Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Fifty-Nine
Abridged for Intermediate-High Learners

That evening, Elizabeth told no one about the walk. When Jane asked where she had been, she said that they had wandered about, and blushed. No one suspected it.

That night, Elizabeth opened her heart to Jane. "You are joking, Lizzy. Engaged to Mr. Darcy! I know it is impossible," said Jane. "But it is true," said Elizabeth. "He still loves me, and we are engaged."

"Oh, Lizzy, I know how much you disliked him," said Jane. "Forget all that," said Elizabeth. "Are you certain you can be happy with him?" asked Jane. "There is no doubt," said Elizabeth. "But are you pleased, Jane?"

Jane rejoiced, but begged Elizabeth to be serious, and asked how long she had loved him. "It has come on so gradually," said Elizabeth, "that I hardly know when it began. I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." They talked half the night, and she told Jane everything about Darcy's secret help to Lydia.

The next morning, Mrs. Bennet saw the gentlemen coming and cried, "Good heavens! That disagreeable Mr. Darcy is here again! Lizzy, you must walk out with him, so he will not disturb Bingley and Jane." Elizabeth laughed, though annoyed that her mother always called Darcy disagreeable.

When they arrived, Bingley looked at Elizabeth in a way that showed he already knew the secret. Mrs. Bennet sent Darcy and Elizabeth to walk to Oakham Mount, and on the walk they decided that Darcy should ask Mr. Bennet for his consent that evening.

In the evening, Mr. Bennet went to the library, and Darcy soon followed him. Elizabeth waited in misery until Darcy returned with a smile and whispered, "Go to your father."

Her father was walking about the room, looking grave. "Lizzy," he said, "are you out of your senses, accepting this man? Have you not always hated him?" Elizabeth wished her former opinions had been more reasonable, but she explained her love.

"He is rich, to be sure," said Mr. Bennet, "and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?" "I do love him," she replied, with tears in her eyes. "He is perfectly good. You do not know what he really is."

Her father warned her. "Lizzy, I know you could not be happy unless you truly respected your husband. Let me not have the pain of seeing you unable to respect him." But at last Elizabeth convinced him.

"Well, my dear," he said, "I have no more to say. If this is true, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy." Then Elizabeth told him what Darcy had secretly done for Lydia.

"This is an evening of wonders!" he cried. "So Darcy did everything: made the marriage, gave the money, paid Wickham's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better." Laughing, he let her go.

That night, Elizabeth followed her mother to the dressing-room and told her the news. Mrs. Bennet sat completely still, unable to speak. At last she recovered. "Good gracious! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! How rich you will be!"

Soon her mother followed Elizabeth to her room. "Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! It is as good as a lord! You must be married by a special licence. Tell me what dish Mr. Darcy likes best."

Elizabeth feared her mother's wild behavior, but the next day went better than she expected. Mrs. Bennet was so in awe of her future son-in-law that she hardly dared to speak to him. Mr. Bennet soon told Elizabeth that Darcy was rising every hour in his respect.