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Authors: Jane Dawkins
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our Father immensely, do you not think?) A postscript adds that she expects neither of us to attend the marriage ceremony, but should we feel inclined to mark the occasion, a monetary gift would be most suitable.
By the bye, Mary asked me to relate these tidings to you (though our Mother, she added, admonished her severely for her ill-manners in doing so—rightly insisting that the occasion demanded individual announcements, especially to one’s own Sisters. Further, if she insisted upon only one announcement for the two of us, it should properly be addressed to you as the Eldest). Upon consideration, however, Mary decided that since she now has even less time to spare than previously, and since your two Boys must be more tiresome and demanding than my two Girls, I would naturally have more time at my disposal to write!
Well, now that I have now done my Sisterly duty, I suppose I can retire to my sofa for the rest of the day.
Ever yours,
E.D.
Pemberley
Thursday, 19 th September, 1816
Dearest Jane,
I hasten to acquaint you with the contents of a letter from Kitty, received just this morning. As I feared, poor Kitty is mortified that Mary should be marrying before she herself does, and writes that Mary, in her newly affianced state, behaves insufferably, wasting no opportunity to remind Kitty of her superior position in the Family now that she is betrothed. Not that Kitty is jealous of Mr. Digweed; indeed, she is at pains to make that quite clear. She describes him as an ambitious man of about thirty, with thinning hair, a slight stoop and bad breath. Further, he is ingratiating and over-eager to please, yet at the same time inordinately pleased with himself. (Does this description not remind you of our—or perhaps I should say my—first impressions of our Cousin, Mr. Collins? Sadly, though, Mr. Digweed has no expectations of the kind Mr. Collins looks forward to in inheriting Longbourn.)
Kitty, it would seem, was his first choice, but having made the Gentleman aware that his attentions were received neither with any pleasure, nor reciprocated, he wasted no time in turning his attentions to Mary where his compliments were more enthusiastically received.
My Mother has been of little consolation, letting it be known that Kitty, not Mary, will now be the companion of her later years. Indeed, it is quite the joke in the neighbourhood and our Sister is quite beside herself with mortification. Poor Kitty! I have just now written some lines of consolation and shall also request of our Mother that Kitty be permitted to come to Pemberley on 1st December, and shall contrive that her presence is desired until my lying-in in February. Surely Mamma cannot refuse? I know you will agree that we must protect Kitty from our Mother’s selfishness, and Mary’s superiority, and her own perceived humiliation.
My greatest fear is that in desperation Kitty may make an unsuitable marriage in order to escape from Longbourn. Let you and I have her here, near us, where we may direct her towards the patience and wisdom of waiting for a suitable match where mutual affection supercedes all other attractions. Were Mr. Darcy a penniless curate, I would love him not one whit less. I feel certain, too, that were he a tinker, you would love and respect Mr. Bingley every bit as much as you do today. I pray that our Sister, Kitty, will know our joy and not be denied the rewards of a partnership based on mutual trust, love, respect and companionship.
Ever yours,
E.D.
Pemberley
Thursday, 19 th September, 1816
Dearest Sister,
I beg you not to distress yourself. This is one of those occasions inflicted upon us as a reminder that life is not intended to be a state of perfect happiness, and there is little I can write in consolation that your own fortitude will not more readily suggest.
There is no reason to think, dearest Kitty, that because Mary will be shortly married, you will be obliged to remain at Longbourn with our Mother. Having said thus
By the bye, Mary asked me to relate these tidings to you (though our Mother, she added, admonished her severely for her ill-manners in doing so—rightly insisting that the occasion demanded individual announcements, especially to one’s own Sisters. Further, if she insisted upon only one announcement for the two of us, it should properly be addressed to you as the Eldest). Upon consideration, however, Mary decided that since she now has even less time to spare than previously, and since your two Boys must be more tiresome and demanding than my two Girls, I would naturally have more time at my disposal to write!
Well, now that I have now done my Sisterly duty, I suppose I can retire to my sofa for the rest of the day.
Ever yours,
E.D.
Pemberley
Thursday, 19 th September, 1816
Dearest Jane,
I hasten to acquaint you with the contents of a letter from Kitty, received just this morning. As I feared, poor Kitty is mortified that Mary should be marrying before she herself does, and writes that Mary, in her newly affianced state, behaves insufferably, wasting no opportunity to remind Kitty of her superior position in the Family now that she is betrothed. Not that Kitty is jealous of Mr. Digweed; indeed, she is at pains to make that quite clear. She describes him as an ambitious man of about thirty, with thinning hair, a slight stoop and bad breath. Further, he is ingratiating and over-eager to please, yet at the same time inordinately pleased with himself. (Does this description not remind you of our—or perhaps I should say my—first impressions of our Cousin, Mr. Collins? Sadly, though, Mr. Digweed has no expectations of the kind Mr. Collins looks forward to in inheriting Longbourn.)
Kitty, it would seem, was his first choice, but having made the Gentleman aware that his attentions were received neither with any pleasure, nor reciprocated, he wasted no time in turning his attentions to Mary where his compliments were more enthusiastically received.
My Mother has been of little consolation, letting it be known that Kitty, not Mary, will now be the companion of her later years. Indeed, it is quite the joke in the neighbourhood and our Sister is quite beside herself with mortification. Poor Kitty! I have just now written some lines of consolation and shall also request of our Mother that Kitty be permitted to come to Pemberley on 1st December, and shall contrive that her presence is desired until my lying-in in February. Surely Mamma cannot refuse? I know you will agree that we must protect Kitty from our Mother’s selfishness, and Mary’s superiority, and her own perceived humiliation.
My greatest fear is that in desperation Kitty may make an unsuitable marriage in order to escape from Longbourn. Let you and I have her here, near us, where we may direct her towards the patience and wisdom of waiting for a suitable match where mutual affection supercedes all other attractions. Were Mr. Darcy a penniless curate, I would love him not one whit less. I feel certain, too, that were he a tinker, you would love and respect Mr. Bingley every bit as much as you do today. I pray that our Sister, Kitty, will know our joy and not be denied the rewards of a partnership based on mutual trust, love, respect and companionship.
Ever yours,
E.D.
Pemberley
Thursday, 19 th September, 1816
Dearest Sister,
I beg you not to distress yourself. This is one of those occasions inflicted upon us as a reminder that life is not intended to be a state of perfect happiness, and there is little I can write in consolation that your own fortitude will not more readily suggest.
There is no reason to think, dearest Kitty, that because Mary will be shortly married, you will be obliged to remain at Longbourn with our Mother. Having said thus
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