[Pride and Prejudice] Rich Lady

On the first weekend of February, the four young ladies who performed well were given permission to leave the academy on Sunday as they wished.Among the dozen or so freshmen, besides Elizabeth and the others, there were two other girls in the bedroom who were also affirmed.

For this trip, Taolisi College did not arrange the eye-catching four-wheeled Cui Shi, but dispatched four other two-wheeled carriages.Mrs. Poullan personally sent the ladies to the carriage and reconfirmed: "The ladies can take care of themselves and will return to Taurice on time, right?"

"Yes, ma'am. Please rest assured," said the ladies.

Elizabeth and Laura were sitting together. Coincidentally, the driver of this carriage was Mr. Algernon who had helped them last time.

"Good day, Algernon."

"Good day, miss. I need to know where the ladies are going after the church service?"

"Chipside. Our destination is the same."

"Yes, madam. Please be back at the coach shop in Chipside by at least five o'clock in the afternoon. We need to be back at the college before dinner."

The two ladies were kind and friendly, and Laura said quietly: "I think Mrs. Judith will definitely attend today's dinner. We'd better return early and make full preparations. Otherwise, she will definitely be dissatisfied, and the lady will spray the venom again." Degrade us from head to toe."

Elizabeth couldn't agree more, and the two made an appointment: Elizabeth first went to visit Uncle Gardner alone, and then met Laura at Miss Phoebe's store.

In another carriage afterwards, Daisy and Lily were also planning: "There is a new restaurant in Covent Garden, we can try it. I heard that many fashionable ladies in London are willing to have lunch there, maybe Maybe there will be surprises.”

Lily is equally interested: "I've been wanting to try it for a long time! My dad and his friends love the Simpson's Tavern in Ball Lane. They often talk about the oxtail stew and the liver and pancetta in it. Unfortunately, the Simpson only caters to men. Covent Are there any excellent meals in the garden?"

Daisy was always the most fashionable of the company, and there was nothing wrong with asking her for advice on what was new in London.

"Mr. Thomas, the owner of the restaurant, owns a large piece of land in the north, so the guests can taste some unusual fresh game - dear, you know, it's not the season for fox hunting, it's not good to eat some wild meat. It's so easy," said Daisy.

"We can invite the other four ladies to taste tender venison and steak tartare, and perhaps oysters." Daisy said cheerfully. "After you try it, you will never regret that Simpson's tavern again."

……

Elizabeth's guess was right. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were indeed busy in the store.The business of the store is very good, and from time to time there are well-dressed husbands and wives patronizing. Uncle Gardner is smart and capable, chatting and laughing with the gentlemen, and Auntie entertains the female guests equally generously.

Elizabeth did not interrupt rashly, and after signaling to her uncle, she walked to the other side to take a closer look at the products.

When the couple walked out of the store, the wife still looked at her curiously, and Elizabeth nodded slightly, like a real lady.

"My dear Lizzie, you have changed a lot!" After seeing off the guests, Aunt Gardner hugged her niece warmly, "It's so elegant! It's more dignified and stylish than those ladies I've seen."

"I miss you so much! Fortunately, starting from this month, we are allowed to leave the college on Sunday, and we can visit you in the city." Elizabeth took out a small pot of tea from her handbag and gave it to her aunt: "Tauris College Inspector Ms. Anne, she has the blood of the Ming Dynasty, and she also has a large ship that has been allowed to trade with the Ming Dynasty's Ship Yamen. So sometimes we can get some special rewards."

This pot of golden pu'er is a small gift specially given by Mrs. Pulan in appreciation of the brave and resourceful actions of the four ladies on Christmas Day.Elizabeth thought that Aunt Gardner liked oriental tea very much, so she specially brought it for her.

When Mrs. Gardner saw the fine blue and white porcelain vase, she knew that the tea was authentic and precious, but she didn't want to take away her niece's kindness, so she decided to choose a brighter jewelry in the store as a gift in return: "This is very nice." Well, I like it very much."

"Where are the clerks?" Elizabeth asked Uncle Gardner.

Uncle was still calm and elegant, he told Elizabeth: "These months are the best time for business, there are many respectable gentlemen and ladies patronizing, and they can't entertain them."

Mr. Gardner's shop is mainly in the jewelry business. The heavy and elegant styles are popular with mature ladies and wives, but young girls can't help but find the styles old and old-fashioned.Although the two employees have served the Gardner family for many years, they are still young enough to handle some picky husbands and wives.Therefore, in peak season, Mr. Gardner will always stay in the store and personally entertain visitors.

"The products sold in these few months can account for four-fifths of the annual profit!" said the uncle. "Sometimes Mr. Hardy will look after me for a while. He is very experienced, but he would rather be a housekeeper than a store long."

Mr. Hardy is the butler of the Gardner house. It is said that he has served the Gardner family since his father, and is very respected by his uncle's family.

After greeting her uncle and aunt, Elizabeth bid farewell to them when another visitor came.Mrs. Gardner ordered her husband to entertain the guests, and hurriedly held her niece's hand, insisting that she choose a jewelry she liked, and led her to the more colorful rubies.

Elizabeth was extremely embarrassed. The jewelry here was inlaid with precious stones, which was too expensive.Moreover, the color is calm and the style is conservative. To be honest, it is especially not suitable for a girl of her age to wear - it will be as awkward as sneaking a video of her mother.

"Dear aunt, this is exactly what I need, and I like it very much at first sight." Unable to resist Aunt Gardner's kindness, Elizabeth pointed to a lady's pocket watch with a brass cover in the corner, and the cover was covered with roses. Its center is studded with three sesame-sized pearls—presumably why it has a place in this jewelry store.

"Oh, no!" Aunt Gardner hastily stopped it because it was too simple.

But Elizabeth insisted on this, so Aunt Gardner had to take it out and hand it to her, and took out a pearl necklace from a drawer: "My little Lizzie, don't refuse! This is what I wore when I was young, and it is no longer It fits, I just hope it adds a little shine to your smooth neck."

"Son, it's not a store item. I've decided to give it to you. In fact, in a few years, the pearl will turn yellow and grow old. You don't mind making it work a little more?"

The pearl necklace was round and lustrous, but the beads were small and delicate, which was just right for young girls, but it seemed a bit stingy for married wives.Aunt Gardner was sincere, and Elizabeth knew that she could not shirk it, so she readily accepted it and let her aunt wrap her hands around her neck.On the one hand, he made up his mind again to think carefully and see if he could help his uncle's family in some places.

"Lizzie, this necklace is very suitable for you. It makes your neck fairer and slender." Daisy immediately noticed the difference when she met her.

Miss Phoebe's shop is really special. There are many accessories suitable for ladies. They are cute and chic but the price is moderate. Elizabeth bought many necessary items.

"I want to take all of these with me!" Daisy bought more things than the other three people put together. She picked and gestured with great interest, and forgot to meet the other ladies for a meal in Covent Garden up.

"Like a walking jewelry display?" Elizabeth laughed. "That's not shiny enough, at least you need a fan-shaped Buenos Aires studded with jewels."

Buenos Aires is a giant decorative hair comb popular in Spain and recently becoming fashionable in London, but it is too big for Daisy to bring her little head down.

Elizabeth's teasing words made the ladies laugh, and not far from them, a younger lady also pursed her lips and laughed.

Elizabeth saw it and nodded slightly to her. The strange young lady was very shy. After hurriedly dodging her eyes like a little rabbit, she turned her head and nodded back with a blushing face.

"Miss Georgiana, have you finished?" said a lady dressed as a housekeeper beside her. "To be honest, these little things are good, but they are not good enough, at least not for you. Look, this bracelet is set The ruby ​​is too small and not perfectly cut..."

Her chatter made the lady very embarrassed, and she turned around quickly and said, "Okay, Mrs. Young, let's go. I think my brother will finish his work soon and join us."

The "brother" in her mouth seemed to be more useful to the housekeeper wife, so she reluctantly stopped nagging after hearing this.

After the shy and lovely lady and her nagging housekeeper left, Elizabeth and the others delayed for a while before reluctantly pulling the obsessed Daisy.

"If we don't get up again, we will miss the appointment." Laura was carrying her things, regretting that she didn't ask Lia to go with her.

Lily also had a helpless face: "It seems that we need to go to Chipside's carriage and horses to put these things down."

Elizabeth deeply missed the convenient bags and shopping carts in her previous life. She must always pay attention not to let the small boxes in her arms fall, and she will never get up again.

"Next time, if you are with Daisy again, you must ask Leah to be with you, or call another maid!" All the ladies said.

Fortunately the ladies were in good health, and Covent Garden was not far away, and they arrived there just in time for the appointment.

As soon as she entered, before she was attracted by the fresh hand-waving arrangement of the restaurant, Elizabeth first saw the young lady and her housekeeper. Opposite them, with their backs to Elizabeth and the others, sat a tall gentleman.

What a coincidence, thought Elizabeth, smiling slightly and nodding to the little girl who looked at her.