Chapter 26
Warnings, a wedding, two letters
English edition
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1 In the emptied drawing-room, Mrs. Gardiner leans toward Elizabeth with a kindly warning
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3 Mrs. Gardiner gently cautions Elizabeth against an imprudent attachment.
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5 Elizabeth Bennet answers her aunt’s earnest warning with raised brows and affectionate mock gravity.
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7 Elizabeth makes a laughing promise to manage Wickham’s feelings as well as her own.
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9 Elizabeth answers her aunt with quiet candour, her lips parted on a second denial.
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11 Elizabeth gathers a small fold of her gown as she acknowledges her imprudence.
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12 Mrs. Gardiner listens as Elizabeth promises to do her best.
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13 Mrs. Gardiner taps the table, asking Elizabeth not to prompt her mother's invitations
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15 Elizabeth lowers her eyes with a fleeting, self-aware smile at her aunt's gentle warning
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17 Elizabeth receives Mrs. Gardiner’s caution with gratitude.
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19 Mrs. Bennet presses her hands together, reluctantly wishing Charlotte happiness
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20 Charlotte asks Elizabeth to write often as they descend the stairs at Longbourn.
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22 Charlotte asks Elizabeth to promise a visit to Hunsford.
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23 Elizabeth nods to Charlotte, agreeing out of affection but expecting little pleasure
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25 Charlotte and Elizabeth walk to Longbourn's front door as Charlotte ends her invitation
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27 Elizabeth reads Charlotte’s cheerful letter in the cold daylight of Longbourn’s drawing-room.
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29 Elizabeth lowers Charlotte’s letter, recognising the measured praise she expected.
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31 Elizabeth eagerly opens Jane's second letter, leaning toward it in the pale winter light
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33 Elizabeth holds Jane's closely written letter across her lap, flattening its central fold
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34 Elizabeth lowers Jane’s letter and slowly shakes her head.
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36 Elizabeth sits alone in the rain-darkened drawing-room, Jane's sealed letter in her lap
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38 Reading Jane’s admission that she misjudged Miss Bingley, Elizabeth feels pain for her sister.
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40 Elizabeth pauses while turning Jane’s letter, feeling the hurt beneath her sister’s generous words.
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42 Elizabeth pauses over Jane’s almost-accusation, her eyes wet and her lips gently pressed together.
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44 Elizabeth’s hand settles over the closing of Jane’s letter.
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45 Elizabeth presses Jane’s letter into its final fold and lifts her chin toward the rainy window.
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47 Elizabeth writes to Mrs. Gardiner by the hearth about Wickham's changed attentions
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49 Elizabeth pauses over her reply to her aunt, turning to the fire with a self-mocking smile
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51 Elizabeth writes to her aunt with warm, unhurried assurance.
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52 Elizabeth’s reply to Mrs. Gardiner lies sealed on the work-table.
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