[Pride and Prejudice] Rich Lady

On this day, the Bennet family really stole the show.

There are several big and beautiful kites flying high above their courtyard, which is really novel.

In the twenty-four families near Longbourn, even the gentlemen who usually pride themselves on their style could not help but curiously come out of their rooms and look out into the garden.

The Lucas family has always been close to the Bennet family, and the several daughters have frequent exchanges.

Miss Maria Lucas was so excited that she was going to Longbourne at once, thinking that she might have a chance of playing with that city fad for a while.

Mrs. Lucas was not very happy: "Maria, why don't you just follow your sister's example and only play crazy! Don't you see that your two brothers need your help?"

Maria turned a deaf ear to her mother's complaints, and kept pestering Charlotte, asking: "Dear Charlotte, did you say that you met Jane and Elizabeth when you went for a walk? Did they invite you to tea to catch up?" Maybe we should hurry up and dress up, or it would be too rude."

Charlotte was not in high spirits. While coaxing the youngest brother in a hurry, she was distracted to answer the second sister's words: "I was not invited. I suggest you don't go there either, so as not to cause trouble to others."

She pursed her wide thin lips, and was in a daze: Lizzie has become completely different, beautiful, confident, and graceful, and she is becoming more and more like a real famous lady. Does the school in the city have magic?

At this moment, Mrs. Lucas put her hand on her chest and yelled sadly: "My God, Charlotte, what a daze you are! You fed soup down your brother's neck, oh, my poor little baby!" On the one hand, he continued to change the soiled clothes of his eldest son, William Lucas, Jr.

Charlotte hastily picked up the dry cloth on the sofa and wiped the soup for her brother.The whole living room was in disarray, with armchairs, sofas, round tables, and the floor covered with children's clothes, utensils, and toys, and not even the sun could brighten the most indecent place.

This is because the Lucas family hired too few servants to keep busy.The hostess of the mansion is virtuous and thrifty by nature. She raises her daughters to be chaste and dedicated, and to take care of the family in every possible way: Mrs. Lucas believes that the daughters are old enough and need to practice a lot so that they can serve their husbands wholeheartedly and raise them after marriage. Therefore, all the servants who are not needed for the time being are dismissed, leaving only two people who support the facade - one of them is a footman, because Sir William thinks that with a noble title, he must have a matching the other was an elderly crone on half-pay, whom my ladyship insisted on keeping, and the neighbors praised the Lucas family for their generosity.

Sir William is unwilling to step into the living room on the second floor now. He often goes out to visit other gentlemen all day long. Whether it is chatting, playing cards, fishing, or riding a horse, he can always spend a whole day outside successfully.The other gentlemen also warmly welcomed him as a guest again.Of course, if someone wants to visit Lucas' cabin, the entire Lucas family will have to go through a 'battle' until the whole house is tidied up and brightened—the Lucas family's reputation in the countryside is very good, Neighbors thought their home was very high society.

Because of the inconsistencies in the family, Charlotte is often depressed in her heart, but she never shows it. She is really an obedient and diligent girl.Before last year, Meryton's circulation library and Elizabeth's bedroom at the Bennet house were her best places to relax.But now Charlotte felt that she was about to lose one of them.

'That's okay,' she thought, 'people naturally like to be around people who are like them.We used to be in the countryside, and we were able to talk together, but now she has flown to the city, so naturally there is no match. '

Mrs. Lucas took care of her struggling eldest son and ordered Maria to play in the yard with him.After throwing them all out, I was free to ask, "Charlotte, have you offended the Bennet girl?"

Madam Sir's supple face has been filled with bitterness for many years. She has strict requirements on her eldest daughter, and she desperately hopes to marry her eldest daughter off as soon as possible. eager.

"Didn't I warn you that only obedient and gentle girls will be loved!"

Charlotte was very indifferent to her mother's censure, she shook her head and said, "Of course not, it's just that Elizabeth has been away for too long, and we are not as close as before."

"No, you must get close to them, especially Elizabeth!" snapped her mother.

"Mom, everyone has their fate. Elizabeth makes new friends in the city, and I will have more close friends. It's not a big deal." Charlotte said, "For example, Miss King, we have been talking a lot recently. Come on, she even offered me to see a present from her grandfather."

"You see, although Elizabeth went to the city to have a good time, I may not have a happy life-she will go back to the city after the Easter holiday, why should I force it to post it, and it will make everyone Are you uncomfortable?" After finishing speaking, Charlotte thought to herself: I can't even get the change to write her a letter, so how can I expect anything else.

Mrs. Lucas seemed to be fainted from anger, her eyebrows were raised, and she was completely different from the kind and obedient lady in the eyes of the neighbors.She said angrily: "In the past, I would not have asked you so strongly, but now, because she flew to the city, you must maintain a good friendship with her!"

The wife said: "I have taught you a long time ago that women should think for themselves and their brothers and sisters, and they must not be willful at all. Only in this way can they get good luck and find a comfortable home for the future of the entire Lucas family and for yourself. But you, you make me so sad, Charlotte, you always think you're smart, and you're really stupid!"

"The neighbors around us, even though they are all doing well, in fact, only the daughters of the Bennet family are worth dating! There are too many girls in their family, and they cannot inherit the property of their ancestors, just like you, Charlotte They are girls without much dowry—but they are beautiful, and there will be many young men willing to hang around them. The girls in the Bennet family have been taught badly by their mothers, their eyes are higher than the top, and they don’t know how to cherish this This kind of preferential treatment, even some young gentlemen with very good conditions can't look down on it. But this is the opportunity God gave you, Charlotte!"

"When the gentlemen are hurt and humiliated by the stupid girl of the Bennet family, they will urgently need a real dignified and virtuous lady to comfort them, so that they can pick up their shattered self-esteem—— Xia Lotte, as long as you follow what I said and satisfy the small thoughts of those good gentlemen, you will surely have a decent and comfortable future!"

Mrs. Lucas repeated the same old tune, and once again educated her eldest daughter severely, vowing to tell her to follow her own experience.Mrs. Lucas married Mrs. Lucas in this way when she was young, and Mr. Lucas was awarded a knighthood under her service. This is the most glorious thing in Mrs. Lucas's life.She thought it was wisdom that made her happy, and she taught her daughters the same way.

"Even the girls from the Bennet family are not suitable for everyone. Like Jane, she is too dazzling, and you will be completely reduced to a foil when you stand with her." The lady said angrily: "When gentlemen were young, They are always somewhat superficial. They will be attracted by their beautiful appearance, and even if they lose face by a big beauty, they will not blame her. Besides, Jane is gentle and kind, even if she refuses, it will not embarrass others. No good."

"But Elizabeth is different. This girl is smart and self-willed. She is not as good-looking as her sister, and she has some flaws in her nature. Like her weird father, she is sometimes too mean and direct. Her small mouth said it. It will always offend people. But she is still good-looking in the country, and she can attract the attention of some decent gentlemen. Isn't this a friend tailor-made for you?" And the other daughters of the Bennet family are of the same age They were too young, and Charlotte would be really an old maid when they were courted.

Charlotte interrupted her mother, suddenly weary of all the teachings she had heard from her childhood: "Oh, mother, you are right. But I must see the truth, the fact is that Elizabeth has escaped from the country circle, and she Going to the city, do you think I can get a proposal from a gentleman in the city by her light? That's absurd!"

"Besides, Lizzie and I are friends because I love her, not because I want to plot against my best friend!" Charlotte clenched her chest, defending herself weakly.

"Stupid girl, stupid girl! Who called you a despicable calculating friend?" Mrs. Lucas was furious, her face flushed, and she said in a low voice: "Why are you so stupid, I can't wait to leave you alone , let you end up in poverty and misery!"

"How can this be called a calculation! You picked what she didn't want, relieved her of troubles, and prevented her from being entangled by people she didn't like; you also comforted the offended husband's feelings for her, and prevented her from being hated—— It is because you regard her as a friend that you are willing to do these things for your friendship!"

Charlotte's tears fell on the little brother's face, which made the ignorant boy giggle.Mrs. Lucas carefully held him into her arms, calmed down, and said, "Okay, don't cry, I guess Elizabeth has contracted the bad habit of arrogance after arriving in the city, no wonder you feel wronged, I would rather not I don't want to be on good terms with her anymore. But you must know, my dear Charlotte, that a country girl who ventures into the city, in a place as big as London, is bound to be looked down upon, and she doesn't know. How much I miss the care of my friends in the country! As long as you show enough kindness, I dare say that it will take less than a day to awaken your deep friendship."

"That's no use," replied her daughter. "Lizzie's always going back to town, and then it'll cool off again."

Madam Sir's sunken cheek muscles twitched, and she said angrily: "I will ask Mr. Sir to give you some pocket money every month. You can write to her, but you must write to her!"

In fact, the financial situation of the Lucas family is not in distress. Sir William Lucas earned a considerable fortune when he was doing business in Meryton. to live near Longborn.This property is enough for their family to live comfortably, but Mrs. Sir is frugal and old-fashioned by nature. She is deeply guilty of giving birth to her two sons too late and wants to compensate them as much as possible. The property was left to the eldest son, William Lucas Jr., who was only four years old, and life in the family became more frugal because of this.

This is the opposite of the Bennet family's extravagance. It is no wonder that the mistresses of the two families can't understand each other behind their backs.

"Speaking of it, this is also quite unexpected. I thought the Bennet family would ask her to enter the social world this year. I never imagined that they would be so confused and send a 16-year-old girl to some kind of boarding school. Well, their family has always been unruly. Fortunately, Elizabeth Bennet will always return to the country. Don't even try to find a good husband."

Mrs. Lucas is confident, "I heard from Mrs. Bennet that she is only allowed to stay there for three years at most-that lady wants to marry her daughters off one by one before they are 20 years old... Although it took a little time, But there's nothing wrong with that: there are too few rich young men in Meryton, and they're all poor boys. I'd hoped Jane and her sisters' fame would attract decent gentlemen, but now Elizabeth's gone to town , that's even better! Although the real high-class people look down on her, it doesn't mean that the young people in the city are not interested in the country. There are more young people here, and there will always be your goodness among them dear..."

"Mom!" Little William Lucas ran up the stairs like a King Charles spaniel, and asked Mrs. Lucas loudly: "Mom! I want to go to the Bennet's house, I must Go!"

The little boy had a pampered look on his face, and said confidently.

Mrs. Lucas immediately looked behind him, and sure enough, she saw the tentative half of the second daughter Maria protruding from the door of the living room.The wife was very displeased. She pushed the eldest daughter and ordered: "Charlotte, go and change your dress and go to visit Elizabeth with William. I think they will welcome you very much. Mrs. Bennet doesn't know How willing it is to show that she has London fashion at home."

Charlotte had to get up, and she said: "I must first go to Miss King's house and ask her to come with me, or she will be unhappy. Miss King thinks of me as her best friend, and she will do anything with me." Together."

"Come, come!" said Mrs. Lucas gruffly. "Don't mention your friendly Miss King again! You can't see the complexity of people's hearts, Charlotte, and being too kind doesn't pay off!"

"Miss Jin's grandfather is so rich, the old gentleman can leave a large sum of money to Miss Jin after his death. The neighbors speculate that Miss Jin will inherit at least tens of thousands of pounds in the future, which is enough for her to find a good marriage Ms. Jin is richer than you and looks better than you. You have nothing to compare with her, but she has a bad temper and is not popular. I think few young men are willing to flatter her before she has property. You won't get any help at all when you make friends with her, so I advise you to be more cautious!"

Maria Lucas also entered the living room at this time, and she muttered in a low voice: "Miss Jin is very annoying. She is self-righteous and thinks she is more noble than other girls, and she must be held up to be happy. Even if she is rich Now, there will be no husband who really likes her."

Mrs. Lucas immediately got angry at her second daughter as if she had found an exit: "What nonsense are you talking about! As long as Miss Jin has a large dowry, then she is fully qualified to be superior to others, and it is no wonder that she is difficult to please. Maria , don’t let me hear your unruly and unseemly words in the future!”

Charlotte quickly dressed herself up, but there was nothing much to dress up, all she needed to do was put on a decent clean dress.Mr. William Lucas, Jr. waited a little impatiently, but Maria was obviously often scolded by her mother, and she didn't take it seriously, and asked her mother: "Mom, can I go together? Good mother, I will go too .”

Mrs. Lucas was angry and didn't want to talk to her, so Maria stretched out her petticoat and happily went downstairs with her sister and brother.

At this time, the Bennet family had sent away two groups of guests, and Sir William and another neighbor were left chatting with Mr. Bennet in the drawing room.And the ladies stretched the thread from time to time in the yard, while joking with their friends.Mrs. Bennet was also surrounded by a few people. She was very proud, and while talking with the ladies, she apologized repeatedly, saying that it was too rude not to invite the good neighbors in time.

Maybe it's because the moods of the two ladies are a bit up and down today, and they are not as thoughtful and cautious as usual: when they met this time, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lucas couldn't hide what was in their hearts, and the two former close friends broke out. Unprecedented debate, no one can convince anyone, had to break up unhappy.

Of course, Elizabeth didn’t know this yet. She was asked by Mrs. Bennet to put on a good dress for hospitality, like a display stand, to show her relatives and friends in the country. Good manners developed in school.

The author has something to say: a new day, I wish the little angels happy and healthy ~

When Yu was writing this chapter, he suddenly felt that Mrs. Lucas in Yu's works had the idea of ​​"a good wind sends me to Qingyun by force" ("Dream of Red Mansions").Comparing Mrs. Lucas and Sister Bao together, the fish amused itself.

The cherubs may not remember the original: Sir Lucas was originally a businessman who made a fortune doing business in Meryton.He was later knighted when he was mayor.Mr. Lucas, thinking himself better, closed up his business, and moved near Longbourn, where he settled down to be a gentleman.

Note: Despicableness is the passport of the despicable people——Bei Dao · "Answer"