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
05:46no
05:46no
05:47no
05:56no
05:57no
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.
06:43Please.
06:58Who'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?
07:10Mary?
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.
07:40They are Nieka.
07:57Alice, what if she seems to be a lonely, a dream mmhmm.
08:09something seems to be troubling you mary
08:13you seem full of concerns every time we mention london do 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 i embarrassed myself terribly when i left london
08:41caroline bingley was there she was determined to humiliate me
08:44and i left in such a flurry i i i i smashed a bell jar of great sentimental
08:51value to its owner and a new friend mr rider and
08:55everyone stared i very no one else will have given it a
09:01second thought it will seem worse to you i'm sure
09:05what person has not done something regrettable in their lives
09:08you you jane kitty lydia lydia
09:14oh no no lydia has
09:17i can assure you we all have
09:22anne wrote to tell me not to worry
09:24you see she's become a dear friend she has something of an understanding with
09:31another good friend of mine um mr tom haywood
09:37mr haywood is
09:40he's he's he's just the kind kindest man
09:44i see
09:46and have you met any gentlemen that have taken your eye
09:51me no oh no no london it's it's actually entirely without any eligible men
09:58i don't think i believe i'm not i'm not really the marrying sort
10:03nonsense mary
10:12a visitor for miss mary bennett
10:19mr ryder
10:21what what are you doing here miss bennett
10:24i hope you and your family won't consider this a great imposition but
10:29you left london with such haste i was most worried about your mother and
10:33wanted 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
10:48i usually look much better than this though my recovery has been quite extraordinary
10:55i'm glad to hear it
10:59miss bennett won't you introduce me to your sisters
11:02uh uh um yes uh this is mrs elizabeth darcy um this is mrs kitty boncock
11:10how do you do this is jane bingley and mrs lydia wickham
11:13enchanted to meet you all how do you know mary
11:17miss bennett and i met at a soiree in london and share a similar taste in despicable crime pamphlets
11:25oh anyway i was on route to visit my aunt lady catherine de burr and wanted to pay my respects
11:34well let us not stand upon ceremony elizabeth will arrange for us to take tea in the garden
11:42mr ryder do join us no i'm i'm sure mr ryder will have more important matters to attend to
11:48i have time
11:51are you well enough memoir yes thank you jane i am perfectly well enough
11:57mary take mr ryder to the garden uh lydia will deal with the dog what mr ryder if this is
12:05about
12:05come along mr ryder
12:10i have always felt what a lady puts in her garden is so terribly important yes roses of course of
12:18course your favorite flower well my turn
12:34i see you forgot to mention mr ryder in your reports from london you also forgot to mention
12:41how handsome he is i mean i've not really noticed his looks i'm sure he's come an awfully long way
12:49to
12:49see you it's probably just thirsty and nearby what oh you must stay with us mr ryder especially with
13:00weather turning as it may well do do you not agree lizzie you would be most welcome mr ryder
13:05oh that is very kind come miss bennett show us your skills
13:15that's not excellent excellent well done mary yes bravo
13:25well done mary i agree well done i was sorry to see you leave london in such a hurry
13:35mr ryder have have you come here to discuss you know the yes yes miss bennett i i believe i
13:46have
13:46i've been wondering whether to write to you on the subject oh i wouldn't expect you to lead the
13:51conversation miss bennett mr ryder are you here to talk about the bell jar the bell jar what did you
14:02miss bennett please do not trouble yourself over that but it was your father's i thought you'd be
14:08upset not at all please think no more of it
14:22it is a pleasure to meet your family yes my my sisters are exceptional i know as are you miss
14:32bennett
14:33oh no i am much more um i find it most refreshing that you do not form over potential husbands
14:43or
14:44have your mind constantly set on finding a match
14:49well no no i don't really i don't give it much thought you lack artifice
14:56your qualities shine out they're not corrupted by the false polish of the world
15:03she's uh observations of a very very personal nature well i have a very low opinion of the petty
15:10rules to which we submit ourselves in the name of good manners did you know that i think you may
15:16have mentioned it once or twice i believe miss bennett that our inability to say what we mean is one
15:23of
15:23the great curses of our age we hide behind a thousand disguises that we like to call politeness
15:47mr darcy sends his apologies he has a seasonal headache mr rider tell us about yourself mary
15:57mentioned you are an avid reader oh uh of poetry perhaps i find longer works are usually not for me
16:05really i think the brevity of poetry is one of its principal attractions i agree wholeheartedly
16:13i only wish i had the fine mind of your sister miss bennett has such an astute understanding of a
16:19wide range of literature she does she does i do not know whether she gets it from me
16:27or her father from you mother i'm sure oh there are very few people who have the insight of miss
16:34bennett
16:35i could talk to you all day
16:39i must admit london has been a little gray without you
16:45are you joking no there there are there are many interesting minds in london all eager for thoughtful
16:52conversation none as interesting as yours
17:08hello
17:11mother
17:11mother i came to wish you good night
17:32mr ryder
17:34mr ryder would make an excellent match
17:43i wonder what kind of endowment he has
17:49i do not know mama a sizable one i'm sure
17:56good night mama
18:01good night mary
18:03good night mary
18:04good night mary
18:06good night mary
18:15I don't know.
18:54Sorry, don't let me distract you.
18:59What are you reading, Mr. Ryder?
19:02A rather fascinating book.
19:06Um...
19:07Uh, Jesus.
19:08Right, it's upside down.
19:09Ah, so it is.
19:12What are you reading, Miss Bennett?
19:14Fordyce's sermons to young women.
19:16Oh, it's sufferable, 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, 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...
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 a great deal of pleasure from his work.
21:15Perhaps.
21:16But I think I learned more about the point of human existence in that moment
21:20than my father learned in a lifetime of study.
21:25From then on, I devoted myself to the pursuit of joy.
21:31Tell me, Miss Bennett.
21:35What 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...
21:58What of...
22:00Friendship?
22:04Of love?
22:07Uh, yes.
22:09No, of course, that.
22:12Life is short, Miss Bennett.
22:16Everything turns to dust in the end.
22:21We might as well experience some joy before that happens.
22:31Let's go riding.
22:36Yes!
22:37Let's!
22:44Ladies.
22:47What a waste.
22:50Well?
22:51Well, what?
22:51Are you going out walking again, Mary?
22:53No, Mr. Ryder 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?
23:00To ride a horse, I think.
23:14Oh, no.
23:21Oh, dear.
23:21Oh, dear.
23:26Um...
23:26You're quite all right, Miss Bennett.
23:27I'm perfectly fine.
23:29Yes.
23:31No.
23:32Oh, dear.
23:33There we go.
23:34There we go.
23:35Now, 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,
23:56some things are best left unsaid.
23:57I cannot concur.
23:59I intend to live my life by bolder principles.
24:02In fact, that 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 what I think of you.
24:16Mr. Ryder, I can assure you there's no need.
24:19I attempted to scribble a few lines,
24:21but then I thought of some verses of Mr. Wordsworth
24:24that captured your spirit perfectly.
24:29May I be allowed to 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 among 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
25:17shining in the sky.
25:25I 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.
27:00Whatever is the matter?
27:01What happened on the ride?
27:04Oh, you 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.
27:11Really, and my saddle
27:12was not at all comfortable.
27:13Yeah, 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 of affection for you
27:23and I believe
27:25he is about to propose.
27:31Mother, I'm not completely sure
27:33that you were 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 no...
28:01Miss Ferry!
28:05Are you quite all right?
28:08Oh, it's...
28:08It's nothing.
28:09Nothing at all.
28:11May I speak with you in private?
28:14I have something very important
28:16I want to discuss with you.
28:35Mother had told me
28:38to prepare myself
28:40but nothing could prepare me
28:43for what happened next.
28:51You can watch the next episode
28:53on iPlayer.
28:54Just press red now.
28:55Step into the world
28:57of pride and prejudice
28:58in Jane Austen's stories
29:00narrated by Julie Andrews
29:01on Sounds Now.
29:03Alex, your eyes may deceive you.
29:06Everybody's a suspect
29:07as the capture continues
29:08in just a moment.
29:13I'll see you next time.
Comments