The felicity of the Bingley family was seldom disturbed; Jane was to produce six little Bingleys, with quite enough fingers and toes to go around, and sufficient disorder and noise to satisfy even their doting parents. Parson Overstowey and his wife were to see an increase in their own family; in addition to Mr. Bennet, they welcomed a little girl and a little boy within a few years’ time. Upon the passing of Reverend Franklin, Parson Overstowey succeeded to that living, bringing his family even closer to Pemberley, a circumstance much to the delight of Mr. Bennet, who preferred Mr. Darcy’s library, even to his own. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were blessed with a Miss Collins as a play-mate for Charlotte’s daughter. As master of Longbourn, Mr. Collins was able to increase his steady friendship with Sir William, spending many agreeable evenings in the company of the neighbouring knight, canvassing the newspapers for information about the titled and infamous.

Perhaps the most unexpected change in the Bennet family circle was the news that the Wickhams were gone off to America. Their reputations not being able to follow them thither, Mr. Wickham at last determined to try his fortune on those prosperous young shores. The Bingleys purchased them a more comfortable passage, and the Darcys assisted with their purchase of a small tract of land in the vast area of Virginia. With the hard labour and œconomy necessary for survival in that new nation, their relations in England were in hopes that the Wickhams’ energies would be directed in more useful pursuits, and in accordance with Jane’s early prophecy, their characters would find steadiness and respectability, at last.

Those who have persevered to the end of this volume will hear with joy that, shortly after her arrival back into London, Elizabeth was able to inform her husband that it would no longer be necessary to impose upon the Bingleys for an heir. That Christmas at Pemberley was the happiest ever, and when Elizabeth was safely delivered of an healthy boy early in the spring of the next year, the Darcy family circle could now want for nothing, with the possible exception of another Miss Darcy.

The only blessing yet to be desired—considering the negligible success seen by the previous generation in planning the marriages of their infants—was that these children will have less interference in their matrimonial choices. Filial independence in such matters is yet another poor morality with which to conclude; therefore, the happiest, wisest, most reasonable end is to decree that the preferences of all the young Bingleys, Hallendales, and Darcys exactly coincided with those of their esteemed parents.

FINIS.

EPILOGUE.