Reading 'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' by Jane Austen, Part-II

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL (continued):

Chapter 26

For Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner offers advice as to Wickham, stating that she should not become to infatuated as Wickham does not have any money and she will only disappoint her father. Later, Collins returns and Charlotte and he are married. They return to Kent, and Charlotte appeals to Elizabeth to visit her.

It has been four weeks since Jane left for London and she relays in her letters to Elizabeth that she has yet to see Bingley or hear from his sister. She eventually decides that he would have come by then if he really cared and that his sister is not a true friend as she continues making excuses not to visit her. Elizabeth responds to Mrs. Gardiner’s letters about Wickham by stating that he has found another woman with money of her own to lavish his attentions on. She is not nearly upset as she thinks she should be if she was in love with him.

Chapter 27

As March arrives, the winter having been largely uneventful, Elizabeth prepares to visit Charlotte with Sir William and Maria, one of Charlotte’s sisters. On the way to Kent, they stop in London and visit Jane and Mrs. Gardiner. Jane is evidently quite healthy, but Mrs. Gardiner relays that she is often quite upset by the Bingleys and no longer speaks to Miss Bingley at all. Elizabeth also accepts an invitation to spend the summer with the Gardiners on a vacation tour.

Chapter 28

Elizabeth and the Lucases arrive in Kent to visit Collins and Charlotte and Collins makes a point of showing off his Parsonage as if Elizabeth is personally missing out. Lady de Bourgh invites them all to join her for dinner the next day.

Chapter 29

Collins comments the next day on their luck for so quickly being invited to dine with Lady de Bourgh. On the walk, the Lucases are duly nervous and after arriving Collins makes a show of complimenting everything in Lady de Bourgh’s home, to which she is grateful. She later gives Charlotte her share of advice on running a household and various other domestic concerns. She turns her attentions then to Elizabeth, surprised to learn that she grew up with no governess in a house with five daughters and is shocked by Elizabeth’s response to her questions, not as nervous and awestruck as the rest of her guests. She considers the Bennet girls to have been poorly raised, with no proper guidance, training, and poor manners in conversation.

Chapter 30

After seeing that his daughter is well off with her new husband, Sir William returns home. Every so often, Lady de Bourgh arrives to offer advice to Charlotte and invites them to her home for dinner twice a week or so. A few weeks into her stay, Darcy arrives with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. After a bit, he visits the Collins’ at their household and talks with Elizabeth about how Jane was ignored. She grills him on why he did not visit her in three months, to which he looks confused and states that he did not have the fortune to do so.

Chapter 31

After Darcy and Fitzwilliam arrived, Elizabeth and the others at the Collins household hardly received any invitations to dinner. Lady de Bourgh finally invites them but makes a point of stating that their company was only enjoyable because of the lack of anyone else. Darcy makes a point of seeing how Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam get along during this visit. Settling closer to her while she plays the piano, Darcy shows no interest for Miss De Bourgh, his intended future wife.

Chapter 32

While sitting alone the next day, Elizabeth receives a visit from Darcy, who states that he was unaware that she was alone. Elizabeth and him are both embarrassed, so she takes the opportunity to inquire as to whether Mr. Bingley will ever return to Netherfield. Darcy replies that thinks it is unlikely. As soon as Charlotte and Maria return, Darcy leaves. In the future he visits often with Fitzwilliam in tow. She is completely unsure as to why Darcy keeps coming.

Chapter 33

Having told Darcy that she often walks in the park, Elizabeth cannot understand why he keeps going there and they keep crossing paths. One day in particular she comes across Fitzwilliam while walking and they walk for a while, eventually talking about Miss Darcy. He announces that he has joined Darcy in caring for her and she guesses correctly that Miss Darcy is a difficult lady to handle. She asks about Bingley and Darcy and learns that Bingley is in Darcy’s debt for his helping to get him out of an unwanted marriage to an undesirable suitor. Elizabeth assumes this to mean the marriage to Jane and is upset as to how Darcy has so much control over other men. The “very strong objections against the lady” assumes that Bingley was talked out of the suit. She later refrains from joining the others for a visit to Lady de Bourgh’s that evening.

Chapter 34

While alone with the others at dinner, Darcy visits Elizabeth alone. During this visit, Darcy shocks her by declaring that he not only admires and loves her, but wishes to marry her. He has fought against his feelings because of her family’s position and lesser status, but cannot any longer and in his pride assumes she will accept. She, however does not accept, stating that he should be ashamed of that speech as well as his treatment of Jane and Wickham.

Darcy freely admits to his separation of Jane and Bingley and his contempt for Wickham but cannot understand why Elizabeth would hold to these accusations instead of forgiving him and that she is being prideful about his speech against the inferiority of her family. She not only refuses but assures him that he could not have said anything to make her say yes to his proposal.

Chapter 35

Dwelling on Darcy’s visit the next day, Elizabeth decides to go for a walk. He calls for her as she walks though and she tries to avoid him. He catches her though and gives her a letter to read that states he will not renew his offer, but that he wants to explain the situations she has accused him of ill deeds.

The first accusation about Bingley, Darcy claims that he has seen Bingley fall in love repeatedly in the past. He did not realize that things had progressed so far with Jane until the ball at Netherfield in which every talked about an upcoming marriage. He observed the two and saw that Bingley was infatuated but also saw that Jane was seemingly disinterested. His explanations of Jane’s family status did not affect Bingley, but telling him that she seemed indifferent did finally convince him to leave for London.

In regards to the other charge regarding Wickham, Darcy explains that Wickham received a sum from the will after Darcy’s father’s death. He returned shortly afterward having spent that sum and asked for more. Darcy refused to give him any more and Wickham soon disappeared. Soon enough, there is evidence that the Wickham and Darcy’s sister are close to eloping, which he stops with barely enough time to spare. He asks for her removal of suspicion over Wickham, and that she can converse with Fitzwilliam for corroboration.

Chapter 36

Elizabeth does not believe Darcy immediately in regard to the situation with Bingley and Jane, assuming that he only used the argument against their family status. However, when she considers the situation with Wickham, she realizes that she took his word at face value the moment they met and never heard Darcy’s side of the story. She thinks on how improper it was for Wickham to speak on such matters to a stranger and decides that Darcy is likely telling the truth of it. After coming to terms with his description of Wickham, she comes to believe his statements about Jane as she recalls Jane’s seeming indifference. When she finally returns home, she learns that Fitzwilliam and Darcy had stopped by to say goodbye.

Chapter 37

The next morning, Darcy and Fitzwilliam leave Rosings and Lady de Bourgh invite them to dinner. She attempts to keep Elizabeth around for one more month, but Elizabeth is intent on leaving as she had planned. During that last week of their stay, Elizabeth and Maria are invited to the estate often for dinner for advice on traveling and packing for their return trip.

Chapter 38

Collins and Elizabeth are alone on a day shortly before she leaves. He takes the chance to thank her, comment on her luck with Lady de Bourgh’s favor and inform her of his and Charlotte’s happiness. Maria and Elizabeth leave in short order and are soon at Mr. Gardiner’s home where they plant to stay for a few days before returning home with Jane. Elizabeth is excited to see Jane and cannot wait to tell her about Darcy and his proposal.

Chapter 39

In May, Elizabeth and Jane are returning home when they run across Lydia and Kitty, who inform them that the officers in Meryton are soon leaving. Lydia hopes to convince their father to take them to Brighton where they are set to be stationed during the summer months. She also informs Elizabeth that the woman Wickham was looking to marry had left for Liverpool and that they are no longer getting married.

Chapter 40

Elizabeth finally tells Jane what happened with Darcy, deciding to leave out any part of the story that might upset Jane. Jane is appropriately shocked, and feels bad for Darcy and the pain of such a rejection. Elizabeth relates the story of Wickham and the lies he told and Jane is once again shocked. They decide however that they will not share his wickedness as his regiment is leaving for Brighton very soon. Elizabeth keeps with her decision not to mention Bingley as she notes Jane’s sadness.

Chapter 41

After the officers leave Meryton, Kitty and Lydia are quite upset and set Jane and Elizabeth to task for not caring as much themselves. They push for Mr. Bennet to take them to Brighton, but as soon as Mrs. Forster invites Lydia to stay with her family in Brighton, the entire matter is forgotten as she was pushing the hardest. Elizabeth attempts to tell her father how Lydia is not mature enough to go alone, but he thinks it will be good for her to see how she fits in with the women in Brighton. When Wickham visits on the final day of their time in Meryton, Elizabeth makes a point of pointing out her improved feelings toward Darcy so as not to let him believe they are leaving on good terms. Lydia leaves with the officers back to Meryton to travel with Mrs. Forster.

Chapter 42

After the regiment and Lydia leave, Mrs. Bennet and Kitty are largely bored and complain often, making Elizabeth wish that her trip with the Gardiners could arrive sooner. The trip is postponed though and will be shortened to a trip to Derbyshire instead, where Darcy lives with his estate, Pemberley. The Gardiners do finally arrive a few days later and leave their children in the care of Jane as they leave with Elizabeth. When Mrs. Gardiner mentions that she would like to see Pemberley, Elizabeth worries that she will see Darcy when they visit, until she learns that he and his family are also on vacation for the summer.

Chapter 43

Elizabeth is excited when she first sees the Pemberley Woods and notes how nice it might be to be the Mistress of Pemberley. The housekeeper greets them and speaks very highly of Darcy, surprising Elizabeth. While walking the grounds, the party does in fact run across Darcy who immediately blushes at her presence. He talks to her though as a gentleman and soon leaves her with the Gardiners to walk the grounds. When he approaches them again he surprises her once again with his manners and asks to be introduced to her friends, a part of her family of which she is not embarrassed. Darcy for his part mentions that he would like to introduce Elizabeth to his sister who will arrive the next day. That night, Elizabeth can think of nothing but Darcy and his manners.

Chapter 44

Instead of waiting a day to introduce her, Darcy arrives the day his sister returns home to introduce her to Elizabeth. She is surprised that Miss Darcy is shy and not excessively proud as Wickham had claimed. Bingley arrives as well, joining the party with his sisters. Elizabeth hopes that the situation will lead to the chance to ask Bingley about Jane as he doesn’t seem to show any interest in Miss Darcy. The Gardiners are surprised by Darcy’s actions and decide that he is interested in Elizabeth. As he continues trying to please her family, Elizabeth is duly surprised and when he leaves, he invites them to dinner at Pemberley. The next day, Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth will pay a visit to Miss Darcy while Mr. Gardiner goes fishing with Darcy and some other gentlemen on the grounds.

Chapter 45

Elizabeth decides that Miss Bingley is jealous of her, that being the source of her dislike. During the visit, Miss Bingley merely watches and stays quiet along with Miss Darcy, everyone observing how Darcy himself acts around Elizabeth. When she leaves, Miss Bingley takes the chance to assault almost every aspect of her. Darcy and his sister though do not deign to join in with her.

Chapter 46

Elizabeth returns to the hotel to find two letters from Jane, prompting the Gardiners to go for a walk and leave her to the letters. The first letter is in regards to Lydia, stating that she had run off to Scotland to marry Wickham. However, the second letter states that she may not have done so and that Wickham does not plan to marry Lydia at all. The family is thoroughly disrupted of course and Colonel Forster, with whom Lydia was staying, continues searching for her as Jane requests Elizabeth to return home.

As she prepares to retrieve the Gardiners, she meets Darcy at the door, sending a servant to get them and then relays the news of the letters to Darcy. Darcy becomes quiet in his grievement for her family and she worries that their embarrassing behavior is too much for him to want her any further. He decides he cannot help and will be in the way so he leaves, where after she decides that she does indeed love him.

Chapter 47

The trip home is spent pondering what will happen, with both Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth wondering if the two will marry. When they return, they learn that no news has come from Mr. Bennet in London and that Mrs. Bennet is ill. Elizabeth continues discussing whether Lydia would marry Wickham with Jane. Elizabeth now feels bad for not sharing Wickham’s bad deeds with everyone to prevent such a thing from happening.

Chapter 48

Mr. Gardiner leaves for London the next day to see what has kept Mr. Bennet from sending word. Mrs. Gardiner stays with the Bennets to help and in a few days receives a letter from Mr. Gardiner that he and Mr. Bennet are looking for Lydia in the city’s hotels. Mr. Collins sends his own letter that tells Mr. Bennet he has heard of what’s happening and that they should throw away Lydia as an unworthy child. Mr. Gardiner’s next letter informs them of his lack of progress and that Wickham has no family and a handful of gambling debts in Brighton. Mr. Bennet finally returns and tells Elizabeth that she was right about Lydia and should be more cautious of his daughters in the future.

Chapter 49

Two days later, Mr. Gardiner writes that he has found Lydia and Wickham and that they are not married and have no intentions to do so. Wickham will however marry Lydia for a share of the 5,000 pounds due to the five daughters when their parents pass on and an extra 100 pounds a year thereafter. Elizabeth is shocked that Wickham will marry her, and Mr. Bennet is appalled that Wickham would ask for so little. He wonders how much Mr. Gardiner might have added to cover it and if he owes him for it. When Elizabeth shares the news with her mother, Mrs. Bennet immediately becomes happy and begins planning the wedding.

Chapter 50

Mr. Bennet is upset by the lack of money he has saved for his daughters, having assumed always that he would have a son someday. He decides he must repay Mr. Gardiner though and writes him accepting the offer of marriage and asking what he owes his brother-in-law. When Mrs. Bennet reappears to start planning the wedding, Mr. Bennet announces that Lydia and Wickham will not be welcome in his home.

Elizabeth for her part is upset that she told Darcy what had happened with Lydia as she worries he will be less likely to admire her in light her family’s actions. She decides she could be happy with him and figures she will never see him again. Mr. Gardiner replies to Mr. Bennet stating that he was happy to help his Niece and will not discuss the matter again. Wickham has decided to move to the North and so Jane and Elizabeth must convince their father to accept Wickham into the home so they can see their sister once more before they head north.

Chapter 51

When they have been married, Lydia and Wickham arrive to the Bennet household where Mrs. Bennet is excited and Mr. Bennet is quiet and unhappy. Lydia is anything but embarrassed of her actions and actually brags repeatedly of her match, stating “I am sure my sisters must all envy me.” She states she will invite them North, but Elizabeth actually reproaches her sister and tells her she doesn’t approve of her courting methods. Lydia talks on about the wedding despite Elizabeth’s disinterest, but when she mentions Darcy having been at the wedding, she becomes very interested. Having not supposed to have said anything, Lydia will not elaborate, so Elizabeth writes a letter to Mrs. Gardiner to ask her about Mr. Darcy’s presence there.

Chapter 52

Mrs. Gardiner replies quickly, stating that Darcy had actually gone to London and found Lydia and Wickham himself, leading Mr. Gardiner to them. He also paid the dowry for her sister to Wickham and gave Mr. Gardiner the credit for doing so and asked to be kept secret. Darcy claims that he helped because he feels guilty for not divulging what he knew of Wickham earlier, but Elizabeth thinks it might also be because of her.

Chapter 53

After Lydia and Wickham leave, Mrs. Bennet learns that Bingley is returning to Netherfield for a couple weeks. Jane decides she will be friendly with Bingley and ignore everyone’s talk of them. Similar to the first chapter, Mrs. Bennet tells Mr. Bennet to visit Bingley when he arrives and after his refusal decides to invite him to dinner instead. Mrs. Bennet is upset when Darcy arrives with Bingley and everyone is more or less equally upset. Bingley speaks to Jane at length in the visit, but Darcy says very little to Elizabeth.

Chapter 54

The two arrive for dinner again on Tuesday and Jane once again plays down Bingley’s arrival to keep form being disappointed. Mrs. Bennet is excited again though as Bingley sits beside Jane and talks to her at length as he did before. Once again, Elizabeth hopes to talk with Darcy but cannot because he shows little interest once more. Jane claims that she once again will not be successful with Bingley and Elizabeth tells her to quit acting indifferent or stop confiding in Elizabeth at all.

Chapter 55

Darcy returns to London for a few days and Bingley comes again on his own. Mrs. Bennet does what she can to get Jane and Bingley alone together and embarrasses her daughters by doing so. When he comes again, she succeeds though and when Elizabeth returns to socialize with them, she finds that he has proposed to her and she has accepted. Jane goes to Mrs. Bennet and Bingley to Mr. Bennet to announce the new engagement, all of them equally happy with the engagement. Neighbors immediately change their opinion of the family, jealous of the match.

Chapter 56

A week later, Lady de Bourgh arrives to question Elizabeth about the rumors that she is engaged to Darcy. She does not think it a good match because of the inferiority of Elizabeth’s family and shows her anger in doing so. Elizabeth tries to deflect the questions though, angering the Lady who insists that Elizabeth just tell her what has happened in sincerity. She states that Darcy is destined to be with her daughter and must know Elizabeth’s intentions. She finally answers the question after irritating Lady de Bourgh, telling her no, but refuses to promise never to become engaged to Darcy, enraging Lady de Bourgh yet again.

Chapter 57

Elizabeth wonders where the rumor must have come from, and worries that Lady de Bourgh will do what she said and keep the match from occurring, talking negatively of her family to turn him against her. Mr. Bennet confronts her the next day with a letter from Mr. Collins congratulating the family on Jane’s engagement and Elizabeth’s future engagement, having originally believed Elizabeth to despise Darcy. He is amused by the confusion, which upsets Elizabeth.

Chapter 58

When Darcy returns, he and Bingley visit the estate and head out on a walk with Jane, Elizabeth, and Kitty. Quickly enough though, Darcy and Elizabeth are left alone when the rest go off on their own. She tells him that she knows of his help with Lydia to which he insists that her family owes him nothing. He reiterates his feelings for her but that he will not mention them again if her feelings have not changed at all. She makes sure he knows that her feelings have changed and that she is happy his are the same as before. She apologizes for how she treated him before and he reiterates that her reproaches were helpful in his changing. He also goes onto admit that he told Bingley of his mistake over Jane and convinced him to propose to Jane.

Chapter 59

The families do not worry about Elizabeth and Darcy being absent, sure nothing could happen despite how long they talk with each other. That night, Elizabeth tells Jane what happened and it takes a while to convince her that Elizabeth has changed her mind and is actually happy with Darcy. Mrs. Bennet continues railing against Darcy though and when he arrives the next day to walk with Elizabeth she keeps the rest of her family away from him. That day they decide that Darcy will request her hand from Mr. Bennet that evening.

Darcy talks with her father that evening and receives his consent, after which Mr. Bennet questions her about her change in feelings. She must again convince someone that she has changed and her feelings for Darcy are positive now. She also tells him of what Darcy did for Lydia and he is relieved and appreciative. She then tells her mother that she will be married, to which Mrs. Bennet is shocked at first, but then excited as she realizes that three of her daughters will soon be married.

Chapter 60

Elizabeth questions Darcy about his attitudes and reasons for loving her, including why he was so silent when he first returned to visit with her. He states that he was embarrassed and it was the liveliness of her mind that attracted him. The two soon write letters to those far away to announce their engagement, and their various family members arrive to offer congratulations. Collins arrives as well with Charlotte who only wants to escape Lady de Bourgh’s anger over the match.

Chapter 61

Mrs. Bennet is ecstatic on the marriage day of her two oldest daughters, referring to them as Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Darcy. Mr. Bennet is often in Pemberley to visit his daughter and Jane and Bingley soon buy an estate much nearer to Pemberley. Kitty spends a lot of time with Jane and Elizabeth as well and is disallowed from visiting Lydia in The North. Wickham and Lydia for their part are often in need of money and constantly ask Elizabeth and Darcy for some, which they will often provide. Mary is left alone at home with her mother where she is forced to stop reading and spend time with Mrs. Bennet.

Miss Bingley attempts to be nice to Elizabeth, despite her anger over the match so she can still visit Pemberley, while Miss Darcy lives at Pemberley and becomes close to Elizabeth immediately. Lady de Bourgh’s anger is immense, but after a while she decides she cannot bear the curiosity and visits Pemberley to see how Elizabeth handles herself. The Gardiners visit often and are favorites of the Darcy’s for bringing the two together.

Reading 'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' by Jane Austen, Part-I

INTRODUCTION:

Jane Austen began writing the novel which later became 'Pride and Prejudice' in October of 1796 and finished it by August of the following year; she was then twenty-one years old. Little is known of this early version of the story beyond its original title: 'First Impressions'. Three months after Miss Austen completed work on the book, her father offered it to a publisher in the hope that it would make it into print. The publisher refused without ever having seen the manuscript.

Fortunately for all of her admirers, whether Austen was discouraged or not by her first rejection, she continued to write; though, it was not until the winter of 1811, fully fourteen years after finishing 'First Impressions', that she again picked up that manuscript and began revising it into the version we know today as 'Pride and Prejudice'. This occurred in the wake of her first publishing success--the publication of 'Sense and Sensibility' on 30 October 1811. 'Pride and Prejudice' was far more fortunate than its earlier incarnation; it was accepted for publication and was presented to the world on 28 January 1813.

With the passage of time, the novel gained more and more popularity. 'Pride and Prejudice', like other novels of Austen, portrays the middle-class and country-squires' lives, especially the vicissitudes of the young lovers. Austen's characterization is a bit sentimental, yet it seldom becomes flat. Realism is a marked characteristic of Austen's novels. She never stepped outside her familiar realm, which is the chief reason of her being able to faithfully represent the said life. In the words of the author herself, 'Pride and Prejudice' is "rather too light and bright and sparkling". However, the readers never fail to find out the genial wit and humour present in each chapter of the novel. The prose style of Austen is remarkable for its studied effortlessness.

The immense popularity of 'Pride and Prejudice' led its being made into films and plays a number of times. In 'The Big Read', a BBC-survey of Britain's most loved books of all times in 2003, 'Pride and Prejudice' was voted as the second loved book of the nation, only after Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings'. 

LIST OF CHARACTERS:

Mrs. Bennet – The mother of the five Bennet daughters and an avid matchmaker, she is often described and acts vulgar, embarrassing her daughters and disinteresting suitors and their families. She is often very quick to push them towards potential husbands and acts with minimal intelligence on certain matters, relying instinct instead.

Mr. Bennet – Largely quiet and witty with his replies, Mr. Bennet is a country gentleman and father of five daughters. He occasionally makes rash and poor decisions but is considered in higher regard than his more crass wife.

Jane Bennet – The eldest of the Bennet daughters is considered very beautiful and shy and often acts without outward emotion, confusing those around her. She is good natured and only sees the good in others, at times rather naively.

Elizabeth Bennet - The protagonist of the novel and the second Bennet daughter, Elizabeth is considered witty and sarcastic with her own streak of pride. She is a little plain compared to her sisters, but has a much keener wit and eventually falls in love with Mr. Darcy despite her early dislike of him.

Mary Bennet - The only sister of the five who does not often participate in social events or leave the house, Mary starts the book in her room reading and ends it in her room reading, with her mother begging her attentions.

Kitty Bennet – As the fourth daughter, Kitty often goes with Lydia to meet with the soldiers. She plays a very small role in the course of the novel save to visit and discuss matters with her other sisters.

Lydia Bennet – The youngest Bennet daughter as well as the least thoughtful of the five. She makes rash decisions and though she is Mrs. Bennet’s favorite, she finds herself shunned by her father and the rest of her family when she runs off and nearly elopes with Wickham.

George Wickham – A childhood acquaintance of Darcy, Wickham is a military officer who pretends to be slighted by Darcy in order to gain favor with women. He begged money of him and almost eloped with his sister before Darcy cut him off and eventually he does the same with Lydia and the Bennet family.

Mr. Collins – The cousin and nearest male heir of Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins will receive the property when Mr. Bennet dies. He is a clergyman for Lady de Bourgh’s estate and acts with a degree of self-importance that angers Mr. Bennet.

Charles Bingley – The first gentleman and suitor introduced in the book is Bingley, the young gentleman who moves to within 3 miles of the Bennets and excites their prospects of a strong match with Jane. He falls in love with Jane early but is talked out of the match by his sisters and Darcy due to the low standing of the Bennet family and Jane’s apparent disinterest.

Mr. Darcy – A wealthy gentleman from Derbyshire, Darcy is at first a rude and unpleasant fellow, full of pride and ill will who eventually comes to love Elizabeth and change his mannerisms for her. He shows his love for her by helping her sister in the marriage to Wickham and by being cordial and polite after her refusal of marriage. He eventually succeeds in winning her love in return.

Miss Bingley – Largely interested in Mr. Darcy as a match, Miss Bingley is shallow and petty, pretending to befriend Jane and Elizabeth while bad mouthing them both behind their backs. Her attitude is considered ill by many of the books other characters and she plays a central role in keeping Bingley away from Jane when they move back to London.

Lady Catherina de Bourgh – An aunt of Darcy and mother of his prospective match, she is very arrogant and domineering and goes so far as to travel to the Bennet home and threaten Elizabeth when she hears a rumor of her possible marriage to Darcy.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner – Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle, they are instrumental in assisting with the marriage of Lydia, and the reunion of Darcy and Elizabeth. They are both highly regarded by all members of the family and largely liked.

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL:

Chapter 1

Here we are introduced to Mr and Mrs. Bennet, both of the Longbourn Estate. Mrs. Bennet arrives with some interesting news that a wealthy gentleman from the north has arrived in Netherfield, moved to a nearby estate. She has plans immediately to marry him to one of her daughters. She warns her husband that she will send him to see the new neighbor Bingley as soon as he arrives. She also reminds him of their daughters while he muses on how Elizabeth is his favorite daughter with “something more of quickness than her sisters”. Knowingly he questions why his visit to Bingley is so important.

Chapter 2

Elizabeth and three of her sisters are introduced, including Kitty, Mary, and Lydia. After Mr. Bennet’s early teasing over visiting Bingley, in chapter 2 it is revealed that he was first in line to meet Mr. Bingley, and subsequently the rest of the chapter is spent considering when Bingley will visit the Bennets in response.

Chapter 3

Bingley returns Mr. Bennet’s visit and the Bennets invite him to have dinner with them but he declines as he has business in town. When he returns for a nearby ball thrown by Sir William and Lady Lucas, he brings his own sisters and Mr. Darcy. The first introduction of Darcy is not favorable as the ladies observe that he is rich and attractive but too proud. He makes his own comments on Elizabeth, that she is not quite “handsome enough” for his tastes, turning down someone’s comment for him to ask her to dance. Jane, meanwhile dances with Bingley and excites Mrs. Bennet.

Chapter 4

In each other’s confidence, Jane tells Elizabeth that she admires Bingley and that she enjoys his sisters’ company as well. Elizabeth is not so easily charmed and finds her sister too easy to impress, “blind to the follies and nonsense of others”. She finds his sisters proud all by themselves and too eager for Bingley to make his own estate (he inherited his money from his father). Miss Bingley, the unmarried of his sisters will live with him in Netherfield and the friendship between Darcy and Bingley is revealed to be rather deep with Bingley having a high regard for Darcy’s intelligence.

Chapter 5

Chapter five introduces more of Sir William and Lady Lucas and their family, which is quite large with many children. Their oldest daughter Charlotte is one of Elizabeth’s best friends and the chapter shows the conversations between the Lucas and Bennet daughters as they discuss Mr. Darcy and his pride, including his unwillingness to talk to a woman he sat beside for as much as half an hour and how rude he was to Elizabeth. They agree however that much of her being upset is because he was rude to her.

Chapter 6

In chapter six, the Bennet sisters spend more time with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, although Bingley’s sisters are largely disinterested in spending time with anyone but Jane and Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Charlotte discuss Jane’s budding relationship with Bingley and the two disagree over how she should show her feelings, with Elizabeth agreeing with Jane’s coy approach and Charlotte thinking she should be more straightforward, lest nothing come of it.

Also in this chapter, Darcy begins to show a bit more interest in Elizabeth. Beyond his early observations that she was just tolerable, he begins to find her much more interesting and when he willingly takes her hand to dance at another party at Sir William’s, she turns him down. It is here though that Bingley’s sisters discover that Darcy has an interest in Elizabeth.

Chapter 7

The two youngest Bennet sisters, Kitty and Lydia, visit their Aunt (via their mother) Mrs. Phillips in Meryton. There is a military base of sorts in Meryton and in due time the two become acquainted with the officers in the regiment, learning more on each visit.

Jane is invited to Netherfield to have supper with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst (not to mention Bingley himself) and is advised by her mother to go on horseback so that if there is rain, she will be invited to stay the night. In the course of the three mile ride, Jane is soaked by the rain and does in fact stay there, but gets a cold in the process. Elizabeth therefore visits her to check on her health and ends up staying herself at the request of her sister.

Chapter 8

Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst however do not fully appreciate Elizabeth and take the opportunity to jab at her pride and lack of manners whenever she is not around. They voice their empathy for Jane as well because of her family and lack of connections. They worry for her chances at making a good match.

That evening, the Bingleys, Hursts, and Darcy have a card game in which more details regarding Pemberley – Darcy’s own estate – and his sisters are revealed.

Chapter 9

The rest of the Bennet women arrive to visit Jane – Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia – and it is generally decided that she should not yet return home as she is not quite perfectly healthy. Lydia plays her part well and mentions to Bingley that he had made mention of a ball being held at his own estate, to which he agrees when Jane is feeling better. Mrs. Bennet discusses the differences between country and city living with the Bingley sisters, after which they once again take to jabs at the Bennet family. Darcy, however will not take the opportunity himself to join in mocking Elizabeth.

Chapter 10

As Jane continues recovering, with the women reading, writing, and playing music, Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance. She once again turns him down, unwilling to allow him “the pleasure of despising” her and her taste. Miss Bingley grows increasingly jealous of Darcy’s attentions for Elizabeth, a girl she finds beneath her.

Chapter 11

With Jane finally feeling better, she arrives in the drawing room and spends a few hours of the evening talking with Bingley in the drawing room. Meanwhile, Miss Bingley engages him in discussion of the ball, to which he replies that he was serious about having one. She also notices that Darcy does not pay her any attentions but that when she asks Elizabeth to walk with her, he takes note.

Darcy and Elizabeth have a conversation of their own on the nature of pride in each of them. She comments that his problem is a “propensity to hate everybody” and he responds by saying that she tries to “willfully misunderstand” those same people.

Chapter 12

With Jane’s recovery complete, she and Elizabeth decide to return to the Bennet household. However, their mother makes excuses as to why they cannot use the carriage to return. Jane is finally coerced into borrowing Bingley’s carriage, but it means they will need to wait for one more day to leave.

Meanwhile, Darcy notes that he has been paying too much attention to Elizabeth and decides to speak with her less. The next day the Bennet sisters return home to a mother who is not entirely happy that Jane has returned, having wanted her to stay with Bingley as long as possible. Kitty and Lydia do their part by spilling the details of the military officers in Meryton.

Chapter 13

Mr. Bennet announces, after some playfulness in withholding the name, that his cousin Mr. Collins has written him a letter and will be staying with them for a few days. He is the heir of Mr. Bennet’s estate because he has no sons. For his part, Mr. Collins is guilty over being the next in line for property that should not rightfully be his. He is a man of the church as well and has been given an important patronage. Mr. Bennet does not appreciate the letter however and decides that his cousin is too self important. When Mr. Collins arrives, he is the picture of perfect manners and compliments and it is soon realized that he intends to marry one of the Bennet girls.

Chapter 14

Mr. Collins goes on at length during dinner about his patronage, the Lady Catherin de Bourgh and her residence in Rosings Park. He continues on and relays how he is exceptionally well suited at flattering Lady de Bourgh and her daughter Miss de Bourgh. Mr. Bennet is not impressed and finds his cousin rather silly.

Chapter 15

Very quickly, Mr. Collins decides that due to his obligation in the inheritance he will ask for Jane’s hand in marriage, but is dissuaded when Mrs. Bennet tells him that there is another to whom she will likely soon be engaged. Quickly, Mr. Collins changes his choice to Elizabeth. The Bennet sisters, accompanied by Collins take a walk to Meryton where they run across Mr. Denny, one of Lydia and Kitty’s officer friends. He has with him a Mr. Wickham, a recently commissioned corps member of Mr. Denny, whom Elizabeth finds rather appealing. As the group meets and discusses matters, Bingley and Darcy arrive, to which Elizabeth takes note of both Darcy and Wickham’s change in color at meeting each other, with Darcy appearing angry at the officer.

The sisters quickly move on with Mr. Collins to visit Mrs. Phillips, who invites them to dinner the next day. At the dinner there will bee numerous other guests including some of the officers and Mr. Wickham.

Chapter 16

The Bennet sisters and Mr. Collins arrive at Mrs. Phillips’ for dinner the next day where Mr. Wickham is as well. Wickham and Elizabeth engage in a long evening of conversation in which the topic of Mr. Darcy is brought up and her disgust with his pride. Wickham speaks highly of Darcy’s father as “one of the best men that ever breathed”, who bestowed upon his son a decent sum that would have kept him well off for as long as he lived. He also reveals that he grew up with Darcy as his father was steward for Darcy’s father and that in the will Wickham was to receive a post as a Clergy of one the Rectory that Darcy’s family oversees. However, Darcy did not honor the will, which angers Elizabeth to no end. Wickham expands by adding that Darcy’s sister is equally full of pride and that he is Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s nephew and is intended to marry Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth is left for the evening to dwell on Wickham’s words.

Chapter 17

Elizabeth and Jane discuss Wickham’s revelations from the night before. Jane, as one who always looks for the good, entreats Elizabeth to consider that there might be a misunderstanding somehow as no man would disrespect his father’s wishes in such a manner. Elizabeth believes Wickham however. The Bingley sisters arrive in the meantime to invite everyone to the Netherfield ball, though they leave quickly to avoid speaking with the younger Bennet sisters or their mother. The Bennets are duly excited and all of them agree to attend, even Mary, who never participates in these events. Mr. Collins asks Elizabeth for the first two dances, which she is disappointed by as she had hoped to save those for Mr. Wickham.

Chapter 18

Upon arriving at the ball, Elizabeth realizes that Wickham would likely not attend because of Darcy. Mr. Denny relays that he had to go to town on business instead. Elizabeth is mortified in the first two dances by Mr. Collins being “awkward and solemn, apologizing instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it.” Darcy once again asks for her hand to dance and she relents this time, offering him the next two dances.

To throw him off, she breaches conversation during the dance and quickly turns to the topic of Wickham, hoping to disrupt him. He only states that Wickham is very good at socializing and making friends, but has problems with keeping those friends. Sir William drops nearby and hints at future congratulations for Bingley and Jane.

The night continues and Elizabeth is duly embarrassed by her family as her mother uncouthly reminds everyone of Jane and Bingley’s budding relationship and her sister Mary does a poor job of singing. The last to leave, the Bennets are not missed by Bingley’s sisters.

Chapter 19

Mr. Collins arrives to the drawing room and asks Mrs. Bennet and Kitty for some alone time with Elizabeth. She tries to keep her family with her but realizes that she might as well deal with the inevitable. Collins lays out why he is proposing, including Lady de Bourgh’s advice to do so and proposes to her. Elizabeth however, rejects him as she says they would not make each other happy. Collins finds her rejection to be an attempt at modesty and decides to wait and ask again. Despite her avid declaration that she will continue rejecting him, Collins believes that eventually he can woo her by asking again.

Chapter 20

Mrs. Bennet however is upset by Elizabeth’s refusal, regardless of how Collins feels. She decides she must convince her daughter to marry him and calls on her husband to help. She states that if Elizabeth refuses she will never talk to her again. For his part, Mr. Bennet says the opposite, not wanting Collins to marry into his family. Elizabeth continues to refuse and Charlotte soon arrives and learns of what has happened, taking the opportunity to get to know Collins.

Chapter 21

After he withdraws his suit to, Collins quickly begins to ignore Elizabeth in favor of Charlotte. The girls visit Meryton again where they run across Wickham. He relays that his absence at the ball was due to his desire to avoid Darcy. He walks her back home where she introduces him to her parents. Jane receives a letter shortly from Miss Bingley stating that the Bingleys have returned to London indefinitely and that Bingley will hopefully be marrying Georgiana, Darcy’s sister. Elizabeth does her part by relaying that it is likely the doing of Miss Bingley and not Bingley himself and that he will return shortly. However, Jane is incapable of believing that Bingley’s sisters could be so deceiving and so thinks that they must be looking out for what is best for him.

Chapter 22

The Bennets visit the Lucas’s the next day for dinner and Elizabeth relays her gratitude to Charlotte for spending time with Collins. However, it is revealed that much of that attention is in hopes of garnering his desire to her. They are soon engaged to be married and Elizabeth is shocked that her friend would agree to marry someone when there is no love and almost certain unhappiness. Collins leaves soon thereafter to his parish.

Chapter 23

When Sir William arrives to announce to the Bennets that Charlotte and Collins are engaged, Mrs. Bennet is angry all on her own. Charlotte and Elizabeth quickly change in each other’s company and Elizabeth believes they can no longer be truly close in light of what has happened. Mrs. Bennet, along with her anger over Collins, wonders if the Bingleys will return, upsetting Jane further. Elizabeth begins to fear herself that the Bingley sisters might be successful in their attempt to keep Bingley away from Jane.

Chapter 24

Miss Bingley sends yet another letter to Jane, informing her that they will be staying in London for the duration of the winter. Elizabeth finally tells Mrs. Bennet that her constantly talking of Bingley is bringing Jane pain. Caught up on her own problems, Elizabeth continues to talk against the marriage of Charlotte and Collins with Jane. She also tries to comfort her though, stating that Bingley’s sisters and Darcy are keeping him away from her. Wickham spends more time with the Bennets and soon the stories of Darcy’s ill treatment of him become public knowledge.

Chapter 25

Mr. Collins leaves again for his parish and Mrs. Bennet’s brother Mr. Gardiner and his wife arrive for Christmas. Mrs. Gardiner is very close to both Jane and Elizabeth and when she learns what has happened with Jane and Bingley and invites Jane to stay with her in London for a while.

                                                                                                      [to be continued]

THE FLY by Katherine Mansfield

'Y'are very snug in here,' piped old Mr Woodifield, and he peered out of the great, green leather armchair by his friend the boss's desk as a baby peers out of its pram. His talk was over; it was time for him to be off. But he did not want to go. Since he had retired, since his... stroke, the wife and the girls kept him boxed up in the house every day of the week except Tuesday. On Tuesday he was dressed and brushed and allowed to cut back to the City for the day. Though what he did there the wife and girls couldn't imagine. Made a nuisance of himself to his friends, they supposed.... Well, perhaps so. All the same, we cling to our last pleasures as the tree clings to its last leaves. So there sat old Woodifield, smoking a cigar and staring almost greedily at the boss, who rolled in his once chair, stout, rosy, five years older than he, and still going strong, still at the helm. It did one good to see him.

Wistfully, admiringly, the old voice added, 'It's snug in here--upon my word!'

'Yes, it's comfortable enough,' agreed the boss, and he nipped the Financial Times with a paper-knife. As a matter of fact he was proud of his room; he liked to have it admired, especially by old Woodifield. It gave him a feeling of deep, solid satisfaction to be planted there in the midst of it in full view of that frail old figure in the muffler.

'I've had it done up lately,' he explained, as he had explained for the past--how many?--weeks. 'New carpet,' and he pointed to the bright red carpet with a pattern of large white rings. 'New furniture,' and he nodded towards the massive bookcase and the table with legs like twisted treacle. 'Electric heating!' He waved almost exultantly towards the five transparent, pearly sausages glowing so softly in the tilted copper pan.

But he did not draw old Woodifield's attention to the photograph over the table of a grave-looking boy in uniform standing in one of those spectral photographers' parks with photographers' storm-clouds behind him. It was not new. It had been there for over six years.

'There was something I wanted to tell you,' said old Woodifield, and his eyes grew dim remembering. 'Now what was it? I had it in my mind when I started out this morning.' His hands began to tremble, and patches of red showed above his beard.

Poor old chap, he's on his last pins, thought the boss. And, feeling kindly, he winked at the old man, and said jokingly, 'I tell you what. I've got a little drop of something here that'Il do you good before you go out into the cold again. It's beautiful stuff. It wouldn't hurt a child.' He took a key off his watch-chain, unlocked a cupboard below his desk, and drew forth a dark, squat bottle. 'That's the medicine,' said he. 'And the man from whom I got it told me on the strict Q.T. it came from the cellars at Windsor Cassel.'

Old Woodifield's mouth fell open at the sight. He couldn't have looked more surprised if the boss had produced a rabbit.

'It's whisky, ain't it?' he piped, feebly.

The boss turned the bottle and lovingly showed him the label. Whisky it was.

'D'you know,' said he, peering up at the boss wonderingly, 'they won't let me touch it at home.' And he looked as though he was going to cry.

'Ah, that's where we know a bit more than the ladies,' cried the boss, swooping across for two tumblers that stood on the table with the water-bottle, and pouring a generous finger into each. 'Drink it down. It'll do you good. And don't put any water with it. It's sacrilege to tamper with stuff like this. Ah!' He tossed off his, pulled out his handkerchief, hastily wiped his moustaches, and cocked an eye at old Woodifield, who was rolling his in his chaps.

The old man swallowed, was silent a moment, and then said faintly, 'It's nutty!'

But it warmed him; it crept into his chill old brain--he remembered.

'That was it,' he said, heaving himself out of his chair. 'I thought you'd like to know. The girls were in Belgium last week having a look at poor Reggie's grave, and they happened to come across your boy's. They're quite near each other, it seems.'

Old Woodifield paused, but the boss made no reply. Only a quiver in his eyelids showed that he heard.

'The girls were delighted with the way the place is kept,' piped the old voice. 'BeautifuIly looked after. Couldn't be better if they were at home. You've not been across, have yer?'

'No, no!' For various reasons the boss had not been across.

'There's miles of it,' quavered old Woodifield, 'and it's all as neat as a garden. Flowers growing on all the graves. Nice broad paths.' It was plain from his voice how much he liked a nice broad path.

The pause came again. Then the old man brightened wonderfully.

'D'you know what the hotel made the girls pay for a pot of jam?' he piped. 'Ten francs! Robbery, I call it. It was a little pot, so Gertrude says, no bigger than a half-crown. And she hadn't taken more than a spoonful when they charged her ten francs. Gertrude brought the pot away with her to teach 'em a lesson. Quite right, too; it's trading on our feelings. They think because we're over there having a look round we're ready to pay anything. That's what it is.' And he turned towards the door.

'Quite right, quite right!' cried the boss, though what was quite right he hadn't the least idea. He came round by his desk, followed the shuffling footsteps to the door, and saw the old fellow out. Woodifield was gone.

For a long moment the boss stayed, staring at nothing, while the grey-haired office messenger, watching him, dodged in and out of his cubby hole like a dog that expects to be taken for a run. Then: 'I'll see nobody for half an hour, Macey,' said the boss. 'Understand? Nobody at all.'

'Very good, sir.'

The door shut, the firm heavy steps recrossed the bright carpet, the fat body plumped down in the spring chair, and leaning forward, the boss covered his face with his hands. He wanted, he intended, he had arranged to weep....

It had been a terrible shock to him when old Woodifield sprang that remark upon him about the boy's grave. It was exactly as though the earth had opened and he had seen the boy lying there with Woodifield's girls staring down at him. For it was strange. Although over six years had passed away, the boss never thought of the boy except as lying unchanged, unblemished in his uniform, asleep for ever. 'My son!' groaned the boss. But no tears came yet. In the past, in the first months and even years after the boy's death, he had only to say those words to be overcome by such grief that nothing short of a violent fit of weeping could relieve him. Time, he had declared then, he had told everybody, could make no difference. Other men perhaps might recover, might live their loss down, but not he. How was it possible? His boy was an only son. Ever since his birth the boss had worked at building up this business for him; it had no other meaning if it was not for the boy. Life itself had come to have no other meaning. How on earth could he have slaved, denied himself, kept going all those years without the promise for ever before him of the boy's stepping into his shoes and carrying on where he left off?

And that promise had been so near being fulfilled. The boy had been in the office learning the ropes for a year before the war. Every morning they had started off together; they had come back by the same train. And what congratulations he had received as the boy's father! No wonder; he had taken to it marvellously. As to his popularity with the stag, every man jack of them down to old Macey couldn't make enough of the boy. And he wasn't in the least spoilt. No, he was just his bright, natural self, with the right word for everybody, with that boyish look and his habit of saying, 'Simply splendid.'

But all that was over and done with as though it never had been. The day had come when Macey had handed him the telegram that brought the whole place crashing about his head. 'Deeply regret to inform you....' And he had left the office a broken man, with his life in ruins.

Six years ago, six years.... How quickly time passed! It might have happened yesterday. The boss took his hands from his face; he was puzzled. Something seemed to be wrong with him. He wasn't feeling as he wanted to feel. He decided to get up and have a look at the boy's photograph. But it wasn't a favourite photograph of his; the expression was unnatural. It was cold, even stern-looking. The boy had never looked like that.

At that moment the boss noticed that a fly had fallen into his broad inkpot, and was trying feebly but desperately to clamber out again. Help! help! said those struggling legs. But the sides of the inkpot were wet and slippery; it till back again and began to swim. The boss took up a pen, picked the fly out of the ink, and shook it on to a piece of blotting-paper. For a fraction of a second it lay still on the dark patch that oozed round it. Then the front legs waved, took hold, and, pulling its small, sodden body up it began the immense task of cleaning the ink from its wings. Over and under, over and under, went a leg along a wing, as the stone goes over and under the scythe. Then there was a pause, while the fly, seeming to stand on the tips of its toes, tried to expand first one wing and then the other. It succeeded at last, and, sitting down, it began, like a minute cat, to clean its face. Now one could imagine that the little front legs rubbed against each other lightly, joyfully. The horrible danger was over; it had escaped; it was ready for life again.

But just then the boss had an idea. He plunged his pen back into the ink, leaned his thick wrist on the blotting paper, and as the fly tried its wings down came a great heavy blot. What would it make of that? What indeed! The little beggar seemed absolutely cowed, stunned, and afraid to move because of what would happen next. But then, as if painfully, it dragged itself forward. The front legs waved, caught hold, and, more slowly this time, the task began from the beginning.

He's a plucky little devil, thought the boss, and he felt a real admiration for the fly's courage. That was the way to tackle things; that was the right spirit. Never say die; it was only a question of.... But the fly had again finished its laborious task, and the boss had just time to refill his pen, to shake fair and square on the new cIeaned body yet another dark drop. What about it this time? A painful moment of suspense followed. But behold, the front legs were again waving; the boss felt a rush of relief. He leaned over the fly and said to it tenderly, 'You artful little b... ' And he actually had the brilliant notion of breathing on it to help the drying process. All the same, there was something timid and weak about its efforts now, and the boss decided that this time should be the last, as he dipped the pen deep into the inkpot.

It was. The last blot fell on the soaked blotting-paper, and the draggled fly lay in it and did not stir. The back legs were stuck to the body; the front legs were not to be seen.

'Come on,' said the boss. 'Look sharp!' And he stirred it with his pen--in vain. Nothing happened or was likely to happen. The fly was dead.

The boss lifted the corpse on the end of the paper-knife and flung it into the waste-paper basket. But such a grinding feeling of wretchedness seized him that he felt positively frightened. He started forward and pressed the bell for Macey.

'Bring me some fresh blotting-paper,' he said, sternly, 'and look sharp about it.' And while the old dog padded away he fell to wondering what it was he had been thinking about before. What was it? It was.... He took out his handkerchief and passed it inside his colIar. For the life of him he could not remember.

[N.B.: This story is subject to copyright. It is posted here for educational purposes only.]

WHAT I FEEL

   Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' which appears in her second volume of short stories entitled 'The Dove's Nest' has been described as one of the finest short stories ever written in English. The story is like a lyric poem where every word, every detail is active and relevant to the understanding of the psychological complexity of the character of the Boss, or rather modern man who is often lonely and battered by the circumstances of life. The entire action is internal, the action that takes place within the Boss's psyche. In fact, the story is an attempt to reveal a moment is one's life through which the hidden recesses of the mind are illuminated.

   The fly episode takes us to the very core of the Boss's consciousness. Here, the fly is the instrument through which the Boss's pain, suffering and emptiness of heart are laid bare to the readers. Some critics have seen the fly as a symbol of the Boss's son's struggle to survive in the war. Some others have found in the story the Boss's own struggles against the battering blows of life. The story can also be read as the inevitable tragedy of modern man who appears to be the Boss of life by virtue of his technological endeavour.Mansfield chooses the fly as an apt symbol to show that man is seldom master of his own fate, as Shakespeare in King Lear wrote: "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods,/They kill us for their sport".

   The episode shows that in spite of his iron will to remain unnerved by the tragedy of his son's death, the Boss is still weak whenever his son's memory flashes back. Perhaps to cover up the emptiness of the heart, the Boss displays wealth in the form of loud and ostentious decoration of his luxurious office. In this story Mansfield shows that perhaps the Boss finds in the fly the same struggle against the blows of life that he himself has gone through. The Boss's authority is exercised only in a limited sphere, elsewhere all men are subject to the authority of the Eternal Boss. His character attains a tragic stature with this realization that we are all merely puppets in the hand of fate.

ARABY by James Joyce

NORTH RICHMOND STREET being blind, was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers' School set the boys free. An uninhabited house of two storeys stood at the blind end, detached from its neighbours in a square ground The other houses of the street, conscious of decent lives within them, gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces.

The former tenant of our house, a priest, had died in the back drawing-room. Air, musty from having been long enclosed, hung in all the rooms, and the waste room behind the kitchen was littered with old useless papers. Among these I found a few paper-covered books, the pages of which were curled and damp: The Abbot, by Walter Scott, The Devout Communnicant and The Memoirs of Vidocq. I liked the last best because its leaves were yellow. The wild garden behind the house contained a central apple-tree and a few straggling bushes under one of which I found the late tenant's rusty bicycle-pump. He had been a very charitable priest; in his will he had left all his money to institutions and the furniture of his house to his sister.

When the short days of winter came dusk fell before we had well eaten our dinners. When we met in the street the houses had grown sombre. The space of sky above us was the colour of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns. The cold air stung us and we played till our bodies glowed. Our shouts echoed in the silent street. The career of our play brought us through the dark muddy lanes behind the houses where we ran the gauntlet of the rough tribes from the cottages, to the back doors of the dark dripping gardens where odours arose from the ashpits, to the dark odorous stables where a coachman smoothed and combed the horse or shook music from the buckled harness. When we returned to the street light from the kitchen windows had filled the areas. If my uncle was seen turning the corner we hid in the shadow until we had seen him safely housed. Or if Mangan's sister came out on the doorstep to call her brother in to his tea we watched her from our shadow peer up and down the street. We waited to see whether she would remain or go in and, if she remained, we left our shadow and walked up to Mangan's steps resignedly. She was waiting for us, her figure defined by the light from the half-opened door. Her brother always teased her before he obeyed and I stood by the railings looking at her. Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side.

Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen. When she came out on the doorstep my heart leaped. I ran to the hall, seized my books and followed her. I kept her brown figure always in my eye and, when we came near the point at which our ways diverged, I quickened my pace and passed her. This happened morning after morning. I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.

Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance. On Saturday evenings when my aunt went marketing I had to go to carry some of the parcels. We walked through the flaring streets, jostled by drunken men and bargaining women, amid the curses of labourers, the shrill litanies of shop-boys who stood on guard by the barrels of pigs' cheeks, the nasal chanting of street-singers, who sang a come-all-you about O'Donovan Rossa, or a ballad about the troubles in our native land. These noises converged in a single sensation of life for me: I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes. Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. I thought little of the future. I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration. But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.

One evening I went into the back drawing-room in which the priest had died. It was a dark rainy evening and there was no sound in the house. Through one of the broken panes I heard the rain impinge upon the earth, the fine incessant needles of water playing in the sodden beds. Some distant lamp or lighted window gleamed below me. I was thankful that I could see so little. All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: "O love! O love!" many times.

At last she spoke to me. When she addressed the first words to me I was so confused that I did not know what to answer. She asked me was I going to Araby. I forgot whether I answered yes or no. It would be a splendid bazaar, she said she would love to go.

"And why can't you?" I asked.

While she spoke she turned a silver bracelet round and round her wrist. She could not go, she said, because there would be a retreat that week in her convent. Her brother and two other boys were fighting for their caps and I was alone at the railings. She held one of the spikes, bowing her head towards me. The light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested there and, falling, lit up the hand upon the railing. It fell over one side of her dress and caught the white border of a petticoat, just visible as she stood at ease.

"It's well for you," she said.

"If I go," I said, "I will bring you something."

What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! I wished to annihilate the tedious intervening days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read. The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me. I asked for leave to go to the bazaar on Saturday night. My aunt was surprised and hoped it was not some Freemason affair. I answered few questions in class. I watched my master's face pass from amiability to sternness; he hoped I was not beginning to idle. I could not call my wandering thoughts together. I had hardly any patience with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire, seemed to me child's play, ugly monotonous child's play.

On Saturday morning I reminded my uncle that I wished to go to the bazaar in the evening. He was fussing at the hallstand, looking for the hat-brush, and answered me curtly:

"Yes, boy, I know."

As he was in the hall I could not go into the front parlour and lie at the window. I left the house in bad humour and walked slowly towards the school. The air was pitilessly raw and already my heart misgave me.

When I came home to dinner my uncle had not yet been home. Still it was early. I sat staring at the clock for some time and. when its ticking began to irritate me, I left the room. I mounted the staircase and gained the upper part of the house. The high cold empty gloomy rooms liberated me and I went from room to room singing. From the front window I saw my companions playing below in the street. Their cries reached me weakened and indistinct and, leaning my forehead against the cool glass, I looked over at the dark house where she lived. I may have stood there for an hour, seeing nothing but the brown-clad figure cast by my imagination, touched discreetly by the lamplight at the curved neck, at the hand upon the railings and at the border below the dress.

When I came downstairs again I found Mrs. Mercer sitting at the fire. She was an old garrulous woman, a pawnbroker's widow, who collected used stamps for some pious purpose. I had to endure the gossip of the tea-table. The meal was prolonged beyond an hour and still my uncle did not come. Mrs. Mercer stood up to go: she was sorry she couldn't wait any longer, but it was after eight o'clock and she did not like to be out late as the night air was bad for her. When she had gone I began to walk up and down the room, clenching my fists. My aunt said:

"I'm afraid you may put off your bazaar for this night of Our Lord."

At nine o'clock I heard my uncle's latchkey in the halldoor. I heard him talking to himself and heard the hallstand rocking when it had received the weight of his overcoat. I could interpret these signs. When he was midway through his dinner I asked him to give me the money to go to the bazaar. He had forgotten.

"The people are in bed and after their first sleep now," he said.

I did not smile. My aunt said to him energetically:

"Can't you give him the money and let him go? You've kept him late enough as it is."

My uncle said he was very sorry he had forgotten. He said he believed in the old saying: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." He asked me where I was going and, when I had told him a second time he asked me did I know The Arab's Farewell to his Steed. When I left the kitchen he was about to recite the opening lines of the piece to my aunt.

I held a florin tightly in my hand as I strode down Buckingham Street towards the station. The sight of the streets thronged with buyers and glaring with gas recalled to me the purpose of my journey. I took my seat in a third-class carriage of a deserted train. After an intolerable delay the train moved out of the station slowly. It crept onward among ruinous house and over the twinkling river. At Westland Row Station a crowd of people pressed to the carriage doors; but the porters moved them back, saying that it was a special train for the bazaar. I remained alone in the bare carriage. In a few minutes the train drew up beside an improvised wooden platform. I passed out on to the road and saw by the lighted dial of a clock that it was ten minutes to ten. In front of me was a large building which displayed the magical name.

I could not find any sixpenny entrance and, fearing that the bazaar would be closed, I passed in quickly through a turnstile, handing a shilling to a weary-looking man. I found myself in a big hall girdled at half its height by a gallery. Nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness. I recognised a silence like that which pervades a church after a service. I walked into the centre of the bazaar timidly. A few people were gathered about the stalls which were still open. Before a curtain, over which the words Cafe Chantant were written in coloured lamps, two men were counting money on a salver. I listened to the fall of the coins.

Remembering with difficulty why I had come I went over to one of the stalls and examined porcelain vases and flowered . At the door of the stall a young lady was talking and laughing with two young gentlemen. I remarked their English accents and listened vaguely to their conversation.

"O, I never said such a thing!"

"O, but you did!"

"O, but I didn't!"

"Didn't she say that?"

"Yes. I heard her."

"0, there's a ... fib!"

Observing me the young lady came over and asked me did I wish to buy anything. The tone of her voice was not encouraging; she seemed to have spoken to me out of a sense of duty. I looked humbly at the great jars that stood like eastern guards at either side of the dark entrance to the stall and murmured:

"No, thank you."

The young lady changed the position of one of the vases and went back to the two young men. They began to talk of the same subject. Once or twice the young lady glanced at me over her shoulder.

I lingered before her stall, though I knew my stay was useless, to make my interest in her wares seem the more real. Then I turned away slowly and walked down the middle of the bazaar. I allowed the two pennies to fall against the sixpence in my pocket. I heard a voice call from one end of the gallery that the light was out. The upper part of the hall was now completely dark.

Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.

WHAT I FEEL:

   'Araby' is the third story of Joyce's collection of stories entitled 'Dubliners'. The stories of 'Dubliners' are far more comprehensible than his novels which gradually became more and more complex and incomprehensible. The stories of 'Dubliners' have a special charm of their own. They announce the emergence of a master novelist. 'Araby' is a symbolic story centered around a boy-hero who considered Araby (actually an Oriental fair held in Dublin from 14th to 19th May, 1894) a wonderland of Eastern beauties. He is fascinated with his friend Mangan's sister and planned to impress her with the help of a gift which he would buy from Araby. But he could reach the fair ground at a late hour when most of the stalls were closed. The darkness, conventionality, commercialism (for example, the sale-girl's dull behaviour with the boy) frustrated him. He could buy nothing for his dream-girl. He was disillusioned. Truly said Ezra Pound, the modernist poet, "[Araby] is not a mere story; it is much better than a story; it is a vivid waiting." Araby symbolizes that ideal beauty which we can dream of but can never grasp.