Chapter 40:
Elizabeth tells Jane about Darcy's proposal and relates what she now knows
about Wickham; Jane, finding it impossible to think well of all the people
concerned, is shocked. They decide not to make the story public.
Chapter 41: Mrs. Forster, Lydia's friend,
invites Lydia to Brighton. Mrs. Bennet is delighted, Kitty is jealous and
Elizabeth is worried. The officers have dinner at Longbourn before they
go; Elizabeth hints to Wickham that she knows the truth of his
relationship with Darcy. They part amicably but with relief. Lydia leaves
Longbourn.
Chapter 42:
Elizabeth sets off for Derbyshire with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. They decide
to go to Pemberley, Darcy's house, which is famous for its beauty.
Chapter 43: The
housekeeper at Pemberly, who shows the Gardiners and Elizabeth around,
gives a glowing account of Darcy's behaviour as a master, a son and a
brother. While walking in the grounds they meet Darcy himself, who has
returned home a day before he was expected. Elizabeth keeps up an awkward
conversation; she is amazed, however, to see him being polite to her uncle
and aunt and to herself, asking if he may introduce his sister to her.
Chapter 44:
Darcy, his sister and Bingley (who is staying at Pemberly) visit
Elizabeth. Georgiana is shy but not proud; Bingley is as pleasant as ever
and hints that he is still thinking of Jane; Darcy goes out of his way to
be polite, asking Elizabeth and the Gardiners to dinner. Elizabeth
concludes that he must still be in love with her and begins to wonder
whether she could make him propose again. This marks the beginning of her
total change of heart towards him.
Chapter 45:
While Darcy, Bingley and Mr. Gardiner are fishing, Elizabeth and Mrs.
Gardiner call on Georgiana and Bingley's sisters. Miss Bingley is barely
civil to Elizabeth; she is jealous of Darcy's affection.
Chapter 46: A
letter arrives from Jane; Lydia has eloped with Wickham. At first it was
thought that they had gone to Scotland to get married, but it now appears
that they are in London and no-one knows whether they have any intention
of marrying or not. Mr. Bennet has gone to London to try and find Lydia
and wants Mr. Gardiner to join him. As Elizabeth is reading this, Darcy
comes in and hears the news. His reaction is to leave quickly, which
Elizabeth interprets as a desire to disassociate himself from the scandal.
The Gardiners return from their walk, are informed of what has happened,
and the whole party is very soon on the road home.
Chapter 47:
Elizabeth tells her aunt about Wickham's history: his eloping with Lydia
is characteristic behaviour. They arrive home to find Mrs. Bennet
hysterical. Jane shows Elizabeth the letter that Lydia left for Mrs.
Forster. It is flippant and thoughtless, but reveals that she loved
Wickham and hoped that they would be married.
Chapter 48:
There is no news from London; the hunt for Lydia and Wickham is
unsuccessful, but it has come out that Wickham was quite seriously in
debt. Elizabeth worries the scandal in her family and the effect it will
have on her relationship with Darcy. Mr. Bennet arrives home, leaving Mr.
Gardiner in London to continue the search.
Chapter 49: Mr.
Gardiner writes to say that he has found Lydia and Wickham and that they
are not married, but that if Mr. Bennet will send money to settle on
Wickham they soon will be. From the small sum asked of him Mr. Bennet
concludes that Mr. Gardiner must have put a lot of his own money into
making the couple marry and hence saving the family from further disgrace.
Mrs. Bennet is delighted by the way everything has turned out: it is
enough to her to have a daughter married, however it came about.
Chapter 50: The
news spreads through the neighbourhood; Elizabeth wishes that she had not
told Darcy what was happening in Derbyshire, and is afraid that she has
lost him. Mr. Bennet, having said that he would not receive the couple in
his house, is persuaded by Jane and Elizabeth to let them pay a farewell
visit.