My Pleasure Reading. Pride and Prejudice. Chapters XII - end

Mrs. Bennet invites Mr. Bingley to dinner, hoping for the development of the relationships between him and her daughter. Mr. Bingley visits them with Mr. Darcy many times; to Elizabeth’s grief as now she realizes that all her hopes for their prospective marriage is hopeless as he knows about her sister (Lydia) and her marriage with Wickham which relates them in kinship.  Darcy goes to London and Bingley continues to visit the Bennets and finally he makes a proposal to Jane. Being happy for her sister, Elizabeth feels disappointment in herself and her incorrect opinion towards Mr. Darcy, however, she believe if he returns from London, she has some chances for their reconciliation. Lady Catherine De Bourgh unexpectedly drops by Longbourn one day to talk to Elizabeth. Her visit is caused by that fact that she has heard some rumors about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement. She considers Elizabeth is not a good match for her nephew because of the tarnished reputation of her family as well as their social and financial inequality. However, Elizabeth, suitably resists Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s psychological pressure and refuses to promise that she will never accepr Mr. Darcy’s proposal, saying that it is their private affair and they don’t need her advice. The next day, Mr. Bingley visits the Bennet with Mr. Darcy who recently returns from London, and while walking in the garden, Elizabeth thatnks him for his help with Lydia’s problem. Mr. Darcy declares that he still loves her and tells her about his conversation with his aunt, which has yielded to the opposite results – it gives hope to him that his feelings are mutual ones. Darcy confesses that when Elizabeth refused his proposal for the first time it was so unexpected for him as it made him to revise his old norms and get rid of his pride and prejudice. Now Elizabeth gives her consent.

The story ends with little description of two sisters’ new life – a year after the marriage, the Bingleys settle in Pemberly, thus Elizabeth and Jane have wonderful possibilities for frequent visit of each other. Their parents and the Gardiners visit them often. Elizabeth and Jane take Kitty under their patronage, trying to make her more calm, cultured and educated. They also keep in touch with Lydia whose marriage falls apart of the seams as neither the husband, nor the wife can’t reasonably spend money. Elizabeth renders them a little financial support, but don’t allow living them on her expense. After a few attempts, Mr. Darcy and his wife successfully regulate relationships with his aunt.