Page 16 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

The following day, Mrs. Phillips stood with the sisters at the entrance to Longbourn as the two coffins were loaded onto the bier. They watched as Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Phillips, the male servants, tenants, and neighbors followed the bier to the parish churchyard.

That had been the most difficult day for the sisters, for they now began to understand that their lives had changed forever. They did not yet comprehend the full extent of their loss of social standing, but they were beginning to see the effects of their father's death.

* * *

The day after the burial, Elizabeth again devoted herself to packing her father’s beloved books into the waiting trunks, setting aside only the works they had intended to study together before Lydia brought catastrophe upon their family.

She knelt beside a trunk with the selected works from the Britannia in her hands, which had interested her and her father above all others.

She placed it upon the floor and gathered the excerpts of William Stukeley’s works, which they had not yet begun.

She placed them in a stack, then added the little notebook her father had given her, which contained their notes and questions from the many hours they had spent discussing such things together.

She would finish her studies in memory of the last months she and her father had spent together, poring over English folklore and fairy traditions.

He would never again read her notes or answer her questions, but she would continue the practice they had shared and remember him through it.

Elizabeth drew her handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at the tears she could not hold back. Never again would she know anyone with whom she could share her love of learning as she had with her beloved father.

Each sister chose something from among their parents’ belongings that held special meaning for her. Once they had set aside what they wished to keep, they packed their parents’ clothing, shoes, and other personal effects to be given to the poor of the parish. When they were finished, the bedchambers were cleaned and prepared for the heir.

One afternoon, Mr. Gardiner sat at Mr. Bennet's desk, sorting through each paper and document, discarding what was no longer needed and setting aside those of importance.

Elizabeth dusted the now-empty shelves. She had already set aside her father's pipe and ceramic tobacco jar. She meant to keep them to remember him by.

She also kept his mahogany writing slope and his standish, complete with its inkwell and sealing wax. She placed his swan quills, penknife, and graphite pencils inside the writing slope.

Her eyes glistened when Mr. Gardiner said, “Lizzy, I found letters you wrote to your father during the summer you spent with us. Do you wish to keep them?”

She accepted the little stack of letters. Her childish script covered the topmost page. She unfolded it and began to read.

“Uncle Edward, life was so simple and happy then. It was not even three years ago.”

“Yes, Lizzy. Life sometimes takes difficult turns.”

He opened a drawer and drew out a thick bundle of pound notes.

“Here is a stack of notes, my dear. I do not know why your father neglected to place them in the strongbox with the rest of his money. Put them away in your writing slope, for you may have need of them one day.”

He reached over and handed them to her.

“Since Kitty and Mary will remain with your Aunt Phillips, they will have no immediate need of funds. Your Uncle Phillips will provide them with pin money from their share of your mother's dowry. But you and Jane are of an age to marry, my dear. I shall divide the notes kept in the strongbox between the two of you for gowns and the other fripperies that females find so needful. We must find husbands for the two of you as soon as possible, Lizzy.”

* * *

At the end of that first trying week, Uncle Phillips sat in the drawing room with the four sisters.

When she had finished, Mr. Phillips said, “Your Uncle Edward and I have discussed the matter of notifying Mr. Collins. It has been a week, and I must send him an announcement of your father's death. The estate has already passed to him. Nothing remains but for him to come and take possession of his inheritance.”

The kindly man regarded them with compassion.

“I shall post the letter today. I wished to tell you in person before doing so. It will take a day for the letter to reach Hunsford Parsonage, and he may arrive here a day or two thereafter. Edward intends to remain another three days so that he may stand beside you when Mr. Collins arrives.”

Jane caught Elizabeth's hand and held fast to it.

Mr. Phillips continued gravely. “He may permit you to remain at Longbourn, or he may require you to leave. We believe it best that you stay here until he arrives and makes his intentions known. We know very little of the man. He may be disposed to extend hospitality to the daughters of the former owner, his distant cousin.”

He paused to sip his tea before continuing.