Welcome to our epistolary retelling of Pride & Prejudice! Jane Austen’s original version of the story, First Impressions, was told entirely in letters, so it seemed like a great group project. We’ll be posting a new letter every Wednesday.
Charles Bingley
May 6, 1812
Charles Bingley had never known a time in his life when he had felt more despondent. It was an unfamiliar state, and he did not quite know what to do about it. He had never been an invariably, thoughtlessly happy sort of person; nor was he, on the other hand, indifferent to the troubles and sorrows of those about him. No; he possessed a normally happy disposition, a good nature, and natural generosity. And his good spirits were pleasantly accompanied by an awareness of the good fortune of his situation in life, perhaps to a degree unusual for a young man of three and twenty, who had never known what it was to want and not have.
But so it was. Bingley not only had the fullest appreciation of the good health and spirits that he enjoyed, but also of the honour and privilege of being, while still young and single, at the headship of his extended family by virtue of having inherited its fortune. With possession of nearly one hundred thousand pounds, and being his own master, he needed to answer to no one for his actions. This being so, perhaps it was to his credit that those actions, his choices, his inclinations, were almost uniformly kindly, well-intentioned, and benign.
He was a very good brother, attentive to the needs of all his younger siblings, not excepting the two eldest, his sister Louisa, who was wife to Mr. Hurst, and Caroline, both of whom depended upon Charles for whatever social standing they might gain. Each had inherited fortunes of twenty thousand pounds, but Mr. Hurst had added little but expense to his marriage, and Caroline was growing desperate in her quest for a suitable husband of both means and fashion.
Charles sympathized with them both, and was obliging in attending to their wishes; he did the London season with them, from Mr. Hurst’s house in Grosvenor-street, despite his own preference for outdoor sports in the winter time. He had, however, taken Netherfield House in Hertfordshire not solely for their convenience as a country place, but had also consulted his own tastes in the matter. His friendship with Mr. Darcy, was his own, too, and that gentleman, several years older and senior in mind to himself, was frequently his companion in town, at house parties about the countryside, and most of all at his grand estate at Pemberley. This friendship constituted possibly Bingley’s greatest personal pleasure, and needless to say, one in which he was eagerly encouraged by his sisters, who had high hopes of what this connection might bring to their family’s advantage.
The trouble, in their view, was that Charles, in addition to all the open-hearted, delightful qualities that made him many friends, had an especial and possibly unfortunate susceptibility for a pretty girl; and many had been the times when the sisters, as well as his best friend, had been made anxious by his predilection for “the prettiest girl in the room” at some ball or function. A series of brief flirtations had raised the hopes of a considerable number of charming young ladies and their eager mammas, while in London alone there had been a whole breed of fortune-hunters to be discouraged and pointed out to Charles. In short, the sisters’ work was cut out for them, and their watchfulness was in good order.
Another young man might have objected; his sisters’ constant harping on young ladies whose portion, or family, or gentility, did not deserve a Mr. Bingley, might have had a lowering effect. Charles was too amiable and too careless to be annoyed, and gave little thought to what weighed upon the minds of his sisters. They were only too well aware of what had been impressed upon them by their betters in society: that the Bingley family had come from trade, albeit respectable trade. It therefore depended entirely upon Charles, to acquire a handsome residence, a family seat, that might raise him and all his connections to something closer to aristocratic circles than commercial ones.
Darcy was their greatest hope, since his lineage was aristocratic indeed; though not titled, his wealth was far greater than Bingley’s, and his ancestors included many members of nobility, whose manners might be unpleasant to upstart families, but whose names never failed to impress. Caroline and Louisa were resolved that their brother should marry well, and as high as possible. Their dearest wish was for him to be united to none other than Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana. A shy, sweet-natured girl, they foresaw she would be no threat to them, and with her as Mrs. Bingley, his sisters might very plausibly come and rule over Pemberley as much as they chose.
Darcy was far from having any objection to Bingley as a brother-in-law. He was well aware of his friend’s sweetness of temper. Although he had never breathed a word to him of the episode in which Mr. Wickham had tried to persuade his young sister into an elopement, the knowledge of how close Georgiana had come to falling into the hands of a most villainous fortune-hunter, and irretrievable ruin, had made the strongest possible impression upon Darcy. His only sister, to whom he had stood in the role of parent since the death of their father, five years ago! Now Georgiana was sixteen, and he could not imagine a better, safer choice for a husband for her than Charles Bingley. Gentle and cheerful, he would treat her well; he was wealthy enough to be no fortune-hunter, and she would be inclined to like him, as her respected brother’s friend.
So far, however, this had not transpired. Though Charles and Georgiana were frequently brought together, there had never been a spark between them; the girl had been frightened and shamed by the episode with Wickham, and was too cowed to even think of another attachment so very soon after her early and narrow escape. And Charles seemed not to notice her among the bevies of beauties unceasingly placed in his way. He continued to fall in love every few weeks, with rapturous rapidity. This was not remarkable at his time of life, and both Darcy and his sisters hoped that he would soon realize his responsibilities and settle down; but there was great concern among them that it should be with the right sort of a wife.
There was no objection to Jane Bennet herself, with her sweet nature, improved mind, and thoughtful good manners; she would suit very well with Bingley’s own character. Darcy and Bingley’s sisters saw this almost as soon as Bingley saw it himself; with all his susceptibility, they had never witnessed in him such a marked attraction to any young lady in particular, as he had shown for Miss Bennet. This was no idle, superficial attraction. He was clearly on the way to be very seriously in love. Her feelings were less apparent; her modesty and sweetness were not demonstrative, and she was perhaps too retiring, too well bred, to use the tempting wiles to win him that the more commonplace run of young women employed.
Where her good breeding could have come from, was the wonder to both Darcy and to Bingley’s sisters, the more they had observed of the society of Miss Bennet’s home and family at Longbourn. The next sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, was a creature of charm and intelligence, and attractive to Mr. Darcy, an irony he could not escape seeing himself. She was, in consequence, positive anathema to Caroline and Mrs. Hurst from the first time Darcy asserted that he had noticed her “fine eyes.”
Be those eyes alluring or discouraging – and Elizabeth, to do her justice, did nothing to purposely encourage Darcy’s admiration – the personal attractions of these two oldest Bennet sisters were the only recommendation that their family possessed. Both Darcy and Bingley’s sisters were of one mind in this opinion. The mother, Mrs. Bennet, was one of the most vulgar women they had ever had the misfortune to be in company with, only matched by her own sister and the low-bred Meryton society; the husband did nothing to keep her in check, only laughed at her foibles publicly; and the three youngest girls were unspeakable, unacceptable, unthinkable. The family estate was entailed away, there was no money to speak of, and after lengthy and repeated laughter by the sisters at their dear friend Jane’s vulgar relations, Darcy went so far as to pointedly say in Bingley’s presence that the Bennet family must very materially lessen Jane’s and Elizabeth’s “chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world.”
Bingley was not in the habit of paying much attention to his sisters’ opinions of young ladies, but Darcy’s cleverness and superior judgment he did hold in some awe. Darcy was scrupulously honourable, and would not descend to falsehoods or mistruths in attempting to detach his friend from Miss Bennet, though convinced it was the right thing to do. The Bennet family’s behavior, however, seemed only to operate in his favour. At the ball at Netherfield in late November, they had exposed themselves in every sort of vulgarity and social pestilence they could summon. After this embarrassing display, Bingley had gone to London on business, intending to return; but Darcy and his sisters had conferred, and agreed that something must be done at once.
Acting rapidly, they had followed Bingley to London, and Darcy took the energetic step of representing to his friend the ills of such a marriage as he contemplated. He should think well of the inconvenience, unpleasantness, and endless humiliation of being united with such an uncouth family. Bingley showed unexpected strength of character in resisting this kind of argument, even from his respected friend; and that reluctance forced Darcy’s hand. He determined to play his strongest card, and stated what he truly thought: that Miss Bennet might have as fine a character and sweet a disposition as Charles believed, but in her unalterably serene, perhaps placid countenance, Darcy could not perceive that she showed any sign of very strong affection toward him.
This hit hard with the modest Bingley, who was lacking in that brash confidence that might lead him to believe the girl he loved would as a matter of course return that love. He doubted, he was not sure. Darcy pressed the point. Bingley still resisted. He refused to think Jane a flirt, a fortune-hunter, someone who would trifle with him. No, certainly not, Darcy agreed, but love? They had only seen each other a few times and what did Bingley really know about her feelings?
Bingley saw the justice of this, or enough to make him despondent, and Darcy was wise enough to say no more. Still, he and Bingley’s sisters agreed that it was best to keep the knowledge from him that Miss Bennet had actually come to town and was staying in Gracechurch-street with her uncle and his family. Instead, they combined and conspired to unwind a string of social delights over the Christmas season and beyond, for Bingley’s entertainment. He was invited to stay in Darcy’s own house in town, where he might enjoy the company of the sweet Georgiana, and at the same time (as Darcy thought) avoid the admittedly vulgar annoyance of the constant knagging of his own sisters, which often came dangerously close to getting upon the nerves of even the good-humoured Charles.
No one needed to say anything more to Charles, to persuade him not to return into Hertfordshire. He was thoroughly dejected and depressed, despite all the gaieties displayed for his sake at both Darcy’s mansion and at Mr. Hurst’s house, not to mention the other grand houses where he had the entrée. Somehow, though, he did not care as much about these things as before. Darcy saw this change in his friend, with some concern.
His sisters felt that something had been achieved by persuading him to avoid Netherfield and its neighborhood, which they hoped he would give up entirely; but Bingley did not seem inclined to make such a complete break. He renewed his lease on Netherfield on Lady-day, March 29, though admitting that he had no plans to return; and things were in this unsettled situation when his sisters begged Mr. Darcy to do something to press for a new arrangement.
“I would not do that if I could,” he objected. “Bingley has no other country house, and I do not foresee him resigning the lease until a more eligible property offers, for his purchase.”
“Oh! If only it would,” exclaimed Caroline. “Cannot you find him another such estate in Derbyshire, Mr. Darcy?”
“There cannot be two Pemberleys,” Mrs. Hurst reminded her, “but perhaps Mr. Darcy may hear of something round about there, that would be as good as Netherfield, at least.”
“Not on such short notice,” he replied coolly. “But it is true that spring is upon us, and Bingley will be most reasonably wanting to get into the country. I will have a conversation with him about summer possibilities.”
The sisters were in raptures, and praised him to the skies. “Oh! Only think, if we can all spend the summer together at Pemberley!” Caroline told Mrs. Hurst, when they were alone.
“It is to be hoped for, of all things,” Mrs. Hurst agreed.
It was early in May when Mr. Darcy decided upon the solution. He had lately received a letter from his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh relating the departure of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mrs. Collins’s sister Maria from Kent. Now Lady Catherine and Anne felt sadly solitary at Rosings; there had been nobody near worth talking to, since Darcy’s visit with his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam at Easter-time. The two young men were their closest connections and greatly missed. Could not they come back for a summer visit to Rosings?
This did not accord with any inclination of Darcy’s, and only spurred him to come up with a scheme as rapidly as possible to excuse avoidance of Kent, while also providing some diversion that might please Bingley and lighten his spirits. Accordingly the two friends had their conference on a Sunday evening, when they were safe from any interruption by Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, whom they knew were attending to Mr. Hurst’s heavy and port-accompanied dinner in Grosvenor-street.
“I am sorry to see, Bingley, that you have been somewhat out of spirits, and I will not pretend that I do not know from whence your despondence proceeds.”
“Yes,” said Bingley sadly, “you can guess what it is that weighs upon me; I do not deny it. But I do not like you to worry about me. I know I must get the better of it.”
“I know you will. There are many fine fish in the sea, you know, Bingley, a proverb that reminds me of something that a young lady of our acquaintance would say.”
Bingley gave a faint smile. “I know whom you mean. That sounds peculiarly like Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
The two men’s eyes met. “Forgive me for approaching so near that subject,” Mr. Darcy apologized. “But I think you should know…I have decided that it is right to tell you, in fact, that I am in a plight not unlike yours.”
Bingley was startled. “You don’t mean – ? It cannot be…” He thought a moment. “I did used to notice,” he advanced, “if you do not mind me mentioning it – the way you often looked at Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy’s eyes fell. “Yes,” he said briefly. “I did not mean to speak about it, but only to tell you that my impulse proved to be – unprofitable.”
Bingley digested this. “You cannot mean,” he began, and stopped.
“I will only say that I was rejected,” Darcy told him in a not very clear voice.
“My dear fellow! I am most sorry.”
“Yes, well, enough of that! So it is, you see, that I have been thinking, what might be done to restore something of good spirits to us both, in our similar disappointed plight.”
Bingley was surprised. “What can you possibly suggest? I do not want to go back to Netherfield, without any encouragement, without certainty of…”
“No, no, I was not supposing such a thing,” Darcy said hastily. “I, too, would find such a visit…embarrassing. But summer is approaching, and you will not want to spend it here in town, any more than I would.”
“No,” agreed Bingley, and waited.
“Well, what about traveling? June is the best time for touring in the countryside. We have our carriages, and might take a party of friends along. Perhaps to the Peak District, or even as far as the Lakes.”
“The Lakes! I have never seen them,” said Bingley, looking interested.
“We could see quite a good deal in June and July, and then settle for the rest of the warm season at Pemberley. The fishing is especially good just before harvest time. Do not you think that will be a pleasant scheme?”
Bingley nodded emphatically. “The very thing. How clever you are, Darcy, I have always said so! Nothing could be more effacacious in lifting away our doldrums. It will be much better for us, not to be thinking of young ladies, but to spend our time more sensibly. We might do some mountain-rambling!”
“And rock-climbing, boating and fishing,” added Darcy, touching on subjects he knew would appeal to his friend. “Think of the Peaks!”
“I am thinking about them. Fresh air, not to be in city pent. What a treat that will be, to be sure! Will you make the arrangements, Darcy?”
“With great pleasure. I am glad you like it, Bingley.”
“Then I will indite a letter to my man of business at Netherfield,” said Bingley, with the first look of enthusiasm that Darcy had seen on his face in months.
“You renewed your lease of the house at Lady-day, did you not? I think you mentioned that it is up at Mid-summer?”
“Yes; but I shall write and continue it to Christmas. In case,” Bingley said, hesitating a little, “we should feel like going into that neighborhood again, after our tour of the north.”
Mr. Darcy’s expression brightened into a smile, which Bingley returned. “You never know,” he said.
Bingley was all rapidity when he had made a decision, and he stood up instantly, removed himself to the desk, took paper and quill, and began to write.
Darcy House, London
May 6, 1812
“Dear Mr. Morris,
I am writing to tell you that I expect to be travelling all this summer, and am therefore not likely to return to Netherfield House for some time. I wish, however, to continue my lease there so that I may retain the choice to return, and will renew my terms with you accordingly, extending my option until the end of the year. I desire that Mrs. Nicholls will remain and employ a small staff to maintain the place, and I will next write to give these orders, and to place instructions with my banker.
Wishing you a continuance of your good health,
Sincerely yours, etc.,
Charles Bingley
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