[Pride and Prejudice] Rich Lady

"Maria is getting married?" Jane said to her sister in disbelief: "Sir Lucas is going to marry Maria to Claude?"

"Dear Lizzie, did I hear you wrong?" She lowered her voice, lest the words should upset Lydia.

Two days had passed, and when the ladies of Bennet thought everything was calm, the Lucas family actually began to prepare for Maria's marriage.

"Are they mad?" Kitty whispered.

"This is too reckless, and it will ruin Maria's life!" Mary said honestly: "Sir William is willing to make him his son-in-law with such a low character as Claude. After all, he wants to save face. I think Maria's The husband is someone else." But after all, it will not be a decent and good candidate.

Everyone looked to Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, who was the best source of news for the girls.Because after that incident, Mr. Bennet didn't even allow his daughter to go for a walk.

He himself was busy outside from morning to night, not only won the consent of other justices of the peace, increased the number of police officers and night watchmen to maintain order, but also joined the squires to donate a sum of money to strengthen the law and order of Meryton.

Originally, the work of the police officer was not paid, and most of the township personnel took turns to perform the job, and the number was only one or two.But Mr. Bennet came up with a new way of thinking. Meryton's police officers were all paid formally, which made being a police officer in this town a decent job. More than 20 reliable and strong The young people quickly formed a new team, and Mr. Sheriff, who had been on the battlefield, personally taught and trained them.

It is said that in Meryton in the future, the police force will be divided into several groups to be responsible for security work.Just think about it, the young men in the same costumes on tall horses patrolled and guarded the whole town with a serious look—"This is such a glorious thing, it's almost like the king's guards guarding the palace. The people of Meryton are looking forward to it. Already!" said the housekeeper's wife, gesturing with her hands.

It's a pity that Mrs. Hill boasted about Mr. Bennet's great achievements, but found that the ladies lacked interest in it, and even the police officers similar to "red uniforms" that women are fascinated by did not arouse their interest care.

But Mrs. Hill is really reluctant to say anything about Sir Lucas's house.To be honest, even she herself looked down on Sir William's deeds.

"Another great thing! Ladies, your uncle, Mr. Phillips, is very likely to be in the Vigilante. That's a great thing! Once in the Vigilante, Mr. Phillips will be a Justice of the Peace, Philip. Mrs. Smith will pass out with joy." Mrs. Hill said happily, "Mr. Phillips is no worse than the lawyers in the city when he helps Mr. Bennet handle the legal affairs of Netherfield Manor, which makes the Magistrate He was noticed by several gentlemen. Mr. Bennet recommended Mr. Phillips to the Vigilante, where he was in need of a man well versed in the law."

The sisters were very happy about the news, and they hoped to see their loved ones getting better and better.

"Mrs. Phillips was also expected to marry a gentleman, but she was determined to marry Mr. Phillips. The old Mr. Gardner had to do his best to train his assistants." The housekeeper sighed: "Well now, the two sisters in the family are finally gentlemen's wives."

The girls all knew what happened to Uncle Phillips, and the father might have done his best, but it was a good thing for the whole family.

In the entire Bennet family, there are few relatives on the father's side, especially the distant relative who has a bad relationship and may inherit his own property, which is even more annoying; all important and close relatives are on the mother's side, Uncle Gardner, Aunt Phillips has also been sincerely kind to Longborn these years.Seeing that Bennet's status in the town is getting higher and higher, Mr. Bennet must of course do his best to help his brother-in-law and uncle, so as to make the foundation of the Bennet family more stable.

Mrs. Hill had just breathed a sigh of relief when Jane said, "Mrs. Hill, tell us about the Lucas House while Lydia is asleep. We will always find out, Meryton never hides Keep the news, maybe someone will come to visit mom tomorrow."

The eldest lady asked directly, and Mrs. Hill had to hear the rumors.

"It's that Claude, God knows what Sir Lucas thinks, marrying his daughter to a criminal villain!" Mrs. Hill shook her head and said: "I feel sorry for Miss Maria, although she is a little thoughtful, she is smart and lively , better-looking than her sister. They used to say that when Miss Charlotte married, Miss Maria would get a good husband."

Sarah, who had been serving by the side, whispered, "Maybe I know."

"Good Sara, speak!" urged Kitty.

"That scoundrel, I mean Claude, is said to be the illegitimate son of a French nobleman. His father, following the activities of the French regent in Prussia, has become a count. Claude once said that his father left him The family keepsake will definitely come to pick him up."

"Just for this? The disgraceful children of nobles are not uncommon in London, let alone the French. The illegitimate children of nobles in the whole of France can occupy all the cells in the Bastille." Mary commented unceremoniously.

Sara quickly waved her hand and said, "The servant in Lucas's house said that the token really exists! Moreover, since the French revolution, the nobles who have not escaped to Paris are worse than beggars, and many of them have gone to prison. Or go to the guillotine. The Lucas family speculates that the earl may have lost other sons, and Sir Sir has studied this very well, and he has read many newspapers."

"No wonder the other butlers in the town have rumored that Sir Lucas has taken a fancy to Claude, but Claude didn't like the not-so-beautiful Miss Lucas, but the young Miss Maria." Hill The wife suddenly realized, "Sir Lucas is quite cruel."

"However, unmarried women lose their virginity and can only marry indiscriminately or stay at home for the rest of their lives. Even Mrs. Madam would not agree with Miss Maria becoming an old unmarried girl." Sarah said pertinently.

Even Mrs. Hill felt uncomfortable: "Even if she marries someone else, Miss Maria's life will not be easy." In England, if women lose their virginity before marriage, if women do not marry the man who is filthy in the end, then they must have a miserable back. Infamy, people will even encourage their husbands to beat them to wash away the insult and tell young girls to behave.

"The Lucas maid says her lord is planning to have their marriage advertised in the church in Meryton as soon as possible."

Mary sarcastically said: "Sir William is such a well-behaved man! He has always adhered to the rules and etiquette, because Charlotte is not yet married, so Maria is not allowed to enter the social world even if she is too old, and now she has to surpass the eldest daughter , Agree that the second daughter should get married first?"

Jane was very sad, and she understood the calculation inside: "Sir William probably doesn't trust the Bennet family. He wants to marry Maria off as soon as possible, so that Lucas' good reputation will not be stained." Therefore, Sir William will definitely Marrying Maria to Claude should have been done quietly, but who knew that Claude had half blue blood, which made it lively.

Jane was right in guessing that Mr. Lucas had planned it that way.He quickly sent someone to find Claude's home, intending to pay a sum of money, asking Claude to take Maria away from Meryton and go to the city to publish the wedding announcement.There are many parishes in the city, and there are also a lot of immigrants. It only costs 3 pounds. The priests usually publish the notices to young men and women without hesitation. The marriage notice needs to be published within three weeks without any objection from their parents. would be legally married - Sir Lucas would not object, of course, but he didn't want anyone in Meryton to know.

Sir Lucas had even decided to send the two of them to the northern cities immediately after their marriage.The Jazz was not worried about Claude entanglement with the Lucas family, because he was by no means a soft-hearted father. He would rather pay a sum of money to hire someone to send them away forcibly than allow Claude to ruin the reputation of the Lucas family.But something unexpected happened. When Sir Lucas' cronies found Claude, he refused to admit what had happened with Maria Lucas, and even took out his most important and valuable coat of arms I swear, and then the cronies found an old soft hat worn by the viscount on formal occasions from his home: two and a half lines of ermine were inlaid on it to indicate the rank of the title, and there was a silver ring on the crown of the soft hat with six silver stars on it. ball.

The man Sir Lucas sent was as tactful as his master, and quickly changed his attitude and rhetoric.

After Mr. Jazz knew about it, he immediately overturned the previous decision and asked Claude and Maria to publish a wedding announcement in the local church in Meryton.Sir Lucas intends to enter the Security Council and become a justice of the peace, but Mr. Bennet, a neighbor, not only occupies a place for himself, but also actively paves the way for his brother-in-law, which makes Sir William very angry.

He couldn't trust Bennet, and when he learned of Maria's scandal, he wanted to end it immediately, lest Bennet use it to slander him.Sir Lucas has his own way of thinking in dealing with affairs. He likes to turn bad things into favorable situations, such as this scandal. Nat dared to use this incident to slander his reputation, so if he wants to counter Bennet with the marriage announcement in front of everyone, it will definitely make Bennet lose his integrity and decency.

Sir William had even expected Mr. Bennet to do such a thing before.But Crowder's pedigree allowed Mr. Lucas to see a better way.

Sir William was sure that Claude would come home, as Sir William was sure that Claude would come home, as his coat of arms and crown were still hidden in his house.

Elizabeth said very little today. She has been silently listening to others, but she does not speak.At this time, she finally spoke: "As my dear Mary said, Sir Lucas is very fond of his reputation, so he never goes beyond the rules of etiquette, so since he wants to let everyone know that his second daughter is getting married. What does it mean?"

After a long silence in the lounge, Mary said dryly: "According to the tradition, for daughters from decent families, if the eldest daughter is not married, the younger daughters should not fall in love, unless... unless the parents think that the eldest daughter has no There is no hope of getting married. In the "Bible Genesis", it is said that "before the elder daughter is given, the younger daughter is given first. There is no such rule in our place." These religious books are the only ones that Sir Lucas agrees to. A book that could be read aloud in their house—Maria read this Jacob’s story aloud to us several times when our family planned to be introduced into society by Mum when Lizzie turned 16.”

Jane held her sister's hand, both hands were cold, she covered her mouth in disbelief: "He wants to sacrifice two daughters?"

Kitty murmured, "Fortunately, I'm a Bennet, I'd rather be Bennet's old maid." I also know how difficult it is to be an old lady in the Lucas family.

Mrs. Bennet woke up at some point. She stood in front of the lounge door and said angrily, "What an old girl!"

Immediately, the mother laughed foolishly in the crowd of her daughters rushing over: "Well, even if there is an old lady unfortunately, our family is much better than other families, at least it will be a rich old lady! Oh , there is a large estate, a small estate and three farms, which is enough for us to live comfortably through this life!"

"Children, you must thank your mother!" Mrs. Bennet puffed her stomach, and she demanded: "You must help me take good care of little Alexander, and educate him to be a good person who loves his mother and sister!"

The ladies were instantly confused by Mrs. Bennet's mind, "Alexander?"

"Alexander Bennet!" said their mother proudly.

The most knowledgeable Mary was thoughtful: "Alexander, it means 'the protector of mankind, the helper of mankind'." She nodded, as if she understood her mother's painstaking efforts in naming her younger brother.

But they thought too much. Mrs. Bennet thought of this name only because in her only knowledge and experience, Alexander the Great of Macedon was the most famous, most powerful and highest-ranking man in her simple mind.

The sun was streaming in from outside, making the living room very bright.Elizabeth saw a gap in the wooden door of Jane's room closest to the lounge. After being slightly taken aback, Elizabeth suddenly laughed: the haze will eventually pass, the suffering will turn into a ladder, and Lydia will grow up.

The atmosphere in the lounge became lively and relaxed again, and the girls all scrambled to praise the good name their mother gave to their brother.

Elizabeth looked at Mrs. Bennet, who was coaxed into laughter by her daughters' words, and pulled Marie to tell some legends about Alexander the Great, and couldn't help feeling that the name was a good one.

If he is really a little brother, then he will be really under great pressure in the future.

The author has something to say: The Longborn Heir: Stress by Sandra Bennett.

Because the update is later than [-]:[-], [-] small red envelopes will be sent for comments in this chapter. (Fish will give out a small red envelope through the "batch sending small red envelope tool", one small red envelope for each little angel, so little angels don't forget to comment, otherwise it would be embarrassing to send less than two hundred pieces~)

Note: Police officer: The police station did not appear until the middle of the 18th century, specifically after [-] years.Prior to this, the local security system in the UK only needed the security tact of night watchmen, police officers, and justices of the peace to cooperate with each other.Moreover, the police officers are not paid, and are usually filled by members of the parish in rotation for a term of one or two years. ——"Analysis of the formation and approach of the modern police system under the rule of law in the UK", "Evolution track of the old British police system before the [-]th century"

Justices of the Peace, Justices of the Peace: As mentioned in the previous chapters, the Justices of the Peace are usually composed of local nobles, prestigious squires, and a few people who are proficient in the law.Once Uncle Phillips held a position in the vigilante, his social status would be promoted immediately, and he was also a gentleman under the Justice of the Peace Act [-].

Bastille: "Bastille" was originally called "Fortress Bastille". It was built according to the order of King Charles V of France in the style of a famous military castle in the 14th century. At the end of the 18th century, the Bastille was the commanding height to control Paris. Since Henry IV, the French kings stationed a large number of troops in the Bastille.In this article, Mary said that illegitimate children can fill the Bastille, which is just an exaggeration to describe the fact that illegitimate children are everywhere.

"Before the elder daughter is given to others, give the younger daughter to others first. There is no such rule in our place." It comes from "Bible Genesis", which is a story in the Old Testament. At that time, England generally had this concept and custom. The eldest daughter Younger daughters who are not married should not fall in love; younger sons who are not married should not fall in love.

Alexander the Great of Macedon: King of the Kingdom of Macedonia (Alexander Empire), unified Greece, conquered Egypt, destroyed the Persian Empire, and established the Alexander Empire.