[Pride and Prejudice] Becoming Katherine Bennett

Mr. Walker's marriage proposal was both unexpected and reasonable.

He took a lot of thought into dressing up today. He changed the clothes of the priests on weekdays and wore a new three-piece suit. The clothes were made of high-grade materials and exquisite workmanship. At first glance, he looked like a formal dress for a grand occasion.

When he knocked on the door of Uncle Gardner's house, the solemnity and tension on his face made everyone guess what he was thinking.And after seeing the smiling eyes of Jane's relatives, he began to flush again, far from his usual wisdom and reason.

Mr. Walker prepared gifts for everyone.He gave Uncle Gardner an expensive fishing rod, and Aunt Gardner, Catherine, and Elizabeth each received a beautifully packaged set of French perfume.

Compared with the cost of other people's gifts, Jane's gift is the most economical one.

He handed her a book.

Jane took it in her hand and found that it was a travel note.The cover of the book is a little worn out, and the corners of some pages are rolled up, it can be seen that the original owner often reads it.Some pages in the book are filled with notes and impressions after the trip, and more pages are only printed with the travel notes of the introduction, and Mr. Walker only wrote the date on them.None of those dates are now, but someday in the future.

Jane was very surprised when she received the book.When Mr. Walker and Uncle Gardner went to the study, she sat on the side and began to read.She lowered her head, looked at it seriously, and raised her hands to cover her face.Elizabeth asked her what was wrong, and it was only then that they realized that Jane was crying.

Catherine and Elizabeth immediately gathered around.They saw that the pages with a lot of words were the places Mr. Walker had been to, and the time he planned to go was written next to the beautiful scenery that he had not seen on each page.But since February, that is, after he met Jane, all the places he has not been to have been marked with "maybe she will like it", "she said the waterfall is beautiful", "she has not been to Wales". class annotations.

Finally, on the last page of the book, Edinburgh is introduced in detail in the travel notes.In the blank space of the page, Mr. Walker's handwriting was flying, "Jane, you said that you wanted to see the snow scene in Edinburgh, but I want to go with you."

Jane's tears flowed from between her fingers, but there was a happy smile on the corner of her mouth.Catherine and Elizabeth couldn't help being moved to tears.

Instead of gorgeous rhetoric and vows, Mr. Walker only talked about his future plans. He told Jane that he would have her in his future life.

Is there any marriage proposal vow that can be more moving than such words?

After a while, Herr Walker came out of the study.He blushed and asked to have a conversation with Jane, and the others disappeared immediately.

They sat restlessly in the bedroom, listening intently to what was going on in the lounge.Catherine felt that it only took a few minutes, and she heard Mr. Walker running excitedly: "I'll go and talk to Mr. Gardner!"

Catherine exchanged glances with her aunt and sister, and immediately returned to the lounge.Jane stood in front of the sofa with full eyes and flushed face.She came quickly towards them, with Catherine in one arm and Elizabeth in the other, announcing with joy that she had agreed to Mr. Walker's proposal of marriage.

The family members were very excited and congratulated one after another. The words of blessing did not stop for several minutes.This marriage that is destined to be happy is simple, but for the three sisters, the great excitement and joy in their hearts at this time are common.

Soon, another equally happy person returned to the lounge, accompanied by Mr. Gardner.

Uncle Gardiner congratulated his niece again, and then said: "I think you should plan to go to Longbourne."

Mr. Walker immediately said: "Can I go now? It's still early in the morning, and I can come back in the evening. My family's carriages and horses are all ready."

The urgency in his words made everyone else laugh.Mr. Walker was also aware of his revealed thoughts, and felt a little embarrassed.However, when he saw Jane's brilliant sweet smile, he forgot the mistake he had made, and smirked along with him.

Finally, at the request of Mr. Walker, they finalized the schedule, agreeing that Viscount Walker and Mrs. Gardiner would accompany the two young people back to Longbourne tomorrow, and sought the consent of the Bennetts.Mr. Walker said that he had made an agreement with his brother that they would go there together.According to him, the Viscount's original words were "you can go in the middle of the night."

Catherine was a little worried at first, fearing that Mrs. Bennet would look down on Mr. Walker because of Mr. Bingley's comparison.Now that I heard that the relationship between Mr. Walker and his brother is so good, I don't have any worries anymore.At the same time, I also sighed in my heart, except that Mr. Walker is like a fool when facing Jane, he is really smart and reliable at other times, knowing how to arrange things.Jane couldn't be happier to have such a husband.

Mr. Walker stayed at Gardner's house until after nine o'clock in the day before reluctantly leaving.Jane was also very reluctant to part with him, but Mr. Walker's lovesickness was too obvious, which made her feel embarrassed.

After Mr. Walker left, Catherine and Elizabeth blessed Jane again.

Catherine had been grinning all day, and at this moment she wanted to laugh happily: "Jane, I really don't know what to say. Please forgive my lack of words, but it's great. Seeing you get happiness, my heart It’s such a joy.”

"Kitty," said Jane softly, "thanks to you, too. I should never have met him if you hadn't taken me to the ball."

Catherine's face was full of pride: "That's right, I'm a great matchmaker."

Elizabeth smiled and pinched her cheek.

When the congratulations on the marriage finally came to an end, Jane took the initiative to raise her concerns with her sisters: "There is one thing I want to confess. When Lizzie first arrived in London, I overheard you two talking about me and Bingley. Please forgive me. Behavior, but I really want to hear your real opinions. What impressed me the most was Kitty’s words, “It is Bentley himself who makes the final decision.” I couldn’t help but recall the past and found that we are indeed too similar. "

"I don't think he is weak. Until now, I still think he is an amiable and respectable person. It's just that I have no fate with him, and we may not be happy if we are together. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about it anymore. I I think this is the last time I mention him. Please don’t misunderstand these remarks and think that I chose Valk because Bentley is not suitable. To Valk, oh, I don’t know what to say, I can only say that I can marry He, I'm really, really, really happy."

Seeing Jane's sweet expression when she mentioned Walker, Catherine and Elizabeth no longer had any worries.

Catherine took Jane's hand: "Jane, we only wish you happiness."

The next day, the Gardner family got up early to get ready for Longbourne.However, when they were about to start breakfast, the servant said that Mr. Walker was already waiting at the door.Catherine glanced at her sister jokingly, Jane smiled sweetly and charmingly, and blushed again.

Catherine and others met Viscount Valk for the first time.This busy aristocrat is much older than Mr. Walker, easy to speak, and has no airs of superiority.Catherine is also more optimistic about Jane's relationship with her husband's family after her marriage. A nobleman is willing to go all the way to Longbourn with a businessman to visit a gentleman for his younger brother. What else is there to worry about for such a family?

Viscount Valck and Mr. Valck rode on horseback, and beside them was a brand new Carrickle.This high-end carriage, priced at more than 100 pounds, belonged to the Viscount's family, but Mr. Walker told Jane repeatedly that he didn't buy it because he didn't need it before, and he could buy one for Jane tomorrow.

Jane is not a vain girl, and has no obsession with such things.After she refused, Mr. Walker offered to buy Cuishi and Baroch one after another.Jane still smiled and shook her head.Mr. Walker told Jane very aggrieved, but he wanted to give her the best.

Catherine hated herself for standing too close, and her face was covered in [-]th-century English dog food unsuspectingly.

Elizabeth and Catherine did not follow back.After Jane and the others set off, Alma came to visit after a while.She brought the newly made bottles and jars and chatted with them happily.The three of them are very happy for their family to get a happy marriage. The relationship that was good before now reveals a sense of intimacy among family members.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, two unexpected guests visited Grace Church Street.

Catherine stood in front of the steps, frowning, seeing the disgusted and unwilling look of Sister Bingley, she really wanted to be a villain and drive them away.But thinking that they would not be able to deal with each other in the future, Catherine didn't say anything, and Elizabeth politely invited them in.

Sister Bingley was also displeased with them, and asked directly where Jane was.

Catherine said: "Huh? You came to find Jane? What a coincidence, Jane has gone out."

The Bingley sisters had just sat down, and they were embarrassed to leave immediately, but they made no effort to hide their impatience.They didn't speak, and the three of Catherine didn't bother to socialize, and continued the previous topic.

Miss Bingley listened to their conversation with disgust, thinking that the strange Alma was a child of a worker's family, and contemptuously thought that this was in line with the social circle of the Bennett family.It wasn't until Alma accidentally said something like 'when I visited the earl's house last week' that she laughed and asked Catherine to introduce them.

Catherine ignored her, and Elizabeth said, "This is Viscount Walker's sister, Alma, and these two are Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley."

When the Bingley sisters heard that Alma was from aristocratic background, they immediately restrained the contempt on their faces and wanted to chat with her.However, Alma just said a few words in a perfunctory manner, and then continued to talk to Elizabeth and Catherine. These two Miss Bennetts were not docile, and they ignored Sister Bingley.

Miss Bingley, blushing and turning pale, asked Jane when she would be coming home, holding back her anger.

Only then did Catherine speak slowly: "Oh, maybe tonight or tomorrow. It depends on how they go to Longburn to discuss the progress of the marriage contract. If everything goes well, I can come back tonight."

Catherine's words startled the Bingley sisters.They couldn't care less about picking on Catherine's attitude any longer, and rushed to ask what the marriage contract meant.

Catherine pretended to be fussy and said: "Oh, look at my memory, I forgot to share this good news with you just now. My sister Jane is already engaged to Mr. Walker, Viscount Walker's younger brother and pastor of Earl Gordon's parish. Earl Gordon, do you know? The hero of England in the anti-French war, the one who is deeply trusted by the regent and the prime minister. Mr. Walker has no skills. He is just a pastor appointed by the earl himself, and the earl has met him several times. Just a king. His brother is no big man, just a war hero and a member of Congress."

When Catherine said this, she deliberately acted like a bitch, and she learned a lot from the yin and yang of the Bingley sisters in the past.The Bingley sisters were all shocked and silent.

Catherine continued: "Although I am Jane's younger sister, it seems to be boasting, but Jane is so beautiful and kind, and it is expected to get such a marriage. The marriage contract between Jane and Mr. Walker is at the right time and place. This marriage will surely make everyone who hears about it feel happy and joyful, am I right?"

Elizabeth laughed out loud.Catherine's sarcasm is a complete paraphrase of the words Miss Bingley wrote to Jane when she described her brother's falling in love with Georgiana.

Miss Bingley heard it too.They couldn't sit down any longer, and said goodbye with embarrassment on their faces.Elizabeth and Catherine said good-bye at once, without even a polite word of retention.

They sent each other to the door, and when they looked at each other, they both had the same thought in their hearts: it is best not to see each other again in this life.

Sending them off, Catherine and Alma explained, hoping she wouldn't mind her deceit.Alma hated this kind of snobbish person very much, and waved her hands again and again to express that it was nothing.

At around six o'clock in the evening, the family members who were going to Longburn returned to London. Viscount Walker went home first, and Mr. Walker sent Jane into the lounge before leaving without turning around.

Of course, this marriage has the permission and blessing of Bennett's family. Aunt Gardner said that Mr. Bennett is very satisfied with Mr. Walker, and Mrs. Bennett has been happy to share the joy with her neighbors everywhere.

The family sat by the warm fireplace, happily making plans for Jane's wedding. At this time, the butler came in and said that there was a gentleman who was standing outside Gardner's house all the time.Catherine glanced at the pouring rain that had just started outside the window, and had a guess in her heart about who was coming.

Soon Mr. Bingley was brought in.His current appearance is a mess that he has never seen before. The expensive clothes are tightly attached to his body, and the hair that was carefully combed in the past is in strands and strands, dripping from his body.The usual joy and lightness on Bingley's face had completely disappeared, leaving only pain and heartbreak, and he looked at Jane without saying a word, and anyone could see his sadness.

Catherine couldn't help thinking that it was also a rainy day when Jane visited Nedfield Manor a few months ago.She was caught in the rain that day and had a fever. Mr. Bingley's meticulous care for her made Jane fall in love, but soon he ruthlessly left her far away, but it was obvious that he also loved her deeply.

Who is to blame for such an ending?

Uncle Gardner was concerned about finding clothes for him, but Bingley didn't speak, just looked at Jane with a miserable face.Everyone didn't know what to do, and Catherine sounded like a villain: "Mr. Bingley, please don't mind my frankness. Although the body is your own, everyone knows why you came to our house on a rainy night. If you She really has a fever and a cold because of this, how can Jane deal with herself?"

Bingley blushed when Catherine said it.His heart was soft, and he was just too sad to respond to Mr. Gardner's kindness.He apologized repeatedly, and was taken by the servant to take a hot bath and change into dry clothes.

During this period, Jane was fidgeting, and Elizabeth and Catherine offered to help her come forward to ask Mr. Bingley to leave, but Jane shook her head: "I can't always hide behind you. I couldn't forget him before because I still have him in my heart. But now, as long as I think of Mr. Walker, I have nothing to hesitate."

After Bingley came out, he asked to have a few words with Jane.In order to avoid suspicion, Catherine and Elizabeth sat in the south corner of the living room, and Jane and Bingley stood in front of the fire and talked in a low voice.

Catherine glanced over occasionally, and every time she saw Bingley's look of despair.The two talked for about 10 minutes, and Mr. Bingley suddenly said excitedly, "But I love you", but Jane replied softly and firmly, shaking her head at the same time.

Then Bentley turned his face to the other side and put his hands over his eyes.Catherine couldn't bear to look any further, and looked away.

A few minutes later, Bentley said goodbye and left.He walked in such a panic that he didn't even say goodbye to Catherine and the others.

Catherine and Elizabeth surrounded Jane, looking at her with concern.

There was sadness on Jane's face, but there was also a shallow smile. She said to her sisters: "I never regret liking this gentleman. Although he brought me heartbreak, he also taught me to grow up." If it wasn't for him, I might not know the mistakes I made in my relationship, and I would miss him after meeting Walker."

Although Catherine wanted to say, even if you remain the same, Mr. Walker is far more determined than Bentley.But it doesn't make sense to say that now.

Catherine sighed silently.Many things, if you miss it, you will miss it forever, and there is no chance to start again.All you can do is wipe away your tears and continue walking with regret and regret.

She sincerely hoped that Mr. Bingley would change his past weakness after suffering this blow.