Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange (books for students to read .txt) π
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me the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that she no
longer has any hold over me. It will be a delight to me
to know that I can meet her in company without any
improper feelings, and I will be able to congratulate
myself on having saved myself, as well as Bingley, from a
most imprudent attachment.
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April
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1 3 4
A M A N D A G R A N G E
Thursday 3rd April
I dined with Colonel Fitzwilliam at my club today. We
have decided that we will travel to Rosings together.
Monday 7th April
My cousin and I had an enjoyable journey into Kent, and
after generalities the conversation turned to marriage
again.
βI am of an age now when I feel I should be settled,
and yet marriage is a dangerous venture,β he said. βIt is
so easy to make a false step and then be forced to live
with it.β
βIt is,β I agreed, thinking of Bingley. βI have recently
saved one of my friends from just such a false step.β
βReally?β
βYes. He took a house in the country, where he met a
young lady of low connections. He was much taken with
her, but fortunately business compelled him to return to
London for a time. Perceiving his danger, his sisters and
I followed him to London and persuaded him to remain.β
βThen you have saved him from a most imprudent
marriage.β
βI have.β
βHe will thank you for it when it has done. It is not
pleasant to wake from a dream and find oneself trapped
in a nightmare.β
I am heartened by his opinion. I respect his judgement, and it is reassuring to know that he feels as I do on
the matter.
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M r . D a r c y β s D i a r y 1 3 5
We arrived at Rosings this afternoon, and the beauty
of the park struck me anew. It is not as fine as Pemberley, but it looks very well in the spring. We passed Mr
Collins on our way to the house, and I believe he had
been looking for us. He bowed as we passed, and then
hurried off in the direction of the parsonage to share the
news with its inmates. I found myself wondering if Elizabeth was within doors, and how she would feel at the
news of our arrival.
Tuesday 8th April
Mr Collins called this morning to pay his respects. He
found me with Colonel Fitzwilliam. My aunt was taking
a drive with my cousin, Anne.
βMr Darcy, it is an honour to meet you again. I had the
good fortune to make your acquaintance in Hertfordshire,
when I was staying with my fair cousins. I was not married
then, as my dear Charlotte had not yet consented to be my
wife. From the first moment I saw her I knew she would
not disgrace the parsonage at Hunsford, and would delight
my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who
has the honour and distinction of being your most revered
aunt, with her humility and sympathy. Indeed, Lady
Catherine herself was kind enough to say β β
βAre you returning to the parsonage?β I asked, cutting
short his effusions.
He paused momentarily, then said, βIndeed I am.β
βIt is a fine morning.We will walk with you.What do
you say?β I asked Colonel Fitzwilliam.
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A M A N D A G R A N G E
βBy all means.β
We set out. Mr Collins recounted the beauties of the
park to us, interspersed with expressions of humble gratitude for our condescension in visiting his poor home. I
found my mind wandering. Would Elizabeth have
changed since the autumn? Would she be surprised to see
me? No. She knew of my visit. Would she be pleased or
otherwise? Pleased, of course. To reacquaint herself with
a man of my standing must be desirable for her.
Our arrival was announced by the door-bell, and
shortly afterwards we entered the room. I paid my compliments to Mrs Collins, and she bade me welcome. Elizabeth dropped a curtsy.
She is much as she ever was, but the pleasure I experienced on seeing her took me by surprise. I thought I
had conquered my feelings for her, and of course, I have.
It was just that the first instant of seeing her took me
aback.
βThe house is to your liking, I hope?β I asked Mrs
Collins.
βYes, indeed it is,β she said.
βI am glad. My aunt has made some improvements of
late, I know. And the garden? Do you like the aspect?β
βIt is very pleasant.β
βGood.β
I would have said more, but I found my attention
straying to Elizabeth. She was conversing with Colonel
Fitzwilliam in her usual free and easy manner. I could not
decide whether I liked it or not. She was at liberty to talk
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M r . D a r c y β s D i a r y 1 3 7
to my cousin, of course, and to charm him if she would,
but I felt dissatisfied to see how much he enjoyed her
company, and even worse, to see how much she enjoyed
his. At length I realized I was lost in my thoughts, and I
made an effort to be civil.
βYour family are well, I hope, Miss Bennet?β I asked.
βYes, thank you,β she replied. She paused, then said,βMy
sister Jane has been in town these three months. Have
you never happened to see her?β
I was disconcerted, but I replied calmly enough.
βNo, I have not been so fortunate.β
I relapsed into silence, dissatisfied with the turn the
conversation had taken, and soon afterwards my cousin
and I took our leave.
Easter Day, Sunday 13th April
I had seen nothing of Elizabeth since my visit to the parsonage, but I saw her this morning at church. She was
looking very well. The early sun had put colour in her
cheeks, and brightened her eyes.
After the service, Lady Catherine stopped to speak to
the Collinses. Mr Collins beamed as she walked towards
him.
βYour sermon was too long,β said Lady Catherine.
βTwenty minutes is ample time in which to instruct your
flock.β
βYes, Lady Catherine, I β β
βYou made no mention of sobriety. You should have
done.There has been too much drunkenness of late. It is
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