Ɖ moro pṛdyst no abeitmnt v Msz Benit’s il hymr or il hlʈ. Mr Colinz wz olso in ɖ sem stet v angri prîd. Iliẓbʈ hd hopt ɖt hiz rzntmnt mt śortn hiz vizit, bt hiz plan dd nt apir in ɖ līst afctd bî it. H wz olwz t hv gn on Saṭde, n t Saṭde h mnt t ste.

Aftr brecfst, ɖ grlz wōct t Meritn t inqîr f Mr Wicm wr rtrnd, n t l’mnt ovr hiz absns fṛm ɖ Neɖ̇fīld bōl. H jônd ɖm on ɖer enṭrñ ɖ tǎn, n atndd ɖm t ɖer ānt’s ẃr hiz rgret n vxeśn, n ɖ cnsrn v evrbdi, wz wel tōct ovr. T Iliẓbʈ, hvr, h voḷntṛli acnolijd ɖt ɖ nseṣti v hiz absns hd bn slf-impozd.

“I faund,” sd h, “az ɖ tîm drù nir ɖt I hd betr nt mīt Mr Darsi; ɖt t b in ɖ sem rūm, ɖ sem parti wɖ him fr so mni aurz tgɖr, mt b mor ɖn I cd ber, n ɖt sīnz mt arîz unpleznt t mor ɖn mslf.”

Ś hîli apruvd hiz fōrbeṛns, n ɖe hd leźr fr a fl dscuśn v it, n fr ol ɖ comndeśn ẃć ɖe siṿli bstoud on ć uɖr, az Wicm n anɖr ofisr wōct bac wɖ ɖm t Loñbōrn, n jrñ ɖ wōc h ptiklrli atndd t hr. Hiz acumṗniyñ ɖm wz a dubl advantij; ś flt ol ɖ complimnt it ofrd t hrslf, n it wz most axptbl az an oceźn v intṛdysñ him t hr faɖr n muɖr.

Sn aftr ɖer rtrn, a letr wz dlivrd t Mis Benit; it cem fṛm Neɖ̇fīld. Ɖ enṿlop cntend a śīt v elignt, litl, hot-prest pepr, wel cuvrd wɖ a ledi’z fer, flowñ hand; n Iliẓbʈ sw hr sistr’z cǎntinns ćenj az ś réd it, n sw hr dwelñ intntli on sm ptiklr paṣjz. Jen rec̣lectd hrslf sn, n ptñ ɖ letr awe, traid t jôn wɖ hr yźl ćirflnis in ɖ jenṛl convseśn; bt Iliẓbʈ flt an añzayti on ɖ subjict ẃć drù of hr atnśn īvn fṛm Wicm; n no snr hd h n hiz cmpańn tecn līv, ɖn a glans fṛm Jen invîtd hr t folo hr upsterz. Ẃn ɖe hd gend ɖer ǒn rūm, Jen, tecñ ǎt ɖ letr, sd:

“Ɖs z fṛm Caṛlîn Bñli; ẃt it cntenz hz s’prîzd m a gd dīl. Ɖ hol parti hv left Neɖ̇fīld bî ɖs tîm, n r on ɖer we t tǎn – n wɖt eni intnśn v cmñ bac agn. Y śl hír ẃt ś sz.”

Ś ɖen réd ɖ frst sntns alǎd, ẃć cmprîzd ɖ inf̣meśn v ɖer hvñ jst rzolvd t folo ɖer bruɖr t tǎn d’recli, n v ɖer mīnñ t dîn in Grovnr Strīt, ẃr Mr Hrst hd a hǎs. Ɖ nxt wz in ɖz wrdz: “I d nt pritnd t rgret enʈñ I śl līv in Hartfdśr, xpt yr ssayti, mî dirist frend; bt w wl hop, at sm fyćr pirịd, t injô mni rtrnz v ɖt dlîtfl inṭcors w hv noun, n in ɖ mnẃl me lesn ɖ pen v seṗreśn bî a vri frīqnt n most unrizrvd corispondns. I dpnd on y fr ɖt.” T ɖz hî-floun xpreśnz Iliẓbʈ lisnd wɖ ol ɖ insnsbiḷti v dstrust; n ɖo ɖ sudņis v ɖer rmuvl s’prîzd hr, ś sw nʈñ in it riyli t l’mnt; it wz nt t b s’pozd ɖt ɖer absns fṛm Neɖ̇fīld wd privnt Mr Bñli’z biyñ ɖr; n az t ɖ los v ɖer ssayti, ś wz pswedd ɖt Jen mst sīs t rgard it, in ɖ injômnt v hiz.

“It z unluci,” sd ś, aftr a śort pōz, “ɖt y śd nt b ebl t si yr frendz bfr ɖe līv ɖ cuntri. Bt me w nt hop ɖt ɖ pirịd v fyćr hapinis t ẃć Mis Bñli lcs fwd me arîv rlịr ɖn ś z awer, n ɖt ɖ dlîtfl inṭcors y hv noun az frendz wl b rnyd wɖ yt gretr saṭsfax́n az sistrz? Mr Bñli wl nt b dtend in Lundn bî ɖm.”

“Caṛlîn dsîdidli sz ɖt nn v ɖ parti wl rtrn intu Hartfdśr ɖs wintr. I wl rīd it t y:”

“Ẃn mî bruɖr left s yesṭde, h imajnd ɖt ɖ biznis ẃć tc him t Lundn mt b cncludd in ʈri or for dez; bt az w r srtn it canot b so, n at ɖ sem tîm cnvinst ɖt ẃn Ćarlz gts t tǎn h wl b in no huri t līv it agn, w hv dtrmind on folowñ him ɖiɖr, ɖt h me nt b oblîjd t spend hiz vecnt aurz in a cumf̣tlis hotel. Mni v mî aqentnsz r olrdi ɖr fr ɖ wintr; I wś ɖt I cd hír ɖt y, mî dirist frend, hd eni intnśn v mcñ wn v ɖ crǎd – bt v ɖt I dsper. I snsirli hop yr Crisṃs in Hartfdśr me abǎnd in ɖ geytiz ẃć ɖt sīzn jenṛli brñz, n ɖt yr bouz wl b so ńmṛs az t privnt yr fīlñ ɖ los v ɖ ʈri v hūm w śl dprîv y.”

“It z evidnt bî ɖs,” add Jen, “ɖt h cmz bac no mor ɖs wintr.”

“It z onli evidnt ɖt Mis Bñli dz nt mīn ɖt h śd.”

“Ẃ wl y ʈnc so? It mst b hiz ǒn dwñ. H z hiz ǒn mastr. Bt y d nt nǒ ol. I wl rīd y ɖ pasij ẃć ptiklrli hrts m. I wl hv no rzrvz fṛm y.”

“Mr Darsi z impeśnt t si hiz sistr; n, t cnfes ɖ truʈ, w r scersli les īgr t mīt hr agn. I riyli d nt ʈnc Jorjana Darsi hz hr īql fr byti, eligns, n acumpliśmnts; n ɖ afx́n ś inspîrz in Luīza n mslf z hîtnd intu smʈñ stl mor inṭrestñ, fṛm ɖ hop w der entten v hr biyñ hiraftr ǎr sistr. I d nt nǒ ẃɖr I evr bfr mnśnd t y mî fīlñz on ɖs subjict; bt I wl nt līv ɖ cuntri wɖt cnfîdñ ɖm, n I trust y wl nt istim ɖm unrīzṇbl. Mî bruɖr admîrz hr gretli olrdi; h wl hv frīqnt oṗtyṇti nǎ v siyñ hr on ɖ most intiṃt ftñ; hr rleśnz ol wś ɖ cnx́n az mć az hiz ǒn; n a sistr’z parśiaḷti z nt mslidñ m, I ʈnc, ẃn I cōl Ćarlz most ceṗbl v ingejñ eni wmn’z hart. Wɖ ol ɖz srcmstansz t fevr an ataćmnt, n nʈñ t privnt it, am I roñ, mî dirist Jen, in induljñ ɖ hop v an ivnt ẃć wl s’kr ɖ hapinis v so mni?”

“Ẃt d y ʈnc v ɖs sntns, mî dir Lizi?” sd Jen az ś finiśt it. “Z it nt clir inuf? Dz it nt xpresli dcler ɖt Caṛlîn nɖr xpcts nr wśz m t b hr sistr; ɖt ś z prf̣cli cnvinst v hr bruɖr’z indifṛns; n ɖt f ś sspcts ɖ nećr v mî fīlñz fr him, ś mīnz (most cîndli!) t pt m on mî gard? Cn ɖr b eni uɖr opińn on ɖ subjict?”

“Yes, ɖr cn; fr mîn z toṭli difṛnt. Wl y hír it?”

“Most wilñli.”

“Y śl hv it in a fy wrdz. Mis Bñli siz ɖt hr bruɖr z in luv wɖ y, n wonts him t mari Mis Darsi. Ś foloz him t tǎn in hop v cīpñ him ɖr, n trîz t pswed y ɖt h dz nt cer abt y.”

Jen śc hr hed.

“Indd, Jen, y òt t b’liv m. Nwn hu hz evr sìn y tgɖr cn dǎt hiz afx́n. Mis Bñli, I am śr, canot. Ś z nt sć a simpltn. Cd ś hv sìn haf az mć luv in Mr Darsi fr hrslf, ś wd hv ordrd hr wedñcloɖz. Bt ɖ ces z ɖs: W r nt rić inuf or grand inuf fr ɖm; n ś z ɖ mor añśs t gt Mis Darsi fr hr bruɖr, fṛm ɖ nośn ɖt ẃn ɖr hz bn wn inṭmarij, ś me hv les trubl in aćivñ a secnd; in ẃć ɖr z srtnli sm inɉnywti, n I der se it wd s’xid, f Mis d’Brg wr ǎt v ɖ we. Bt, mî dirist Jen, y canot sirịsli imajn ɖt bcz Mis Bñli tlz y hr bruɖr gretli admîrz Mis Darsi, h z in ɖ smōlist dgri les snṣbl v yr merit ɖn ẃn h tc līv v y on Tyzde, or ɖt it wl b in hr pǎr t pswed him ɖt, instd v biyñ in luv wɖ y, h z vri mć in luv wɖ hr frend.”

“F w ʈt alîc v Mis Bñli,” rplaid Jen, “yr repriznteśn v ol ɖs mt mc m qt īzi. Bt I nǒ ɖ fǎndeśn z unjust. Caṛlîn z inceṗbl v wilf̣li dsivñ enwn; n ol ɖt I cn hop in ɖs ces z ɖt ś z dsivñ hrslf.”

“Ɖt z rît. Y cd nt hv startd a mor hapi îdīa, sins y wl nt tec cumf̣t in mîn. B’liv hr t b dsivd, bî ol mīnz. Y hv nǎ dn yr dyti bî hr, n mst fret no longr.”

“Bt, mî dir sistr, cn I b hapi, īvn s’pozñ ɖ bst, in axptñ a man huz sistrz n frendz r ol wśñ him t mari elsẃr?”

“Y mst dsîd fr yrslf,” sd Iliẓbʈ; “n f, upn mtyr dliḅreśn, y fînd ɖt ɖ miẓri v dis’blîjñ hiz tū sistrz z mor ɖn iqivḷnt t ɖ hapinis v biyñ hiz wîf, I advîz y bî ol mīnz t rfyz him.”

“Hǎ cn y tōc so?” sd Jen, fentli smîlñ. “Y mst nǒ ɖt ɖo I śd b xidñli grīvd at ɖer disapṛbeśn, I cd nt heẓtet.”

“I dd nt ʈnc y wd; n ɖt biyñ ɖ ces, I canot cnsidr yr sićueśn wɖ mć cmpaśn.”

“Bt f h rtrnz no mor ɖs wintr, mî ćôs wl nvr b rqîrd. A ʈǎznd ʈñz me arîz in six munʈs!”

Ɖ îdīa v hiz rtrnñ no mor Iliẓbʈ trītd wɖ ɖ utmost cntmt. It apird t hr mirli ɖ sjsćn v Caṛlîn’z inṭrestd wśz, n ś cd nt fr a momnt s’poz ɖt ɖoz wśz, hvr opnli or artf̣li spocn, cd inflụns a yuñ man so toṭli indipndnt v evrwn.

Ś reprizntd t hr sistr az forṣbli az poṣbl ẃt ś flt on ɖ subjict, n hd sn ɖ pleźr v siyñ its hapi ifct. Jen’z tmpr wz nt dspondñ, n ś wz graɉli léd t hop, ɖo ɖ difidns v afx́n smtmz oṿcem ɖ hop, ɖt Bñli wd rtrn t Neɖ̇fīld n ansr evri wś v hr hart.

Ɖe agrìd ɖt Msz Benit śd onli hír v ɖ dparćr v ɖ faṃli, wɖt biyñ alarmd on ɖ scor v ɖ jntlmn’z conduct; bt īvn ɖs parśl cḿṇceśn gev hr a gret dīl v cnsrn, n ś bweild it az xidñli unluci ɖt ɖ lediz śd hapn t g awe jst az ɖe wr ol gtñ so intiṃt tgɖr. Aftr l’mentñ it, hvr, at sm leñʈ, ś hd ɖ conṣleśn ɖt Mr Bñli wd b sn dǎn agn n sn dînñ at Loñbōrn, n ɖ cncluźn v ol wz ɖ cumf̣tbl decḷreśn, ɖt ɖo h hd bn invîtd onli t a faṃlidinr, ś wd tec cer t hv tū fl corsz.

In az śort a tîm az Mr Colinz’z loñ spīćz wd alǎ, evrʈñ wz setld btwn ɖm t ɖ saṭsfax́n v bʈ; n az ɖe entrd ɖ hǎs h rṇstli intritd hr t nem ɖ de ɖt wz t mc him ɖ hapiist v men; n ɖo sć a s’liṣteśn mst b weivd fr ɖ preznt, ɖ ledi flt no incḷneśn t trîfl wɖ hiz hapinis. Ɖ stypidti wɖ ẃć h wz fevrd bî nećr mst gard hiz cortśp fṛm eni ćarm ɖt cd mc a wmn wś fr its cntinẏns; n Mis Lūc̣s, hu axptd him soļi fṛm ɖ pyr n disinṭrestd dzîr v an istabliśmnt, cerd nt hǎ sn ɖt istabliśmnt wr gend.

Sr Wiłm n Ledi Lūc̣s wr spīḍli aplaid t fr ɖer cnsnt; n it wz bstoud wɖ a most jôfl alacṛti. Mr Colinz’z preznt srcmstansz md it a most eliɉbl mać fr ɖer dōtr, t hūm ɖe cd gv litl fortyn; n hiz prospects v fyćr wlʈ wr xidñli fer. Ledi Lūc̣s bgan d’recli t calklet, wɖ mor inṭrest ɖn ɖ matr hd evr xîtd bfr, hǎ mni yirz longr Mr Benit wz lîcli t liv; n Sr Wiłm gev it az hiz dsîdd opińn, ɖt ẃnvr Mr Colinz śd b in pześn v ɖ Loñbōrn istet, it wd b hîli xpīdịnt ɖt bʈ h n hiz wîf śd mc ɖer apiṛns at St. Jemz’z. Ɖ hol faṃli, in śort, wr proprli oṿjoid on ɖ oceźn. Ɖ yungr grlz formd hops v cmñ ǎt a yir or tū snr ɖn ɖe mt uɖrwz hv dn; n ɖ bôz wr rlivd fṛm ɖer aprihnśn v Śarlót’s dayñ an old meid. Śarlót hrslf wz tolṛbli cmpozd. Ś hd gend hr pônt, n hd tîm t cnsidr v it. Hr rflex́nz wr in jenṛl saṭsfactri. Mr Colinz, t b śr, wz nɖr snṣbl nr agriybl; hiz ssayti wz rcsm, n hiz ataćmnt t hr mst b imajinri. Bt stl h wd b hr huzbnd. Wɖt ʈncñ hîli îɖr v men or matriṃni, marij hd olwz bn hr objict; it wz ɖ onli pṛviźn fr wel-edycetd yuñ wimin v smōl fortyn, n hvr unsrtn v gvñ hapinis, mst b ɖer plezntist prizrvtiv fṛm wont. Ɖs prizrvtiv ś hd nǎ obtend; n at ɖ ej v twenti-sevn, wɖt hvñ evr bn hansm, ś flt ol ɖ gd luc v it. Ɖ līst agriybl srcmstans in ɖ biznis wz ɖ s’prîz it mst oceźn t Iliẓbʈ Benit, huz frendśp ś valyd bynd ɖt v eni uɖr prsn. Iliẓbʈ wd wundr, n probbli wd blem hr; n ɖo hr reẓluśn wz nt t b śecn, hr fīlñz mst b hrt bî sć a disapṛbeśn. Ś rzolvd t gv hr ɖ inf̣meśn hrslf, n ɖrfr ćarjd Mr Colinz, ẃn h rtrnd t Loñbōrn t dinr, t drop no hint v ẃt hd pást bfr eni v ɖ faṃli. A promis v sīcṛsi wz v cors vri dytifli gvn, bt it cd nt b cept wɖt dificlti; fr ɖ krioṣti xîtd bî hiz loñ absns brst fʈ in sć vri d’rect qsćnz on hiz rtrn az rqîrd sm inɉnywti t ived, n h wz at ɖ sem tîm x’sîzñ gret slf-dnayl, fr h wz loññ t publiś hiz prospṛs luv.

Az h wz t bgin hiz jrni tù rli on ɖ moro t si eni v ɖ faṃli, ɖ seriṃni v līvtecñ wz pformd ẃn ɖ lediz muvd fr ɖ nît; n Msz Benit, wɖ gret p’lîtnis n cordiaḷti, sd hǎ hapi ɖe śd b t si him at Loñbōrn agn, ẃnvr hiz ingejmnts mt alǎ him t vizit ɖm.

“Mî dir madm,” h rplaid, “ɖs invteśn z ptiklrli graṭfayñ, bcz it z ẃt I hv bn hopñ t rsiv; n y me b vri srtn ɖt I śl avel mslf v it az sn az poṣbl.”

Ɖe wr ol astoniśt; n Mr Benit, hu cd bî no mīnz wś fr so spīdi a rtrn, imīɉtli sd:

“Bt z ɖr nt denjr v Ledi Caʈ̇rin’z disapṛbeśn hir, mî gd sr? Y hd betr nglect yr rleśnz ɖn run ɖ risc v ofndñ yr petṛnes.”

“Mî dir sr,” rplaid Mr Colinz, “I am ptiklrli oblîjd t y fr ɖs frendli cōśn, n y me dpnd upn mî nt tecñ so mtirịl a step wɖt hr lediśp’s cncuṛns.”

“Y canot b tù mć upn yr gard. Risc enʈñ rɖr ɖn hr dspleźr; n f y fînd it lîcli t b rezd bî yr cmñ t s agn, ẃć I śd ʈnc xidñli probbl, ste qaytli at hom, n b saṭsfaid ɖt w śl tec no ofns.”

“B’liv m, mî dir sr, mî grattyd z wormli xîtd bî sć afx́ṇt atnśn; n dpnd upn it, y wl spīḍli rsiv fṛm m a letr v ʈancs fr ɖs, n fr evri uɖr marc v yr rgard jrñ mî ste in Hartfdśr. Az fr mî fer cuznz, ɖo mî absns me nt b loñ inuf t rendr it nesṣri, I śl nǎ tec ɖ liḅti v wśñ ɖm hlʈ n hapinis, nt xptñ mî cuzn Iliẓbʈ.”

Wɖ propr sviḷtiz ɖ lediz ɖen wɖdru; ol v ɖm īqli s’prîzd ɖt h medtetd a qc rtrn. Msz Benit wśt t unḍstand bî it ɖt h ʈt v peyñ hiz adresz t wn v hr yungr grlz, n Mẹri mt hv bn priveld on t axpt him. Ś retd hiz abiḷtiz mć hayr ɖn eni v ɖ uɖrz; ɖr wz a s’lidti in hiz rflex́nz ẃć ofn struc hr, n ɖo bî no mīnz so clevr az hrslf, ś ʈt ɖt f incurijd t rīd n impruv himslf bî sć an xampl az hrz, h mt bcm a vri agriybl cmpańn. Bt on ɖ folowñ mornñ, evri hop v ɖs cnd wz dn awe. Mis Lūc̣s cōld sn aftr brecfst, n in a prîṿt confṛns wɖ Iliẓbʈ rletd ɖ ivnt v ɖ de bfr.

Ɖ posbiḷti v Mr Colinz’z fansiyñ himslf in luv wɖ hr frend hd wns ocŕd t Iliẓbʈ wɖn ɖ last de or tū; bt ɖt Śarlót cd incurij him sīmd olmst az far fṛm posbiḷti az ś cd incurij him hrslf, n hr astoniśmnt wz consiqntli so gret az t oṿcm at frst ɖ bǎndz v dcoṛm, n ś cd nt hlp crayñ ǎt:

“Ingejd t Mr Colinz! Mî dir Śarlót – imposbl!”

Ɖ stedi cǎntinns ẃć Mis Lūc̣s hd cmandd in telñ hr stori, gev we t a momntri cnfyźn hir on rsivñ so d’rect a rproć; ɖo, az it wz no mor ɖn ś xpctd, ś sn rgend hr cmpoźr, n cāmli rplaid:

“Ẃ śd y b s’prîzd, mî dir Ilîza? D y ʈnc it increḍbl ɖt Mr Colinz śd b ebl t pṛkr eni wmn’z gd opińn, bcz h wz nt so hapi az t s’xid wɖ y?”

Bt Iliẓbʈ hd nǎ rec̣lectd hrslf, n mcñ a stroñ ef̣t fr it, wz ebl t aśur wɖ tolṛbl frmnis ɖt ɖ prospect v ɖer rleśnśp wz hîli gretfl t hr, n ɖt ś wśt hr ol imajiṇbl hapinis.

“I si ẃt y r fīlñ,” rplaid Śarlót. “Y mst b s’prîzd, vri mć s’prîzd – so lêtli az Mr Colinz wz wśñ t mari y. Bt ẃn y hv hd tîm t ʈnc it ovr, I hop y wl b saṭsfaid wɖ ẃt I hv dn. I am nt r’mantic, y nǒ; I nvr wz. I asc onli a cumf̣tbl hom; n cnsiḍrñ Mr Colinz’z caṛctr, cnx́n, n sićueśn in lîf, I am cnvinst ɖt mî ćans v hapinis wɖ him z az fer az most ppl cn bost on enṭrñ ɖ marijstet.”

Iliẓbʈ qaytli ansrd “Undǎtidli;” n aftr an ōcẉd pōz, ɖe rtrnd t ɖ rest v ɖ faṃli. Śarlót dd nt ste mć longr, n Iliẓbʈ wz ɖen left t rflect on ẃt ś hd hŕd. It wz a loñ tîm bfr ś bcem at ol recnsîld t ɖ îdīa v so unsūṭbl a mać. Ɖ strenjnis v Mr Colinz’z mcñ tū ofrz v marij wɖn ʈri dez wz nʈñ in cmparisn v hiz biyñ nǎ axptd. Ś hd olwz flt ɖt Śarlót’s opińn v matriṃni wz nt xacli lîc hr ǒn, bt ś hd nt s’pozd it t b poṣbl ɖt, ẃn cōld intu ax́n, ś wd hv sacṛfîst evri betr fīlñ t wrldli advantij. Śarlót ɖ wîf v Mr Colinz wz a most hymilietñ picćr! N t ɖ pañ v a frend dsgresñ hrslf n sunc in hr istim, wz add ɖ dstresñ cnvix́n ɖt it wz imposbl fr ɖt frend t b tolṛbli hapi in ɖ lot ś hd ćozn.

“Gd Lord! Sr Wiłm, hǎ cn y tel sć a stori? D nt y nǒ ɖt Mr Colinz wonts t mari Lizi?”

Nʈñ les ɖn ɖ cmplesns v a cortịr cd hv bòrn wɖt angr sć trītmnt; bt Sr Wiłm’z gd brīdñ carid him ʈru it ol; n ɖo h begd līv t b poẓtiv az t ɖ truʈ v hiz inf̣meśn, h lisnd t ol ɖer imprtinns wɖ ɖ most forberñ crṭsi.

Iliẓbʈ, fīlñ it incumbnt on hr t rliv him fṛm so unpleznt a sićueśn, nǎ pt hrslf fwd t cnfrm hiz acǎnt, bî mnṣ́nñ hr prîr nolij v it fṛm Śarlót hrslf; n indevrd t pt a stop t ɖ xcḷmeśnz v hr muɖr n sistrz bî ɖ rṇstnis v hr cngrać̣leśnz t Sr Wiłm, in ẃć ś wz reḍli jônd bî Jen, n bî mcñ a vrayti v rmarcs on ɖ hapinis ɖt mt b xpctd fṛm ɖ mać, ɖ xḷnt caṛctr v Mr Colinz, n ɖ cnvińnt distns v Hunsf̣d fṛm Lundn.

Msz Benit wz in fact tù mć oṿpǎrd t se a gret dīl ẃl Sr Wiłm rmend; bt no snr hd h left ɖm ɖn hr fīlñz faund a rapid vnt. In ɖ frst ples, ś psistd in disḅlivñ ɖ hol v ɖ matr; secndli, ś wz vri śr ɖt Mr Colinz hd bn tecn in; ʈrdli, ś trustd ɖt ɖe wd nvr b hapi tgɖr; n forʈli, ɖt ɖ mać mt b brocn of. Tū infṛnsz, hvr, wr plenli ddyst fṛm ɖ hol: wn, ɖt Iliẓbʈ wz ɖ riyl cōz v ɖ misćif; n ɖ uɖr ɖt ś hrslf hd bn barbṛsli msyzd bî ɖm ol; n on ɖz tū pônts ś prinsipli dwelt jrñ ɖ rest v ɖ de. Nʈñ cd consol n nʈñ cd apiz hr. Nr dd ɖt de wer ǎt hr rzntmnt. A wīc ilapst bfr ś cd si Iliẓbʈ wɖt scoldñ hr, a munʈ pást awe bfr ś cd spīc t Sr Wiłm or Ledi Lūc̣s wɖt biyñ rūd, n mni munʈs wr gn bfr ś cd at ol fgiv ɖer dōtr.

Mr Benit’s imośnz wr mć mor tranqil on ɖ oceźn, n sć az h dd xpirịns h pṛnǎnst t b v a most agriybl sort; fr it graṭfaid him, h sd, t dscuvr ɖt Śarlót Lūc̣s, hūm h hd bn yst t ʈnc tolṛbli snṣbl, wz az fūliś az hiz wîf, n mor fūliś ɖn hiz dōtr!

Jen cnfest hrslf a litl s’prîzd at ɖ mać; bt ś sd les v hr astoniśmnt ɖn v hr rnist dzîr fr ɖer hapinis; nr cd Iliẓbʈ pswed hr t cnsidr it az improbbl. Citi n Lidia wr far fṛm enviyñ Mis Lūc̣s, fr Mr Colinz wz onli a clrjimn; n it afctd ɖm in no uɖr we ɖn az a pìs v nyz t spred at Meritn.

Ledi Lūc̣s cd nt b insnsbl v trîumf on biyñ ebl t rtort on Msz Benit ɖ cumf̣t v hvñ a dōtr wel marid; n ś cōld at Loñbōrn rɖr of̣nr ɖn yźl t se hǎ hapi ś wz, ɖo Msz Benit’s sǎr lcs n il-nećrd rmarcs mt hv bn inuf t drîv hapinis awe.

Btwn Iliẓbʈ n Śarlót ɖr wz a rstrent ẃć cept ɖm ḿć̣li sîḷnt on ɖ subjict; n Iliẓbʈ flt pswedd ɖt no riyl confidns cd evr sbsist btwn ɖm agn. Hr dis’pôntmnt in Śarlót md hr trn wɖ fondr rgard t hr sistr, v huz recttyd n delic̣si ś wz śr hr opińn cd nvr b śecn, n fr huz hapinis ś grù dêli mor añśs, az Bñli hd nǎ bn gn a wīc n nʈñ mor wz hŕd v hiz rtrn.

Jen hd snt Caṛlîn an rli ansr t hr letr, n wz cǎntñ ɖ dez tl ś mt rīzṇbli hop t hír agn. Ɖ promist letr v ʈancs fṛm Mr Colinz arîvd on Tyzde, adrest t ɖer faɖr, n ritn wɖ ol ɖ s’lemṇti v grattyd ẃć a twelvmunʈ’s abod in ɖ faṃli mt hv promtd. Aftr dsćarjñ hiz conśns on ɖt hed, h pṛsidd t inform ɖm, wɖ mni rapćṛs xpreśnz, v hiz hapinis in hvñ obtend ɖ afx́n v ɖer emịbl nebr, Mis Lūc̣s, n ɖen xplend ɖt it wz mirli wɖ ɖ vy v injoyñ hr ssayti ɖt h hd bn so redi t cloz wɖ ɖer cînd wś v siyñ him agn at Loñbōrn, ẃiɖr h hopt t b ebl t rtrn on Munde fortnît; fr Ledi Caʈ̇rin, h add, so harṭli apruvd hiz marij, ɖt ś wśt it t tec ples az sn az poṣbl, ẃć h trustd wd b an unansṛbl arğmnt wɖ hiz emịbl Śarlót t nem an rli de fr mcñ him ɖ hapiist v men.

Mr Colinz’z rtrn intu Hartfdśr wz no longr a matr v pleźr t Msz Benit. On ɖ contrri, ś wz az mć dspozd t cmplen v it az hr huzbnd. It wz vri strenj ɖt h śd cm t Loñbōrn instd v t Lūc̣s Loj; it wz olso vri incnvińnt n xidñli trublsm. Ś hetd hvñ vizitrz in ɖ hǎs ẃl hr hlʈ wz so indifṛnt, n luvrz wr v ol ppl ɖ most dis’griybl. Sć wr ɖ jntl mrmrz v Msz Benit, n ɖe gev we onli t ɖ gretr dstres v Mr Bñli’z cntinyd absns.

Nɖr Jen nr Iliẓbʈ wr cumf̣tbl on ɖs subjict. De aftr de pást awe wɖt brññ eni uɖr tîdñz v him ɖn ɖ rport ẃć śortli priveld in Meritn v hiz cmñ no mor t Neɖ̇fīld ɖ hol wintr; a rport ẃć hîli insnst Msz Benit, n ẃć ś nvr feld t contṛdict az a most scandḷs fōlshd.

Īvn Iliẓbʈ bgan t fir – nt ɖt Bñli wz indifṛnt – bt ɖt hiz sistrz wd b s’xesfl in cīpñ him awe. Unwilñ az ś wz t admit an îdīa so dstructiv v Jen’z hapinis, n so dsonṛbl t ɖ stbiḷti v hr luvr, ś cd nt privnt its frīqntli ocŕñ. Ɖ ynîtd ef̣ts v hiz tū unfīlñ sistrz n v hiz oṿpǎrñ frend, asistd bî ɖ atrax́nz v Mis Darsi n ɖ aḿzmnts v Lundn mt b tù mć, ś fird, fr ɖ streñʈ v hiz ataćmnt.

Az fr Jen, hr añzayti undr ɖs sspns wz, v cors, mor penfl ɖn Iliẓbʈ’s, bt ẃtvr ś flt ś wz dzîṛs v cnsilñ, n btwn hrslf n Iliẓbʈ, ɖrfr, ɖ subjict wz nvr aludd t. Bt az no sć delic̣si rstrend hr muɖr, an aur sldm pást in ẃć ś dd nt tōc v Bñli, xpres hr impeśns fr hiz arîvl, or īvn rqîr Jen t cnfes ɖt f h dd nt cm bac ś wd ʈnc hrslf vri il yzd. It nīdd ol Jen’z stedi mîldnis t ber ɖz atacs wɖ tolṛbl tranqiḷti.

Mr Colinz rtrnd most puñć̣li on Munde fortnît, bt hiz rspśn at Loñbōrn wz nt qt so greśs az it hd bn on hiz frst intṛdux́n. H wz tù hapi, hvr, t nīd mć atnśn; n luc̣li fr ɖ uɖrz, ɖ biznis v luv-mcñ rlivd ɖm fṛm a gret dīl v hiz cumṗni. Ɖ ćīf v evri de wz spent bî him at Lūc̣s Loj, n h smtmz rtrnd t Loñbōrn onli in tîm t mc an apoḷji fr hiz absns bfr ɖ faṃli wnt t bed.

Msz Benit wz riyli in a most pitịbl stet. Ɖ vri mnśn v enʈñ cnsrnñ ɖ mać ʈrù hr intu an aġni v il hymr, n ẃrvr ś wnt ś wz śr v hírñ it tōct v. Ɖ sît v Mis Lūc̣s wz odịs t hr. Az hr s’xesr in ɖt hǎs, ś rgardd hr wɖ jeḷs abhoṛns. Ẃnvr Śarlót cem t si ɖm, ś cncludd hr t b antiṣpetñ ɖ aur v pześn; n ẃnvr ś spouc in a lo vôs t Mr Colinz, wz cnvinst ɖt ɖe wr tōcñ v ɖ Loñbōrn istet, n rzolvñ t trn hrslf n hr dōtrz ǎt v ɖ hǎs, az sn az Mr Benit wr ded. Ś cmplend bitrli v ol ɖs t hr huzbnd.

“Indd, Mr Benit,” sd ś, “it z vri hard t ʈnc ɖt Śarlót Lūc̣s śd evr b mistris v ɖs hǎs, ɖt I śd b forst t mc we fr hr, n liv t si hr tec hr ples in it!”

“Mî dir, d nt gv we t sć glūmi ʈts. Let s hop fr betr ʈñz. Let s flatr ǎrslvz ɖt I me b ɖ svîvr.”

Ɖs wz nt vri cnsolñ t Msz Benit, n ɖrfr, instd v mcñ eni ansr, ś wnt on az bfr.

“I canot ber t ʈnc ɖt ɖe śd hv ol ɖs istet. F it wz nt fr ɖ inteil, I śd nt mînd it.”

“Ẃt śd nt y mînd?”

“I śd nt mînd enʈñ at ol.”

“Let s b ʈancfl ɖt y r prizrvd fṛm a stet v sć insnsbiḷti.”

“I nvr cn b ʈancfl, Mr Benit, fr enʈñ abt ɖ inteil. Hǎ enwn cd hv ɖ conśns t inteil awe an istet fṛm wn’z ǒn dōtrz, I canot unḍstand; n ol fr ɖ sec v Mr Colinz tù! Ẃ śd h hv it mor ɖn enbdi els?”

“I līv it t yrslf t dtrmin,” sd Mr Benit.

Hop wz ovr, intîrli ovr; n ẃn Jen cd atnd t ɖ rest v ɖ letr, ś faund litl, xpt ɖ pṛfest afx́n v ɖ raitr, ɖt cd gv hr eni cumf̣t. Mis Darsi’z prêz okpaid ɖ ćīf v it. Hr mni atrax́nz wr agn dwelt on, n Caṛlîn bostd jôf̣li v ɖer incrisñ intiṃsi, n vnćrd t pridict ɖ acumpliśmnt v ɖ wśz ẃć hd bn unfoldd in hr formr letr. Ś rout olso wɖ gret pleźr v hr bruɖr’z biyñ an inmet v Mr Darsi’z hǎs, n mnśnd wɖ rapćrz sm planz v ɖ latr wɖ rgard t ny frnićr.

Iliẓbʈ, t hūm Jen vri sn cḿṇcetd ɖ ćīf v ol ɖs, hŕd it in sîḷnt inḍgneśn. Hr hart wz dvîdd btwn cnsrn fr hr sistr, n rzntmnt agnst ol uɖrz. T Caṛlîn’z asrśn v hr bruɖr’z biyñ parśl t Mis Darsi ś peid no credit. Ɖt h wz riyli fond v Jen, ś dǎtd no mor ɖn ś hd evr dn; n mć az ś hd olwz bn dspozd t lîc him, ś cd nt ʈnc wɖt angr, hardli wɖt cntmt, on ɖt īzinis v tmpr, ɖt wont v propr reẓluśn, ẃć nǎ md him ɖ slev v hiz dzînñ frendz, n léd him t sacṛfîs v hiz ǒn hapinis t ɖ cprīs v ɖer incḷneśn. Hd hiz ǒn hapinis, hvr, bn ɖ onli sacṛfîs, h mt hv bn alaud t sport wɖ it in ẃtvr manr h ʈt bst, bt hr sistr’z wz involvd in it, az ś ʈt h mst b snṣbl himslf. It wz a subjict, in śort, on ẃć rflex́n wd b loñ induljd, n mst b un’velñ. Ś cd ʈnc v nʈñ els; n yt ẃɖr Bñli’z rgard hd riyli daid awe, or wr s’prest bî hiz frendz’ inṭfiṛns; ẃɖr h hd bn awer v Jen’z ataćmnt, or ẃɖr it hd iscept hiz obẓveśn; ẃtvr wr ɖ ces, ɖo hr opińn v him mst b mtirịli afctd bî ɖ difṛns, hr sistr’z sićueśn rmend ɖ sem, hr pīs īqli wūndd.

A de or tū pást bfr Jen hd curij t spīc v hr fīlñz t Iliẓbʈ; bt at last, on Msz Benit’s līvñ ɖm tgɖr, aftr a longr iṛteśn ɖn yźl abt Neɖ̇fīld n its mastr, ś cd nt hlp seyñ:

“Ǒ, ɖt mî dir muɖr hd mor cmand ovr hrslf! Ś cn hv no îdīa v ɖ pen ś gvz m bî hr cntińl rflex́nz on him. Bt I wl nt rpîn. It canot last loñ. H wl b fgot, n w śl ol b az w wr bfr.”

Iliẓbʈ lct at hr sistr wɖ increɉḷs s’liṣtyd, bt sd nʈñ.

“Y dǎt m,” craid Jen, slîtli cuḷrñ; “indd, y hv no rīzn. H me liv in mî meṃri az ɖ most emịbl man v mî aqentns, bt ɖt z ol. I hv nʈñ îɖr t hop or fir, n nʈñ t rproć him wɖ. Ʈanc God! I hv nt ɖt pen. A litl tîm, ɖrfr – I śl srtnli trî t gt ɖ betr.”

Wɖ a strongr vôs ś sn add, “I hv ɖs cumf̣t imīɉtli, ɖt it hz nt bn mor ɖn an err v fansi on mî sîd, n ɖt it hz dn no harm t enwn bt mslf.”

“Mî dir Jen!” xclemd Iliẓbʈ, “y r tù gd. Yr swītnis n disinṭrestidnis r riyli anjelic; I d nt nǒ ẃt t se t y. I fīl az f I hd nvr dn y justis, or luvd y az y dzrv.”

Mis Benit īgrli dsclemd ol xtrordnri merit, n ʈrù bac ɖ prêz on hr sistr’z worm afx́n.

“Nê,” sd Iliẓbʈ, “ɖs z nt fer. Y wś t ʈnc ol ɖ wrld rspctbl, n r hrt f I spīc il v enbdi. I onli wont t ʈnc y prfict, n y set yrslf agnst it. D nt b afreid v mî runñ intu eni xes, v mî incroćñ on yr priṿlij v yṇvrsl gdwil. Y nīd nt. Ɖr r fy ppl hūm I riyli luv, n stl fywr v hūm I ʈnc wel. Ɖ mor I si v ɖ wrld, ɖ mor am I dșaṭsfaid wɖ it; n evri de cnfrmz mî b’lif v ɖ incnsistnsi v ol hymn caṛctrz, n v ɖ litl dpndns ɖt cn b plest on ɖ apiṛns v merit or sns. I hv met wɖ tū instnsz lêtli, wn I wl nt mnśn; ɖ uɖr z Śarlót’s marij. It z un’cǎntbl! In evri vy it z un’cǎntbl!”

“Mî dir Lizi, d nt gv we t sć fīlñz az ɖz. Ɖe wl ruin yr hapinis. Y d nt mc alawns inuf fr difṛns v sićueśn n tmpr. Cnsidr Mr Colinz’z rspctbiḷti, n Śarlót’s stedi, prūdnt caṛctr. Rmembr ɖt ś z wn v a larj faṃli; ɖt az t fortyn, it z a most eliɉbl mać; n b redi t b’liv, fr evrbdi’z sec, ɖt ś me fīl smʈñ lîc rgard n istim fr ǎr cuzn.”

“T oblîj y, I wd trî t b’liv olmst enʈñ, bt nwn els cd b beṇfitd bî sć a b’lif az ɖs; fr wr I pswedd ɖt Śarlót hd eni rgard fr him, I śd onli ʈnc wrs v hr unḍstandñ ɖn I nǎ d v hr hart. Mî dir Jen, Mr Colinz z a cnsitd, pomṗs, naro-mîndd, sili man; y nǒ h z, az wel az I d; n y mst fīl, az wel az I d, ɖt ɖ wmn hu marid him canot hv a propr we v ʈncñ. Y śl nt dfnd hr, ɖo it z Śarlót Lūc̣s. Y śl nt, fr ɖ sec v wn indivijl, ćenj ɖ mīnñ v prínsipl n integṛti, nr indevr t pswed yrslf or m, ɖt slfiśnis z prūdns, n insnsbiḷti v denjr s’kṛti fr hapinis.”

“I mst ʈnc yr lanḡj tù stroñ in spīcñ v bʈ,” rplaid Jen; “n I hop y wl b cnvinst v it bî siyñ ɖm hapi tgɖr. Bt inuf v ɖs. Y aludd t smʈñ els. Y mnśnd tū instnsz. I canot misunḍstand y, bt I intrit y, dir Lizi, nt t pen m bî ʈncñ ɖt prsn t blem, n seyñ yr opińn v him z sunc. W mst nt b so redi t fansi ǎrslvz intnśṇli injrd. W mst nt xpct a lîvli yuñ man t b olwz so gardd n srcmspect. It z vri ofn nʈñ bt ǎr ǒn vaṇti ɖt dsivz s. Wimin fansi adṃreśn mīnz mor ɖn it dz.”

“N men tec cer ɖt ɖe śd.”

“F it z dzînidli dn, ɖe canot b jusṭfaid; bt I hv no îdīa v ɖr biyñ so mć dzîn in ɖ wrld az sm prsnz imajn.”

“I am far fṛm atribytñ eni part v Mr Bñli’z conduct t dzîn,” sd Iliẓbʈ; “bt wɖt scīmñ t d roñ, or t mc uɖrz unhapi, ɖr me b err, n ɖr me b miẓri. Ʈtlisnis, wont v atnśn t uɖr ppl’z fīlñz, n wont v reẓluśn, wl d ɖ biznis.”

“N d y impyt it t îɖr v ɖoz?”

“Yes; t ɖ last. Bt f I g on, I śl dspliz y bî seyñ ẃt I ʈnc v prsnz y istim. Stop m ẃlst y cn.”

“Y psist, ɖen, in s’pozñ hiz sistrz inflụns him?”

“Yes, in cnjuñśn wɖ hiz frend.”

“I canot b’liv it. Ẃ śd ɖe trî t inflụns him? Ɖe cn onli wś hiz hapinis; n f h z ataćt t m, no uɖr wmn cn s’kr it.”

“Yr frst pziśn z fōls. Ɖe me wś mni ʈñz bsdz hiz hapinis; ɖe me wś hiz incrīs v wlʈ n consiqns; ɖe me wś him t mari a grl hu hz ol ɖ importns v muni, gret cnx́nz, n prîd.”

“Bynd a dǎt, ɖe d wś him t ćūz Mis Darsi,” rplaid Jen; “bt ɖs me b fṛm betr fīlñz ɖn y r s’pozñ. Ɖe hv noun hr mć longr ɖn ɖe hv noun m; no wundr f ɖe luv hr betr. Bt, ẃtvr me b ɖer ǒn wśz, it z vri unlîcli ɖe śd hv opozd ɖer bruɖr’z. Ẃt sistr wd ʈnc hrslf at liḅti t d it, unls ɖr wr smʈñ vri objx́ṇbl? F ɖe b’livd him ataćt t m, ɖe wd nt trî t part s; f h wr so, ɖe cd nt s’xid. Bî s’pozñ sć an afx́n, y mc evrbdi actñ uņaćṛli n roñ, n m most unhapi. D nt dstres m bî ɖ îdīa. I am nt aśemd v hvñ bn mstecn – or, at līst, it z lît, it z nʈñ in cmparisn v ẃt I śd fīl in ʈncñ il v him or hiz sistrz. Let m tec it in ɖ bst lît, in ɖ lît in ẃć it me b unḍstd.”

Iliẓbʈ cd nt opoz sć a wś; n fṛm ɖs tîm Mr Bñli’z nem wz scersli evr mnśnd btwn ɖm.

Msz Benit stl cntinyd t wundr n rpîn at hiz rtrnñ no mor, n ɖo a de sldm pást in ẃć Iliẓbʈ dd nt acǎnt fr it clirli, ɖr wz litl ćans v hr evr cnsiḍrñ it wɖ les pplex̣ti. Hr dōtr indevrd t cnvins hr v ẃt ś dd nt b’liv hrslf, ɖt hiz atnśnz t Jen hd bn mirli ɖ ifct v a comn n tranzịnt lîcñ, ẃć sīst ẃn h sw hr no mor; bt ɖo ɖ probbiḷti v ɖ stetmnt wz admitd at ɖ tîm, ś hd ɖ sem stori t rpit evri de. Msz Benit’s bst cumf̣t wz ɖt Mr Bñli mst b dǎn agn in ɖ sumr.

Mr Benit trītd ɖ matr difṛntli. “So, Lizi,” sd h wn de, “yr sistr z crost in luv, I fînd. I cngrać̣let hr. Nxt t biyñ marid, a grl lîcs t b crost a litl in luv nǎ n ɖen. It z smʈñ t ʈnc v, n it gvz hr a sort v dstñśn amñ hr cmpańnz. Ẃn z yr trn t cm? Y wl hardli ber t b loñ ǎtdun bî Jen. Nǎ z yr tîm. Hir r ofisrz inuf in Meritn t dis’pônt ol ɖ yuñ lediz in ɖ cuntri. Let Wicm b yr man. H z a pleznt felo, n wd jilt y creditbli.”

“Ʈanc y, sr, bt a les agriybl man wd saṭsfî m. W mst nt ol xpct Jen’z gd fortyn.”

“Tru,” sd Mr Benit, “bt it z a cumf̣t t ʈnc ɖt ẃtvr v ɖt cnd me bfōl y, y hv an afx́ṇt muɖr hu wl mc ɖ most v it.”

Mr Wicm’z ssayti wz v mtirịl srvis in dspelñ ɖ glūm ẃć ɖ lêt pvrs ocuṛnsiz hd ʈroun on mni v ɖ Loñbōrn faṃli. Ɖe sw him ofn, n t hiz uɖr rec̣mndeśnz wz nǎ add ɖt v jenṛl unrizrv. Ɖ hol v ẃt Iliẓbʈ hd olrdi hŕd, hiz clemz on Mr Darsi, n ol ɖt h hd sufrd fṛm him, wz nǎ opnli acnolijd n pubḷcli cánvst; n evrbdi wz plizd t nǒ hǎ mć ɖe hd olwz dslîct Mr Darsi bfr ɖe hd noun enʈñ v ɖ matr.

Mis Benit wz ɖ onli crīćr hu cd s’poz ɖr mt b eni xteńuetñ srcmstansz in ɖ ces, uņoun t ɖ ssayti v Hartfdśr; hr mîld n stedi candr olwz plīdd fr alawnsz, n rjd ɖ posbiḷti v mstecs – bt bî evrbdi els Mr Darsi wz cndemd az ɖ wrst v men.

On ɖ folowñ Munde, Msz Benit hd ɖ pleźr v rsivñ hr bruɖr n hiz wîf, hu cem az yźl t spend ɖ Crisṃs at Loñbōrn. Mr Gardinr wz a snṣbl, jntlmnlîc man, gretli s’pirịr t hiz sistr, az wel bî nećr az edyceśn. Ɖ Neɖ̇fīld lediz wd hv hd dificlti in b’livñ ɖt a man hu livd bî tred, n wɖn vy v hiz ǒn wérhǎzz, cd hv bn so wel-bréd n agriybl. Msz Gardinr, hu wz sevṛl yirz yungr ɖn Msz Benit n Msz Filips, wz an emịbl, intelijnt, elignt wmn, n a gret feṿrit wɖ ol hr Loñbōrn nīsz. Btwn ɖ tū eldist n hrslf ispeṣ́li, ɖr sbsistd a ptiklr rgard. Ɖe hd frīqntli bn steyñ wɖ hr in tǎn.

Ɖ frst part v Msz Gardinr’z biznis on hr arîvl wz t dstribyt hr preznts n dscrîb ɖ nyist faśnz. Ẃn ɖs wz dn ś hd a les activ part t ple. It bcem hr trn t lisn. Msz Benit hd mni grīvnsz t rlet, n mć t cmplen v. Ɖe hd ol bn vri il-yzd sins ś last sw hr sistr. Tū v hr grlz hd bn upn ɖ pônt v marij, n aftr ol ɖr wz nʈñ in it.

“I d nt blem Jen,” ś cntinyd, “fr Jen wd hv got Mr Bñli f ś cd. Bt Lizi! Ǒ, sistr! It z vri hard t ʈnc ɖt ś mt hv bn Mr Colinz’z wîf bî ɖs tîm, hd it nt bn fr hr ǒn pvrsnis. H md hr an ofr in ɖs vri rūm, n ś rfyzd him. Ɖ consiqns v it z, ɖt Ledi Lūc̣s wl hv a dōtr marid bfr I hv, n ɖt ɖ Loñbōrn istet z jst az mć inteild az evr. Ɖ Lūc̣sz r vri artfl ppl indd, sistr. Ɖe r ol fr ẃt ɖe cn gt. I am sori t se it v ɖm, bt so it z. It mcs m vri nrṿs n purli, t b ʈwortd so in mî ǒn faṃli, n t hv nebrz hu ʈnc v ɖmslvz bfr enbdi els. Hvr, yr cmñ jst at ɖs tîm z ɖ gretist v cumf̣ts, n I am vri glad t hír ẃt y tel s, v loñ slīvz.”

Msz Gardinr, t hūm ɖ ćīf v ɖs nyz hd bn gvn bfr, in ɖ cors v Jen n Iliẓbʈ’s corispondns wɖ hr, md hr sistr a slît ansr, n, in cmpaśn t hr nīsz, trnd ɖ convseśn.

Ẃn alon wɖ Iliẓbʈ aftwdz, ś spouc mor on ɖ subjict. “It sīmz lîcli t hv bn a dzîṛbl mać fr Jen,” sd ś. “I am sori it wnt of. Bt ɖz ʈñz hapn so ofn! A yuñ man, sć az y dscrîb Mr Bñli, so īẓli fōlz in luv wɖ a priti grl fr a fy wīcs, n ẃn axidnt seṗrets ɖm, so īẓli fgets hr, ɖt ɖz sort v incnsistnsiz r vri frīqnt.”

“An xḷnt conṣleśn in its we,” sd Iliẓbʈ, “bt it wl nt d fr s. W d nt sufr bî axidnt. It dz nt ofn hapn ɖt ɖ inṭfiṛns v frendz wl pswed a yuñ man v indipndnt fortyn t ʈnc no mor v a grl hūm h wz vayḷntli in luv wɖ onli a fy dez bfr.”

“Bt ɖt xpreśn v ‘vayḷntli in luv’ z so hacnid, so dǎtfl, so indefiṇt, ɖt it gvz m vri litl îdīa. It z az ofn aplaid t fīlñz ẃć arîz fṛm a haf-aur’z aqentns, az t a riyl, stroñ ataćmnt. Pre, hǎ vayḷnt wz Mr Bñli’z luv?”

“I nvr sw a mor proṃsñ incḷneśn; h wz growñ qt in’tntiv t uɖr ppl, n hoļi ingrost bî hr. Evri tîm ɖe met, it wz mor dsîdd n rmarcbl. At hiz ǒn bōl h ofndd tū or ʈri yuñ lediz, bî nt ascñ ɖm t dans; n I spouc t him twîs mslf, wɖt rsivñ an ansr. Cd ɖr b fînr simtmz? Z nt jenṛl inṣviḷti ɖ vri esns v luv?”

“Ǒ, yes! – v ɖt cnd v luv ẃć I s’poz him t hv flt. Pur Jen! I am sori fr hr, bcz, wɖ hr disṗziśn, ś me nt gt ovr it imīɉtli. It hd betr hv hapnd t y, Lizi; y wd hv laft yrslf ǎt v it snr. Bt d y ʈnc ś wd b priveld upn t g bac wɖ s? Ćenj v sīn mt b v srvis – n phps a litl rlif fṛm hom me b az ysfl az enʈñ.”

Iliẓbʈ wz xidñli plizd wɖ ɖs pṛpozl, n flt pswedd v hr sistr’z redi aqiesns.

“I hop,” add Msz Gardinr, “ɖt no cnsiḍreśn wɖ rgard t ɖs yuñ man wl inflụns hr. W liv in so difṛnt a part v tǎn, ol ǎr cnx́nz r so difṛnt, n, az y wel nǒ, w g ǎt so litl, ɖt it z vri improbbl ɖt ɖe śd mīt at ol, unls h riyli cmz t si hr.”

“N ɖt z qt imposbl; fr h z nǎ in ɖ cusṭdi v hiz frend, n Mr Darsi wd no mor sufr him t cōl on Jen in sć a part v Lundn! Mî dir ānt, hǎ cd y ʈnc v it? Mr Darsi me phps hv hŕd v sć a ples az Gresćrć Strīt, bt h wd hardli ʈnc a munʈ’s ablūśn inuf t clenz him fṛm its impyṛtiz, wr h wns t entr it; n dpnd upn it, Mr Bñli nvr strz wɖt him.”

“So mć ɖ betr. I hop ɖe wl nt mīt at ol. Bt dz nt Jen corispond wɖ hiz sistr? Ś wl nt b ebl t hlp cōlñ.”

“Ś wl drop ɖ aqentns intîrli.”

Bt in spît v ɖ srtnti in ẃć Iliẓbʈ afctd t ples ɖs pônt, az wel az ɖ stl mor inṭrestñ wn v Bñli’z biyñ wɖheld fṛm siyñ Jen, ś flt a s’liṣtyd on ɖ subjict ẃć cnvinst hr, on xaṃneśn, ɖt ś dd nt cnsidr it intîrli hoplis. It wz poṣbl, n smtmz ś ʈt it probbl, ɖt hiz afx́n mt b riaṇmetd, n ɖ inflụns v hiz frendz s’xesf̣li cmbatd bî ɖ mor naćṛl inflụns v Jen’z atrax́nz.

Mis Benit axptd hr ānt’s invteśn wɖ pleźr; n ɖ Bñliz wr no uɖrwz in hr ʈts at ɖ sem tîm, ɖn az ś hopt bî Caṛlîn’z nt livñ in ɖ sem hǎs wɖ hr bruɖr, ś mt oceźṇli spend a mornñ wɖ hr, wɖt eni denjr v siyñ him.

Ɖ Gardinrz steid a wīc at Loñbōrn; n ẃt wɖ ɖ Filipsz, ɖ Lūc̣sz, n ɖ ofisrz, ɖr wz nt a de wɖt its ingejmnt. Msz Benit hd so cerf̣li pṛvîdd fr ɖ enttenmnt v hr bruɖr n sistr, ɖt ɖe dd nt wns sit dǎn t a faṃlidinr. Ẃn ɖ ingejmnt wz fr hom, sm v ɖ ofisrz olwz md part v it – v ẃć ofisrz Mr Wicm wz śr t b wn; n on ɖz oceźnz, Msz Gardinr, rendrd sspiśs bî Iliẓbʈ’s worm comndeśn, naroli obzrvd ɖm bʈ. Wɖt s’pozñ ɖm, fṛm ẃt ś sw, t b vri sirịsli in luv, ɖer prefṛns v ć uɖr wz plen inuf t mc hr a litl unīzi; n ś rzolvd t spīc t Iliẓbʈ on ɖ subjict bfr ś left Hartfdśr, n repriznt t hr ɖ imprudns v incuṛjñ sć an ataćmnt.

T Msz Gardinr, Wicm hd wn mīnz v afordñ pleźr, uncnctd wɖ hiz jenṛl pǎrz. Abt ten or a duzn yirz ago, bfr hr marij, ś hd spent a cnsidṛbl tîm in ɖt vri part v Darbiśr t ẃć h b’loñd. Ɖe hd, ɖrfr, mni aqentnsz in comn; n ɖo Wicm hd bn litl ɖr sins ɖ deʈ v Darsi’z faɖr, it wz yt in hiz pǎr t gv hr freśr intelijns v hr formr frendz ɖn ś hd bn in ɖ we v pṛkrñ.

Msz Gardinr hd sìn Pmḅli, n noun ɖ lêt Mr Darsi bî caṛctr prf̣cli wel. Hir consiqntli wz an inixōstbl subjict v discors. In cmperñ hr rec̣lex́n v Pmḅli wɖ ɖ mînyt dscripśn ẃć Wicm cd gv, n in bstowñ hr tribyt v prêz on ɖ caṛctr v its lêt pzesr, ś wz dlîtñ bʈ him n hrslf. On biyñ md aqentd wɖ ɖ preznt Mr Darsi’z trītmnt v him, ś traid t rmembr sm v ɖt jntlmn’z rpytd disṗziśn ẃn qt a lad ẃć mt agri wɖ it, n wz confidnt at last ɖt ś rec̣lectd hvñ hŕd Mr Fitswiłm Darsi formrli spocn v az a vri prǎd, il-nećrd bô.

“Y r tù snṣbl a grl, Lizi, t fōl in luv mirli bcz y r wornd agnst it; n, ɖrfr, I am nt afreid v spīcñ opnli. Sirịsli, I wd hv y b on yr gard. D nt involv yrslf or indevr t involv him in an afx́n ẃć ɖ wont v fortyn wd mc so vri imprūdnt. I hv nʈñ t se agnst him; h z a most inṭrestñ yuñ man; n f h hd ɖ fortyn h òt t hv, I śd ʈnc y cd nt d betr. Bt az it z, y mst nt let yr fansi run awe wɖ y. Y hv sns, n w ol xpct y t yz it. Yr faɖr wd dpnd on yr reẓluśn n gd conduct, I am śr. Y mst nt dis’pônt yr faɖr.”

“Mî dir ānt, ɖs z biyñ sirịs indd.”

“Yes, n I hop t ingej y t b sirịs lîcwz.”

“Wel, ɖen, y nīd nt b undr eni alarm. I wl tec cer v mslf, n v Mr Wicm tù. H śl nt b in luv wɖ m, f I cn privnt it.”

“Iliẓbʈ, y r nt sirịs nǎ.”

“I beg yr pardn, I wl trî agn. At preznt I am nt in luv wɖ Mr Wicm; no, I srtnli am nt. Bt h z, bynd ol cmparisn, ɖ most agriybl man I evr sw – n f h bcmz riyli ataćt t m – I b’liv it wl b betr ɖt h śd nt. I si ɖ imprudns v it. Ǒ! ɖt abomiṇbl Mr Darsi! Mî faɖr’z opińn v m dz m ɖ gretist onr, n I śd b mizṛbl t forfit it. Mî faɖr, hvr, z parśl t Mr Wicm. In śort, mî dir ānt, I śd b vri sori t b ɖ mīnz v mcñ eni v y unhapi; bt sins w si evri de ɖt ẃr ɖr z afx́n, yuñ ppl r sldm wɖheld bî imīɉt wont v fortyn fṛm enṭrñ intu ingejmnts wɖ ć uɖr, hǎ cn I promis t b wîzr ɖn so mni v mî felocrīćrz f I am tmtd, or hǎ am I īvn t nǒ ɖt it wd b wizdm t rzist? Ol ɖt I cn promis y, ɖrfr, z nt t b in a huri. I wl nt b in a huri t b’liv mslf hiz frst objict. Ẃn I am in cumṗni wɖ him, I wl nt b wśñ. In śort, I wl d mî bst.”

“Phps it wl b az wel f y dscurij hiz cmñ hir so vri ofn. At līst, y śd nt rmînd yr muɖr v invîtñ him.”

“Az I dd ɖ uɖr de,” sd Iliẓbʈ wɖ a conśs smîl: “vri tru, it wl b wîz in m t rfren fṛm ɖt. Bt d nt imajn ɖt h z olwz hir so ofn. It z on yr acǎnt ɖt h hz bn so frīqntli invîtd ɖs wīc. Y nǒ mî muɖr’z îdīaz az t ɖ nseṣti v constnt cumṗni fr hr frendz. Bt riyli, n upn mî onr, I wl trî t d ẃt I ʈnc t b ɖ wîzist; n nǎ I hop y r saṭsfaid.”

Hr ānt aśurd hr ɖt ś wz, n Iliẓbʈ hvñ ʈanct hr fr ɖ cîndnis v hr hints, ɖe partd; a wundrfl instns v advîs biyñ gvn on sć a pônt, wɖt biyñ rzntd.

Mr Colinz rtrnd intu Hartfdśr sn aftr it hd bn qitd bî ɖ Gardinrz n Jen; bt az h tc p hiz abod wɖ ɖ Lūc̣sz, hiz arîvl wz no gret incnvińns t Msz Benit. Hiz marij wz nǎ fast aproćñ, n ś wz at leñʈ so far rzînd az t ʈnc it inevitbl, n īvn rpitidli t se, in an il-nećrd ton, ɖt ś “wśt ɖe mt b hapi.” Ʈrzde wz t b ɖ wedñde, n on Wenzde Mis Lūc̣s peid hr férwel vizit; n ẃn ś rouz t tec līv, Iliẓbʈ, aśemd v hr muɖr’z ungreśs n rluctnt gd wśz, n snsirli afctd hrslf, acumṗnid hr ǎt v ɖ rūm. Az ɖe wnt dǎnsterz tgɖr, Śarlót sd:

“I śl dpnd on hírñ fṛm y vri ofn, Ilîza.”

“Ɖt y srtnli śl.”

“N I hv anɖr fevr t asc y. Wl y cm n si m?”

“W śl ofn mīt, I hop, in Hartfdśr.”

“I am nt lîcli t līv Cnt fr sm tîm. Promis m, ɖrfr, t cm t Hunsf̣d.”

Iliẓbʈ cd nt rfyz, ɖo ś fōrsw litl pleźr in ɖ vizit.

“Mî faɖr n Mrīa r cmñ t m in Marć,” add Śarlót, “n I hop y wl cnsnt t b v ɖ parti. Indd, Ilîza, y wl b az welcm az îɖr v ɖm.”

Ɖ wedñ tc ples; ɖ brîd n brîdgrūm set of fr Cnt fṛm ɖ ćrćdor, n evrbdi hd az mć t se, or t hír, on ɖ subjict az yźl. Iliẓbʈ sn hŕd fṛm hr frend; n ɖer corispondns wz az reğlr n frīqnt az it hd evr bn; ɖt it śd b īqli unrizrvd wz imposbl. Iliẓbʈ cd nvr adres hr wɖt fīlñ ɖt ol ɖ cumf̣t v intiṃsi wz ovr, n ɖo dtrmind nt t slacn az a corispondnt, it wz fr ɖ sec v ẃt hd bn, rɖr ɖn ẃt wz. Śarlót’s frst letrz wr rsivd wɖ a gd dīl v īgrnis; ɖr cd nt bt b krioṣti t nǒ hǎ ś wd spīc v hr ny hom, hǎ ś wd lîc Ledi Caʈ̇rin, n hǎ hapi ś wd der pṛnǎns hrslf t b; ɖo, ẃn ɖ letrz wr réd, Iliẓbʈ flt ɖt Śarlót xprest hrslf on evri pônt xacli az ś mt hv fsìn. Ś rout ćirf̣li, sīmd srǎndd wɖ cumf̣ts, n mnśnd nʈñ ẃć ś cd nt prêz. Ɖ hǎs, frnićr, nebrhd, n rodz, wr ol t hr test, n Ledi Caʈ̇rin’z bhevyr wz most frendli n oblîjñ. It wz Mr Colinz’z picćr v Hunsf̣d n Rozñz raśṇli sofnd; n Iliẓbʈ psivd ɖt ś mst wêt fr hr ǒn vizit ɖr t nǒ ɖ rest.

Jen hd olrdi ritn a fy lînz t hr sistr t anǎns ɖer sef arîvl in Lundn; n ẃn ś rout agn, Iliẓbʈ hopt it wd b in hr pǎr t se smʈñ v ɖ Bñliz.

Hr impeśns fr ɖs secnd letr wz az wel rwordd az impeśns jenṛli z. Jen hd bn a wīc in tǎn wɖt îɖr siyñ or hírñ fṛm Caṛlîn. Ś acǎntd fr it, hvr, bî s’pozñ ɖt hr last letr t hr frend fṛm Loñbōrn hd bî sm axidnt bn lost.

“Mî ānt,” ś cntinyd, “z gwñ tmoro intu ɖt part v ɖ tǎn, n I śl tec ɖ oṗtyṇti v cōlñ in Grovnr Strīt.”

Ś rout agn ẃn ɖ vizit wz peid, n ś hd sìn Mis Bñli. “I dd nt ʈnc Caṛlîn in spirits,” wr hr wrdz, “bt ś wz vri glad t si m, n rproćt m fr gvñ hr no notis v mî cmñ t Lundn. I wz rît, ɖrfr, mî last letr hd nvr rīćt hr. I inqîrd aftr ɖer bruɖr, v cors. H wz wel, bt so mć ingejd wɖ Mr Darsi ɖt ɖe scersli evr sw him. I faund ɖt Mis Darsi wz xpctd t dinr. I wś I cd si hr. Mî vizit wz nt loñ, az Caṛlîn n Msz Hrst wr gwñ ǎt. I der se I śl si ɖm sn hir.”

Iliẓbʈ śc hr hed ovr ɖs letr. It cnvinst hr ɖt axidnt onli cd dscuvr t Mr Bñli hr sistr’z biyñ in tǎn.

For wīcs pást awe, n Jen sw nʈñ v him. Ś indevrd t pswed hrslf ɖt ś dd nt rgret it; bt ś cd no longr b blînd t Mis Bñli’z in’tnśn. Aftr wêtñ at hom evri mornñ fr a fortnît, n invntñ evri īvnñ a freś xks fr hr, ɖ vizitr dd at last apir; bt ɖ śortnis v hr ste, n yt mor, ɖ olṭreśn v hr manr wd alǎ Jen t dsiv hrslf no longr. Ɖ letr ẃć ś rout on ɖs oceźn t hr sistr wl pruv ẃt ś flt.

“Mî dirist Lizi wl, I am śr, b inceṗbl v trîumfñ in hr betr jujmnt, at mî xpns, ẃn I cnfes mslf t hv bn intîrli dsivd in Mis Bñli’z rgard fr m. Bt, mî dir sistr, ɖo ɖ ivnt hz pruvd y rît, d nt ʈnc m obstiṇt f I stl asrt ɖt, cnsiḍrñ ẃt hr bhevyr wz, mî confidns wz az naćṛl az yr sspiśn. I d nt at ol comprihnd hr rīzn fr wśñ t b intiṃt wɖ m; bt f ɖ sem srcmstansz wr t hapn agn, I am śr I śd b dsivd agn. Caṛlîn dd nt rtrn mî vizit tl yesṭde; n nt a not, nt a lîn, dd I rsiv in ɖ mntm. Ẃn ś dd cm, it wz vri evidnt ɖt ś hd no pleźr in it; ś md a slît, forml apoḷji, fr nt cōlñ bfr, sd nt a wrd v wśñ t si m agn, n wz in evri rspct so oltrd a crīćr, ɖt ẃn ś wnt awe I wz prf̣cli rzolvd t cntiny ɖ aqentns no longr. I piti, ɖo I canot hlp blemñ hr. Ś wz vri roñ in snġlñ m ǎt az ś dd; I cn sefli se ɖt evri advans t intiṃsi bgan on hr sîd. Bt I piti hr, bcz ś mst fīl ɖt ś hz bn actñ roñ, n bcz I am vri śr ɖt añzayti fr hr bruɖr z ɖ cōz v it. I nīd nt xplen mslf farɖr; n ɖo w nǒ ɖs añzayti t b qt nīdlis, yt f ś fīlz it, it wl īẓli acǎnt fr hr bhevyr t m; n so dzrvidli dir az h z t hiz sistr, ẃtvr añzayti ś mst fīl on hiz bhaf z naćṛl n emịbl. I canot bt wundr, hvr, at hr hvñ eni sć firz nǎ, bcz, f h hd at ol cerd abt m, w mst hv met, loñ ago. H nz v mî biyñ in tǎn, I am srtn, fṛm smʈñ ś sd hrslf; n yt it wd sīm, bî hr manr v tōcñ, az f ś wontd t pswed hrslf ɖt h z riyli parśl t Mis Darsi. I canot unḍstand it. F I wr nt afreid v jujñ harśli, I śd b olmst tmtd t se ɖt ɖr z a stroñ apiṛns v dypliṣti in ol ɖs. Bt I wl indevr t baniś evri penfl ʈt, n ʈnc onli v ẃt wl mc m hapi – yr afx́n, n ɖ inverịbl cîndnis v mî dir uncl n ānt. Let m hír fṛm y vri sn. Mis Bñli sd smʈñ v hiz nvr rtrnñ t Neɖ̇fīld agn, v gvñ p ɖ hǎs, bt nt wɖ eni srtnti. W hd betr nt mnśn it. I am xtrimli glad ɖt y hv sć pleznt acǎnts fṛm ǎr frendz at Hunsf̣d. Pre g t si ɖm, wɖ Sr Wiłm n Mrīa. I am śr y wl b vri cumf̣tbl ɖr. – Yrz, ets.”

Ɖs letr gev Iliẓbʈ sm pen; bt hr spirits rtrnd az ś cnsidrd ɖt Jen wd no longr b dypt, bî ɖ sistr at līst. Ol xpcteśn fṛm ɖ bruɖr wz nǎ abṣlutli ovr. Ś wd nt īvn wś fr a rnywl v hiz atnśnz. Hiz caṛctr sunc on evri rvy v it; n az a puniśmnt fr him, az wel az a poṣbl advantij t Jen, ś sirịsli hopt h mt riyli sn mari Mr Darsi’z sistr, az bî Wicm’z acǎnt, ś wd mc him abundntli rgret ẃt h hd ʈroun awe.

Msz Gardinr abt ɖs tîm rmîndd Iliẓbʈ v hr promis cnsrnñ ɖt jntlmn, n rqîrd inf̣meśn; n Iliẓbʈ hd sć t snd az mt rɖr gv cntntmnt t hr ānt ɖn t hrslf. Hiz apaṛnt parśiaḷti hd sbsîdd, hiz atnśnz wr ovr, h wz ɖ admîrr v smwn els. Iliẓbʈ wz woćfl inuf t si it ol, bt ś cd si it n rait v it wɖt mtirịl pen. Hr hart hd bn bt slîtli tućt, n hr vaṇti wz saṭsfaid wɖ b’livñ ɖt ś wd hv bn hiz onli ćôs, hd fortyn pmitd it. Ɖ sudn aqziśn v ten ʈǎznd pǎndz wz ɖ most rmarcbl ćarm v ɖ yuñ ledi t hūm h wz nǎ renḍrñ himslf agriybl; bt Iliẓbʈ, les clir-sîtd phps in ɖs ces ɖn in Śarlót’s, dd nt qoṛl wɖ him fr hiz wś v indipndns. Nʈñ, on ɖ contrri, cd b mor naćṛl; n ẃl ebl t s’poz ɖt it cost him a fy struglz t rlnqiś hr, ś wz redi t alǎ it a wîz n dzîṛbl meźr fr bʈ, n cd vri snsirli wś him hapi.

Ol ɖs wz acnolijd t Msz Gardinr; n aftr rletñ ɖ srcmstansz, ś ɖus wnt on: “I am nǎ cnvinst, mî dir ānt, ɖt I hv nvr bn mć in luv; fr hd I riyli xpirịnst ɖt pyr n eḷvetñ paśn, I śd at preznt dtst hiz vri nem, n wś him ol manr v īvl. Bt mî fīlñz r nt onli cordịl twdz him; ɖe r īvn imparśl twdz Mis Cñ. I canot fînd ǎt ɖt I het hr at ol, or ɖt I am in ɖ līst unwilñ t ʈnc hr a vri gd sort v grl. Ɖr cn b no luv in ol ɖs. Mî woćflnis hz bn ifcćl; n ɖo I srtnli śd b a mor inṭrestñ objict t ol mî aqentnsz wr I dstractidli in luv wɖ him, I canot se ɖt I rgret mî cmpaṛtiv inṣgnificns. Importns me smtmz b prć̣st tù dirli. Citi n Lidia tec hiz dfx́n mć mor t hart ɖn I d. Ɖe r yuñ in ɖ wez v ɖ wrld, n nt yt opn t ɖ morṭfayñ cnvix́n ɖt hansm yuñ men mst hv smʈñ t liv on az wel az ɖ plen.”

Ɖ onli pen wz in līvñ hr faɖr, hu wd srtnli mis hr, n hu, ẃn it cem t ɖ pônt, so litl lîct hr gwñ, ɖt h tld hr t rait t him, n olmst promist t ansr hr letr.

Ɖ férwel btwn hrslf n Mr Wicm wz prf̣cli frendli; on hiz sîd īvn mor. Hiz preznt psyt cd nt mc him fget ɖt Iliẓbʈ hd bn ɖ frst t xît n t dzrv hiz atnśn, ɖ frst t lisn n t piti, ɖ frst t b admîrd; n in hiz manr v bidñ hr ady, wśñ hr evri injômnt, rmîndñ hr v ẃt ś wz t xpct in Ledi Caʈ̇rin d’Brg, n trustñ ɖer opińn v hr – ɖer opińn v evrbdi – wd olwz cǒinsîd, ɖr wz a s’liṣtyd, an inṭrest ẃć ś flt mst evr atać hr t him wɖ a most snsir rgard; n ś partd fṛm him cnvinst ɖt, ẃɖr marid or sngl, h mst olwz b hr modl v ɖ emịbl n plizñ.

Hr felotravlrz ɖ nxt de wr nt v a cnd t mc hr ʈnc him les agriybl. Sr Wiłm Lūc̣s, n hiz dōtr Mrīa, a gd-hymrd grl, bt az emti-hedd az himslf, hd nʈñ t se ɖt cd b wrʈ hírñ, n wr lisnd t wɖ abt az mć dlît az ɖ ratl v ɖ śêz. Iliẓbʈ luvd absrdtiz, bt ś hd noun Sr Wiłm’z tù loñ. H cd tel hr nʈñ ny v ɖ wundrz v hiz preznteśn n naithd; n hiz sviḷtiz wr wòrn ǎt, lîc hiz inf̣meśn.

It wz a jrni v onli twenti-for mîlz, n ɖe bgan it so rli az t b in Gresćrć Strīt bî nūn. Az ɖe drouv t Mr Gardinr’z dor, Jen wz at a drw̃rūm windo woćñ ɖer arîvl; ẃn ɖe entrd ɖ pasij ś wz ɖr t welcm ɖm, n Iliẓbʈ, lcñ rṇstli in hr fes, wz plizd t si it hlʈfl n luvli az evr. On ɖ sterz wr a trūp v litl bôz n grlz, huz īgrnis fr ɖer cuzn’z apiṛns wd nt alǎ ɖm t wêt in ɖ drw̃rūm, n huz śînis, az ɖe hd nt sìn hr fr a twelvmunʈ, privntd ɖer cmñ lowr. Ol wz jô n cîndnis. Ɖ de pást most plezntli awe; ɖ mornñ in busl n śopñ, n ɖ īvnñ at wn v ɖ ʈiytrz.

Iliẓbʈ ɖen cntrîvd t sit bî hr ānt. Ɖer frst objict wz hr sistr; n ś wz mor grīvd ɖn astoniśt t hír, in rplî t hr mînyt inqîriz, ɖt ɖo Jen olwz strugld t s’port hr spirits, ɖr wr pirịdz v djx́n. It wz rīzṇbl, hvr, t hop ɖt ɖe wd nt cntiny loñ. Msz Gardinr gev hr ɖ ptiklrz olso v Mis Bñli’z vizit in Gresćrć Strīt, n rpitd convseśnz ocŕñ at difṛnt tîmz btwn Jen n hrslf, ẃć pruvd ɖt ɖ formr hd, fṛm hr hart, gvn p ɖ aqentns.

Msz Gardinr ɖen ralid hr nīs on Wicm’z dzrśn, n compḷmntd hr on bẹrñ it so wel.

“Bt mî dir Iliẓbʈ,” ś add, “ẃt sort v grl z Mis Cñ? I śd b sori t ʈnc ǎr frend mrsnri.”

“Pre, mî dir ānt, ẃt z ɖ difṛns in matṛmonịl aferz, btwn ɖ mrsnri n ɖ prūdnt motiv? Ẃr dz dscreśn end, n aṿris bgin? Last Crisṃs y wr afreid v hiz mariyñ m, bcz it wd b imprūdnt; n nǎ, bcz h z trayñ t gt a grl wɖ onli ten ʈǎznd pǎndz, y wont t fînd ǎt ɖt h z mrsnri.”

“F y wl onli tel m ẃt sort v grl Mis Cñ z, I śl nǒ ẃt t ʈnc.”

“Ś z a vri gd cnd v grl, I b’liv. I nǒ no harm v hr.”

“Bt h peid hr nt ɖ smōlist atnśn tl hr granfaɖr’z deʈ md hr mistris v ɖs fortyn.”

“No – ẃ śd h? F it wr nt alawbl fr him t gen mî afx́nz bcz I hd no muni, ẃt oceźn cd ɖr b fr mcñ luv t a grl hūm h dd nt cer abt, n hu wz īqli pur?”

“Bt ɖr sīmz an indelic̣si in d’rectñ hiz atnśnz twdz hr so sn aftr ɖs ivnt.”

“A man in dstrest srcmstansz hz nt tîm fr ol ɖoz elignt dcoṛmz ẃć uɖr ppl me obzrv. F ś dz nt objict t it, ẃ śd w?”

“Hr nt objctñ dz nt jusṭfî him. It onli śoz hr biyñ dfiśnt in smʈñ hrslf – sns or fīlñ.”

“Wel,” craid Iliẓbʈ, “hv it az y ćūz. H śl b mrsnri, n ś śl b fūliś.”

“No, Lizi, ɖt z ẃt I d nt ćūz. I śd b sori, y nǒ, t ʈnc il v a yuñ man hu hz livd so loñ in Darbiśr.”

“Ǒ! f ɖt z ol, I hv a vri pur opińn v yuñ men hu liv in Darbiśr; n ɖer intiṃt frendz hu liv in Hartfdśr r nt mć betr. I am sic v ɖm ol. Ʈanc Hevn! I am gwñ tmoro ẃr I śl fînd a man hu hz nt wn agriybl qoḷti, hu hz nɖr manr nr sns t rec̣mnd him. Stypid men r ɖ onli wnz wrʈ nwñ, aftr ol.”

“Tec cer, Lizi; ɖt spīć sêvrz stroñli v dis’pôntmnt.”

Bfr ɖe wr seṗretd bî ɖ cncluźn v ɖ ple, ś hd ɖ unixpctd hapinis v an invteśn t acumṗni hr uncl n ānt in a tur v pleźr ẃć ɖe pṛpozd tecñ in ɖ sumr.

“W hv nt dtrmind hǎ far it śl cari s,” sd Msz Gardinr, “bt, phps, t ɖ Lecs.”

No scīm cd hv bn mor agriybl t Iliẓbʈ, n hr axptns v ɖ invteśn wz most redi n gretfl. “Ǒ, mî dir, dir ānt,” ś rapćṛsli craid, “ẃt dlît! ẃt f’liṣti! Y gv m freś lîf n vigr. Ady t dis’pôntmnt n splīn. Ẃt r yuñ men t rocs n mǎntnz? Ǒ! ẃt aurz v trnsport w śl spend! N ẃn w d rtrn, it śl nt b lîc uɖr travlrz, wɖt biyñ ebl t gv wn akṛt îdīa v enʈñ. W wl nǒ ẃr w hv gn – w wl rec̣lect ẃt w hv sìn. Lecs, mǎntnz, n rivrz śl nt b jumbld tgɖr in ǎr imaɉneśnz; nr ẃn w atmt t dscrîb eni ptiklr sīn, wl w bgin qoṛlñ abt its reḷtiv sićueśn. Let ǎr frst ifyźnz b les inṣportbl ɖn ɖoz v ɖ jeṇraḷti v travlrz.”

Ẃn ɖe left ɖ hîrod fr ɖ len t Hunsf̣d, evri î wz in srć v ɖ Parṣnij, n evri trnñ xpctd t brñ it in vy. Ɖ pelñz v Rozñz Parc wz ɖer bǎnḍri on wn sîd. Iliẓbʈ smîld at ɖ rec̣lex́n v ol ɖt ś hd hŕd v its inhabitnts.

At leñʈ ɖ Parṣnij wz dsrṇbl. Ɖ gardn slǒpñ t ɖ rod, ɖ hǎs standñ in it, ɖ grīn pelz, n ɖ loṛl hej, evrʈñ dclerd ɖe wr arîvñ. Mr Colinz n Śarlót apird at ɖ dor, n ɖ carij stopt at ɖ smōl get ẃć léd bî a śort gravl wōc t ɖ hǎs, amdst ɖ nodz n smîlz v ɖ hol parti. In a momnt ɖe wr ol ǎt v ɖ śêz, rjôsñ at ɖ sît v ć uɖr. Msz Colinz welcmd hr frend wɖ ɖ lîvliist pleźr, n Iliẓbʈ wz mor n mor saṭsfaid wɖ cmñ ẃn ś faund hrslf so afx́ṇtli rsivd. Ś sw instntli ɖt hr cuzn’z manrz wr nt oltrd bî hiz marij; hiz forml sviḷti wz jst ẃt it hd bn, n h dtend hr sm minits at ɖ get t hír n saṭsfî hiz inqîriz aftr ol hr faṃli. Ɖe wr ɖen, wɖ no uɖr dle ɖn hiz pôntñ ǎt ɖ nītnis v ɖ entṛns, tecn intu ɖ hǎs; n az sn az ɖe wr in ɖ parlr, h welcmd ɖm a secnd tîm, wɖ ostnteśs formaḷti t hiz humbl abod, n puñć̣li rpitd ol hiz wîf’s ofrz v rfreśmnt.

Iliẓbʈ wz priperd t si him in hiz glori; n ś cd nt hlp in fansiyñ ɖt in dspleyñ ɖ gd pṛporśn v ɖ rūm, its aspect n its frnićr, h adrest himslf ptiklrli t hr, az f wśñ t mc hr fīl ẃt ś hd lost in rfyzñ him. Bt ɖo evrʈñ sīmd nīt n cumf̣tbl, ś wz nt ebl t graṭfî him bî eni sai v rpntns, n rɖr lct wɖ wundr at hr frend ɖt ś cd hv so ćirfl an er wɖ sć a cmpańn. Ẃn Mr Colinz sd enʈñ v ẃć hiz wîf mt rīzṇbli b aśemd, ẃć srtnli wz nt unseldom, ś invoḷntṛli trnd hr î on Śarlót. Wns or twîs ś cd dsrn a fent bluś; bt in jenṛl Śarlót wîzli dd nt hír. Aftr sitñ loñ inuf t admîr evri articl v frnićr in ɖ rūm, fṛm ɖ sîdbord t ɖ fndr, t gv an acǎnt v ɖer jrni, n v ol ɖt hd hapnd in Lundn, Mr Colinz invîtd ɖm t tec a strol in ɖ gardn, ẃć wz larj n wel leid ǎt, n t ɖ cultveśn v ẃć h atndd himslf. T wrc in ɖs gardn wz wn v hiz most rspctbl pleźrz; n Iliẓbʈ admîrd ɖ cmand v cǎntinns wɖ ẃć Śarlót tōct v ɖ hlʈflnis v ɖ x’sîz, n ǒnd ś incurijd it az mć az poṣbl. Hir, līdñ ɖ we ʈru evri wōc n croswōc, n scersli alawñ ɖm an inṭvl t utr ɖ prezz h asct fr, evri vy wz pôntd ǎt wɖ a mînytnis ẃć left byti intîrli bhnd. H cd numbr ɖ fīldz in evri d’rex́n, n cd tel hǎ mni triz ɖr wr in ɖ most distnt clump. Bt v ol ɖ vyz ẃć hiz gardn, or ẃć ɖ cuntri or cñdm cd bost, nn wr t b cmperd wɖ ɖ prospect v Rozñz, afordd bî an oṗnñ in ɖ triz ɖt bordrd ɖ parc nirli oṗzit ɖ frunt v hiz hǎs. It wz a hansm modn bildñ, wel sićuetd on rîzñ grǎnd.

Fṛm hiz gardn, Mr Colinz wd hv léd ɖm rnd hiz tū medoz; bt ɖ lediz, nt hvñ śuz t incǎntr ɖ rmenz v a ẃît frost, trnd bac; n ẃl Sr Wiłm acumṗnid him, Śarlót tc hr sistr n frend ovr ɖ hǎs, xtrimli wel plizd, probbli, t hv ɖ oṗtyṇti v śowñ it wɖt hr huzbnd’z hlp. It wz rɖr smōl, bt wel bilt n cnvińnt; n evrʈñ wz fitd p n arenjd wɖ a nītnis n cnsistnsi v ẃć Iliẓbʈ gev Śarlót ol ɖ credit. Ẃn Mr Colinz cd b fgotn, ɖr wz riyli an er v gret cumf̣t ʈrt, n bî Śarlót’s evidnt injômnt v it, Iliẓbʈ s’pozd h mst b ofn fgotn.

Ś hd olrdi lrnt ɖt Ledi Caʈ̇rin wz stl in ɖ cuntri. It wz spocn v agn ẃl ɖe wr at dinr, ẃn Mr Colinz jônñ in, obzrvd:

“Yes, Mis Iliẓbʈ, y wl hv ɖ onr v siyñ Ledi Caʈ̇rin d’Brg on ɖ insywñ Súnde at ćrć, n I nīd nt se y wl b dlîtd wɖ hr. Ś z ol afbiḷti n condisnśn, n I dǎt nt bt y wl b onrd wɖ sm porśn v hr notis ẃn srvis z ovr. I hv scersli eni hezteśn in seyñ ś wl includ y n mî sistr Mrīa in evri invteśn wɖ ẃć ś onrz s jrñ yr ste hir. Hr bhevyr t mî dir Śarlót z ćarmñ. W dîn at Rozñz twîs evri wīc, n r nvr alaud t wōc hom. Hr lediśp’s carij z reğlrli ordrd fr s. I śd se, wn v hr lediśp’s caṛjz, fr ś hz sevṛl.”

“Ledi Caʈ̇rin z a vri rspctbl, snṣbl wmn indd,” add Śarlót, “n a most atntiv nebr.”

“Vri tru, mî dir, ɖt z xacli ẃt I se. Ś z ɖ sort v wmn hūm wn canot rgard wɖ tù mć defṛns.”

Ɖ īvnñ wz spent ćīfli in tōcñ ovr Hartfdśr nyz, n telñ agn ẃt hd olrdi bn ritn; n ẃn it clozd, Iliẓbʈ, in ɖ soḷtyd v hr ćembr, hd t meḍtet upn Śarlót’s dgri v cntntmnt, t unḍstand hr adres in gîdñ, n cmpoźr in bẹrñ wɖ, hr huzbnd, n t acnolij ɖt it wz ol dn vri wel. Ś hd olso t antiṣpet hǎ hr vizit wd pas, ɖ qayt tenr v ɖer yźl implômnts, ɖ vxeśs inṭrupśnz v Mr Colinz, n ɖ geytiz v ɖer inṭcors wɖ Rozñz. A lîvli imaɉneśn sn setld it ol.

Abt ɖ midl v ɖ nxt de, az ś wz in hr rūm gtñ redi fr a wōc, a sudn nôz b’lo sīmd t spīc ɖ hol hǎs in cnfyźn; n, aftr liṣnñ a momnt, ś hŕd smbdi runñ upsterz in a vayḷnt huri, n cōlñ lǎdli aftr hr. Ś opnd ɖ dor n met Mrīa in ɖ landñples, hu, breʈlis wɖ ajteśn, craid ǎt –

“Ǒ, mî dir Ilîza! pre mc hest n cm intu ɖ dînñrūm, fr ɖr z sć a sît t b sìn! I wl nt tel y ẃt it z. Mc hest, n cm dǎn ɖs momnt.”

Iliẓbʈ asct qsćnz in ven; Mrīa wd tel hr nʈñ mor, n dǎn ɖe ran intu ɖ dînñrūm, ẃć fruntd ɖ len, in qst v ɖs wundr; It wz tū lediz stopñ in a lo feytn at ɖ gardnget.

“N z ɖs ol?” craid Iliẓbʈ. “I xpctd at līst ɖt ɖ pigz wr got intu ɖ gardn, n hir z nʈñ bt Ledi Caʈ̇rin n hr dōtr.”

“La! mî dir,” sd Mrīa, qt śoct at ɖ mstec, “it z nt Ledi Caʈ̇rin. Ɖ old ledi z Msz Jncinsn, hu livz wɖ ɖm; ɖ uɖr z Mis d’Brg. Onli lc at hr. Ś z qt a litl crīćr. Hu wd hv ʈt ɖt ś cd b so ʈin n smōl?”

“Ś z abomiṇbli rūd t cīp Śarlót ǎt v dorz in ol ɖs wind. Ẃ dz ś nt cm in?”

“Ǒ, Śarlót sz ś hardli evr dz. It z ɖ gretist v fevrz ẃn Mis d’Brg cmz in.”

“I lîc hr apiṛns,” sd Iliẓbʈ, struc wɖ uɖr îdīaz. “Ś lcs sicli n cros. Yes, ś wl d fr him vri wel. Ś wl mc him a vri propr wîf.”

Mr Colinz n Śarlót wr bʈ standñ at ɖ get in convseśn wɖ ɖ lediz; n Sr Wiłm, t Iliẓbʈ’s hî dvrśn, wz steśnd in ɖ dorwe, in rnist contmpleśn v ɖ gretnis bfr him, n constntli bawñ ẃnvr Mis d’Brg lct ɖt we.

At leñʈ ɖr wz nʈñ mor t b sd; ɖ lediz drouv on, n ɖ uɖrz rtrnd intu ɖ hǎs. Mr Colinz no snr sw ɖ tū grlz ɖn h bgan t cngrać̣let ɖm on ɖer gd fortyn, ẃć Śarlót xplend bî letñ ɖm nǒ ɖt ɖ hol parti wz asct t dîn at Rozñz ɖ nxt de.

“I cnfes,” sd h, “ɖt I śd nt hv bn at ol s’prîzd bî hr lediśp’s ascñ s on Súnde t drinc ti n spend ɖ īvnñ at Rozñz. I rɖr xpctd, fṛm mî nolij v hr afbiḷti, ɖt it wd hapn. Bt hu cd hv fsìn sć an atnśn az ɖs? Hu cd hv imajnd ɖt w śd rsiv an invteśn t dîn ɖr (an invteśn, morovr, includñ ɖ hol parti) so imīɉtli aftr yr arîvl!”

“I am ɖ les s’prîzd at ẃt hz hapnd,” rplaid Sr Wiłm, “fṛm ɖt nolij v ẃt ɖ manrz v ɖ gret riyli r, ẃć mî sićueśn in lîf hz alaud m t aqîr. Abt ɖ cort, sć instnsz v elignt brīdñ r nt uncomn.”

Scersli enʈñ wz tōct v ɖ hol de or nxt mornñ bt ɖer vizit t Rozñz. Mr Colinz wz cerf̣li instructñ ɖm in ẃt ɖe wr t xpct, ɖt ɖ sît v sć rūmz, so mni srvnts, n so splendid a dinr, mt nt hoļi oṿpǎr ɖm.

Ẃn ɖ lediz wr seṗretñ fr ɖ twālét, h sd t Iliẓbʈ –

“D nt mc yrslf unīzi, mî dir cuzn, abt yr apaṛl. Ledi Caʈ̇rin z far fṛm rqîrñ ɖt eligns v dres in s ẃć bcmz hrslf n hr dōtr. I wd advîz y mirli t pt on ẃtvr v yr cloɖz z s’pirịr t ɖ rest – ɖr z no oceźn fr enʈñ mor. Ledi Caʈ̇rin wl nt ʈnc ɖ wrs v y fr biyñ simpli drest. Ś lîcs t hv ɖ dstñśn v ranc prizrvd.”

Ẃl ɖe wr dresñ, h cem tū or ʈri tîmz t ɖer difṛnt dorz, t rec̣mnd ɖer biyñ qc, az Ledi Caʈ̇rin vri mć objctd t b cept wêtñ fr hr dinr. Sć formiḍbl acǎnts v hr lediśp, n hr manr v livñ, qt frîtnd Mrīa Lūc̣s hu hd bn litl yst t cumṗni, n ś lct fwd t hr intṛdux́n at Rozñz wɖ az mć aprihnśn az hr faɖr hd dn t hiz preznteśn at St. Jemz’z.

Az ɖ weɖr wz fîn, ɖe hd a pleznt wōc v abt haf a mîl acrs ɖ parc. Evri parc hz its byti n its prospects; n Iliẓbʈ sw mć t b plizd wɖ, ɖo ś cd nt b in sć rapćrz az Mr Colinz xpctd ɖ sīn t inspîr, n wz bt slîtli afctd bî hiz ińṃreśn v ɖ windoz in frunt v ɖ hǎs, n hiz rleśn v ẃt ɖ glezñ oltgɖr hd orijiṇli cost Sr Luis d’Brg.

Ẃn ɖe asndd ɖ steps t ɖ hōl, Mrīa’z alarm wz evri momnt incrisñ, n īvn Sr Wiłm dd nt lc prf̣cli cām. Iliẓbʈ’s curij dd nt fel hr. Ś hd hŕd nʈñ v Ledi Caʈ̇rin ɖt spouc hr ōfl fṛm eni xtrordnri taḷnts or mrakḷs vrću, n ɖ mir stetlinis v muni or ranc ś ʈt ś cd witnis wɖt treṗdeśn.

Fṛm ɖ entṛnshōl, v ẃć Mr Colinz pôntd ǎt, wɖ a rapćṛs er, ɖ fîn pṛporśn n ɖ finiśt orṇmnts, ɖe foloud ɖ srvnts ʈru an antićembr, t ɖ rūm ẃr Ledi Caʈ̇rin, hr dōtr, n Msz Jncinsn wr sitñ. Hr lediśp, wɖ gret condisnśn, arouz t rsiv ɖm; n az Msz Colinz hd setld it wɖ hr huzbnd ɖt ɖ ofis v intṛdux́n śd b hrz, it wz pformd in a propr manr, wɖt eni v ɖoz apoḷjiz n ʈancs ẃć h wd hv ʈt nesṣri.

In spît v hvñ bn at St. Jemz’z, Sr Wiłm wz so cmplitli ōd bî ɖ granjr srǎndñ him, ɖt h hd bt jst curij inuf t mc a vri lo bǎ, n tec hiz sīt wɖt seyñ a wrd; n hiz dōtr, frîtnd olmst ǎt v hr snsz, sat on ɖ éj v hr ćer, nt nwñ ẃć we t lc. Iliẓbʈ faund hrslf qt īql t ɖ sīn, n cd obzrv ɖ ʈri lediz bfr hr cmpozidli. Ledi Caʈ̇rin wz a tōl, larj wmn, wɖ stroñli marct fīćrz, ẃć mt wns hv bn hansm. Hr er wz nt cnsilietñ, nr wz hr manr v rsivñ ɖm sć az t mc hr vizitrz fget ɖer infirịr ranc. Ś wz nt rendrd formiḍbl bî sîḷns; bt ẃtvr ś sd wz spocn in so oʈorittiv a ton, az marct hr slf-importns, n bròt Mr Wicm imīɉtli t Iliẓbʈ’s mînd; n fṛm ɖ obẓveśn v ɖ de oltgɖr, ś b’livd Ledi Caʈ̇rin t b xacli ẃt h reprizntd.

Ẃn, aftr xaṃnñ ɖ muɖr, in huz cǎntinns n dportmnt ś sn faund sm rzmbḷns v Mr Darsi, ś trnd hr îz on ɖ dōtr, ś cd olmst hv jônd in Mrīa’z astoniśmnt at hr biyñ so ʈin n so smōl. Ɖr wz nɖr in figr nr fes eni lîcnis btwn ɖ lediz. Mis d’Brg wz pel n sicli; hr fīćrz, ɖo nt plen, wr inṣgnificnt; n ś spouc vri litl, xpt in a lo vôs, t Msz Jncinsn, in huz apiṛns ɖr wz nʈñ rmarcbl, n hu wz intîrli ingejd in liṣnñ t ẃt ś sd, n plesñ a scrīn in ɖ propr d’rex́n bfr hr îz.

Aftr sitñ a fy minits, ɖe wr ol snt t wn v ɖ windoz t admîr ɖ vy, Mr Colinz atndñ ɖm t pônt ǎt its bytiz, n Ledi Caʈ̇rin cîndli informñ ɖm ɖt it wz mć betr wrʈ lcñ at in ɖ sumr.

Ɖ dinr wz xidñli hansm, n ɖr wr ol ɖ srvnts n ol ɖ articlz v plet ẃć Mr Colinz hd promist; n, az h hd lîcwz fōrtold, h tc hiz sīt at ɖ botm v ɖ tebl, bî hr lediśp’s dzîr, n lct az f h flt ɖt lîf cd frniś nʈñ gretr. H carvd, n ét, n prezd wɖ dlîtd alacṛti; n evri diś wz cmndd, frst bî him n ɖen bî Sr Wiłm, hu wz nǎ inuf rcuvrd t eco ẃtvr hiz sun-in-lw sd, in a manr ẃć Iliẓbʈ wundrd Ledi Caʈ̇rin cd ber. Bt Ledi Caʈ̇rin sīmd graṭfaid bî ɖer xesiv adṃreśn, n gev most greśs smîlz, ispeṣ́li ẃn eni diś on ɖ tebl pruvd a novlti t ɖm. Ɖ parti dd nt s’plî mć convseśn. Iliẓbʈ wz redi t spīc ẃnvr ɖr wz an oṗnñ, bt ś wz sītd btwn Śarlót n Mis d’Brg – ɖ formr v hūm wz ingejd in liṣnñ t Ledi Caʈ̇rin, n ɖ latr sd nt a wrd t hr ol dinrtîm. Msz Jncinsn wz ćīfli imploid in woćñ hǎ litl Mis d’Brg ét, presñ hr t trî sm uɖr diś, n firñ ś wz indispozd. Mrīa ʈt spīcñ ǎt v ɖ qsćn, n ɖ jntlṃn dd nʈñ bt īt n admîr.

Ẃn ɖ lediz rtrnd t ɖ drw̃rūm, ɖr wz litl t b dn bt t hír Ledi Caʈ̇rin tōc, ẃć ś dd wɖt eni inṭmiśn tl cofi cem in, dliṿrñ hr opińn on evri subjict in so dsîsiv a manr, az pruvd ɖt ś wz nt yst t hv hr jujmnt contṛvrtd. Ś inqîrd intu Śarlót’s dmestic cnsrnz fmiłrli n mînytli, gev hr a gret dīl v advîs az t ɖ manijmnt v ɖm ol; tld hr hǎ evrʈñ òt t b reğletd in so smōl a faṃli az hrz, n instructd hr az t ɖ cer v hr cǎz n hr poltri. Iliẓbʈ faund ɖt nʈñ wz bnʈ ɖs gret ledi’z atnśn, ẃć cd frniś hr wɖ an oceźn v dictetñ t uɖrz. In ɖ inṭvlz v hr discors wɖ Msz Colinz, ś adrest a vrayti v qsćnz t Mrīa n Iliẓbʈ, bt ispeṣ́li t ɖ latr, v huz cnx́nz ś ń ɖ līst, n hu ś obzrvd t Msz Colinz wz a vri jntīl, priti cnd v grl. Ś asct hr, at difṛnt tîmz, hǎ mni sistrz ś hd, ẃɖr ɖe wr oldr or yungr ɖn hrslf, ẃɖr eni v ɖm wr lîcli t b marid, ẃɖr ɖe wr hansm, ẃr ɖe hd bn edycetd, ẃt carij hr faɖr cept, n ẃt hd bn hr muɖr’z meidn nem? Iliẓbʈ flt ol ɖ imprtinns v hr qsćnz bt ansrd ɖm vri cmpozidli. Ledi Caʈ̇rin ɖen obzrvd,

“Yr faɖr’z istet z inteild on Mr Colinz, I ʈnc. Fr yr sec,” trnñ t Śarlót, “I am glad v it; bt uɖrwz I si no oceźn fr inteilñ istets fṛm ɖ fīmel lîn. It wz nt ʈt nesṣri in Sr Luis d’Brg’z faṃli. D y ple n sñ, Mis Benit?”

“A litl.”

“Ǒ! ɖen – sm tîm or uɖr w śl b hapi t hír y. Ǎr instṛmnt z a capitl wn, probbli s’pirịr t –– Y śl trî it sm de. D yr sistrz ple n sñ?”

“Wn v ɖm dz.”

“Ẃ dd nt y ol lrn? Y òt ol t hv lrnt. Ɖ Mis Wébz ol ple, n ɖer faɖr hz nt so gd an incm az yrz. D y drw?”

“No, nt at ol.”

“Ẃt, nn v y?”

“Nt wn.”

“Ɖt z vri strenj. Bt I s’poz y hd no oṗtyṇti. Yr muɖr śd hv tecn y t tǎn evri sprñ fr ɖ beṇfit v mastrz.”

“Mî muɖr wd hv hd no objx́n, bt mî faɖr hets Lundn.”

“Hz yr guṿnes left y?”

“W nvr hd eni guṿnes.”

“No guṿnes! Hǎ wz ɖt poṣbl? Fîv dōtrz bròt p at hom wɖt a guṿnes! I nvr hŕd v sć a ʈñ. Yr muɖr mst hv bn qt a slev t yr edyceśn.”

Iliẓbʈ cd hardli hlp smîlñ az ś aśurd hr ɖt hd nt bn ɖ ces.

“Ɖen, hu tòt y? hu atndd t y? Wɖt a guṿnes, y mst hv bn nglectd.”

“Cmperd wɖ sm faṃliz, I b’liv w wr; bt sć v s az wśt t lrn nvr wontd ɖ mīnz. W wr olwz incurijd t rīd, n hd ol ɖ mastrz ɖt wr nesṣri. Ɖoz hu ćouz t b îdl, srtnli mt.”

“Ai, no dǎt; bt ɖt z ẃt a guṿnes wl privnt, n f I hd noun yr muɖr, I śd hv advîzd hr most strenẏsli t ingej wn. I olwz se ɖt nʈñ z t b dn in edyceśn wɖt stedi n reğlr instrux́n, n nbdi bt a guṿnes cn gv it. It z wundrfl hǎ mni faṃliz I hv bn ɖ mīnz v s’playñ in ɖt we. I am olwz glad t gt a yuñ prsn wel plest ǎt. For nīsz v Msz Jncinsn r most dlîtf̣li sićuetd ʈru mî mīnz; n it wz bt ɖ uɖr de ɖt I rec̣mndd anɖr yuñ prsn, hu wz mirli axdntli mnśnd t m, n ɖ faṃli r qt dlîtd wɖ hr. Msz Colinz, dd I tel y v Ledi Metcāf’s cōlñ yesṭde t ʈanc m? Ś fîndz Mis Pǒp a treźr. ‘Ledi Caʈ̇rin,’ sd ś, ‘y hv gvn m a treźr.’ R eni v yr yungr sistrz ǎt, Mis Benit?”

“Yes, mām, ol.”

“Ol! Ẃt, ol fîv ǎt at wns? Vri od! N y onli ɖ secnd. Ɖ yungr wnz ǎt bfr ɖ eldr wnz r marid! Yr yungr sistrz mst b vri yuñ?”

“Yes, mî yungist z nt sixtīn. Phps ś z fl yuñ t b mć in cumṗni. Bt riyli, mām, I ʈnc it wd b vri hard upn yungr sistrz, ɖt ɖe śd nt hv ɖer śer v ssayti n aḿzmnt, bcz ɖ eldr me nt hv ɖ mīnz or incḷneśn t mari rli. Ɖ last-born hz az gd a rît t ɖ pleźrz v yʈ az ɖ frst. N t b cept bac on sć a motiv! I ʈnc it wd nt b vri lîcli t pṛmot sistrli afx́n or delic̣si v mînd.”

“Upn mî wrd,” sd hr lediśp, “y gv yr opińn vri dsîdidli fr so yuñ a prsn. Pre, ẃt z yr ej?”

“Wɖ ʈri yungr sistrz groun p,” rplaid Iliẓbʈ, smîlñ, “yr lediśp cn hardli xpct m t ǒn it.”

Ledi Caʈ̇rin sīmd qt astoniśt at nt rsivñ a d’rect ansr; n Iliẓbʈ sspctd hrslf t b ɖ frst crīćr hu hd evr derd t trîfl wɖ so mć digṇfaid imprtinns.

“Y canot b mor ɖn twenti, I am śr, ɖrfr y nīd nt cnsil yr ej.”

“I am nt wn-n-twenti.”

Ẃn ɖ jntlṃn hd jônd ɖm, n ti wz ovr, ɖ cardteblz wr plest. Ledi Caʈ̇rin, Sr Wiłm, n Mr n Msz Colinz sat dǎn t qdril; n az Mis d’Brg ćouz t ple at csīno, ɖ tū grlz hd ɖ onr v asistñ Msz Jncinsn t mc p hr parti. Ɖer tebl wz sūprḷtivli stypid. Scersli a siḷbl wz utrd ɖt dd nt rlet t ɖ gem, xpt ẃn Msz Jncinsn xprest hr firz v Mis d’Brg’z biyñ tù hot or tù cold, or hvñ tù mć or tù litl lît. A gret dīl mor pást at ɖ uɖr tebl. Ledi Caʈ̇rin wz jenṛli spīcñ – stetñ ɖ mstecs v ɖ ʈri uɖrz, or rletñ sm aṇcdot v hrslf. Mr Colinz wz imploid in agriyñ t evrʈñ hr lediśp sd, ʈancñ hr fr evri fiś h wún, n apoḷjîzñ f h ʈt h wún tù mni. Sr Wiłm dd nt se mć. H wz storñ hiz meṃri wɖ aṇcdots n nobl nemz.

Ẃn Ledi Caʈ̇rin n hr dōtr hd pleid az loñ az ɖe ćouz, ɖ teblz wr brocn p, ɖ carij wz ofrd t Msz Colinz, gretf̣li axptd n imīɉtli ordrd. Ɖ parti ɖen gaɖrd rnd ɖ fîr t hír Ledi Caʈ̇rin dtrmin ẃt weɖr ɖe wr t hv on ɖ moro. Fṛm ɖz instrux́nz ɖe wr sumnd bî ɖ arîvl v ɖ coć; n wɖ mni spīćz v ʈancflnis on Mr Colinz’z sîd n az mni bǎz on Sr Wiłm’z ɖe dpartd. Az sn az ɖe hd drivn fṛm ɖ dor, Iliẓbʈ wz cōld on bî hr cuzn t gv hr opińn v ol ɖt ś hd sìn at Rozñz, ẃć, fr Śarlót’s sec, ś md mor fevṛbl ɖn it riyli wz. Bt hr comndeśn, ɖo costñ hr sm trubl, cd bî no mīnz saṭsfî Mr Colinz, n h wz vri sn oblîjd t tec hr lediśp’s prêz intu hiz ǒn handz.

Fṛm ɖ drw̃rūm ɖe cd dstnḡś nʈñ in ɖ len, n wr indétd t Mr Colinz fr ɖ nolij v ẃt caṛjz wnt alñ, n hǎ ofn ispeṣ́li Mis d’Brg drouv bî in hr feytn, ẃć h nvr feld cmñ t inform ɖm v, ɖo it hapnd olmst evri de. Ś nt unfrīqntli stopt at ɖ Parṣnij, n hd a fy minits’ convseśn wɖ Śarlót, bt wz scersli evr priveld upn t gt ǎt.

Vri fy dez pást in ẃć Mr Colinz dd nt wōc t Rozñz, n nt mni in ẃć hiz wîf dd nt ʈnc it nesṣri t g lîcwz; n tl Iliẓbʈ rec̣lectd ɖt ɖr mt b uɖr faṃlilivñz t b dspozd v, ś cd nt unḍstand ɖ sacṛfîs v so mni aurz. Nǎ n ɖen ɖe wr onrd wɖ a cōl fṛm hr lediśp, n nʈñ iscept hr obẓveśn ɖt wz pasñ in ɖ rūm jrñ ɖz vizits. Ś xamind intu ɖer implômnts, lct at ɖer wrc, n advîzd ɖm t d it difṛntli; faund fōlt wɖ ɖ arenjmnt v ɖ frnićr; or dtctd ɖ hǎsmeid in neglijns; n f ś axptd eni rfreśmnt, sīmd t d it onli fr ɖ sec v fîndñ ǎt ɖt Msz Colinz’z jônts v mìt wr tù larj fr hr faṃli.

Iliẓbʈ sn psivd, ɖt ɖo ɖs gret ledi wz nt in cmiśn v ɖ pīs v ɖ cǎnti, ś wz a most activ maɉstret in hr ǒn pariś, ɖ mînytist cnsrnz v ẃć wr carid t hr bî Mr Colinz; n ẃnvr eni v ɖ cotijrz wr dspozd t b qoṛlsm, discntntd, or tù pur, ś salid fʈ intu ɖ vilij t setl ɖer difṛnsz, sîḷns ɖer cmplents, n scold ɖm intu harṃni n plenti.

Ɖ enttenmnt v dînñ at Rozñz wz rpitd abt twîs a wīc; n, alawñ fr ɖ los v Sr Wiłm, n ɖr biyñ onli wn cardtebl in ɖ īvnñ, evri sć enttenmnt wz ɖ cǎnṭpart v ɖ frst. Ɖer uɖr ingejmnts wr fy, az ɖ stîl v livñ in ɖ nebrhd in jenṛl wz bynd Mr Colinz’z rīć. Ɖs, hvr, wz no īvl t Iliẓbʈ, n upn ɖ hol ś spent hr tîm cumf̣tbli inuf; ɖr wr haf-aurz v pleznt convseśn wɖ Śarlót, n ɖ weɖr wz so fîn fr ɖ tîm v yir ɖt ś hd ofn gret injômnt ǎt v dorz. Hr feṿrit wōc, n ẃr ś frīqntli wnt ẃl ɖ uɖrz wr cōlñ on Ledi Caʈ̇rin, wz alñ ɖ opn grov ẃć éjd ɖt sîd v ɖ parc, ẃr ɖr wz a nîs śltrd paʈ, ẃć nwn sīmd t valy bt hrslf, n ẃr ś flt bynd ɖ rīć v Ledi Caʈ̇rin’z krioṣti.

In ɖs qayt we, ɖ frst fortnît v hr vizit sn pást awe. Īstr wz aproćñ, n ɖ wīc prisidñ it wz t brñ an adiśn t ɖ faṃli at Rozñz, ẃć in so smōl a srcl mst b importnt. Iliẓbʈ hd hŕd sn aftr hr arîvl ɖt Mr Darsi wz xpctd ɖr in ɖ cors v a fy wīcs, n ɖo ɖr wr nt mni v hr aqentnsz hūm ś dd nt prifŕ, hiz cmñ wd frniś wn cmpaṛtivli ny t lc at in ɖer Rozñz partiz, n ś mt b aḿzd in siyñ hǎ hoplis Mis Bñli’z dzînz on him wr, bî hiz bhevyr t hiz cuzn, fr hūm h wz evidntli destind bî Ledi Caʈ̇rin, hu tōct v hiz cmñ wɖ ɖ gretist saṭsfax́n, spouc v him in trmz v ɖ hîist adṃreśn, n sīmd olmst angri t fînd ɖt h hd olrdi bn frīqntli sìn bî Mis Lūc̣s n hrslf.

Hiz arîvl wz sn noun at ɖ Parṣnij; fr Mr Colinz wz wōcñ ɖ hol mornñ wɖn vy v ɖ lojz oṗnñ intu Hunsf̣d Len, in ordr t hv ɖ rliist aśuṛns v it, n aftr mcñ hiz bǎ az ɖ carij trnd intu ɖ Parc, hurid hom wɖ ɖ gret intelijns. On ɖ folowñ mornñ h hesnd t Rozñz t pe hiz rspcts. Ɖr wr tū nefyz v Ledi Caʈ̇rin t rqîr ɖm, fr Mr Darsi hd bròt wɖ him a Crnl Fitswiłm, ɖ yungr sun v hiz uncl Lord –– , n, t ɖ gret s’prîz v ol ɖ parti, ẃn Mr Colinz rtrnd, ɖ jntlṃn acumṗnid him. Śarlót hd sìn ɖm fṛm hr huzbnd’z rūm, crosñ ɖ rod, n imīɉtli runñ intu ɖ uɖr, tld ɖ grlz ẃt an onr ɖe mt xpct, adñ:

“I me ʈanc y, Ilîza, fr ɖs pìs v sviḷti. Mr Darsi wd nvr hv cm so sn t wêt upn m.”

Iliẓbʈ hd scersli tîm t dsclem ol rît t ɖ complimnt, bfr ɖer aproć wz anǎnst bî ɖ dorbel, n śortli aftwdz ɖ ʈri jntlṃn entrd ɖ rūm. Crnl Fitswiłm, hu léd ɖ we, wz abt ʈrti, nt hansm, bt in prsn n adres most trūli ɖ jntlmn. Mr Darsi lct jst az h hd bn yst t lc in Hartfdśr – peid hiz complimnts, wɖ hiz yźl rzrv, t Msz Colinz, n ẃtvr mt b hiz fīlñz twd hr frend, met hr wɖ evri apiṛns v cmpoźr. Iliẓbʈ mirli crtsid t him wɖt seyñ a wrd.

Crnl Fitswiłm entrd intu convseśn d’recli wɖ ɖ redinis n īz v a wel-bréd man, n tōct vri plezntli; bt hiz cuzn, aftr hvñ adrest a slît obẓveśn on ɖ hǎs n gardn t Msz Colinz, sat fr sm tîm wɖt spīcñ t enbdi. At leñʈ, hvr, hiz sviḷti wz so far awecnd az t inqîr v Iliẓbʈ aftr ɖ hlʈ v hr faṃli. Ś ansrd him in ɖ yźl we, n aftr a momnt’s pōz, add:

“Mî eldist sistr hz bn in tǎn ɖz ʈri munʈs. Hv y nvr hapnd t si hr ɖr?”

Ś wz prf̣cli snṣbl ɖt h nvr hd; bt ś wśt t si ẃɖr h wd btre eni conśsnis v ẃt hd pást btwn ɖ Bñliz n Jen, n ś ʈt h lct a litl cnfyzd az h ansrd ɖt h hd nvr bn so forćṇt az t mīt Mis Benit. Ɖ subjict wz psyd no farɖr, n ɖ jntlṃn sn aftwdz wnt awe.