[Comprehensive Book] A Rose for Catherine

When some questions cannot be answered exactly, Catherine usually chooses to put them on hold.This time is no exception.

She got up early as usual, and the servants in Donville Manor were busy making breakfast, and the living room was quiet. Catherine went out for a walk as usual, and when she came back, she bumped into two maids who were fetching water, and the maids greeted her politely.

Catherine responded with a nod and a smile, and stepped briskly into the living room.Compared with Longborn in Hertford, the scenery of Dangville Parish has a different taste, but because the geographical location is not far apart, the scenery of the two places can find some similarities.

It made Catherine feel as if she were still at Longbourne.

Knightley had packed a writing desk for her near the window in the living room, where she would write letters and jot down inspirations during the day, and no one but Catherine herself would come near it.When Catherine found out, she felt that it was too much trouble for him, after all, she had never enjoyed such treatment at home.Knightley said only: "There is not so much light in the bedroom, and it is brighter near the drawing-room. Kitty, it is a host's duty to make his guests as well received as possible, and it is no trouble."

Not troublesome, but considerate enough.

Catherine feels that compared with Knightley, she is completely unqualified as a friend.

To live up to Knightley's kindness, Catherine would sit at a desk with a neat tablecloth before breakfast after returning from a walk, and write a short paragraph.

Today, she sat down as usual, only to find a cut-out card in the paper.

"Good morning, Kitty. You seemed a little unhappy yesterday. I am sorry for this. Did any of my words yesterday make you feel unhappy? Maybe it is more direct to express our true inner thoughts through words , we are too restrained in the use of language to converse. I hope to be your most loyal friend now and in the future, as in the past"

Knightley's words are very sincere.Catherine was the only one who felt constrained even in face-to-face interactions, and he offered to take half the responsibility on this card.

Catherine pulled out a piece of paper and wrote her reply: "Sir, you have done the best you can as a host. Please don't blame yourself. What happened yesterday has nothing to do with you - you know, it is always easier for people with rich imaginations Immersed in their own world. I just think of some things that bother me, and they can't blame you at all. I will always consider you my best friend, and you are a good friend worth a lifetime."

After writing the reply, Knightley just walked in from outside, holding a large handful of yellow and white roses in his hand.He ordered the housekeeper's wife to fetch a vase in which to put the flowers. ①

"Kitty, Mrs. Neale has given me some fresh flowers that are perfect for adorning the table, and they will brighten your mood when you write!"

Mrs. Neal was the poor woman who gave Catherine water in the strawberry patch the last time, Catherine remembered immediately.The lady was very hardworking and planted a lot of beautiful flowers in front of her house to sell to subsidize her life.

"It's really a beautiful rose." Catherine admired it for a while, the thin petals were still covered with morning dew, and some of the flowers were only half-bloomed, showing a kind of vibrant beauty that was about to bloom.

Except that giving red roses might make people think twice, in Catherine's eyes, roses of other colors are no different from ordinary decorative flowers.Especially as she remembered that yellow roses generally symbolized friendship.

Without hesitation, she placed the vase full of flowers where she could see it at a glance when she was writing.

Lydia noticed the extra flowers on Catherine's table the first time she went downstairs: "They are so beautiful, Kitty, did you pick them this morning?"

Catherine glanced at Knightley without a trace, and shook her head, "No, Mr. Knightley brought it back."

Lydia suddenly lost interest, said "oh", and stopped mentioning it.

After breakfast there was a visitor at Donville, a lady of considerable renown, and Knightley himself was very friendly.She had come to propose a ball to Knightley, knowing that Knightley himself was not interested in dancing, but wishing him to attend, she said: "Since the young ladies are staying here for some time, Knightley , then going to a dance is the quickest way to make them acquainted. You can't have two young girls with you on a case, can you? No lady would be interested in a farmer's dispute."

Catherine bowed her head in silence, thinking that she might indeed be more interested in handling disputes.In fact, she's more interested in anything than dancing.

Lydia is lively and active. Although she has successfully entered Highbury's social circle and does not need to know anyone through the ball, she is still very interested in the ball.

Knightley thought for a moment, and Catherine nodded slightly towards him. Knightley looked away calmly, and promised to take Catherine and Lydia to the public dance held in a week.

Catherine looked at Lydia who wanted to jump up and cheer, and felt that the sacrifice she had made was too great.She thought for a while with a headache that there would be no need for Longbourne for the Highbury ball, people would be curious about her as an outsider, and she must not be too passive and sabotage, so as not to give the impression of Darcy.

She quickly figured out a way to avoid dancing—she could play the piano at the ball, just like Mary.This will not only show her enthusiasm for the dance, but also won't cause trouble for herself.

After seeing off the guests, Knightley asked her: "If you are just embarrassed, you can decline the invitation to the dance."

Catherine shook her head: "No, although I don't like to dance with people I've barely met, I can understand the necessity of socializing at the prom. The prom is indeed the fastest way to get acquainted, if I want to disturb you For a long time, I can't stay away from other people. Then I have to go to a dance."

"And—" she blinked, "I just don't like dancing with people I don't know well. In fact, I kind of like the dance itself."

Knightley was relieved.

"By the way, Knightley, do you remember what we were supposed to do?"

They had planned to visit the girls' school near Highbury before guests came to their door.Knightley has made an appointment with the school and promised not to disturb the students.

And the lady's visit - she only said that she would visit on another day, but no one expected that it would be today, disrupting their itinerary.Fortunately, the guests didn't stay for long.

"I remember that the carriage is ready and we can start now." Knightley replied without thinking after realizing what was going on.

"Then I'll call Lydia." Catherine bent her eyes, looking forward to the next trip.

Catherine was presently coming with Lydia, but it was a pity that someone hastened to tell Knightley that when there had been a bad burglary in Vale, and poor Mrs. All the property was stolen, and her neighbor happened to pass by outside and caught the thief, but the thief claimed to be a nobleman with status, and it was impossible for him to do such a thing.

Knightley needs to rush over to deal with this matter, and cannot accompany Catherine to the girls' school, so the two ladies can only go first.

The case is not a big deal, it can even be said to be absurd, but once different classes are involved, the matter will become several times more serious than itself.

Catherine expressed her understanding and hoped that he could resolve this matter smoothly.As for the girls' school, they could go there without Mr. Knightley, if the coachman knew the way.

Knightley rode off hastily, and Lydia and Catherine stepped into the carriage.Knightley himself does not raise horses, and the horses that pull the carriage today are rented in consideration of the travel needs of the two ladies.

Lydia could not understand his behavior of not keeping horses. In Longbourn, Mr. Bennet had several horses himself, and Lydia secretly rode the most beautiful one when she was a child.

"Maybe it's just a different way of doing things." Catherine didn't delve into it, she felt the carriage gradually stop, "Lydia, we're here."

Lydia jumped out of the carriage first: "I haven't seen the school yet, if it's good, Kitty, would you stay and study?"

Catherine was noncommittal: "Then I have to see if it can be good enough to impress me before I can consider it."

The author has something to say: [Sorry, it's a little late, I was so stunned after eating melons today, I forgot the code word. 】

①: Regarding the flowering period of roses, it is generally said that they begin to bloom in late April, and the flowering period is the most prosperous in May and June, but it is also said that roses will also bloom in spring and autumn (spring, March and April).The timeline is blurred here, but it must not be May or June yet, so I will explain it here.