Love Among the Gifted - A Pride & Prejudice Alternative

Chapter Seven

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton. This proved a most convenient distance for the young ladies of the family, who were often tempted thither three or four times a week. They would pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just down the street from her house. The two youngest of the family, Kitty and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions. A walk to Meryton was indispensable to add amusement to their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening. However bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some novel on dits from their aunt.

At present the girls were well supplied with both news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood. They were to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was their headquarters. Colonel Forster, an older gentleman from Derbyshire, was the commander. His age and recent marriage rendered him of little interest to the younger Miss Bennets, but the dozen or so single young officers also with the regiment were more than enough to whet their appetite for any morsel of intelligence on the topic.

Elizabeth was more sanguine about the presence of such a collection of potential beaux, as she was more aware of the pecuniary situation of most militia officers. While they were, by law, gentlemen. Most were the poor relations of modest landholders. They subsisted on their own money, as they made none from the militia. A marriage to one could well spell a fall even from the low altitude of their current financial position. Those with the ambition or gifts to make a mark in the world found their way into either the regular army or the Royal Navy. Sir William was a prime example of how that path could take even a gentleman of the first generation, the polite manner of refereeing to a wilder, into some level of prominence. Sir William was knighted for the same valiant action that caused him to be invalided out of the army.

This caution did not stop Elizabeth from accompanying her sisters on their almost daily pilgrimages to the Phillips' house. Their visits were now productive of the most interesting reports. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length the Bennets began to know the officers themselves.

Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity heretofore unknown. The younger sisters could talk of nothing but officers. Even Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in the younger girls' eyes when compared to the regimentals of an ensign.

After listening one morning to Kitty and Lydia's effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed, "From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced."

Kitty was disconcerted, and made no answer. But Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going to London the next morning.

"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. When they get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well. Indeed, I do so still in my heart. And if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him."

Mr. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Jane. It came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,

"Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us. Make haste, my love."

"It's from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.