Chapter VII
MR. BENNET'S PROPERTY consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney at Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.
She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a clerk to their father, and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood: it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.
Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.
After listening one morning to their 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.”
Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and the hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.
“I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of anybody's children, it should not be of my own, however.”
“If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it.”
“Yes; but, as it happens, they are all of them very clever.”
“This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.”
“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—and, indeed, so I do still at 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; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals.”
“Mamma,” cried Lydia, “my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library.”
Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; 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 is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane, and then read it aloud:
“My Dear Friend: If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives; for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.
Yours ever,
“Caroline Bingley”
“With the officers!” cried Lydia; “I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that.”
“Dining out,” said Mrs. Bennet; “that is very unlucky.”
“Can I have the carriage?” said Jane.
“No, my dear; you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.”
“That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, “if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home.”
“Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton; and the Hursts have no horses to theirs.”
“I had much rather go in the coach.”
“But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?”
“They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.”
“But if you have got them to-day,” said Elizabeth, “my mother's purpose will be answered.”
She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged; Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not come back.
“This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!” said Mrs. Bennet, more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:
“My Dearest Lizzy: I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones; therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me; and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me.
Yours, etc.”
“Well, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die—it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”
“Oh, I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage.”
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.
“How can you be so silly,” cried her mother, “as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.”
“I shall be very fit to see Jane, which is all I want.”
“Is this a hint to me, Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?”
“No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner.”
“I admire the activity of your benevolence,” observed Mary, “but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.”
“We will go as far as Meryton with you,” said Catherine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.
“If we make haste,” said Lydia, as they walked along, “perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes.”
In Meryton they parted. The two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
She was shown into the breakfast parlor, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. That she should have walked three miles so early in the day in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness—there was good humor and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
Her inquiries after her sister were not very favorably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately, and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and, when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.
When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters, and Elizabeth began to like them herself when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavor to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in fact, nothing to do elsewhere.
When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern in parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.
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— Vianney Verzola
Mrs. Bennet makes Jane go to Mr. Bingley’s house on horseback, rather than a carriage, knowing it will rain, which means Jane will have to spend the night at Mr. Bingley’s. The choice Mrs. Bennet makes is for the good of her daughter, and she’s trying to make Jane and Mr. Bingley’s relationship better.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
People in polite society usually visited one another between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Elizabeth feels obligated to leave once the clock strikes 3 p.m., but she wants to stay longer to look after Jane. Fortunately, the Bingley sisters invite her to stay for a few days.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
The apothecary, Mr. Jones, is like a local pharmacist who can perform basic surgery and give medical advice. Apothecaries were cheaper than physicians, so it is telling that the Bingleys hired Mr. Jones to care for Jane. They may not think she is worth the expense, but it is more likely that they don’t think her cold is serious.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
The Bingley sisters don’t have much to entertain them while the gentlemen are out. They only appear interested in Jane (and, in this case, Elizabeth) when they are bored. They might be lonely and tired of each other’s company, too.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Elizabeth is much more active than most young ladies at this time. Middle- and upper-class ladies were supposed to lead sedentary lives indoors; rigorous physical exercise was considered unladylike and only fitting for working-class women. Elizabeth, however, never seems to care about how she is perceived.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Breakfast parlours were recent, fashionable additions to country houses at the time of Pride and Prejudice. In the country, breakfast was usually eaten early (9 a.m. or 10 a.m. at the latest). The Bingleys, however, eat their breakfast at 11 a.m. or 12p.m. This was common among the fashionable families in London because they usually stayed out very late at symphonies, balls, and operas. The Bingleys are dining so late that Elizabeth has had time to finish her own breakfast at Longbourn, have a discussion with her parents, and walk three miles to Netherfield.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Lydia has ulterior motives for accompanying Elizabeth: she hopes to see Captain Carter. She and Mrs. Bennet are similar; they are both preoccupied with other projects and don’t seem to understand that Jane’s health could be in danger.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mrs. Bennet, who is always concerned about appearances, doesn’t want Elizabeth to show up at Netherfield covered in mud. She is more concerned about the Bingleys’ perception of Elizabeth’s dress than she is about Jane’s health. Mrs. Bennet is completely oblivious, however, to the Bingleys’ frequent disapproval of her own behavior.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Once again, Mrs. Bennet is disconnected from reality. Colds could easily turn into serious, potentially fatal illnesses such as pneumonia—as they can today. Though Jane is not in great danger, she is in some danger. Mrs. Bennet doesn’t seem to see this because she is excited that Jane will have to stay at Netherfield even longer.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mr. Bennet is teasing his wife, but he also reveals that he is aware that she has intentionally endangered her daughter’s health by sending her to Netherfield on horseback in the rain. He seems amused rather than outraged, though.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mr. Bennet’s horses are currently pulling carts out in the fields because it is harvest time. The horses’ absence is another subtle indication of the Bennets’ wealth, or lack thereof. They would have a spare set of horses if they were truly well-off.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Miss Bingley’s letter suggests that she and her sister only want Jane to visit because they will be bored by themselves. Women of leisure (in the middle and upper classes) were expected to stay mostly indoors and occupy themselves with frivolous tasks like embroidery or painting. Artistic pursuits were usually imitative: women would paint simple objects or imitate existing artwork by male painters.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mrs. Bennet wants Jane to go to Netherfield on horseback because she hopes the rain will prevent her from returning home that evening. It’s likely that Jane will see Mr. Bingley if she has to stay overnight, and Mrs. Bennet wants to hurry their courtship along.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mrs. Bennet is once again disconnected from reality. It would be in poor taste for a gentleman to write a lady unless they were engaged. Mr. Bingley, who is well-mannered and respectable, is certainly not writing to Jane. Mrs. Bennet seems oblivious to decorum in her quest to have her daughter marry such a wealthy man.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Pride and Prejudice was originally written in epistolary form. Epistolary form involves narration through letters between characters. For example, if Pride and Prejudice were still an epistolary novel, we might learn about the action in letters exchanged between Jane and Elizabeth.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Clarke’s Library was a circulating library, very similar to libraries today. People would pay a subscription to borrow books, which were quite expensive at the time. Circulating libraries were very popular among the middle and upper-classes—they were as much a place to meet and gossip as they were to read. The officers standing around Clarke’s Library are probably there for social reasons, not to borrow books.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mrs. Bennet seems a little disconnected from reality. No colonel would make more than perhaps 3,000 pounds per year—more likely close to 2,000. Mr. Bingley, for comparison, receives 4,000 pounds per year. It would be have been very uncommon for a military man to earn more than a man like Mr. Bingley.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mr. Bennet enjoys teasing and criticizing his daughters, but never actually attempts to correct their behavior. He seems to recognize that Catherine and Lydia are spending an inappropriate amount of time around the soldiers, but he never insists that they stop. Though he likely doesn’t intend to be a negligent parent, his refusal to be serious inadvertently puts them at risk.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
An ensign is the lowest ranking officer. Lydia and Catherine (Kitty) are so obsessed with the officer’s dashing, fashionable uniform that they don’t notice how low-ranking he is. Their constant preoccupation with appearances suggests silliness, frivolousness, and shallowness.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Patriotism was strong at the time of Pride and Prejudice, and the military was particularly popular. The military uniform was very fashionable because of its attractive cut and associations with heroism.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
The militia were England’s reserve troops, and they trained only a few days per year. They were also mobile, moving from location to location to address fears of invasion. In Pride and Prejudice, the militia are posted in Meryton to defend England from a potential French invasion during or leading up to the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
4,000 pounds, roughly $265,000 in today’s US dollars, breaks down to 160–200 pounds per year. In Austen’s time, a family could live comfortably on 300 pounds per year for each member of the family. Mrs. Bennet and her unmarried daughters, however, will only have a maximum of 200 pounds per year to support them after Mr. Bennet dies—they definitely won’t be living comfortably. Mrs. Bennet is afraid of being poor, so she’s obsessively trying to marry off her daughters.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
A milliner sells hats, articles of clothing, and other fancy-but-frivolous goods like ribbons and gloves. Lydia and Catherine are portrayed as silly and shallow because they are attracted to showy, useless, impractical bits of clothing.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
Mrs. Bennet comes from a middle-class family. Mr. Bennet is a member of the landed gentry, so he married beneath himself when he married Mrs. Bennet. The marriage, which would have been looked down upon by upper-class individuals, is an example of Mr. Bennet’s foolishness and refusal to take things seriously.
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— Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff
An entail legally restricts the sale or inheritance of an estate. Longbourn has been left (entailed) to a male heir, so Mr. Bennet can’t leave it to his daughters. When he dies, all of the Bennet women will be poor.
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— Stephen Holliday
Mr. Bennet’s income of 2,000 pounds per year would have amounted to roughly $133,000–$300,000 in US dollars today. He could be living very comfortably if he didn’t have five daughters and poor money-management skills.