00:20the anxiety i felt over my mother's sudden illness was quite overwhelming losing one parent had
00:27turned my life to lose the other was unthinkable though my mother's presence had always loomed
00:38large in my life i could not imagine myself without her top of the stairs miss bennett
01:18you're here well don't stand in the doorway you're letting the heat out
01:22mother
01:29you look
01:33well doesn't she are you a physician all of a sudden no i uh i'm just i'm i'm relieved
01:42to see that you're um improved you look like you haven't slept in days and whose dress are you wearing
01:51uh my my own mary i am so pleased to see you
01:58oh it has been far too long oh i cannot be expected to stand
02:05hello mary come here
02:19i see the london air has taken a terrible toll on your complexion
02:24and your hair i am sure being back in the country will help looks beyond repair to me
02:36i had undertaken such a long journey and yet here i was back where i started
02:53from mother's letter i i thought that she was gravely ill i we all did
02:59oh has she actually been ill at all she thought it might be influenza or smallpox
03:05but she has made a miraculous recovery perhaps she rallied at the news that i was on my way
03:10i for one am pleased we are all back together
03:12yes i was thinking perhaps we could um play graces or charades after dinner this evening
03:18nobody plays graces mary
03:19oh on the contrary it's quite fashionable in london how is london mary yes i want to hear all about
03:25it
03:26yes um london is um kitty it's it's um kitty i cannot reach the preserves
03:36how are the gardeners are you enjoying being their governess
03:39i uh yes it's uh most rewarding have you made many new acquaintances
03:45uh my sister-in-law caroline is in london for the summer
03:48have you crossed paths
03:51oh gosh there's so many people
03:53um i know she can be a little stiff at first but
03:57i'm sure it'd be interesting company for you
03:59i have company
04:01there's a plethora of choice really for interesting company in london
04:04do you mean your books
04:11that's from our bell
04:12she wants you mary
04:13i've only just been up there
04:14i will send a servant to attend to her
04:20mrs bennett would like miss bennett to attend to her
04:26she probably wants to hear all about london
04:30walk the duchess to the edge of the fountain and no further
04:33if you feel the wind picking up you must bring her inside immediately and give her warm water and
04:38chopped meat
04:39do not let cook give her the leftovers
04:42only fresh chopped beef
04:44after 30 minutes you may return her to me
04:47for she is the only member of this family upon whom i can depend these days
04:57oh and tell lizzie i wish to be moved to the drawing room
05:04do you think you'll be happier convalescing in here mama
05:06well you might remember to visit me if i'm here
05:10now where is my bell
05:13do not trouble yourselves waiting for me i'm fine
05:17thank it mother
05:20and these pillows will not do
05:23you uh... us and us mothers
05:27maybe... some toasted cheese
05:30i don't know... terribly weak this morning
05:33i don't know yet
05:35and a book
05:36you'll perhaps worry that you won't move
05:39i was hoping for something readable
05:41not joining us mr darcy
05:43mary
05:44and
05:46i
05:48and
06:01and
06:02and
06:02and
06:02so
06:16Miss Bandit, a letter for you.
06:31Mary!
06:36Mary, where on earth have you been all this time?
06:40I was walking the dog.
06:42Mama.
06:43Please.
06:59Who's the letter from, Mary?
07:00From one of my friends in London.
07:04What friend is that, Mary?
07:06Lydia.
07:08What friend is that, Mary?
07:12Her name is Miss Baxter.
07:14Anne Baxter.
07:15I've never heard of Miss Baxter.
07:17Then she surely does not exist.
07:19She most probably does not.
07:21Lydia is being most unkind.
07:25Oh, look.
07:38Anne Baxter.
07:38How she would be doing it?
07:39Anne Baxter.
07:40One, two, three.
07:44Oh, what?
08:09Something seems to be troubling you, Mary.
08:13You seem full of concerns every time we mention London.
08:17Do I?
08:19I thought you would be eager to return.
08:25Does Mother's dog in any way remind you of Mother?
08:33Oh, Lizzie, oh.
08:36I embarrassed myself terribly when I left London.
08:40Caroline Bingley was there.
08:42She was determined to humiliate me.
08:44And I left in such a flurry.
08:47I smashed a bell jar of great sentimental value to its owner, a new friend, Mr Ryder.
08:55And everyone stared at us.
08:58Mary.
08:59No one else will have given it a second thought.
09:02It will seem worse to you, I'm sure.
09:05What person has not done something regrettable in their lives?
09:08You?
09:09You, Jane, Kitty, Lydia.
09:12Lydia?
09:14Oh, no.
09:15No, Lydia has.
09:17I can assure you, we all have.
09:22Anne wrote to tell me not to worry.
09:25You see?
09:26She's become a dear friend.
09:28She has something of an understanding with another good friend of mine, Mr Tom Haywood.
09:37Mr Haywood is, he's, he's just the kind, kindest man.
09:44I see.
09:47And have you met any gentlemen that have taken your eye?
09:51Me?
09:51No.
09:52Oh, no.
09:53No.
09:54London is, it's actually entirely without any eligible men.
09:58And I think I have to believe I'm not, I'm not really the marrying sort.
10:03Nonsense, Mary.
10:13A visitor for Miss Mary Bennet.
10:19Mr Ryder!
10:21What are you doing here?
10:23Miss Bennet.
10:24I hope you and your family won't consider this a great imposition, but you left London with such haste.
10:31Miss, I was most worried about your mother and wanted to offer my support in your hour of need.
10:38How do you do, Mr Ryder?
10:41Mrs. Bennet?
10:43Why, it is a pleasure to see you looking so well.
10:48I usually look much better than this, though my recovery has been quite extraordinary.
10:54I am, I'm glad to hear it.
11:00Miss Bennet, won't you introduce me to your sisters?
11:03Uh, uh, um, yes.
11:05Uh, this is Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.
11:08Um, this is, this is Kitty Boncock.
11:10How do you do?
11:11Mrs. Jane Bingley and Mrs. Lydia Wickham.
11:13I'm enchanted to meet you all.
11:15How do you know Mary?
11:17Miss Bennet and I met at a soiree in London and share a similar taste in despicable crime pamphlets.
11:25Oh!
11:28Anyway, I was en route to visit my aunt, Lady Catherine de Burr, and wanted to pay my respects.
11:34Well, let us not stand upon ceremony.
11:38Elizabeth will arrange for us to take tea in the garden.
11:41Uh, Mr Ryder, do join us.
11:43No, I'm, I'm sure Mr Ryder will have more important matters to attend to.
11:48I have time.
11:51Are you well enough, Mama?
11:53Yes, thank you, Jane.
11:54I am perfectly well enough.
11:56Uh, Mary, take Mr Ryder to the garden.
12:00Uh, Lydia will deal with the dog.
12:02What?
12:03Mr Ryder, if this is about the real jar, I must.
12:10I have always felt that what a lady puts in her garden is so terribly important.
12:16Yes.
12:17Roses, of course.
12:18Of course.
12:18Your favourite flower?
12:20Well, I must say, I think we're all right.
12:22Yes, it's a good point.
12:30My turn!
12:34I see you forgot to mention Mr Ryder in your reports from London.
12:39You also forgot to mention how handsome he is.
12:43I mean, I've not really noticed his looks, I'm sure.
12:47Oh, he's come an awfully long way to see you.
12:50He's probably just thirsty.
12:52And nearby.
12:53Mary.
12:54What?
12:56Oh, you must stay with us, Mr Ryder.
12:59Oh, you must stay with us, Mr Ryder.
13:00Especially with the weather turning as it may well do.
13:02Do you not agree, Lizzie?
13:03You would be most welcome, Mr Ryder.
13:05Oh, that is very kind.
13:08Come, Miss Bennet.
13:09Show us your skills.
13:10Do you have to?
13:14Joe.
13:14Oh, that's not.
13:19Excellent.
13:21Well done, Mary.
13:23Yes.
13:24Bravo.
13:25Well done, Mary.
13:26I agree.
13:26Well done.
13:29I was sorry to see you leave London in such a hurry.
13:35Sir Ryder, have you come here to discuss, you know, the...
13:43Yes. Yes, Miss Bennet, I believe I have.
13:46I've been wondering whether to write to you on the subject.
13:49Oh, I wouldn't expect you to lead the conversation, Miss Bennet.
13:52Mr Ryder, are you here to talk about the bell jar?
13:59The bell jar?
14:00What did you say?
14:02Miss Bennet, please, do not trouble yourself over that.
14:06But it was your father's. I thought you'd be upset.
14:09Not at all. Please, think no more of it.
14:23It is a pleasure to meet your family.
14:26Yes, my sisters are exceptional, I know.
14:31As are you, Miss Bennet.
14:34Oh, no, I am much more...
14:38I find it most refreshing that you do not form over potential husbands or...
14:44Have your mind constantly set on finding a match?
14:49Well, no, no, I don't really...
14:52I don't give it much thought.
14:55You lack artifice.
14:56You lack artifice.
14:57Your qualities shine out.
14:58They're not corrupted by the false polish of the world.
15:04She's, uh...
15:05Observations of a very, very personal nature.
15:08Well, I have a very low opinion of the petty rules to which we submit ourselves in the name of
15:12good manners.
15:14Did you know that?
15:15I think you may have mentioned it once or twice.
15:18I believe, Miss Bennet, that our inability to say what we mean is one of the great curses of our
15:25age.
15:26We hide behind a thousand disguises that we like to call politeness.
15:31Hmm.
15:48Mr. Darcy sends his apologies.
15:50He has a seasonal headache.
15:52Oh.
15:53Hmm.
15:54Mr. Ryder, tell us about yourself.
15:57Mary mentioned you are an avid reader.
15:59Oh, uh...
16:01Of poetry, perhaps.
16:02I find longer works are usually not for me.
16:05Really?
16:06I think the brevity of poetry is one of its principal attractions.
16:10I agree.
16:11Wholeheartedly.
16:13I only wish I had the fine mind of your sister.
16:16Miss Bennet has such an astute understanding of a wide range of literature.
16:21She does.
16:22She does.
16:24I do not know whether she gets it from me or her father.
16:28From you, mother, I am sure.
16:30Oh!
16:32There are very few people who have the insight of Miss Bennet.
16:35I could talk to you all day.
16:39I must admit, London has been a little grey without you.
16:44Oh, no.
16:46Are you joking?
16:47No, there are many interesting minds in London, all eager for thoughtful conversation.
16:53None as interesting as yours.
17:07Hello?
17:10Mother.
17:13I came to wish you goodnight.
17:32Mr. Ryder would make an excellent match.
17:43I wonder what kind of endowment he has.
17:49I do not know, Mama.
17:51A sizable one, I'm sure.
17:56Goodnight, Mama.
18:02Goodnight, Mary.
18:03Goodnight, Mary.
18:03Let's go.
18:54Sorry, don't let me distract you.
18:59What are you reading, Mr Ryder?
19:01A rather fascinating book on...
19:07Jesus.
19:08Right, it's upside down.
19:09Ah, so it is.
19:12What are you reading, Miss Bennet?
19:14Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women.
19:16Oh, insufferable, rulemaking pedant.
19:19Would you like me to put it in the fire for you?
19:22It's not quite how I remember it, I'll admit.
19:39What are they talking about?
19:45Barry sounds serious.
19:47She is boring him, I know it.
19:49I think you should read Mrs Macaulay.
19:51She will help you to better understand the world.
19:54I am no good at all at wasting my energy on anything that does not either move or please me.
20:01I think that is a shame, sir.
20:09You know, my father was a scholar.
20:12He devoted all his time to studying insects.
20:15Winged beetles, mostly.
20:17Of course, yes.
20:18The beetle in the jar.
20:21It's fascinating stuff, really.
20:23Well, I'm not so sure, but it occupied his every waking hour.
20:30He rarely emerged from his study.
20:34We hardly ever saw him.
20:38When I was 15 years old,
20:46he died quite suddenly.
20:49Oh, I'm sorry.
20:52I'm sorry.
20:54A few days after his death,
20:56I sat in his dark study and
21:01I thought about all the hours he'd spent in there.
21:05Away from his family.
21:07Away from life.
21:09And for what?
21:10For your father must have derived
21:12a great deal of pleasure from his work.
21:15Perhaps.
21:16But I think I learned more
21:18about the point of human existence
21:20in that moment
21:20than my father learned
21:22in a lifetime of study.
21:25From then on,
21:26I devoted myself
21:28to the pursuit of joy.
21:31Tell me, Miss Bennett,
21:35what makes you happy?
21:40Sorry, um,
21:41nobody ever asked me
21:43such a question.
21:44Then you must consider it now.
21:46Uh,
21:48well, um,
21:51reading,
21:52reading,
21:53learning,
21:54teaching.
21:56And
21:58what of
22:00friendship?
22:04Of love?
22:07Uh, yes.
22:09No, of course, that.
22:12life is short,
22:14Miss Bennett.
22:16Everything turns to dust
22:17in the end.
22:22We might as well
22:23experience some joy
22:24before that happens.
22:31Let's go riding.
22:36Yes!
22:37Let's go!
22:44Ladies?
22:47What a waste.
22:50Well?
22:51Well, what?
22:51Are you going out
22:52walking again, Mary?
22:53No, Mr. Ryder and I
22:54are going riding.
22:54On a horse?
22:55Yes, that's generally the idea.
22:57But you hate horses.
22:58Mary,
22:59what are his intentions?
23:00To ride a horse,
23:02I think.
23:14Oh, no.
23:21Oh, dear.
23:21Oh, dear.
23:26Um...
23:26You're quite all right,
23:27Miss Bennett?
23:27I'm perfectly fine.
23:29Yes.
23:31No.
23:32Oh,
23:33there we go.
23:34There we go.
23:35Now, I've been thinking
23:37about your argument.
23:39That, uh...
23:41That we should say
23:42more honestly
23:42what we think and feel.
23:44Oh, excellent.
23:45I knew you'd agree.
23:47Oh,
23:48don't know that I do.
23:50I mean,
23:50surely even you must admit
23:52there may be occasions
23:53when, well,
23:54for all manner of reasons,
23:56some things are best left unsaid.
23:57I cannot concur.
23:59I intend to live my life
24:00by bolder principles.
24:02In fact,
24:03that is why I came here.
24:05To put that belief
24:06into practice.
24:07Oh, really?
24:09Yes.
24:09I came here to commit
24:11the great impropriety
24:12of telling you honestly
24:13what I think of you.
24:16Mr. Ryder,
24:17I can assure you
24:18there's no need.
24:19I attempted to scribble
24:20a few lines,
24:21but then I thought of
24:22some verses
24:23of Mr. Wordsworth
24:24that captured
24:26your spirit perfectly.
24:29May I be allowed
24:30to recite them to you?
24:34Of course, Mr. Ryder.
24:35Please.
24:40She dwelt among...
24:42Excuse me.
24:45No.
24:47Please, take your time.
24:55She dwelt
24:56among the untrodden ways
24:58beside the springs of Dove.
25:01A maid
25:02whom there were none to praise
25:04and very few to love.
25:07A violet
25:08by a mossy stone
25:10half hidden from the eye.
25:14Fair as a star
25:15when only one
25:17is shining in the sky.
25:25I think you see me
25:26as a lonely figure.
25:29I was brought up
25:30in Hertfordshire, sir.
25:31So the road to London
25:32was barely five miles away.
25:34It is possible
25:35to feel oneself alone
25:36even in such close
25:37proximity to town.
25:38Yes, but in my village
25:40it was quite untrue
25:41to say
25:42that there were none
25:42to praise
25:43and very few to love.
25:45There were scores
25:46of people
25:46very eager
25:48to praise my sisters.
25:49Perhaps living
25:50with your family
25:50in Meryton
25:52kept you
25:54half hidden
25:55from the eye.
25:57But now you've
25:58broken out
25:58on your own.
26:00You can be seen
26:01at last
26:01as you deserve.
26:03Fair as a star
26:04when only one
26:06is shining in the sky.
26:18You're a natural
26:19Miss Bennet.
26:19Oh, I'm not.
26:21I know.
26:26Our conversation
26:27has made me
26:27very happy,
26:28Miss Bennet.
26:33Me too,
26:34Mr. Ryder.
26:50Walk on.
26:59Mary,
27:00there you are.
27:00Whatever is the matter?
27:01What happened
27:02on the ride?
27:04We rode horses
27:07and mine
27:08was most unruly
27:09and it had
27:09a taste for brambles
27:10as if it had
27:11a mine of its own.
27:12Really,
27:12and my saddle
27:12was not at all
27:13comfortable.
27:14That's not a slight
27:15on the quality
27:15of the design.
27:16Mary!
27:20It appears
27:21Mr. Ryder
27:22does have some
27:22sort of affection
27:23for you
27:23and I believe
27:25he is about
27:27to propose.
27:30Mother,
27:31I'm not
27:32completely sure
27:33that you were right
27:34and I really
27:35would hate
27:35to cause you
27:36any further
27:36disappointment.
27:37This is an
27:38opportunity
27:38that cannot
27:39be overlooked.
27:40He's a very
27:41eligible gentleman.
27:44You will say
27:45yes,
27:46won't you?
27:50There you are!
27:50What happened?
27:51What did he say?
27:52Did he ask you?
27:52He's not going to
27:53ask her.
27:54No!
28:01Miss Ferry!
28:05Are you
28:07quite all right?
28:08Oh,
28:08it's
28:08nothing.
28:09Nothing at all.
28:12May I speak
28:12with you
28:13in private?
28:14I have something
28:15very important
28:16I want to
28:17discuss with you.
28:35Mother had told
28:37me to prepare
28:38myself,
28:40but nothing
28:42could prepare
28:43me for what
28:45happened next.
28:51You can watch
28:52the next episode
28:53on iPlayer.
28:54Just press
28:54red now.
28:55Step into the
28:56world of pride
28:57and prejudice
28:58in Jane Austen
28:59stories narrated
29:00by Julie Andrews
29:01on Sounds Now.
29:03Alex,
29:04your eyes may
29:05deceive you.
29:06Everybody's a suspect
29:07as the capture
29:08continues in just a moment.
29:10son of a
29:11your eyes may
29:12and smile.
29:15your eyes may
29:17go.
29:17And
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