Music Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please write a review on the Apple Podcasts app. Here's a recent review we enjoyed. The subject line is, best sleep podcast, and it goes. I have done everything from meditation to podcasts to help me fall asleep, and this podcast helps so much. I love that I can listen to a series or a chapter disconnected. Even my son, 5, asks for his snooze cast stories when he's having trouble settling in. Keep it up. Thank you to our dear listener in Canada for writing that review. We're so happy to help you and your son settle in. This episode is brought to you by an Amiable Light. Tonight we shall read the next part to Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen. Our Friday rotation is capped at four episodes now so that each episode will only be one month out from the next of a particular story.

If you'd like to listen to this series or any of our others in order, please go to snoozecast.com slash series. In the last episode, Elizabeth bids her friends at the parsinage at Rosings Goodbye And on her way home from her vacation,

picks up her sister Jane, who was staying in London with the gardeners. Elizabeth wants to share the news with Jane about Darcy, but is hesitant to do so in that But it also means sharing disappointing news about Bingley as well. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. 39 Chapter 39 It was the second week in May, in which the three young ladies, Elizabeth, Jane and Mariah, set out together from Grace Church Street for Mary-10, and as they drew near the appointed in, where Mr. Bennett's carriage was to meet them, they quickly perceived in token of the coachman's punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia, looking out of a dining room upstairs. Now, I have got some news for you," said Lydia, as they sat down at table. What do you think? It is excellent news, capital news, and about a certain person we all like." Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, and the waiter was told he need not stay. Lydia laughed and said, Hi, that is just like your formality in discretion. You thought the waiter must not hear, as if he cared. I dare say he often hears worse things said than I'm going to say, but he's an ugly fellow. I'm glad he's gone. I never saw such a long chin in my life. Well. But now for my news. it is about dear Wickham, too good for the waiter, is it not? There is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King. There's for you, she has gone down to her uncle at Liverpool, gone to stay. Wickham is safe. And Mary King is safe, at Elizabeth, safe from a connection imprudent asked to fortune. She is a great fool for going away if she liked him. But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side," said Jane. I am sure there is not on his. I will answer for it. He never cared, three straws about her. Who could, about such a nasty little freckled thing. Elizabeth was shocked to think that, however incapable of such coarseness of expression herself, the coarseness of the sentiment was little other than her own breast had harbored and fancied liberal. As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was ordered. And after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their boxes, work bags, and parcels, and the unwelcome edition of Kitties and Lydia's purchases were seated in it. How nicely we are all crammed in, cried Lydia, I am glad I bought my bonnet if it is only for the fun of having another band box. Well, now let us be quite comfortable and snug and talk and laugh all the way home. And in the first place, let us hear what has happened to you all since you went away. Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old mate soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty. Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three in twenty? My aunt Phillips wants you so to get husbands you can't thank. She says Lizzie had better have taken Mr. Collins, but I do not think there would have been any fun in it. Lord, how I should like to be married before any of you, and then I would shaperone you about to all the balls. Dear me, we had such a good piece of fun the other day at Colonel Forsters. Kitty and me were to spend the day there, and Mrs. Forster promised to have a little dance in the evening by the by, Mrs. Forster and me are such friends. And so she asked the two herringtons to come, but Harriet was ill and so Penn was forced to come by herself. And then, what do you think we did? We dressed up Chamberlain in women's clothes on purpose to pass for a lady. Only think what fun. Not a soul new of it, but Colonel and Mrs. Forster and Kitty and me. Except my aunt. For we were forced to borrow one of her gowns, and you cannot imagine how well he looked. When Denny and Wickham and Pratt and two other more of the men came in, they did not know him in the least. Lord, how I laughed, and so did Mrs. Forster, I thought I should have died, and that made the men suspect something, and then they soon found out what was the matter. With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes, Dittlidia assisted by Kittie's hints and additions, and Devar to amuse her companions all the way to Longborn. Elizabeth listened as little as she could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name. reception at home was most kind. Mrs. Bennett rejoiced to see Jane in undiminished beauty, and more than once during dinner did Mr. Bennett say voluntarily to Elizabeth, I am glad you are come back Lizzie.

Their party in the dining room was large. For almost all the Lucas' came to meet Mariah in here the news. And various were the subjects that occupied them. Lady Lucas was inquiring of Mariah after the welfare and poultry of her eldest daughter. Mrs. Bennett was doubly engaged on one hand collecting an account of the present Fashions from Jane, who sat some way below her, and on the other, retailing them all to the younger lukeces, and Lydia, in a voice rather louder than any other person, was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who would hear her.

Oh, Mary!" said she. I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! As we went along, Kitty and I drew up the blinds, and pretended there was nobody in the and I should have gone so all the way if Kitty had not been sick. And when we got to the George, I do think we behaved very handsomely. For we treated the other three with the nicest cold luncheon in the world. And if you would have gone, we would have treated you too. And

then when we came away, it was such fun. I thought we never should have got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter. And then we were so merry all the way home. We talked and laughed so loud that anybody might have heard us 10 miles off.

To this Mary very gravely replied, far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds, but I confess they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book. But of this answer, Lydia heard, not a word. be seldom listened to anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all. In the afternoon, Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk to Maryton and to see how everybody went on. But Elizabeth steadily opposed the scheme. It should not be said that the Miss Benets could not be home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. There was another reason too for her opposition. She dreaded seeing Mr. Wickham again and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to her of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond expression. In a fortnight they were to go, and once gone, she hoped there could be nothing more to plague her on his account. She had not been many hours at home before she found that the brightened scheme of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn was under frequent discussion between her parents. Elizabeth saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention of yielding, but his answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal that her mother, though often disheartened, had never yet dispaired of succeeding at last. Chapter 40 Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be overcome. And at length, resolving to suppress every particular in which her sister was concerned, and, preparing her to be surprised, she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene between Mr. Darcy and herself. Miss Bennett's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly natural, and all surprised was shortly lost in other feelings. She was sorry that Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them, but still more was she grieved for the unhappiness which her sister refusal must have given him. His being so sure of succeeding was wrong, said she, and certainly ought not to have appeared, but consider how much it must increase his disappointment. Indeed, reply to Elizabeth. I am heartily sorry for him, but he has other feelings which will probably soon drive away his regard for me. You do not blame me, however, for refusing him? Blame you? Oh no. But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham. No, I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did. But you will know it when I tell you what happened the very next day. She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far as a concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this for poor Jane, who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here collected in one individual. Nor was Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery. Most earnestly did she labor to prove the probability of error and seek to clear the one without involving the other. This will not do, Settle Isabeth. You never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them, just enough to make one good sort of man, and of late it had been shifting about pretty much. For my part I am inclined to believe it all d'arcees, but you shall do as you choose. It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane.

I do not know when I have been more shocked," said she. Wikum, so very bad, it is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy, dear Lizzy, only consider what he must have suffered, Such a disappointment, and with the knowledge of your ill-opinion too, and having to relate such a thing of his sister, it is really too distressing. I am sure you must feel it so. Oh, no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so full of both. I know you will do him such ample justice that I am growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion makes me saving, and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be as light as a feather. Poor Wycombe, there is such an expression of goodness in his countenance, such an openness and gentleness in his manner. There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness and the other all the appearance of it. I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do?

And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to him without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually abusive without saying anything just, but one cannot always be laughing out of man without now and then stumbling on something witty. Lizzy, when you first read that letter, I am sure you could not treat the matter as you do now. Indeed, I could not. I was uncomfortable enough. I may say unhappy. And with no one to speak to about what I felt, no Jane to comfort me and say that I had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had. Oh, how I wanted you. How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions in speaking of Wickham to Mr. Darcy. For now they do appear wholly undeserved.

Certainly, but the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging. There is one point on which I want your advice. I want to be told whether I ought or ought not to make our acquaintances in general understand Wickham's character. Miss Bennett paused a little and then replied, Surely, there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully.

What is your opinion? That it ought not to be attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorized me to make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular relative to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to myself, and to find Devar to undissive people as to the rest of his conduct, who will believe me. The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent that it would be the death of half the good people in Mariton to attempt to place him in an amiable light. I am not equal to it. Wickham will soon be gone, and therefore it will not signify to anyone here what he really is. time hence it will all be found out, and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At present I will say nothing about it. You are quite right, to have his errors made public might ruin him forever. He is now perhaps sorry for what he has done and anxious to reestablish a character. We must not make him desperate. The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was elayed by this conversation. She had got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, and was certain of a willing listener in Jane whenever she might wish to talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind, of which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other half of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor explained to her sister, how sincerely she had been valued by her friend. Here was knowledge in which no one could partake, and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off this last incumbrance of mystery. And then, said she, if that very improbable event should ever take place, I shall merely be able to tell what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself. The liberty of communication cannot be mine till it has lost all its value She was now on being settled at home, at leisure to observe the real state of her sister's spirits. Jane was not happy. She still cherished a very tender affection for Bingley.

Having never even fancied herself in love before, her regard had all the warmth of first attachment. And from her age and disposition, greater steadiness than most first attachments often boast. And so fervently did she value his remembrance, and prefer him to every other man, that all

her good sense, and all her attention to the feelings of her friends, were requisite to check the indulgence of those regrets which must have been injurious to our own health and their tranquility. Well, Lizzy, said Mrs. Bennett one day, what is your opinion now of this sad business of James? For my part, I am determined never to speak of it again to anybody. I told my sister, Phil, up so the other day, but I cannot find out that James saw anything of him in London. Well, he is a very undeserving young man, and I do not suppose they're the least chance in the world of her ever getting him now. There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the summer, and I have inquired of everybody too who is likely to know. I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield anymore. Oh well, it is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. Though I shall always say, he used my daughter extremely ill, and if I was her, I would not have put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I'm sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then he will be sorry for what he has done. But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation, she made no answer. Well, Lizzie continued her mother, soon afterwards afterwards. And so the Collins' live very comfortable, do they? Well, well, I only hope it will last. And what sort of table do they keep? Charlotte is an excellent manager, I dare say. If she is half as sharp as her mother, she is saving enough. There is nothing extravagant in her housekeeping, I dare say. No, nothing at all. A great deal of good management depend upon it. Yes, yes. They will take care not to outrun their income. They will never be distressed for money. Well, much good may it do them. And so, I suppose they often talk of having longborn when your father is dead. They look upon it as quite their own, I dare say, whenever that happens. It was a subject which they could not mention before me. No, it would have been strange if they had, but I make no doubt they often talk of it between themselves. Well, if they can be easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the better, I should be ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me." Chapter 41 The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began. It was the last of the regiments' day in Mary 10, and all the young ladies in the neighborhood were drooping up his. The dejection was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennett's alone were still able to eat, drink, and sleep, and pursue the usual course of their employments. Very frequently were they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia, whose own And misery was extreme, and who could not comprehend such hard-heartedness in any of the family. Good Heaven, what is it to become of us? What are we to do? Would they often exclaim in the bitterness of woe? How can you be smiling so Lizzy? Their affectionate mother shared all their grief. She remembered what she had herself endured on a similar occasion

five and twenty years ago. you