Darcyof Pemberley, Derbyshire
In vain have I struggled. So I made a deck.
A second proposal · For Miss Elizabeth Bennet
Miss Elizabeth Bennet
Longbourn, near Meryton
Hertfordshire
By hand
01 · Why we lost
We lost you at Hunsford. You told us exactly why.
- Account
- Miss Elizabeth Bennet
- Where
- Hunsford, an April evening
- Our forecast
- “No doubt of a favourable answer”
- Our ranking
- “The last man in the world”
Reason given, verbatim
“Had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner.”
02 · The first pitch, reviewed
It may be the worst pitch in English literature.
-
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do.”
Opens on his feelings, not hers.
-
“Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?”
Insults the buyer’s family. Mid-pitch.
-
“I rejoice in my success.”
Brags about the harm she came to complain about.
-
“Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence.”
Calls all of the above honesty.
03 · What we heard
Three objections. One to explain, two to fix.
-
Your sister
“The means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister.”
FairFix it
-
Mr. Wickham
“You have reduced him to his present state of poverty.”
MisinformedExplain it
-
Me
“Your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others.”
FairChange it
04 · The one to explain
You heard Wickham’s side. We sent receipts by eight.
- Legacy, by my father’s will
- £1,000
- In lieu of the church living he declined
- £3,000
- Paid to Mr. Wickham
- £4,000
Witness on request Colonel Fitzwilliam, executor
Rosings, eight o’clock in the morning
Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments, or renewal of those offers, which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself…
My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow, and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. … He resigned all claim to assistance in the church… and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection between us seemed now dissolved…
Fitzwilliam Darcy
05 · What we changed
Every charge, struck through by something we did.
06 · Proof
You didn’t hear it from us. You saw it at Pemberley.
“I have never had a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old.”
Mrs. Reynolds, housekeeper. Reference taken by your uncle.
Site visit Unannounced. We weren’t due home until the next day.
07 · What it cost
It cost us in pounds. It cost us more in pride.
Paid in pounds
- Wickham’s debts, paid“considerably more than a thousand pounds”£1,000+
- Settled on Lydia, beyond her own“another thousand”£1,000
- Wickham’s commission“his commission purchased”Bought
Total£2,000+
Paid in pride
- Pleaded with Mrs. Younge for an addressthe governess who helped Wickham at Ramsgate
- Met Wickham, repeatedly“whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce”
- Let your uncle take the creditMrs. Gardiner calls it his “borrowed feathers”
TotalWickham, as a brother-in-law
08 · The new offer
Same offer as April. Entirely new terms.
The first proposalThe second proposal
- Opens with
- “In vain have I struggled. It will not do.”“You are too generous to trifle with me.”
- Your family
- “The inferiority of your connections.”“Your family owe me nothing.”
- Assumes
- “He had no doubt of a favourable answer.”“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once.”
- If you say no
- “You have said quite enough, madam.”“One word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”
ResultRefusedYours to decide
09 · Next step