Golden Age and Other Stories Read online

  “MydearestJane,”CaptainBennetsaid,embracinghersister,“Howwellyoulook!Imustbevery gladtohavegonetotheCorps.Iwouldcertainlyhaverequiredagreatdealoffortitudeotherwisetobe alwaysoutshonebymysister.Here,thisismydarlingWollstonecraft:isshenotlovely?”

  “Oh! Yes,” Miss Bennet said, trying to smile despite trembling: only a very partial spirit indeed could have applied the epithet to Wollstonecraft, who added to the usual glaring orange eyes of a Longwing a slightly lengthened and vicious-looking snout framed between the yellowed spurs of bone whencethedeadlyacidcame.Herupperteethprotrudedaroundherlowerjaw,producinganoverhang ratherlikestalactites,andtheseweredangerouslyserrated.“Lizzy,shewillnot—shewillnotbite,will she?”

  “OfcourseIwillnotbite,”Wollstonecraftsaid,“unlessaFrenchdragonshouldtryandcomethis way:andinthatcase,Ishouldspit,andnotbitethem,mostlikely.SoyouareElizabeth’ssister?Iamvery pleased to meet you. Pray will you be sure that Elizabeth buys a very nice gown? I am fond of purple, myself,andIthinkshewouldlookexcellentlywellinit.”

  CaptainBennetwithdrewtohersmallprivatecabintoexchangehertrousersandcoatforawalking dress,andshortlythesisterswalkedoutofthecovertandintothetownarminarm.“Sotellmemoreof thisBingleyfellowofyours,”CaptainBennetsaid.“AllIknowfrommymother’slastletterishehasfive thousand a year and danced with you twice at the assembly, and that I am to wish you happy at any moment;andfromyours,onlythatheissomewherebetweensixteenandeightyyearsofage.”

  “Oh!”Janecried,coloringalittle,“Idowish—Idowishthatourmothermightexpressherselfwith alittlemorecircumspection.Ofcourseshewaswritingtoyou,mydearLizzy,andnoonecouldaskherto beanythinglessthanfrank,butIfearshehasledyouastray.Mr.Bingleyhasbeen—is—extremelycivil, butnothingmorethanthat.”

  “Ishehandsome?”

  “Anyonewouldcallhimhandsome,Ithink.Hismannersareallthatispleasing,andIwillsaythathe isthemostcharminggentlemanofmyacquaintance.Butthatisall.”

  “Oh,thatisall,isit!Iseemymotherhasunderstatedthecase,foronce,”andfromthisconclusion Elizabethrefusedtobemovedbyhersister’scontinuingprotests.“Unlessheisagreatfool,hemustlove you,forhewillnotfindanyonehalfsobeautifulandsogood-naturedanywhereintheworld,soifyour heartiswon,Imustcountyouasgoodaslost.Icanonlyhopehedeservesyou,dearJane.”

  She thus found herself glad of the ball after all, for its offering her the opportunity of looking Mr.

  Bingleyovermoreclosely.Perhapsasanaturalconsequenceofhernow-settledindependence,shehad beguntothinkherselfaprotectorofhersisters.Wellawareoftheirmother’ssingle-mindeddevotionto theirestablishment,andprivatelymistrustfulofherparent’sjudgement,shefearedtoseeJanepressedto enterintoasituationwhichcouldnotgivehertruehappiness.

  Butonthisscoreshewassoonrelievedfromcare.Thenightoftheballarrived,Mr.Bingleywas presentedtoherearlyintheevening,andsherejoicedtofindhimasJanehaddescribedhim,anamiable young man with easy and unaffected manners, ready to please and be pleased by his company. “Miss ElizabethBennet!”hecried,plainlynotevennoticingthatshehadmistakenlyshakenhishand,ratherthan merelygivinghimherfingerstotouch.“Iamdelightedtomakeyouracquaintanceatlast.Iunderstandyou havebeenfromhomelong?”

  “Ihavemademyhomewithmyuncletheselastnineyears,sir,”Elizabethsaid—notuntrue,ifone consideredtheCorpstheirmutualhome—“andamonlylatelysettledinMeryton,foratime.”

  “Well,Iamverygladtohearit,”Mr.Bingleysaid,witheveryappearanceofmeaninghiswords.“I knowitwillnotfailtogiveyoursisterthegreatestpleasure,andIhopewewillseeagreatdealofyou, aslongasyouarehere.”

  His warmth was amply recompensed by the cold bare civility of his sisters. “Your uncle is an aviator,Iunderstand,”MissCarolineBingleysaidtoElizabeth,withanairofveryfaintincredulity,as thoughshedidnotcaretobelieveit.

  “Heis,”Elizabethsaid,andaddedwithalittlepardonablemalice,“wehaveseveralofficers,inour family.”Shehadenduredagreatdealofhissedwhispersfromhermotherbeforethepartyontheneedfor secrecy,andthedeadlydangertohersisters’reputationsifherownprofessionshouldbecomeknownto thecompany.

  Shewasarmoredagainstincivility,however,bytheknowledgethatadragonwaitedeagerlyforher toreturnandgiveafullaccountingofthegownsandjewelswornbyeveryladypresent.Shedidnotfeel unequaltohercompany:hergownwassilk,herhairhadbeendoneupbyhermother’smaid,andwithout attachinganygreatimportancetothefact,shewascomfortablyawareshewasingoodlooks.

  She could not help but take a certain small satisfaction in having the young gentlemen of the neighborhood seek an introduction, and solicit her hand in one dance after another. But Captain Bennet wasenoughherfather’sdaughtertolaughatherselfforthisvanity,andtobeamusedratherthanpiqued when she overheard Mr. Bingley’s particular friend, a Mr. Darcy, describe her scornfully to that gentlemanas“Tolerable,butnothandsomeenoughtotemptme,”whenBingleywouldhavepresentedhim toherasapartner.

  Others did not take the remark so lightly, however. “Oh!” Wollstonecraft said, her scarlet eyes wideningwhenthisincidenthadbeenrecountedtoher,inthespiritofsharingajoke.“IfonlyIhadbeen there!Ishouldhavegivenhimasharplesson. Tolerable,indeed!MybelovedElizabeth,youmusthave beenthemostbeautifulladythere,Iamsureofit.Although,”sheaddedbroodingly,“Idowishyouhad agreedtobuysomejewels.”

  “No, my sister Jane was that,” Elizabeth answered, with real satisfaction, “and my family are not richenoughformetogoaboutbuckledinjewels:afinethingitwouldlookformetobeindiamonds,and myeldersisterwithastringofpearls.”

  “Diamonds,”Wollstonecraftsighed.

  Elizabethlaughed.“Iamverycontentwithmyball,inanycase.Janehasfoundherselfacharming youngman,Ibelieve,whomaybetheonlypersonintheworldasamiableandaccommodatingassheis herself. They are very well matched. As for Mr. Darcy, I am told by my mother that he is past bearing with, and if she can say so, considering that he has a splendid estate in Derbyshire and ten thousand a year,thatpaintshimaverymonsterindeed.Icanwellsupporttheburdenofhisdisapproval.”

  She thought herself done once more with society, having endured this trial, but events were not to permit her so easy an escape. Having made arrangements to enjoy a country walk with her sister three dayshence,CaptainBennetwasdisturbedtoreceiveashortandill-writtenletterfromJaneearlyupon theprescribedmorningwithherexcuses:shewasatNetherfieldHall,andtooilltoleavethehouse.

  “She must be at death’s door to write me such a letter. I think I had better have a look in on her,”

  ElizabethsaidtoWollstonecraft.“WillyoumindifIhavePulchrialiftmeover?Wecannotgostampeding allMr.Bingley’sgame,andthelawnofNetherfieldHallisnotlargeenoughforyou.”Thiswasnearly true, but Elizabeth also thought it ill-advised to take Wollstonecraft anywhere she might encounter the unfortunateMr.Darcy.Thedragonhadnotceasedtomutterwithindignation.“Iwillcomebacktomorrow midmorning,atthelatest.”

  “Ofcoursenot,”Wollstonecraftsaid,afteramomentofvisiblestruggle.“ButIwilljusthaveaword withPulchria,”sheadded,“incaseyoushouldseethatMr.Darcy,”confirmingElizabeth’sconcern.

  Pulchria,aGreyCopper,wasoneoftheirrear-wing-dragons,andonlysi
xtons;neithershenorher captain had any objection to the short jaunt. Captain Bennet was shortly deposited upon the lawn, and walked up to the house in front of an alarmed audience whose presence was betrayed only by the twitchingofcurtainsinthewindows.Thinkingnotatallofherappearance,shehadwornheroneother walking-dress,sadlyoutmoded,andherHessianbootsbeneath,whichhadkickedupagreatdealofmud ontoherhembythetimeshereachedthedoor.

  Mr. Bingley received her with great generosity and warmth despite having been called from his breakfast-tablebyadragonatthedoor.Thecivilityofhiswelcomewasnotmatchedbytherestofthe scandalized party, who answered her own very perfunctory greetings with a few cold syllables, and as soon as Mr. Bingley escorted her to her sister’s room, they were quick to exclaim over her behavior.

  “Well,Mr.Darcy,”MissCarolineBingleysaidtothatgentleman,“Iamsureyouwouldnotwishtosee yoursisterastrideadragon,orpresentingsuchapeculiarappearance.”

  “Certainlynot,”Mr.Darcysaid,butashisastonishmentcausedhisgazetofollowCaptainBennetas longasshewasinsight,thisresponsedidnotmuchsatisfyMissBingley.

  Quite unaware of this exchange, Elizabeth was disturbed to find Jane very poorly indeed, and the doctor,whowasattendingher,unsparinginhisconcern.“IamafraidIdonotknowthefirstthingabout nursing,butifyoucanwritemeoutinstructions,Iwillseeitdone,”shesaidtothatgentleman,andtook herselfbackdowntothesittingroom,whereMr.Bingleyhadreturned.

  “Thankyou,sir,”shesaid,inresponsetohissincereexpressionsofhopeforMissBennet’sspeedy recovery,“butIamafraidJaneisnotwellatall.However,ifyouwillbesogoodastolendmeafewof youroldermaidservants,Itrustwemaycontrivetopullherthroughthewind.”

  SheaddressedMr.Bingley,unconsciously,withthecalmcertaintywhichshewasusedtousewith her own officers and crew. She had been encouraged in that mode early in her training by one of her commanders,CaptainSt.GermainofMortiferus.“You’retooslight,m’girl,”thatofficer,whosufferednot atallfromthesamecomplaint,hadsaid,“andtoopretty.Youshan’tbeabletobellowthefellowsdown asRolandorIcando;soyoumustmakeitsoundthereain’tanyquestiontheywilldoasyouwish.”At firsthard-won,bynowthatassumedairofauthorityhadbecomesecondnatureinanycircumstancewhere shefeltherselfincommand,andshehadnottheleasthesitationintakingchargeofhersister’scareeven inMr.Bingley’shouse.

  Mr. Bingley himself did not take notice of her manner: he was too intent upon promising her any assistance she required, and directing his housekeeper to meet her requests at once. But Mr. Darcy regarded her across the room with renewed surprise, and as soon as Elizabeth had gone again, Miss Bingleyoncemorecriedoutuponher.“Whatanabominableairofindependence!”shesaid.“IdeclareI amreadytosinkwithshameonherbehalf.Itmustbethisexcessiveassociationwithaviators.Iwould almostsayithasdestroyedherrespectability.”

  “Ithinkitshowsaverygreatconsiderationforhersister,”Mr.Bingleysaid,protesting,buthewas quicklysunkbeneathastormofoppositionfromhissisters.

  Elizabethwouldhavereturnedscornforscorn,ifshehadknownanythingofMissBingley’sremarks.

  Butshewasquitepreoccupied,alltherestoftheday,withhersister’scare.MissBennetwasfarmoreill thanshehadwishedtoacknowledgeeventoherself,andherfeverprovedstubbornenoughtoholduntil earlyintheevening.Thethirdice-bathatlastbrokeit,andshewaseasedintobedwearybutwithslightly bettercolor.

  “There,”Elizabethsaid,“youbegintolookmorelikeyourself,dearJane.Ithinkwehaveturnedthe corner, but I will not leave you until the morning. I hope Wollstonecraft will forgive me, but I am determinedtobivouacatthefootofyourbedtonight.”

  “DearestLizzy,”Janesaiddrowsily,“Iamsoverygratefultohaveyou,althoughIoughtnotsayso, forIknowyouareneglectingyourdutyformysake.Butyoumustgodownfordinner.”

  “Ihopenot.Theycannotwantme,andIhavenothingtowear.”

  “Youshallwearmyclothes.Ourmothersentsomethingsforme,whenshelearnedIcouldnotleave directly. Pray do, sister. I cannot be easy in my mind when I have already so abused Mr. Bingley’s hospitality.”

  Reluctantly, Captain Bennet went down in her borrowed gown and slippers, to face a company as unwelcometoherasshewastothem.Mr.Bingleyshethoughtbetterandbetterof,everymoment,butof his sisters and friend she thought less and less. By nature independent-minded, her training and the companyofaviatorshadincreasedhersenseofscornforcondescensionandtheformsofpolitesociety, whenthesewereunaccompaniedbyrealaccomplishmentandwarmth.

  “IhopedearMissBennetisbetter?”MissBingleyaskedherwithathincoldpoliteness,butasthis was followed in close succession by her turning away and pressing Mr. Darcy for his opinion on the ragout of rabbit which had just been offered him, Captain Bennet was very little inclined to view it as evincinganyrealsentiment.

  Her brother’s inquiries, when they had retired to the drawing-room, were more eager and more sincere. He repeated several times his hope that Miss Bennet should be wholly well soon, his determination she should not leave one moment sooner than this event, and his pleasure in Elizabeth’s owncompany.

  “Thankyou,sir,”Elizabethsaid,touchedbyhiskindness,althoughshecouldnotfeelherselfahappy additiontotheparty.Shedidnotplaywhist,andhadtoavowalackoffamiliaritywiththepoetsonwhom Miss Bingley, with an air of great condescension, inquired for her opinion; and when Mr. Hurst expressed,withagrunt,hisdourcertaintyofBonaparte’scomingacrosstheChanneloneofthesedays, shewasunabletorefrainfromansweringwithquickscorn,“NotwhileMortiferusandExcidiumareat Dover.”

  “Eh?Who?”Mr.Hurstsaid,andshewasrecalledtoherownindiscretion.

  “TheLongwingsstationedatthecovertthere,”shesaidasbrieflyasshemight,belatedlyconscious shehadarrestedtheattentionofallthecompany.

  “Youmeanthedragons,Isuppose,”Mr.Bingleysaid,eagertopursueanylineofconversationwhich shouldmakehisguestmorecomfortable,unawarethatshewouldreallyhavepreferredanyother.“Iam ashamedtosayIdonotknowthefirstthingaboutthem.AreLongwingsverylarge?”

  Elizabethcouldnotrefusetoanswer,althoughshefearedtobetrayherselfatanymoment.“Middle-weight,sir,”shesaidreluctantly,“buttheyarevitriolic—theyhavevenom.”

  “Theycan’tpoisonalltheFrenchcomingover,”Mr.Hurstsaid,withasnort.

  “ALongwing’svenomiscapableofworkingthroughsixinchesofoakintenminutes.Adropwill killamanatonce.Bonapartecannotcomeacrosswithlessthanahundreddragons,ifthen,solongaswe haveLongwingsonthedefense.”

  CaptainBennetspokedecidedlyandwithpride.Althoughshewouldhavebeensorrytoembarrass

  Jane, not even that consideration could outweigh her loyalty to the Corps. But she was conscious of

  puttingherselfforward,andshetookthepausewhichherresponsebroughtasanopportunitytoescapeto theothersideoftheroomandpretendtobeperusingthebooksontheshelfthere.

  This brought her nearly to Mr. Darcy’s elbow, where that gentleman sat writing a letter, and in a minute Captain Bennet became aware that he had paused in his work and was sitting back in his chair, lookingatherasthoughhemeanttoaddressher.Sheglancedathimwithopeninquiry,wonderingwhyhe didnotspeak,beforesherecollectedthatsheoughtnothavetakennotice.Butbythenhehadflusheda littleandro
setojoinherpolitely,muchtoherdismay.

  “IsupposeyouarefondofVauban,”hesaid,namingoneoftheauthorsontheshelfsheregarded.

  “Ifindhereliestoomuchonmathematics,sir;inmyopinionCoehoornismoreuseful,asapractical matter,”sheanswered,thoughtfully,beforesherecollectedtoo-lateagainthatsheoughtknownothingof fortifications,andsupposedthathehadbeenmeaningtheremarkasajestatherexpense.

  Mr.Darcy,whohadmerelycastuponanythingtohandonwhichtomakeconversation,wasunaware of the sentiments he had provoked: he only recognized that her color heightened and her eyes were remarkablybrilliant.“Ihavenotmadeastudyofsuchmattersmyself,”hesaid,andthenwassilent.

  “Ibegintofearyoumustthinkusveryuselesscreatures,MissElizabethBennet,”Mr.Bingleycalled to her from the table. “And I cannot defend myself against the charge, but I assure you Darcy is a very soberfellow—atschoolhewasforeverathisbooks.”

  “Andbentuponstudiesmorenaturalandappropriatetoyourstationinlife,”MissBingleysaidto Mr.Darcy,quicktointerjectherselfintotheconversationinhisdefense.“IamsureMissElizabethwill agreewithme,willyounot?Afterall,wecannotallbeaviators.”

  “Byallmeans,”CaptainBennetsaid,stillinatemper,whichthisslyremarkdidnotimprove.“Itis noteveryonewhocanoccupythemselveswiththebusinessofdefendingthenation.”

  Shewassorrydirectlyshehadspoken;ifMr.DarcyandMissBingleychosetobeuncivil,thesame behaviorwasnotpardonableonherpart,havingimposedherselfuponherhost.“Themanagementofa greatestatemustbeasdifficultasthatofdragons,”sheaddedhastily,totakethestingfromherwords,

  “and as necessary,” and offered Darcy a slight inclination of her head, as she would have made to a fellow-officerwhomshehadaccidentallyoffended.

  Darcyanswereditinkind,andwithJaneasherexcuse,Elizabethshortlymadeherescapefromthe drawing-room,feelinganequalshareofmortificationanddisdain.“Imustconfesstoyou,dearestJane,”