Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Sixty-One
Abridged for Intermediate-High Learners

Happy was the day for Mrs. Bennet's maternal feelings when she got rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she visited Mrs. Bingley and talked of Mrs. Darcy may be imagined. Her daughters' marriages did not make her a sensible, amiable woman for the rest of her life; perhaps it was lucky for her husband that she was still occasionally nervous and always silly.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly. His love for her often drew him to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. Mr. Bingley and Jane stayed at Netherfield only a year. Living so near her mother was not desirable, even for his easy temper or her affectionate heart. At last he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and the sisters were within thirty miles of each other.

Kitty, much to her advantage, spent most of her time with her two elder sisters. In better society, her improvement was great. Removed from Lydia's example, she became less irritable, less ignorant, and less dull. Her father would never consent to her visiting Mrs. Wickham, with her promises of balls and young men. Mary was the only daughter who remained at home. Mrs. Bennet's inability to sit alone drew her from her studies and obliged her to mix more with the world, but she could still moralise over every morning visit, and her father suspected that she accepted the change without much reluctance.

As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters were not changed by her sisters' marriage, and Wickham still hoped that Darcy might yet be persuaded to make his fortune — a hope cherished, at least by his wife, as her congratulatory letter showed. "My dear Lizzy, I wish you joy," she wrote. "It is a great comfort to have you so rich. Wickham would like a place at court, and we shall not have quite money enough to live on without some help. Any place of three or four hundred a year would do; but do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it." In her answer Elizabeth put an end to every request of the kind. Such help as she could afford from her private expenses she often sent them. Extravagant and careless of the future, they found their income insufficient, and whenever they moved, Jane or Elizabeth was asked for help in paying their bills. Always moving in search of a cheap lodging, they always spent more than they ought. His love soon sank into indifference; hers lasted a little longer. Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, but for Elizabeth's sake he helped him further in his profession. Lydia sometimes visited Pemberley when her husband was in London or Bath.

Miss Bingley was mortified by Darcy's marriage, but to keep the right of visiting at Pemberley, she dropped all resentment. She was fonder than ever of Georgiana, and paid off every debt of politeness to Elizabeth. Pemberley was now Georgiana's home, and the sisters' affection was exactly what Darcy had hoped. Georgiana had the highest opinion of Elizabeth, though at first her lively, playful way of talking to her brother astonished her. She began to understand that a wife may take liberties with her husband which a brother will not allow in a sister.

Lady Catherine was extremely indignant, and in her abusive reply all intercourse was at an end for some time. But at last, by Elizabeth's persuasion, he overlooked the offence and sought a reconciliation, and she condescended to visit them at Pemberley. With the Gardiners they were always on the most intimate terms, and both were grateful to the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had united them.