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
05:46a
05:46a
05:46b
05:47b
05:47b
05:47b
05:47b
05:48b
05:49b
05:55b
06:17Miss Bennett, 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, please.
06:59Who's the letter from, Mary?
07:01From 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.
07:50I've never heard of Miss Baxter.
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?
08:36I 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.
08:58I...
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.
09:15Lydia has.
09:17I can assure you, we all have.
09:22Anne wrote to tell me not to worry.
09:25You see?
09:26Mm.
09:26She's become a dear friend.
09:28And she has something of an understanding with another good friend of mine, um, 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, it's actually entirely without any eligible men.
09:58I don't think I ever believe I'm not, I'm not really the marrying sort.
10:03Nonsense, Mary.
10:13A visitor for Miss Mary Bennett.
10:19Mr. Ryder!
10:21What?
10:21What are you doing here?
10:23Miss Bennett.
10:24Oh.
10:25I hope you and your family won't consider this a great imposition, but you left London
10:30with such haste.
10:31I was most worried about your mother and wanted to offer my support in your hour of meet.
10:38How do you do, Mr. Ryder?
10:41Mrs. Bennett?
10:44Why, it is a pleasure to see you looking so well.
10:47Oh, I usually look much better than this, though my recovery has been quite extraordinary.
10:54I am.
10:55I'm glad to hear it.
10:59Miss Bennett, won't you introduce me to your sisters?
11:03Uh, uh, um, yes, uh, this is Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.
11:07Um, this is Mrs. 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?
11:17Mrs. Bennett and I met at a soiree in London and share a similar taste in despicable crime
11:24pamphlets.
11:25Oh!
11:27Anyway, 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, 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 other jar, I must...
12:05Come along, Mr. Ryder.
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.
12:22Let's have a season for a boy.
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.
12:47He's come an awfully long way to see you.
12:50He's probably just thirsty, and nearby.
12:53Mary.
12:54What?
12:56Oh, you must stay with us, Mr. Ryder.
12:59Especially 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.
13:15Oh, that's not what I did.
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.
13:35Mr. Ryder, have you come here to discuss, you know, the...
13:42Yes!
13:44Yes, 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...
13:56I'll correct you.
13:56...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.
14:08I thought you'd be upset.
14:09Not at all.
14:10Please, 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 fawn over potential husbands or have your mind constantly set on
14:46finding a match.
14:50Well, no, no, no, I don't really, I don't give it much thought.
14:54Look, you lack artifice.
14:56You lack artifice.
14:57Your qualities shine out.
14:58They're not corrupted by the false polish of the world.
15:03Gosh, these are observations of a very, very personal nature.
15:07Well, 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.
15:48Mr. 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, of 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.
16:46Are 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 good night.
17:18Here.
17:32Mr. Ryder would make an excellent match.
17:44I wonder what kind of endowment he has.
17:49I do not know, Mama.
17:51A sizable one, I'm sure.
17:56Good night, Mama.
18:02Good night, Mary.
18:03Good night.
18:38Good night.
18:42Good night.
18:43Good night.
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.
19:17Rulemaking 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.
19:45It's not quite how I remember it, I'll admit.
19:50Read 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, the beetle in the jar.
20:21It's fascinating stuff, really.
20:25Well, 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, he died quite suddenly.
20:49Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
20:53A few days after his death, I sat in his dark study and I thought about all the hours he'd
21:03spent in there.
21:05Away from his family, away from life, and for what?
21:10For your father must have derived a great deal of pleasure from his work.
21:15Perhaps.
21:16But I think I learnt more about the point of human existence in that moment than my father learnt in
21:22a lifetime of study.
21:25From then on, I devoted myself to the pursuit of joy.
21:31Tell me, Miss Bennett.
21:34What makes you happy?
21:40Sorry, um, nobody ever asked me such a question.
21:44Then you must consider it now.
21:47Uh, well, um...
21:51Reading.
21:52Reading.
21:53Learning.
21:54Teaching.
21:57And...
21:59What of...
22:01Friendship.
22:04Of love.
22:07Uh, yes.
22:09Of course, no, of course, that.
22:12Life is short, Miss Bennett.
22:16Everything turns to dust in the end.
22:22We might as well experience some joy before that happens.
22:31Let's go riding.
22:36Yes!
22:37Let's...
22:38Let's go!
22:44Ladies?
22:47What a waste.
22:50Well?
22:51Well, what?
22:51Are you going out walking again, Mary?
22:53No, Mr. Rider and I are 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?
23:01To ride a horse, I think.
23:14Oh, no.
23:18Oh, dear.
23:21Oh, dear.
23:25Um...
23:26You're quite all right, Miss Bennett.
23:27I'm perfectly fine.
23:29Yes.
23:31No.
23:31Oh, dear.
23:33There we go.
23:34There we go.
23:36Now, I've been thinking about your argument.
23:40That, uh...
23:41That we should say more honestly what we think and feel.
23:44Oh, excellent.
23:45I knew you'd agree.
23:47Oh, I don't know that I do.
23:50I mean, surely even you must admit
23:52there may be occasions when,
23:54well, for all manner of reasons,
23:55some things are best left unsaid.
23:57I cannot concur.
23:59I intend to live my life by bolder principles.
24:02In fact,
24:03that is why I came here.
24:05To put that belief into practice.
24:07Oh, really?
24:09Yes.
24:09I came here to commit the great impropriety
24:12of telling you honestly
24:13what I think of you.
24:16Mr. Rider, I can assure you
24:18there's no need.
24:19I attempted to scribble a few lines,
24:21but...
24:21but then I thought of
24:22some verses of Mr. Wordsworth,
24:24that captured your spirit perfectly.
24:29May I be allowed to recite them to you?
24:34Of course, Mr. Rider.
24:35Please.
24:39She dwelt among...
24:41Excuse me.
24:44No.
24:47Please, take your time.
24:54She dwelt among the untrodden ways,
24:59beside the springs of Dove.
25:24I think you see me as a lonely figure.
25:29I was brought up in Hertfordshire, sir.
25:31So the road to London
25:32was barely five miles away.
25:34It is possible to feel oneself alone,
25:36even in such close proximity to town?
25:38Yes, but in my village,
25:40it was quite untrue to say
25:42that there were none to praise
25:43and very few to love.
25:45There were scores of people
25:46very eager to praise my sisters.
25:49Perhaps living with your family in Meryton
25:52kept you
25:54half-hidden from the eye.
25:57But now you've broken out on your own.
26:00You can be seen at 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, Miss Bennett.
26:19Oh, I'm not.
26:21I know.
26:26Our conversation has made me
26:27very happy, Miss Bennett.
26:33Me too, Mr. Ryder.
26:50Walk on!
26:59Mary, there you are.
27:00What is the matter?
27:01What happened on the ride?
27:04We rode horses.
27:06Hmm.
27:07And mine was most unruly
27:09and it had a taste for brambles
27:10as if it had a mine of its own.
27:12Really, and my saddle
27:12was not at all comfortable.
27:14Yeah, Mary.
27:14That's not a slight on the quality.
27:15Mary.
27:15It's merely the design.
27:16Mary!
27:20It appears Mr. Ryder
27:22does have some sort
27:23of affection for you
27:23and I believe
27:25he is about to propose.
27:30Mother,
27:31I'm not completely sure
27:33that you are right.
27:34And I really would hate
27:35to cause you
27:36any further disappointment.
27:37This is an opportunity
27:38that cannot be overlooked.
27:40He's a very eligible gentleman.
27:44You will say yes,
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 ask her.
27:54There's you to.
27:55I can't.
28:01Miss Ferry.
28:05Are you
28:07quite all right?
28:08Oh, it's
28:09nothing.
28:09Nothing at all.
28:12May I speak with you
28:13in private?
28:14I have something
28:15very important
28:16I want to discuss with you.
28:36Mother had told me
28:38to prepare myself.
28:40But nothing
28:42could prepare me
28:43for what
28:45happened next.
28:51You can watch the next episode
28:53on iPlayer.
28:54Just press red now.
28:55Step into the world
28:56of pride and prejudice
28:58in Jane Austen stories
29:00narrated by
29:00Julie Andrews
29:01on Sounds Now.
29:03Alex,
29:04your eyes may deceive you.
29:06Everybody's a suspect
29:07thanks,
29:07as the capture
29:08continues in just a moment.
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