Music Welcome to Snewscast, a podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is dedicated to Betsy and brought to you by Obsiguious Civility. Tonight we shall read the next part to Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen. In the last episode, Elizabeth's father stunts her with his congratulations on her upcoming engagement. He reads a letter he received from Mr. Collins in which Elizabeth is cautioned not to go forward with an engagement to Darcy against Lady Catherine's wishes. Mr. Bennett thinks this is simply a ridiculous rumor because he is certain that Elizabeth hates Darcy and that Darcy is indifferent to her. Elizabeth fakes laughter to hide her embarrassment about her father's misjudgment while she privately wonders if her father might be on to something, could she have overestimated Darcy's interest? A few days later, Darcy and Bingley visit Longborn. They all go for a walk, and Elizabeth and Darcy soon find themselves alone. Elizabeth cannot contain her gratitude any longer for all that Darcy has suffered and sacrificed for Lydia. Darcy tells Elizabeth that he did everything for her. Darcy says his feelings for her have not changed since his rejected proposal. Elizabeth confesses that her feelings have significantly changed. Darcy is overjoyed. That is where we will resume our story. Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now, take a few deep breaths. I am almost afraid of asking," said Elizabeth. What you thought of me when we met at Pemberley, you blamed me for coming?

No, replied Darcy, indeed I felt nothing but surprise.

Your surprise could not have been greater than mine in being noticed by you.

My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness,

and I confessed that I did not expect to receive more than might do. My object, then, replied Darcy, was to show you by every civility in my power that I was not so mean as to resent the past, and I hope to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your

ill-opinion by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes introduce themselves, I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an hour after by its senior. He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption, which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend. She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to each to be dwelt on farther. After walking several miles in a leisurely manner and too busy to know anything about it, they found at last,, on examining their watches that it was time to be at home. What could have become of Mr. Bingley and Jane was a wonder which introduced the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with their engagement. friend had given him the earliest information of it. "'I must ask whether you were surprised,' said Elizabeth, not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen. That is to say, you had given your permission,' I guessed as much. And though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had been pretty much the case. On the evening before my going to London, said he, I made a confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had the slightest suspicion. I told him moreover that I believed myself mistaken and supposing as I had done that your sister was indifferent to him, and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together. Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his friend. Did you speak from your own observation?" said she, when you told him that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring, from the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had made lately here and I was convinced of her affection. And you're assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to him. It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His dividends had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made everything easy. I was obliged to confess one thing, which for a time and not unjustly offended him. I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I had known it, and purposefully kept it from him. He was angry, but his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no more than he remained in any doubt of your sister sentiments. He is heartily forgiven me now. Elizabeth long to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful friend, so easily guided that his worth was invaluable, but she checked herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness of Bingley, which of course was to be inferior only to his own,

he continued the conversation till they reached the house, in the hall they parted. Chapter 59 My dear Lizzie, where can you have been walking to?

Was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered the room and from all the others when they sat down to table? She had only to say and reply that they had wandered about till she was beyond her own

knowledge. She colored as she spoke, but neither that nor anything else awakened a suspicion of the truth. The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary.

The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed. The unacknowledged were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth, and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy, then felt herself to be so. For, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known. She was aware that no one liked him but Jane, and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away. At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennett's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here. You're joking, Lizzy. This cannot be. Engaged to Mr. Darcy?

No, no. You shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible. This is a wretched beginning indeed. My soul dependence was on you, and I am sure nobody else will believe me if you do not.

Yet indeed I am in earnest.

I speak nothing. you, and I am sure nobody else will believe me if you do not. Yet indeed I am in earnest.

I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged." Jane looked at her doubtingly. Oh, Lizzy, it cannot be.

I know how much you dislike him.

You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now, but in such cases as these, a good memory is unpartenable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself. Miss Bennett still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more seriously assured her of its truth. Good heaven! Can it be really so? Yet now I must believe you, cried Jane. My dear, dear Lizzie, I would, I do congratulate you. But are you certain? Forgive the question. Are you quite certain that you can be happy with him? There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother? Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight. But we considered it. We talked of it as impossible. And do you really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy, do anything rather than marry without affection? Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do? Oh, yes. You will only think I feel more than I ought to do when I tell you all. What do you mean? Why? I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry. My dear sister, now be be serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let me know everything that I am to know without delay. Will you tell me how long you have loved him? It has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know when it began, but I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley. Another entreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired effect.

And she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennett had nothing further to wish. Now I am quite happy," said she, for you will be as happy as myself.

I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, I must always have esteemed him, but now, as Bingley's friend and your husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you tell me of what passed at Pemberley in Lampton? I owe all that I know of it to another, not to you." Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling to mention Bingley, and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer conceal from her his share and Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation. Good gracious, cried Mrs. Bennett, as she stood at a window the next morning. If that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with her dear Bingley. What can he mean by being so tired some as to always be coming here? I had no notion but he would go a shooting or something or other and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's way." Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal, yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an habitat. As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively and shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information. And he soon afterwards said aloud, Mrs. Bennett, have you no more lanes here hear about in which Lizzie may lose her way again today?" "'I advise Mr. Darcy and Lizzie and Kitty,' said Mrs. Bennett, to walk to Ocom Mount this morning. It is such a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view. It may do very well for the others," replied Mr. Bingley, but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty? Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went upstairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying, I'm quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it. It is all for Jane's sake, you know, and there is no occasion for talking to him, except just now and then. So do not put yourself to inconvenience. During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mothers. She could not determine how her mother would take it. Sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man,

but whether she were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it,

it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense.

And she could know more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy than the first vehemence of her disapprobation. In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennett withdrew to the library, she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy, and that it should be through her means that she, his favorite child, should be distressing him by her choice. Should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her was a wretched reflection. And she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again when, looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty, and, while pretending to admire her work, said in a whisper, go to your father, He wants you in the library. She was gone directly. Her father was walking around the room, looking grave and anxious. Lizzy said he,

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