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Hoping Against Hope Zsuzsa
Posted on Friday, 28 March 2003, at 1:44 a.m.
"...believed and hoped even when there was no reason for hoping..."
Romans 4:18
Chapter 1 ~ First Experiences
Anne de Bourgh had a happy childhood at Rosings Park. The early times of her life were determined by three persons: Nanny, her father and her mother.
Nanny always was at hand, was soft, merry and tender. She always knew what she needed and did not require too much. To drink milk, make a curtsey when somebody comes, sleep in time without asking why. She told her lots of fairy tales. Anne's favourite was the one about the Beauty and the Beast. She asked Nanny to tell it again and again.
Her father was also an accustomed figure at the child's room. He came first after breakfast and they went together to take a walk in the park or in the house. These were not long ones. When they went out they watched the goldfishes in the fountain behind the house. It was a just enough distance for those little feet. After lunch and a little nap father came again to play a game with Anne or tell a story, which was very interesting, since the main character was always a little girl living in a big house in the middle of a park with goldfishes in the fountain...
The mother never came to the room of Anne. Anne herself visited her every day after tea. She sat on the sofa and asked questions and Anne was afraid to make a mistake because mother often became angry.
Then Nanny left the house because she became a big girl: six years old. A governess arrived and Anne began to learn read, write, count and to play the piano. She liked to do them, but first of all she liked to draw and paint. Father watched her paintings and drawings every day and liked to play four-hand pieces together with her. She got more and more books from the father and they talked about them a lot. Their common walks became longer and Anne discovered how big is the park around Rosings. She had her tea together with her parents. Her mother did not stop asking her questions about her studies, but told a lot about her own matters as well. Obviously mother was that person who decided about the estate and the house, who dealt with the servants. Anne went to bed early while her parents received guests for dinner. The local minister was an everyday guest with his wife and some gentlemen and their wives from the neighborhood. Children never came to Rosings so Anne spent all of her time in the company of adults. She met only her cousins from Pemberley and Matlock Manor around Easter, but the boys were much older than she and the little girl, Georgiana was almost a baby that time so she could not play with them. Since she did not know anything else so she was content with this way of life. She was small and thin, ate almost nothing, but never was ill.
But when she was eleven it was her father who became ill. He lost much weight in a short time, had much pain continuously and on a sunny day he died. Anne was confused but her mother commanded the servants and organised the funeral herself. Even the verses from the Bible where chosen by her for the service. When it was all over they stayed alone. The mother discovered many new things about her daughter.
"How do you look? Obviously you are ill. Stay inside."
"You hardly have eaten anything. You are so weak. Don't play the piano, it is too hard for your body."
"Drawing and painting are too tiring for you. Stop them."
When she became seventeen Mrs. Jenkinson has arrived at Rosings. She was obedient all the commands of Lady Catherine, so when Anne became twenty she really was a pale figure who was sensitive for the fresh air, hardly did anything except lying on the sofa and never made a step on her feet outside the house. She was not even unhappy. She loved her mother, was fond of Mrs. Jenkinson and sometimes had some company when the minister visited them with his wife. The new minister was not a pleasant person, never had an own thought in the parlour and his sermons on Sundays were rather dull. But his wife was a nice person and sometimes while Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins were praising each other Anne and Charlotte could talk a little bit about some things which they were both interested in.
The happiest time for Anne was the weeks around Easter every year. Her cousins visited Rosings. Georgiana now was a pretty young lady, the best companion for Anne and she was always happy to listen to the chat of the boys who became men: Richard the Colonel and Darcy, now the owner of Pemberley. This Spring Georgiana did not come. Since last Summer there was something strange with her, hardly wrote any letters and Darcy also was very taciturn about her. Darcy himself was out of his mood, rather concerned of something. The Colonel was happy and joyful as always. There were guests at the parsonage too: the sister an the friend of Mrs. Collins, Maria Lucas and Miss Elizabeth Bennett. Anne enjoyed the big company in the house, the dinners together and that she could hear the sound of her piano again. Miss Bennet was a talented player and a remarkable singer. Anne was faithful for the enjoyment.
There was only one thing which spoiled her pleasure. Day by day her mother mentioned that she and Darcy would soon marry, because she and her sister agreed in it when Anne was born and Darcy was seven years old. Anne was not sure if this agreement had ever happened and although she liked Darcy she had a quite different imagination about the man she would marry. Darcy was a lovable cousin but definitely was not that man and it was obvious that she was not the ideal for Darcy. They both played not to hear the remarks of Lady Catherine so the days of the visit were finished without any remarkable event. The gentlemen promised to come again next year and Anne and her mother stayed in Rosings alone for a while.
Chapter 2 A Visit to Longbourn
The days after Easter were very quiet. Anne sat a lot at the window of her room reading her books. Her mother had lots to do. All the matters of the estate was her responsibility. Mr. Carmichael, the steward came to Lady Catherine every day to tell all the things what happened on the fields and in the stalls. Mr. Melchett, the family lawyer was not such a frequent visitor, but when he appeared it always meant something special: a new contract, buying or selling something and these transactions always turned out to be fruitful. Lady Catherine had a good sense to the finances and a good practice as well.
And there was Mr. Collins almost every day with his smooth sentences and compliments. Anne often realised that she had daydreams during his long lectures about the blessings of the Christian marriage and his praisings about all the things he heard from Lady Catherine. Mrs. Collins's health was not the best in these days. She almost always excused herself from the invitations, so Anne was without any company because Mrs. Jenkinson listened only to Lady Catherine and keenly nodded to everything which was heard during the visits.
May ended, June passed. It was pleasant weather and one day Anne, even herself did not know how stepped out on the terrace, walked down the steps, and after so many years bent over the fountain to look for the goldfishes. There were no more fishes in the pool, Anne was taller than the fountain itself and it took only thirty steps to reach it from the bottom of the stairs. Anne was surprised: it was that long tour she always took with her father? It was that short walk which was forbidden to take because of her health? As she turned she saw her mother at the top of the stairs lifting her walking sticks to heaven.
"You will die Anne if you exaggerate yourself so much."
"But mother...."
"Come in. Don't hurry, it is very dangerous."
At the end of June they got to know that Mrs. Collins is pregnant. That is Mr. Collins announced it on a very special way. Anne first did not understood what he wanted with some olive branch. Before her appeared the Ark of Noah, but a minutes later she realised what he had said and deeply blushed.
Then came the more hotter July and at the beginning of August Mr. Collins brought a shameful but exiting news: the youngest sister of Miss Elizabeth Bennett eloped with an officer from Brighton. Every day was something new to tell about this matter. The information came from Mr. Collins's father-in-law at Longbourn. They are not found... Mr. Bennett gave up to find them... The shameless Lydia appeared at the house of his uncle in London.... And at the end they married and left for Newcastle. This case gave to Lady Catherine the possibility to tell some very useful moral parables to Mr. Collins and Mrs. Jenkinson. But it was not finished with the marriage. More and more details came from Longbourn and very near to the end of August Mr. Collins told that Miss Elizabeth Bennett was in Lambton when she got the horrible news and what is more Lydia told that Mr. Darcy was the best man of his fianc»e at the wedding. Mr. Collins risked a little remark.
"It cannot mean else but the intention of Miss Bennett to marry Mr. Darcy. I always knew that she wanted to get in a higher position by marriage."
"What?" Exclaimed Lady Catherine. "How she dares! Mr. Darcy will marry my Anne."
She began to pace the room up and down. " I have to do something immediately."
In an hour Anne found herself in the big carriage riding toward Longbourn. Her mother was furious, but did not tell a word all the way. They spent the night at an inn. In the morning Lady Catherine was full of complaints. There was too hot in the room. There was draught in the dining room. The tea was cold. The ham was not enough fresh. Anne did not say a word. The impressions of the trip enchanted her. She was not accustomed to see so many faces, but she discovered something interesting in every human being she saw. A young girl had funny freckles around her nose. An officer left the inn and loudly called his servant. A family had its breakfast and the mother all the time persuaded the little boys to eat more. Riding in the carriage Anne watched the people working on the fields, since it was the time of the harvest. She heard children singing while they were going through a village. There was a strange feeling in her heart and when she wanted to name it she found an unexpected word: hope.
Their destination was Longbourn. Anne was happy to meet Elizabeth Bennett again and she was very disappointed when her mother told her to stay in the carriage while she talked to Miss Bennett. So she sat there and saw that after some minutes going in the house Lady Catherine came back to the garden with Elizabeth. Anne waved to her, but Elizabeth did not saw it. She seemed rather concerned. She and her mother obviously quarreled about something. Then Lady Catherine turned and with a mixture of triumph and anger on her face went back to the carriage.
"I solved this problem, of course, She did not promise not to marry Darcy, but she will know who I am. There is not any obstacles before your marriage with Darcy."
"Mother, Darcy never mentioned that he wanted to marry me, and...."
"He need not of course, because it was decided years before."
"...and I don't want to marry him either."
"Anne, you don't know what you say. The estates of Pemberley and Rosings has to be unified."
"Mother, Rosings is enough to give us everything we need."
"I always knew that you did not know what you said."
Anne turned her face to the window of the carriage. Her tears were hot and bitter. Until they arrived back to Rosings she tried to console herself with the memory of the feeling she had felt on the way to Longbourn. Will she find it again some day?
Chapter 3 ~ Unexpected Visitor at Rosings
Arriving home mother was in the same mood like on the way home. She often took remarks about the preparations for wedding and it always gave uneasy feelings to Anne. What is more on a Sunday morning when they came back from the church the carriage of Darcy stood before the house. Lady Catherine almost ran into the hall.
"Where is my dearest nephew?" She cried.
Ann stayed back a little. She had not any intention to meet Darcy, but she also felt that it is the best time to talk to him about all the nonsense of the marriage which never would happen she was sure.
Darcy greeted them with his general seriousness at the door of the library. He had wanted to have a little change after spending the August in hot London, he explained and went back to a book in spite of all the persuasion of Lady Catherine. At the dinner he was not talkative even, but Lady Catherine chatted about this and that. Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson did not tell a word as usual.
Next morning Darcy took a walk in the park. Anne watched him to go and come. When she saw him enter the house she gathered some courage and went to the hall. Darcy surprised when she saw her descending the stairs, but just bowed his head to her. Anne stood before him. Her voice was very soft, hardly audible.
"When I was a little girl I liked to play with my father at the fountain." She said.
Darcy did not answer, just stood there waiting.
"Do you want to see it? I had even goldfishes there."
Darcy offered his arm to her and they walked out to the fountain. There was a bank on the other side of the fountain in the shadow. Anne sat there and Darcy followed her. Nobody told a word for a while. At last Anne tried to begin the conversation.
"What are your plans for the.....next month?" She changed her mind in the last minute.
"I go back to Pemberley. I miss Georgiana much. And I think I stay there until spring. There are many tasks at the estate and I was not the best with my obligations there in the last months.
Anne remained silent but then she decided not to beat about the bush anymore.
"And when do you want to marry?" Darcy blushed and jumped and Anne saw that he completely misunderstood him. She also stood up.
"I mean...I wanted to say.... I did not want to talk about our marriage... I wanted to tell you.... It is completely out of question for me."
Darcy began to laugh and took her hand.
"For me too. I've never thought to talk about it because it's so absurd, dear Anne. You are a sweet cousin but I have a quite different imagination about marriage." He sighed.
"Then you have to talk to my mother."
"Dear Anne, I've just said I don't want to marry you."
"For that very reason you go. Mother visited Miss Bennet at Longbourn last week."
"What do you say?" Darcy exclaimed and immediately turned almost running toward the house. Anne smiled and with a sudden decision she also turned. If she came here she also could have a look at the park. The autumn colours already appeared on the trees and as she walked she felt a kind of longing to draw it or rather paint. How long did not she do it? For years obviously. As she walked back to the house she saw that the trunks of Darcy were carried out of the house and the carriage stood awaiting there.
When she entered Darcy came, took her hand and kissed.
"Dear Anne, I cannot be enough grateful to you. I hope, you will find happiness."
Anne smiled as he rushed to the carriage and left. Mrs. Jenkinson ran on the stairs.
"Please, Miss Anne, your mother...."
Anne went into her mother's bedchamber. Lady Catherine was pale lying on her bed. As she saw Anne she sat up and begin to cry.
"Unfaithful child! It was all arranged and you ruined everything! What will you do when I die and you stand here alone like my finger? You are the same fool like Darcy. He hears a word about that Bennet girl and runs there! But I told him when he marries her I won't know him anymore! What do you stand there? And where have you been?"
"I took a walk in the park."
"What? You surely will die." Lady Catherine collapsed to the bed.
Anne went to her mother and took her hand.
"Mother, don't be so anxious. Everything will be all right."
She went to her room. On the lower shelf of her cabinet she found some sheets of paper and some pieces of black coals.
"It is as good as anything." She smiled. She went to the window and began to draw the fountain.
Chapter 4 ~ Double Wedding at Longbourn
Anne found a new item to draw every day. After some weeks she tried to mention to her mother a ride to the village to buy some paints, and for her greatest surprise Lady Catherine had not any objection regarding her health. So she and Mrs. Jenkinson bought water colours. In Anne's mind there were some pictures about the park. When she finished her first piece she was not satisfied at all. She did not want to paint exactly what she had seen, rather to put on the picture the mood she felt watching a certain spot. And really, there was spots on the painting of different shades of green. She had new tries and began to enjoy it.
Mr. Collins came and came as usual and sometimes Charlotte Collins accompanied him. She was the only person whom Anne showed her water colours. Charlotte was not an expert, herself could not even draw, but she liked the pictures. She said that she could feel the period of time when they had been painted at and could imagine the atmosphere of the place. Anne asked some unbrave questions about her state, but obviously Charlotte Collins had an uneasy feeling to talk about her pregnancy to an unmarried girl.
Lady Catherine hardly told a word during the Collinses' visits, and when they did not come for a week never mentioned them. In the end after seven days Mr. Collins appeared at Rosings Park and even Anne realised that there was something he did not talk about. This time Lady Catherine was more vivid as usual and very soon she ordered Mr. Collins to tell what was in his sleeve.
"Oh, Lady Catherine, what a misery. My father-in-law has just written that there will be double wedding at Longbourn. Mr. Bingley marries Miss Jane Bennett and....
"What are you paltering? Tell me immediately who will marry yet!"
"Oh, Lady Catherine, I am the poorest of the poor. You are my generous protector and I am the heir of Longbourn. How can I tell you that my cousin, Elizabeth Bennett will marry.........not else but your nephew, Mr. Darcy."
Lady Catherine jumped and lifted her stick if she would have hit Mr. Collins. He also stood up, his hands put together like in a prayer.
"I beg you, Lady Catherine....."
"Oh, shut up, you fool" Cried the Lady and run out of the room.
Mr. Collins was helpless. "We are invited, but I will refuse it. How could I do it with Lady Catherine..."
Anne never saw Mr. Collins such ridiculous like in this moment. And in that very moment she realised that he had been always the same: a stupid, meek double-dealer who would have sold her own soul for his low purposes.
"Of course you won't refuse it." Heard Anne her own sound. "Since you are the closest relative of Mr. Bennett and your father-in-law is the neighbor of him. And you have to go for the sake of your wife who can be very happy on the joy of her best friend.
She stood up. "You will go, won't you?
"Yes, Your Ladyship..." Missed the address Mr. Collins bending almost to the floor.
Anne turned and went out the room. In the hall she saw that the afternoon post had arrived. Absent-mindedly took the letters to bring them to her mother, but standing before her door she had a look on the envelopes. Her feelings were right. There was a letter from Darcy addressed to Lady Catherine.
Lady Catherine stood at the window, showing her back to Anne.
"Mother, here is a letter from Darcy. Obviously he explains everything." She tried to hand it to Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine turned and Anne was taken aback. She has never seen her mother in tears.
"I don't want to read it. All my plans are over. I wanted to see you happy in this house with your husband. You are too fragile to have children, but you could be happy with him."
"Mother, you never asked me about it."
"What for? It would have been the best for everybody."
"I don't think so mother."
"You are not for this world, dearest." Lady Catherine turned again to the window. "Of course, we don't go for the wedding. We won't talk even about it. We won't receive Darcy anymore and his wife never. This is my will."
Anne was completely confused by the word "dearest". "We can't do it, mother."
"We can, Anne, and we will. But now I am tired, leave me alone."
Anne left the room and they did not talk about the wedding anymore. Lady Catherine was in bad mood always. She went to bad early every evening, but in the mornings hardly could wake up. She lost her appetite and Anne became rather concerned of her. She could not persuade her for a walk. On the very day of the double wedding in Longbourn she was in better mood, but when Anne tried to mention the big event Lady Catherine shortly cut it. At dinner she was rather talkative and told stories to Anne from that time when she and Anne's father were young without a child yet. Anne laughed loudly on the stories, and had a new confidence in the future. But on the next morning Lady Catherine's maid desperately knocked on her door. Lady Catherine was so weak that she could not get out of her bed.
Chapter 5 ~ A Late Understanding
Anne was frightened. She called the old doctor from Hunsford, but he could not do anything. Anne decided to invite a specialist from London, but Lady Catherine forbade it. This time Anne was steady and send a messenger to London. She stayed at the bed of her mother waiting for the specialist. In the meanwhile Mr. Collins arrived at Rosings to ask about the health of the Lady. Mrs. Jenkinson informed him about the illness of her and he left wishing the best to her patroness.
Late in the afternoon the doctor has arrived from London. She examined Lady Catherine and asked many questions not only from her but from Anne and Lady Catherine's maid too. In the end he asked Anne to go with him into the library.
"Unfortunately, your mother's condition is very bad. It is certain, that her kidneys cause the poor health of her. In fact I cannot help. You have to prepare yourself for the worst.
"Cannot you do anything, Doctor?"
"I can prescribe a very strict diet, but it only slows down the process. If your mother won't eat anything of animal origin in the future I can predict six months to her if we are lucky, but no more."
Anne went back to her mother's room. She was sleeping and Anne sat beside her bed. Suddenly she felt all the burden she ought to carry: the illness of her mother, the tasks with the estate... She sighed deeply.
"Daughter..."
It was again a strange word from Lady Catherine's mouth. Anne bend over her.
"Try to sleep, mother."
"I want to know what the doctor said."
"You have to be on a strict diet, and everything will be fine."
"Anne you never was good at it. I know, what I know. I hope, I will have enough time to leave you here safe."
The next days were very busy for Anne. She had to visit the kitchen early in the morning to talk about the meals of Lady Catherine with the cook. She re-organised some rooms beside her mother's and moved closer to her. She send a message to Mr. Melchett to talk with him about the family matters and asked Mr Carmichael to tell her everyday what had happened at the estate. In the rest of the time she sat beside her mother and when she was better Anne read to her. After two weeks of only eating fruits, vegetables and porridge Lady Catherine was a little bit better, but she could not leave her bed even. Mr. Collins came everyday, and in the end he was let before Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine told Anne to take a walk in the park while she would talk to Mr. Collins.
"A walk and getting rid of Mr. Collins... Anne, I am surely dying." Lady Catherine tried to smile. Anne was grateful for the little break. She dressed and went to the park. As she came closer to the fountain, which this time was completely frozen she realised, that in a week it would be Christmas. She forgot about it entirely. She began to gather some ideas about the preparations for the feast, but she hardly begun it Mr. Collins came out from the house, and not saying even his usual "Your obedient servant" dashed away. Anne went back to her mother and found her in her former normal state: being furious, almost mad.
"This layabout.... This good-for-nothing starveling... He wanted to persuade me to give him authorities on the estate. Where did I put my eyes when I let him to batten on my fortune?" She became a little bit calmer. "Anne, next month you will be twenty one and you are your father's heiress. Maybe you are stronger than I always thought. You have to learn a lot and the time is short."
The Christmas and the New Year were very quiet at Rosings. Anne worked a lot. Sometimes she had a look over the windows to the snow-covered park. She longed to paint it with her watercolors but there were not any time. Mr. Melchett and Mr. Carmichael were there everyday and Anne learned a lot. She learned such words like mortgage, interest, loan, tenancy... Sometimes she was afraid not to remember anything, but next day she could use them properly. When her mother was a little better they talked a lot, but these times were rarer and rarer. She had not any pain, but she was everyday weaker and weaker.
That year they had an early Easter, the snow hardly melted on the fields. On the Good Friday morning Lady Catherine told Anne how much she regretted not to go to the church in the morning.
"Do you miss Mr. Collins?" Anne's laugh was a little bitter.
"Oh, that fool! I doubt if he has faith at all. When you meet him often you forget your own. It almost happened to me." Lady Catherine's voice was very weak and now she was half of her former self. "I almost forgot that I am the daughter of God, the sister of Christ and my body is the church of the Holy Spirit. Anne, do remember it."
"Mother..." Anne could not say more. Her mother did not say a word anymore and died on Easter Sunday morning. Anne prepared everything for the funeral. She wrote letters to every member of the family. They came except the two closest ones. Darcy could not leave Pemberley because Elizabeth had a hard pregnancy and the Colonel stayed in Ireland with his regiment. Anne accepted all the condolences including Mr. Collins's and as the guests left after the funeral she began to arrange her new life at Rosings.
She was alone but she was not frightened anymore.
Chapter 6 New Experiences at Pemberley
After the funeral the days were very quiet for Anne, but she was glad for it. It was a marvelous spring and unnoticeable turned into summer. Anne felt a kind of easiness, even herself did not know why. She took long walks in the park and had a better appetite, first time in her life. She often thanked the companion of Mrs. Jenkinson and chose the solitude in the evenings sitting before her piano. He played simple little pieces. The voice of the instrument was weak under her fingers, but the playing gave her joy. She had some new watercolors, too. The greenness of the park gave her many inspiration, and although she knew that her piano playing will never been introduced before any public, not even for a parlour audience she felt that her paintings have some meanings, but she had not any intention to show them anybody.
She met only Mrs. Jenkinson, Mr. Melchett and Mr. Carmichael. Every day it was easier to make decisions about the estate and the family matters. The steward and the family lawyer looked on her with more respect everyday. Mr. Collins paid some visits, but mostly Anne excused herself. The Collinses had a baby daughter now, and Anne visited them after the birth, but after some minutes of chatting with them she left. One day in August a letter from Darcy let her know that a son and heir named Andrew was born at Pemberley for the greatest joy of their proud parents. For Anne's greatest surprise Darcy and Elizabeth asked her to be the godmother of the child. Exactly after a year of her sad trip with her mother to Longbourn Anne sat into the big carriage and left for Pemberley.
She was accepted with much love first of all from Georgiana who was again the sunny old friend and relative, but much less shy as earlier. Anne was very soon introduced her new relative who slept quietly in a cradle beside of the bed of her mother.
"He is a beautiful child." Whispered Anne and after her congratulations to Elizabeth she bravely asked.
"May I...?" Showing the child and Elizabeth nodded. Anne took the baby in her arms and slowly walked with him to the window.
"If you will be a good boy we will go out some day and when you grow a little bit I show you the park at Rosings." Her voice was strong and determined, not that crow with pleasure what the adults use talking to babies. Elizabeth smiled hearing this and the baby opened her eyes and had a curious look on her new aunt. From then on Anne everyday visited the mother and the child and she always talked with easiness to Elizabeth or Andrew. The rest of the time she spent walking in the park or talking to Georgiana. One day she painted a picture in her room about the pond behind the house when Georgiana came in and cried:
"What a beautiful picture. You have to show it Elizabeth and Darcy."
"No." Said Anne firmly.
The next day when she visited her nephew again Elizabeth asked her.
"I've heard from Georgiana that you paint watercolors. Would you show me one, please?"
"In fact I painted only one here at Pemberley." said Anne.
"Anne, please." Asked Elizabeth again.
So Anne went to her room and took the picture with. When she handed it to Elizabeth she exclaimed.
"Oh, the pond! My very favourite spot in the whole park! Would it be a great request to ask you to give it to me? I would hang it there to see it all the time."
Anne did not understand exactly the enthusiasm of Elizabeth, but in this moment Darcy came in the room.
"Oh, I always wanted to surprise you with a painting about the pond, Elizabeth. How did you find it? It is a marvelous painting."
"It was painted by Anne." Answered Elizabeth.
"Beautiful." Said Darcy. "Anne, you are talented indeed. Can we keep this perfect piece of your art? We would find a good place for it in this room."
Anne began to laugh.
"If it has such a special meaning for you, let it be." But she was very proud of herself.
The days went very fast. There were guests to visit the mother and the baby and a certain Mr. Bassington from the neighborhood was a frequent visitor for much delight of Georgiana. On a nice Autumn Sunday Andrew Thomas Darcy was baptised and he lay quietly in the arms of her godmother during the whole extended service. Anne was happy, but at the end of September she decided to return to Rosings. On her last afternoon at Pemberley Darcy joined her on her walk and thanked her kindness to the baby and Elizabeth.
"You are a very lovable person, cousin, I have to tell you and I hope you will visit us more often."
"Yes, I will. And I hardly wait to see little Andrew at Rosings."
"You will, dear Anne, but tell me: do you need any help or advice guiding your estate or in any matters of you?"
"Thanks for your offer. I have good helpers at Rosings, but... you could do something for me."
"Don't hesitate to tell me, Anne."
"It is Mr Collins... My intention is to give the people of Hunsford all to the best of my abilities including the word of God. But I am afraid, Mr. Collins is not the person we need... What is more he tried to interfere to the business of my mother during her illness...I would be more satisfied if we had a clergyman at Hunsford who is dedicated first of all to his community."
Darcy smiled. "I completely understand you and I completely agree what you tell about him. The bishop of Manchester is a good man of mine. In fact he owes me, because I have given him advices on the estates of the church. Might be he can offer a higher position to Mr. Collins which temptation he cannot resist to... It takes time Anne, but I give my word to you to arrange it."
So the next day Anne said goodbye to everybody, gave a last kiss to Andrew and directed for her home.
Chapter 7 ~ Waiting for a Proper Person
Arriving home Anne asked Mrs. Jenkinson to the library and told to her.
"You were a friendly companion to me for years, but now it is the time to depart. I give you three month to arrange a new place for yourself, if you like, or do what you want. We celebrate the Christmas together then I present you extra wages for three months and a letter for your new position. Tha...
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