Hertfordshire: her mild and steady candour always pleaded for

allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes; but by everybody else

Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.{175}

CHAPTER XXV.

AFTER a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr.

Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of

Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his

side by preparations for the reception of his bride, as he had reason to

hope, that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire, the day

would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave

of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished

his fair cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father

another letter of thanks.
On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her

brother and his wife, who came, as usual, to spend the Christmas at

Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly

superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield

ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by

trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so

well-bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger

than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent,{176} elegant

woman, and a great favourite with her Longbourn nieces. Between the two

eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particular regard.

They had frequently been staying with her in town.
The first part of Mrs. Gardiner’s business, on her arrival, was to

distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was

done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen.

Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They

had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her