Music Welcome to Snuescast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snuescast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by ponies at Pemberley. Tonight, we shall read the final part to Pride and Pregidus, written by Jane Austin. This has been our longest running series as we started reading it way back in the summer of 2019. Welcome to all our new listeners and a sincere thank you to our listeners that have been following along throughout these four years. In the last episode, Darcy and Elizabeth take a long walk together alone. They are joyful to learn that they both would like to be married. Elizabeth discovers that she has Lady Catherine to thank for Darcy's visit. For she had told him of Elizabeth's refusal to promise not to accept him. Darcy also explains how her previous reproofs of him made him realize how rude and spoiled he had been. He made it his aim to show her he had changed. Get cozy. Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. Chapter 59 My dear Lizzy, 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 in reply that they had wandered about till she was beyond her own knowledge. She colored as she spoke, but neither that, not, nor 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 than 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 are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be. Engage to Mr. Darcy? No, no. You shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible. This is a wretched beginning, indeed. My sole 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 but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged. 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. Later, she was called in herself to see her father. Mr. Bennett was walking about the room looking grave and anxious. Lizzy said, he, what are you doing? Are you out of your senses to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him? How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable? Her expressions more moderate? It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give. But they were now necessary, and she assured him with some confusion of her attachment to Mr. Darcy. Or in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich to be sure, and you may of more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy? Have you any other objection, said Elizabeth, than your belief of my indifference? None at all. We all know him to be a proud unpleasant sort of man, but this would be nothing if you really liked him. I do, I do like him," she replied, with tears in her eyes. I love him, indeed. He has no improper pride. He is imperfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is. Then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms. Lizzie said her father, I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man indeed to whom should never dare refuse anything which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you if you are resolved on having him, but let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband, unless you looked up to him as a superior.

Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger and in unequal marriage.

You could scarcely escape discredit and misery, my child. Let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about. Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply. And at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test

of many months' suspense. And in numerating with energy, all his good qualities, she did conquer her father's incredulity and reconcile him to the match.

Well, my dear, said he, when she ceased speaking, I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy. To complete the favorable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment. This is an evening of wonders indeed. And so Darcy did everything. Made up the match.

Gave. in evening of wonders indeed. And so Darcy did everything. Made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission. So much the better, it will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and would have paid him, but these violent young lovers carry everything their own way. I shall offer to pay him tomorrow. He will rant and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter." He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before on his reading Mr. Collins' letter. And after laughing at her some time, allowed her at last to go, saying, as she quitted the room, If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in for him quite at leisure. Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight. And after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join the others with tolerable composure. Everything was too recent for gayity, but the evening passed tranquilly away. There was no longer anything material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time. When her mother went up to her dressing room at night, she followed her and made the important communication. It's effect most extraordinary for, on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennett sat quite still and unable to utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard, though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself. Good gracious, Lord bless me, only think, dear me, Mr. Darcy. Who would have thought it? And is it really true? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy, how rich and how great you will be. What pin money, what jewels, what carriages you will have, James is nothing to it, nothing at all. I am so pleased, so happy, such a charming man, so handsome, so tall. Oh, my dear Lizzy, pray apologize for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy, a house in town, everything that is charming, daughters married married, ten thousand a year, O Lord, what will become of me, I shall go distracted. This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted, and Elizabeth rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her mother followed her. My dear child, she cried. I can think of nothing else, ten thousand a year, and very likely more. She's as good as a lord, and a special license. You must and shall be married by a special license. But, my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of that I may have it tomorrow. This was a sad omen of what her mother's behavior to the gentleman himself might be. And Elizabeth found that, though in the certain possession of his warmest affection and secure of her relations consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the Morrow passed off much better than she expected. Mrs. Bennett luckily stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she vengared not to speak to him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention or mark her deference for his opinion. Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him. And Mr. Bennett soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem. I admire all my three sons-in-laws highly," said he.

Wickham perhaps is my favorite.

But I- I admire all my three sons-in-laws highly," said he. Wiccom perhaps is my favorite, but I think I show like your husband quite as well as James. CHAPTER 60 Elizabeth's spirit soon rising to playfulness again. She wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "'How could you begin,' said she. "'I can comprehend you're going on charmingly when you had once made a beginning, but what could set you off in the first place? I cannot fix on the hour or the spot, or the look or the words which laid the foundation and is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.

My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners, my behaviors to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere. Did you admire me for my impertinence? For the liveliness of your mind I did? You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is that you were sick of civility, of deference, of a vicious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it. But in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just, and in your heart you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There, I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it, and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you know no actual good of me, but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love. Was there no good in your affectionate behavior to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield? Dearest Jane, who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under your protection and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible. And in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarreling with you as often as may be. And I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point it last? What made you so shy of me when you first called? And afterwards, dined here. Why? Especially when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me? Because you were grave and silent and gave me no encouragement. But I was embarrassed and so was I. You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner. A man who had felt less might. How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it. But I wonder how long you would have gone on if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not asked you, my resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. Too much, I am afraid, for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a breach of promise, for I ought not to have mentioned the subject. This will never do. You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine's unjustifiable endeavors to separate us were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humor to wait for an opening of yours. My aunt's intelligence had given me hope and I was determined at once to know everything. Lady Catherine has been of infinite use which ought to make happy, for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longborn and be embarrassed? Or had you intended any more serious consequences?

My real purpose was to see you and to judge if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister was still partial to bing, and if she were, to make the confession to him,

which I have since made.

Shall you ever have courage to announce

to Lady Catherine what is to befall her?

I am more likely to want time than courage, Elizabeth,

but it ought to be done. And if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly. And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected. From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had been overrated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long letter. But now, having that to communicate which she knew would be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness and immediately wrote as follows. I would have thanked you before my dear aunt, as I ought to have done for your long, kind, satisfactory detail of particulars. But to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed, but now, suppose as much as you choose, give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you again and again for not going to the lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it? Your idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the park every day. I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but no one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane. She only smiles. I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that can be spared from me. You are all to

come to Pemberley at Christmas, yours, etc. Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different

style and still different from either was what Mr. Bennett sent to Mr. Collins in return for his last. Dear Sir, I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can, but if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. Yours sincerely, et cetera. Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother on his approaching marriage were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even to Jane on the occasion to express her delight and repeat all her former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was affected, and though feeling no reliance on her could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved. The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information was as sincere as her brothers in sending it. Four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight and all her earnest desire of being loved by her sister. Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife, the long-born family heard that the Collins' were come themselves to Lucas' lodge. The reason of this sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth. Though in the course of their meetings, she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her husband. He bore it however with admirable calmness. He could even listen to Sir William Lucas when he complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country and expressed his hopes of their all-meeting frequently at St. James's with very decent composure. If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight. Mrs. Phillips' vulgarity was another and perhaps a greater tax on his forbearance, and though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good humor encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar. Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification. And though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future. And she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley. Chapter 61 Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley and talked of Mrs. Darcy, maybe guest. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of her earnest desire and the establishment of so many of her children

produced so happy in effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life. Though, perhaps, it was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic like Felicity and so unusual a form that she still was occasionally nervous and invariably silly. Mr. Bennett missed his second daughter exceedingly. His affection for her drew him off in her from home than anything else could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially

when he was least expected. Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a 12-month, so near vicinity to her mother and Mariton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified. He bought in a state in a neighboring county to Darvishur, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, within 30 miles of each other. Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia and removed from the influence of Lydia's example, she became by proper attention and management less irritable, less ignorant, and less insipid.

From the further disadvantage of Lydia's society, she was, of course, carefully kept. And though Mrs. Wickham frequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise of balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going.

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