Entry 1

Posted on 2008-07-21

Dear Diary,

It seems as if we have a new set of neighbors. This morning Mama was bothering my father to visit the new tenets. Apparently the master of the house is a single wealthy young man by the name of Bingley. Mama is so exited that a single rich man has moved in that I think she may already be making wedding arrangements for my sisters and me. It is so funny when they bicker like this, but Jane and I try to stay out of those sorts of things seeing as how my father has enough daughters obsessing over it. Mama started complaining how father cares nothing for her or her "poor nerves" or his daughters, but he promised Mama that he would visit suitors if there happened to be twenty. Well we shall have to see shall we not?

Elizabeth Bennet

Posted on 2008-07-25

Dear Diary,

Today Father played a most horrible trick on Mama. While I was trimming a hat father interrupted to hope that Mr. Bingley would like the hat. Well that sent Mama on a rant of how we shall never know what Mr. Bingley likes. Then poor Kitty was having a coughing fit, and oh how that upset Mama. Back to the trick. Mama finally cried that she was sick of Mr. Bingley; well father said that was too bad seeing as how he had already paid a visit to Mr. Bingley. Oh, you should have seen what Mama did then. She became so excited that I think she almost kissed Father right there in front of all of us.

Elizabeth

Diary,

A few days ago Mr. Bingley visited, my father. We were not permitted downstairs to see him of course, but Kitty and Lydia did get a glimpse of him from the window. Apparently he was wearing a blue coat and rode a black horse. Mama then sent an invitation to him for a dinner. Unfortunately he had previous plans to go to London. We don't know why he went to London, but Mama and Lady Lucas insist that it was to bring more people for the ball. The rumor got so out of hand that eventually he was going to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen. Somehow I doubt that was his real intention for going to London. It seems he will get a surprise when he goes to London and there are nineteen people wishing to go with him to our small ball. Or shall it be Mama and Lady Lucas that will be disappointed at seeing that there are not nineteen people with him? I guess we shall have to find out.

Lizzy Bennet

Dear Diary,

Well it seems I was right. Mr. Bingley only brought five people including himself. His two sisters attended, the eldest with her husband, and a friend of his. Mr. Bingley was a decent looking young man, but not exactly what I was attracted to, but that did not stop him from spending most of his time with Jane. But the highlight of the night seemed to be Mr. Darcy. a tall handsome man with apparently ten thousand a year. Unfortunately though, he was proud and arrogant. He danced with Bingley's sister's only and wouldn't talk to anyone else. The worst part was his slight to me. As I was sitting during one of the dances, I over heard him talking to our Mr. Bingley. Bingley was trying to get him to dance with someone, but he claimed that Jane was the handsomest girl in the room and Bingley had already claimed her. Well then Bingley tried to get him to dance with me or to even think me handsome. Well I am tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him. Those were his exact words. Oh can you believe that! If he must have said it he could have gotten out of my hearing. That insufferable man. Who does he think he is? Anyway I told everyone that his words did not hurt me, but I think they did sting a little. He the most handsome man in the room, it i almost unbelievable that someone so rich and handsome could be raise so ill.

When we got home. Mama insisted on telling Father every detail of the dance and Mr. Bingley and everything else. Poor Mama got cut off short for Father did not want to hear the details.

Lizzy

Posted on 2008-07-29

Diary,

Today Jane has confessed her undying love for Mr. Bingley. Well not really, but she did express how much she admires him. She says that he is what a young man ought to be. Then she mentioned all of his good qualities, leaving out of course how handsome she thought he was. When I brought up that point she blushed a deep red, and said that she was flattered and surprised by him asking her to dance twice. Well she may have been surprised, but I cannot think that I was. If she had seen the way he looked at her when talking to others, I cannot think she would be surprised either. Then Jane was telling me of the sisters of Mr. Bingley. She thinks they are pleasing women. Really I don't know how she got that impression. I personally saw nothing pleasing in them. Maybe I just need to spend more time in their company, or a more probable reason to Jane's thinking is Jane's disposition. She never thinks ill of anyone until they give her a reason to think ill of them, even then it is hard for her to be disapproving.

After Jane's confession, Mama, my sisters and I went to the Lucases. After Mama, battered Charlotte for being the first to dance with Mr. Bingley, Charlotte and I escaped to a refreshing walk. We chatted for a while on pointless things that neither of us truly cared about. Then the part I was secretly anxious for raised; a talk of Mr. Darcy.
"Poor Eliza, I still cannot forget what he said to you".
"You forget Charlotte, that he said it to Mr. Bingley. I was simply within listening distance".
"That is the same thing as far as I am concerned".
"Well it does not matter, for I've told you I care nothing of what that arrogant self centered man says", so it was a little lie. I could not tell Charlotte, one of my closest friends, the pang he inflicted with those simple words.

Lizzy Bennet

Dear Diary,

We went on a visit to Netherfield today. How droll of a story that is. All I did was sit drinking tea, answering yes or no when they asked me questions. Later I went to see Charlotte. It seems that she believes Jane needs to be more forward with Mr. Bingley on her feelings. I just feel thats not like Jane. She is not very open with her feelings, she does not know how to express them. She barely expresses them to me, but i know she feels strongly for Mr. Bingley. I do agree with Charlotte a little, but I do not think that Mr. Bingley would leave if he thought that Jane didn't love him the way he loves her.Yet Jane is not trying to get Bingley as a husband, so she will not over do it, she is simply falling in love without something to catch her. Well tonight at the Lucases party, maybe Jane will show it more.

Elizabet

Posted on 2008-08-11

Diary,

As you know the Lucases party was last night. Well it seems as if the Mr. Darcy has not left yet, for he was also at the party and acting very strange if I do say so myself. First he listened in on Charlotte's conversation with Col Foster. Poor Charlotte became quite frightened of his satirical eye. Well I could not but help myself from addressing him with this issue. Then giving me the perfect opportunity to do so, he stepped towards us.

"Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Col. Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"

And then he made some slide remark on how ladies are energetic when on the topic of balls. Well I could not believe how severe he was on the female sex and so I mentioned that to him. But before a heated and quite fun debate could start, Charlotte persuaded me into playing the pianoforte. (And on leaving Mr. Darcy I gave him a something to think about. Simply telling him that I wished not speak to him again for I was to sing, but I did not put it plainly for him instead I made a little riddle for him to figure out.) Though after playing a song or two, Mary requested to take over and I gladly stepped aside for someone with superior talent. Which I am glad I did because shortly later Kitty and Lydia practically forced Mary to play something with a little more vigor, and I cannot play that fast. And after the faster songs started they, of course, started a little dance group. And then I did something I regret. I passed Sir Lucas and Mr. Darcy while they were talking so that I could pick up on what their conversation would include. Unfortunately, Sir Lucas offered my hand to dance to Mr. Darcy. And to my surprise and later Charlotte's and Jane's he accepted. Well as you can imagine I could not dance with him, and excused myself from the dreadful entreaty.

Yours &c.

Lizzy

Dearest Diary,

It has been at least three days since my last writing. Not much has happened since, but yesterday morning at the breakfast table, while most of the family was arguing about nonsense, Jane received a letter. Not just any letter, but a letter from Miss Caroline Bingley inviting her to dine with them. Of course she had to accept even though her dear Mr. Bingley would not be attending. But poor Jane was not allowed to take the carriage, and was forced to go on horseback due to Mama's direct wishes. On her way to Netherfield, Jane got caught in the rain. I believe that was Mama's intentions in sending her on horseback. For I have just received this letter from Jane.

My Dearest Lizzy,
I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones -- therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me -- and excepting a sore throat and a headache there is not much the matter with me.
Yours, ETC.

And so I have decided to go to my sister. To comfort her as much as is in my power, which I hope may be enough for her poor delicate soul.

Elizabeth Benne