Pride & Prejudice Page #6

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I am thus repulsed?

I might enquire why you told me you

liked me against your better judgement?

If I was uncivil,

then that is some excuse.

- But you know I have other reasons.

- What reasons?

Do you think anything might tempt me

to accept the man who has ruined

the happiness of a most beloved sister?

Do you deny that you separated

a young couple who loved each other,

exposing your friend

to censure for caprice

and my sister to derision

for disappointed hopes,

involving them both in acute misery?

- I do not deny it.

- How could you do it?

I believed your sister

indifferent to him.

I realised his attachment

was deeper than hers.

She's shy!

Bingley was persuaded

she didn't feel strongly.

- You suggested it.

- For his own good.

My sister hardly shows

her true feelings to me.

I suppose his fortune

had some bearing?

I wouldn't do your sister the dishonour.

- It was suggested...

- What was?

It was clear an advantageous marriage...

- Did my sister give that impression?

- No!

- No. There was, however, your family...

- Our want of connection?

- No, it was more than that.

- How, sir?

The lack of propriety shown by your

mother, younger sisters and your father.

Forgive me. You and your sister

I must exclude from this.

And what about Mr Wickham?

Mr Wickham?

What excuse can you

give for your behaviour?

- You take an eager interest.

- He told me of his misfortunes.

- Oh, they have been great.

- You ruin his chances

yet treat him with sarcasm.

So this is your opinion of me?

Thank you. Perhaps these offences

might have been overlooked

had not your pride been hurt

by my scruples about our relationship.

I am to rejoice in the inferiority

of your circumstances?

And those are the words of a gentleman.

Your arrogance and conceit, your selfish

disdain for the feelings of others

made me realise you were the last man

in the world I could ever marry.

Forgive me, madam,

for taking up so much of your time.

I came to leave you this.

I shall not renew the sentiments

which were so disgusting to you.

But if I may, I will address the

two offences you have laid against me.

My father loved Mr Wickham as a son.

He left him a generous living.

But upon my father's death,

Mr Wickham announced

he had no intention of taking orders.

He demanded the value of the living,

which he'd gambled away within weeks.

He then wrote,

demanding more money, which I refused.

After which,

he severed all acquaintance.

He came back to see us last summer, and

declared passionate love for my sister,

whom he tried to persuade

to elope with him.

She is to inherit 30,000.

When it was made clear he would never

receive a penny of it, he disappeared.

I will not attempt to convey the depth

of Georgiana's despair.

She was 15 years old.

As to the other matter,

of your sister and Mr Bingley,

though the motives which governed me

may appear insufficient,

they were in the service of a friend.

Lizzie.

Are you all right?

I hardly know.

Lizzie. How fortunate you have arrived.

Your aunt and uncle are here

to deliver Jane from London.

- How is Jane?

- She's in the drawing room.

I'm quite over him. If he passed me

in the street, I'd hardly notice.

London is so diverting. It's true.

There's so much to entertain.

What news from Kent?

Nothing.

At least not much to entertain.

Lizzie, tell Mama!

Stop making such a fuss.

- Why didn't she ask me as well?

- Because I'm better company.

- What's the matter?

- I've just as much right.

Let's all go.

Lydia's been invited to Brighton

with the Forsters.

Sea-bathing would set me up nicely.

I shall dine with the officers

every night.

Papa, don't let her go.

Lydia will never be easy until she's

exposed herself in some public place.

And we could never expect her

to do it with so little inconvenience.

If you do not check her,

she'll be fixed as the silliest flirt

who ever made her family ridiculous.

And Kitty will follow, as always.

Lizzie, we shall have no peace

until she goes.

Is that really all you care about?

Colonel Forster is a sensible man.

He will keep her

out of any real mischief.

And she's too poor

to be an object of prey to anyone.

It's dangerous.

I am certain the officers will find

women better worth their while.

Let us hope, in fact,

that her stay in Brighton

will teach her her own insignificance.

At any rate,

she can hardly grow any worse.

If she does, we'd be obliged to

lock her up for the rest of her life.

Lizzie, you're welcome to accompany us.

The Peak District is not Brighton.

Officers are thin on the ground

which may influence your decision.

Come to the Peak District with us,

Lizzie, and get some fresh air.

The glories of nature. What are men

compared to rocks and mountains?

Men are either eaten up

with arrogance or stupidity.

If they are amiable,

they have no minds of their own.

Take care, my love.

That savours strongly of bitterness.

I saw Mr Darcy when I was at Rosings.

Why did you not tell me?

Did he mention Mr Bingley?

No.

No, he did not.

Oh, what are men

compared to rocks and mountains?

Or carriages that work?

Where exactly are we?

Quite close to Pemberley.

- Mr Darcy's home?

- That's the fellow.

Very well-stocked lake.

I've a hankering to see it.

Oh, no, let's not.

Well, he's so...

I'd rather not, he's so... he's so...

- So what?

- So rich.

By heavens, Lizzie,

what a snob you are!

Objecting to Mr Darcy because of his

wealth. The poor man can't help it.

He won't be there anyway.

These great men are never at home.

Keep up.

- Is your master much at home?

- Not as much as I would wish.

He dearly loves it here.

If he should marry,

you might see more of him.

He's a lot like his father.

When my husband was ill,

Mr Darcy couldn't do enough.

He just organised the servants for me.

This is he, Mr Darcy.

A handsome face.

Lizzie, is it a true likeness?

Does the young lady

know Mr Darcy?

Only a little.

Do you not think him

a handsome man, miss?

Yes.

Yes, I dare say he is.

This is his sister, Miss Georgiana.

She sings and plays all day long.

Is she at home?

Miss Elizabeth.

- I thought you were in London.

- No.

No, I'm not.

No.

- We would not have come...

- I came back a day early...

I'm with my aunt and uncle.

And are you having a pleasant trip?

Very pleasant.

- Tomorrow we go to Matlock.

- Tomorrow?

- Are you staying at Lambton?

- Yes, at the Rose and Crown.

Yes.

I'm so sorry to intrude.

They said the house was open

for visitors. I had no idea.

- May I see you back to the village?

- No.

- I'm very fond of walking.

- Yes.

Yes, I know.

Goodbye, Mr Darcy.

This way, sir.

Are you sure you

wouldn't like to join us?

We've just met Mr Darcy.

You didn't tell us that you'd seen him.

He's asked us to dine with him tomorrow.

He was very civil, was he not?

- Very civil.

- Not at all how you'd painted him.

To dine with him?

There's something pleasant

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