catherine. “Mrs. Jenkinson, take Lady Anne to her rooms.”
“I don’t want to go to my rooms!” cried Lady Anne. “I want to speak with Mrs. Collins! You are always keeping me away from the things that interest me.”
Before Lady Catherine could turn her outrage to her daughter, Charlotte said, “But Lady Anne, your mother is quite right. The less we all know of the particulars, the better we shall be.”
Lady Anne looked to see if Charlotte was in earnest or was merely indulging Lady Catherine. She must have gained hope from what she saw, for she rose and followed Mrs. Jenkinson.
A maid entered with a tray of wine and fruit. When she had left, Lady Catherine said, “Mr. Collins, I charge you with the task of writing to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet so that they may understand more of their fault in this affair. If I was acquainted with them, I would do it myself, but as things are, it must be done by you.”
“I will do so immediately I am back at the rectory,” said Mr. Collins. “I think, Lady Catherine, you can trust me to find the correct admonitions to put in the letter, but to make sure, I will show it to you before I send it, if that is acceptable.”
“A very wise plan,” Lady Catherine said, nodding. “Explain most strenuously that the girl must be henceforth dead to her family. She must never be seen by them again.”
“It is my intention to make that point in the strongest language possible. That is the only way they can hope to alleviate this scandal.”
“I hope to see the letter tomorrow, not later.”
“As you wish, my lady,” said Mr. Collins. “Come, wife, we must hurry home so that I may begin.”
“Mr. Collins,” said Lady Catherine, “you may leave, but I will have your wife rest here for a time, then return in one of my carriages. You do not consider her needs as you should.”
Flustered, Mr. Collins could only bob his head as he lengthened his stride in order to get the faster to his desk.
Chapter Four
BY THE TIME CHARLOTTE arrived home, Mr. Collins had finished the letter. “I will read it to you, my dear, and you will tell me if you think it will satisfy Lady Catherine.”
Obediently Charlotte took a chair, and using the intonations he used when he spoke to his congregation he began:
‘My dear Sir,
I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire’.
‘“I do not say that the letter came from your father, you notice. I do not want to create a breech between your family and mine.”
“That is thinking ahead, Mr. Collins. Well done,” said Charlotte.
‘Be assured, my dear Mr. Bennet, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathize with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part, that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent’s mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing compared to this.’
“Oh, Mr. Collins,” cried Charlotte. “How can you say such a thing to a grieving parent? Do you believe you are giving comfort?”
“One is always comforted by facing the truth of the situation,” said Mr. Collins. “If my uncle does not yet realize the shame his daughter has imposed upon the entire family, it is my clear duty to impress upon him what has occurred.”
“But surely, Mr. Collins, you do not believe that Lydia’s death is preferable to this scandal which may yet be rectified to a degree. That is not so of death.”
“Mrs. Collins, I speak as my duty to my uncle requires me to speak. And please remember Lady Catherine’s views which she so kindly explained to us this very day.”
Charlotte sighed and gestured to him to continue.
‘And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behavior in your daughter, has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she would not be guilty of such an enormity at so early an age’.
“Mister Collins!” cried Charlotte. “I certainly never said any such of a thing! I merely contrasted the upbringing of the Bennet girls with that of my own family. I never meant to suggest that there was superiority on either side!”
“But, my dear, your own good character led you to know the truth of the matter. You must take credit for your earlier judgments on the family.”
“Mr. Collins,” said Charlotte, striving to keep her voice low, “I would not have the Bennet family think that I have been speaking of them in this fashion. Please recall that Elizabeth Bennet is my particular friend and can in no way be to blame for her sister’s acts. I pray you, remove any reference to me from the letter.”
“My dear wife, do not deny the excellence of your conclusions, but in consideration of your wishes in the matter, I will ask Lady Catherine if she agrees with the words. She is wiser than either of us, which fact requires us to defer to her opinion. Shall I continue?”
Charlotte slumped in her chair. She had no doubt that Lady Catherine would give whole-hearted approval to every word in the letter.
‘However that may be, you are generously to be pitied, in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that his false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others, for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family?
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“Mr. Collins,” said Charlotte, “I do not see why the opinions of Lady Catherine and her daughter need to be relayed to the Bennets. Recall that they are not acquainted with Lady Catherine, nor is it likely they ever will be. They will not thank you for spreading the story so far as Hunsford and Rosings.”
“Lady Catherine’s rank is in itself adequate to inspire gratitude for knowledge of her thoughts,” said Mr. Collins. “Let us hope they will learn from her words.” Returning to the letter, he continued:
‘And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from you affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offense’.
“Mr. Collins,” said Charlotte wearily, “I do not wish you to refer in any way to the offer of marriage you made to Elizabeth Bennet! There is no need to mention such a thing. You are now married to me, and neither I nor Elizabeth has any wish to be reminded of your earlier desires. I feel confident that I speak her mind in this instance. I insist you delete this reference!”