Posted on Tuesday, 20 May 2003
Note: The 29th of December is the day of St. Thomas. My grandmother once told me of a certain rhyme a young unmarried woman has to say when going to bed if she wants to see her future husband in her dreams that night. If this works in Lower Austria it might just as well in Hertfordshire …
December the 29th, Longbourne, Hertfordshire
It had been a pleasant family Christmas. The excitement of the Gardiner children, their wonderment and joy, Mrs. Bennets pleasure in learning all of the newest London fashion from Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Bennets contentment in not having to leave his library for a good talk, Jane and Elizabeth`s joy in having their favourite aunt here for a visit, …even Lydia and Kitty were for the moment happy enough with their new bonnets and not yet displeased because the weather didn't allow for showing them off in Meryton.
Mrs. Bennet had gone for an afternoon nap, the boys were in the library with their father and uncle for a lesson of chess and the rest of the household gathered around the hearth. Dusk began to settle and Lizzy was applied to by her young cousins for a ghost story. Her story wasn't very convincing however because she had to change her usual plot – a uninhabited, haunted Netherfield – for fearing that it would hurt Jane. Therefore Mrs. Gardiner was addressed by her elder daughter
“Mother, won't you tell us again how you met Papa?”
“No, Emily, I won't. I have told this story four times on the drive from London. But I will tell you something strange, I will tell you why I noticed your Dad when I first met him.”
“Was he wearing a red coat then?” Lydia intercepted.
“I am quite sure that my uncle showed his well informed mind.” Mary stated with a frown.
“Neither of you two are right,” Mrs Gardiner said with an amused smile, “He was even then wearing the subdued colors he still favours in his clothes and didn't talk enough to show his mind, I wouldn't have noticed Edward at all at this tea party my friend's aunt was hosting in London but for one thing – “ Mrs. Gardiner stopped there, she had her audience captured.
“It was fifteen years ago, my grandmother was still alive and I but a girl of seventeen. I was spending Christmas at her house and one afternoon, when the flurry of festivities had ceased somewhat we were enjoying our tea in peace and quiet. My first season was to come and I was full of apprehension. Grandmother, a very wise and kind woman, broached the subject I didn't dare to broach myself – how would I know when an admirer was the man I would spend my whole life with. She advised me to take things slowly, to follow my heart but not leave my head out. Then – laughingly – she told me of an old superstition in Derbyshire, that a young woman would dream of her future husband in the night following St. Thomas Day if she said a certain rhyme when going to sleep. I didn't take it seriously but couldn't resist saying the rhyme upon retiring.”
“And you dreamt of Uncle Edward sweeping you off your feet?” Lydia could restrain herself.
“No, Liddy, nothing out of the ordinary happened in my dream, I saw some people, a young man among them. I didn't think him very interesting then, not even in my dream, I am sorry to say. Two years later I was attending a tea – party and there was something to Edward that made me look twice.”
Lizzy couldn't contain her amusement any longer, “You don't want us to believe that you saw Uncle Edward's face in your dream and recognised him two years later, do you?”
“No, it was not like that. I couldn't describe the face of the man in my dreams afterwards and to my knowledge he didn't even resemble Edward, but it was like I had been presented with an image, in my dreams I was shown what kind of person would complement me. Often what we wish for is not what makes us happy in the long run.”
Lizzy shook her head but Jane was deep in thoughts.
“I think I understand what you are saying, Aunt.”
“Tell us the rhyme, please!” Kitty pleaded.
Mrs Gardiner made Lydia and Kitty memorize the rhyme and for once they were eager to go to bed.
“Will you say it, Jane?”
“It can´t do any harm, can it? Besides, our sisters would wish to tease us, therefore – if not for your own curiosity – humor them too, Lizzy.”
As Lizzy bade Jane goodnight she wondered not for the first time if her eldest sister didn't possess a very shrewd sense of humor after all.
At breakfast the next morning Lydia seemed to burst with eagerness to tell her dream. Still she possessed enough sense not to broach the subject with her father and uncle present.
It had snowed that night and the little ones were eager to throw snowballs. Mrs Bennet preferred to stay indoors – the exuberance of the little Gardiners already wearing on her nerves – but all the other females, even Mary went outside.
Mrs Gardiner looked at her nieces.
“This is just a little superstition, right? Liddy, as the youngest your marriage is probably the farthest off therefore you are allowed to tell first.”
“Maybe I am married before you all! The man in my dream was – Mr Wickham!” Lydia cried with a glance at Elizabeth to gauge her reaction.
Lizzy was not disturbed however and Mary remarked
“You better dream of his inheriting as well, otherwise this match will be very imprudent.”
“Bah!” was all the youngest replied.
Kitty was looking unhappy and reluctant to tell.
“Well, he almost looked like a curate.”
Lydia giggled.“How can anyone look almost like a curate, was it one or not?”
“It was, but he had the most gentle blue eyes.” Kitty answered, chin high.
“Mary?”
“´T was no one I knew but he looked well read.”
“He was wearing ugly spectacles you mean!”
“Lydia, that was a most inappropriate remark.” Mrs Gardiner scolded.
“Maybe one dreams what one wishes to dream,” Jane mumbled, “ I saw Mr Bingley.”
Lizzy´s eyes danced with merriment as she said, “I have the ultimate proof that this indeed superstition and that all your dreams are utter nonsense, you will never guess whom I saw in my dream!”
All eyes were on her.
“It was Mr Darcy, can you believe it! Mr Darcy, of all men I am to be wed to Mr Darcy!”