[Pride and Prejudice] Stupid life in the 18th century

In the dance class on Wednesday afternoon, Elizabeth was also infected by the girls and found out her light green dress.This skirt followed the style of Jane's dance skirt, but it was just for learning how to dance, but it was not suitable for the exaggerated and eye-catching appearance of a formal ball.It's just a simple skirt with some lilies embroidered on the skirt, which is elegant and unobtrusive, but once you notice it, you will notice the elegance.

Dancing lessons were also given by Mrs. Cowley, who had no further interests in drama, dancing or music.It is a joy to watch young girls dance.Therefore, she also takes dance classes very seriously, requiring all the girls to wear formal dance skirts. Prom is the most beautiful stage of girls' life. There are only a few short years, how can you not cherish it?And the college students she invited are also well-educated children.

Some of the boys were already prom-goers and didn't seem nervous at all.On the contrary, these girls are both excited and shy.

"Okay, let me explain in general. Ladies, you must pay attention to your manners. You must present your best side. After the ball, you can naturally gather together in small groups Whisper softly. But watch out! Don't let the gentlemen feel that you are too involved in the conversation to get in. The best way is to make small talk, and your eyes don't have to stay too long on both sides of the conversation, it can be at the ball Understatement, don't be too focused and presumptuous. Only in this way, gentlemen will understand your mood of waiting for the invitation to dance. When the gentlemen come to invite you to dance, you must learn to accept or refuse. This etiquette is very simple, but it is also very important. Yes. Your acceptance must not be too eager, it must be leisurely and natural, and your actions should be elegant."

As Mrs. Cowley spoke, she asked Miss Bruns to demonstrate; she looked at her students with satisfaction, and then glanced at the little girls in front of her. "If you refuse, you must be sincere enough and low-key. You must not hurt the dignity of the gentlemen. If you find an unsatisfactory partner coming, you can walk away naturally. Or a gentle and gentle decline. In short, whether it is acceptance or To say no is to show your own upbringing, for everyone at the dance to see."

After saying this, she naturally nodded to the boys. "Thank you for your supporting dance, just like a normal ball, you go invite young ladies yourself."

The teenagers nodded lightly, all of them graceful.Elizabeth looked at a group of beautiful boys, and was happy when she saw Reed, who was on the cruise ship last time, walking towards her.He looked even better in his formal ball gown today.

"Beautiful lady, allow me to invite you to share this beautiful piece of music with me."

What could Elizabeth not want? Compared with those unfamiliar faces, this face made her more relaxed. "It's a great honor." She lowered her eyes slightly and returned a salute calmly.

Before the music began Mrs Cowley spoke again. "Feel the rhythm of this music with your heart, follow your partner, dance lightly and gracefully. Miss Brunz, please continue to lead this dance."

Miss Brunz and her dance partner came to the center first, saluted gracefully, looked at each other, held hands, and turned around, keeping an appropriate distance.

Afterwards, gentlemen continued to lead the little ladies onto the dance floor.Boys' feet will undoubtedly suffer a little, but in this university full of homosexuals, what does it matter if they are stepped on by ladies like this a few times?

Reed led Elizabeth to join the crowd along with the music, and the boys and girls all showed smiles during the music and dance.

"Dance can bring us joy, but dance is not pure dance, it is more a communication. Your eyes, expressions, body language, and words are all important components. The content and words of the conversation are very wide Yes, but you must first learn to praise others and accept compliments. You must be calm and generous, and you must not make a cowardly gesture. The voice must be soft and melodious, and if there is a sense of rhythm in the conversation during the dance, it will be more decent .”

Miss Brunz whispered to her dance partner in a timely manner, naturally casual, generous and elegant, but she couldn't hear what they said.

Mrs. Cowley smiled with satisfaction, and her eyes signaled the ladies to learn this kind of communication skills.

So Reed also spoke to Elizabeth. "Why are you alone today?"

"You mean my sister? She's not old enough. Maybe in a couple of years you can teach her to dance."

"You are so skillful and elegant, naturally you don't need me to teach you, dancing with you is a kind of enjoyment."

"It's a great honor to receive your praise. Without your guidance, I wouldn't have such a good sense of rhythm. Speaking of which, you should be from the Department of Literature at Oxford University?"

"Yes, you are very well informed."

Elizabeth smiled. "It's just what I heard, but you are not weak at all, and your skills seem to be very vigorous."

"We have regular equestrian and fencing practice every week,"

"It's really enviable. After all, women's education has too many limitations."

"You are already elegant and beautiful enough, you don't have to work so hard."

Elizabeth smiled slightly, but she didn't know what to talk nonsense with him. It seemed that she had to learn how to lead and fit the topic.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the dance class, the ladies naturally had more topics, talking about costumes, dancing, and Oxford boys.Well, the last thing is the point.

Elizabeth will be nearly 13 years old, but she is still relatively rational and cold to the relationship between men and women.Such a brief contact, even if there is affection, how many couples will have a positive result?Life is so real, she really can't imagine Mr. Darcy who has overcome prejudice and has the courage to pursue love, because Jane Austen herself has prejudice?Where can there be such a Darcy who combines wealth, self-cultivation and true love?Maybe she should call it lustful and insane?

Elizabeth's life continued as usual, and she communicated with Jane and several girlfriends.On a good Friday afternoon, I went for a walk in Oxford Town, and watched the youthful interactions between the budding companions and the teenagers.

Jane's "cow herding class" has been organized, and it is impossible for the children of the farmer's family not to work.But there is no parent who does not want their children to receive knowledge.Now the children drive the cattle and sheep into a pile every afternoon, as long as there is one person watching from a distance.In the past, some of the children in the afternoon were not foolishly playing on the hillside, but now they are in a bunch, not eager to learn what they are like, at least there are fewer bumps and bumps, and someone controls them.

The children sat obediently in the repaired warehouse, and Jane, Charlotte from the Lucas family, and another lady surnamed Baird participated in the teaching together.This is also a good reputation with the ladies. They mainly teach children to read and write, and learn to read and write through newspapers.Teach them arithmetic, and gather the girls together to learn women's crafts and embroidery.

In any case, slight changes are taking place in everyone's life. When the farm laborers return home after a hard day, their children talk about the news in the newspaper and retell the stories above during the meal.Although their lives are simple and meet their survival needs, they accept the infiltration of information and popular literature, which makes their spirit no longer so lacking. Besides drinking, there are other things to entertain!

There are even a few families with a little surplus. Seeing how enthusiastic their sons are about studying, they are motivated to send them to public schools.Even if they go to a seminary and become a priest after graduation, it can be regarded as a change of fate for them.

The Stoke sisters in London are also talking to the ladies and wives about starting a women's magazine. Everyone knows a little about it. Although they have been in frequent contact with newspapers, they are at a loss as to how to handle it.Everyone discussed the editing and the source of the manuscript, and finally Mr. Gardinal, the person in charge of the salon's external affairs, came forward to contact the printing house.The ladies and gentlemen are all a little excited when they think that their works will be turned into typeface, so that others can read them at the same time.Mary sorted out all the previous manuscripts.

Elizabeth simultaneously wrote to Mr. Bennett and Mr. Gardiner, proposing to advertise in the women's periodicals.For example, the vacant Cheltonham villa can be used as a rental holiday, and the textile factory in which Dad owns shares can also be promoted, not to mention the promotion of new products from the Gardiner's shop.There are so many ladies and wives, any one of them is talented. Isn't it common to draw posters and posters?

Mr. Bennett and Mr. Gardinal, who were not originally keen, found some interest in this.

There is great news for the Bennett family. In order to prepare for the next voyage, Baldwin Stoke decided to transfer the shares of the textile factory to Mr. Bennett.Other shareholders have long been eager to move after seeing the rich profits of the Stoke family, and decided to sell their own shares for more lucrative profits.After all, real estate cannot be moved. It is always more difficult for them who started from the landlord class to give up the land.

So the Bennetts were about to own their own textile mill!This is also the happiest and most exciting thing for Mr. Bennett.Mrs. Bennet is not the happiest in her natal family now, and even Mrs. Philip, who has not been in touch for a long time, has been in contact.

It's just that the Bennet family really couldn't like this vulgar aunt.Even Mrs. Bennet became a little unaccustomed to her sister in the subtle changes.After all, they are all well-bred gentlemen and wives. No one felt a little awkward when someone so abrupt came suddenly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Bennett eventually struck a deal with several other shareholders of the mill, and Mr. Gardinal and the Viscount of Westminster filled the shortfall and became minority shareholders in the mill.Now the Bennett family owns 70% of the shares, the Gardenard family and the Viscount of Westminster each own 15%.The three of them are quite satisfied, the Gardinal family now has a more stable property, and the Viscount of Westminster is also very happy with the result of not having to bother and paying dividends.

Naturally, Mr. Bennett will not leave this nobleman behind. This is the era of the new nobleman's development, and the promotion of status will not be too far away.Although the old aristocracy still has a huge interest group.This is the best time. Mr. Bennett has a male heir again, and he is full of hope for the future.What's more, he has so many excellent daughters.

After completing the handover, he just wanted to visit his factory with the two new shareholders.The previous manager was one of the previous shareholders, and there were still many things to decide, so Mr. Bennett had to get busy.

The three Miss Bennetts who were detained at the girls' school were very curious about their textile factory.Even Mary couldn't help talking about it.What Elizabeth is most curious about is the application of the Jenny loom and steam and water power. Naturally, she just wants to have a look, and she is not interested in the research of equipment at all.

I just sigh what a great era this is. For thousands of years, human beings have been mainly manual and human.Suddenly there was textile machinery, which greatly increased productivity, there was the steam engine, there was the steamboat, the train, the motor vehicle, there was the camera, there was electricity, and from electricity to electrons.

Elizabeth thought that she hadn't slept all night, and she had to work hard to live until the camera was invented.

Jane Bennett was also very happy to share the good news with the Weir sisters. Although the life of the Weir family is very good now, there is still some shadow when thinking about the days when they were child laborers in the textile factory.Looking at their silent expressions, Jane thought of their past, and had no choice but to sigh.

Taking advantage of this handover of the factory, Baidwin had frequent contacts with the Bennett family.Eating the food and refreshments prepared by Jianmei every day, I couldn't be more satisfied.