[Pride and Prejudice] Dear Lydia

After several hours of painful struggle, Jane finally gave birth to a fat boy in the evening. Mrs. Bennett rushed downstairs to report the good news to the anxiously waiting crowd.

"A boy! Very healthy! Jane's alive too! Good God, Dr. Hatton says she'll make it through, despite a lot of blood!" Mrs. Bennet yelled at Mr. Bingley. "Congratulations, Mr. Bingley." , I became a grandmother! Congratulations to yourself too, you became a father!"

Mr. Bingley stood up staggeringly, with an expression on his pale face, he didn't know whether he was going to cry or laugh, "Really, my dear Jane is fine, I have a son! May I go up and have a look?"

"No, no, I can't say that Jane is all right. The poor child has suffered a lot. I thought she was going to die this time. My God! She is very weak, and she will not be able to take care of it in a few years. Wow, I said A few years is not enough…”

After hearing the news, Mr. Bennett interrupted his wife's nonsense, "Honey, can you go up and see Jane and the child now?"

"You can go to see the child, the baby is too small to open her eyes, but Jane's room is not allowed to enter, the nurse is tidying up, and she also needs to be quiet. Let's go, I will take you to see the child..." She said and turned around As soon as I left, my feet were weak and I fell crookedly, but I was a little exhausted after worrying and practicing all day long.

"Mom! What's wrong with you!" Lydia stood closest and supported them. She couldn't hold on to Mrs. Bennet's fat body, and she fell backwards. Fortunately, Mr. Pitt followed closely behind to support them. , This saved Lydia from the fate of being a meat pad for her mother.

There was another commotion, and everyone hurriedly carried Mrs. Bennet back to her room, fanned her and smelled the smelling salts, and asked Dr. Hatton to come over and treat her again, and wait until the doctor said it was just over-stress After the collapse, we were relieved after resting and everything was fine.

In the past, Mr. Bennet always disliked his wife’s bluffing, and when encountering some incidents, he exaggeratedly claimed that he was going to faint from a nervous breakdown. Now that his wife really fainted, he finally realized that his wife might not be exaggerating before. , There is a big difference between men and women in terms of physical strength and endurance, so I shouldn't always be sarcastic when my wife complains about fainting.

At this critical time, the safe daughters and sons-in-law played a big role. Mr. Bingley was too worried that his wife would not be able to do other things, and Mary was always unconventional, so she could not be counted on. So from the next day, Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, Lydia, and Mr. Pitt work together in a division of labor. The two daughters take turns to take care of Mrs. Bennett and Jane. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Pete are responsible for dealing with the doctor, assigning servants to report to relatives, friends and neighbors around, and to receive them by the way. Let's take a look at the guests who broke in because they didn't know.

Mr. Bennett hid away quietly. Although he had some doubts about their combination in his heart, because he really didn't like to care about trivial matters and was afraid of trouble, he just kept his doubts in his stomach and didn't say anything.

Elizabeth didn't have the thoughtfulness of her father, so she took Lydia to interrogate her whenever she had time, "Lydia, why do I think it's a bit weird, Mr. Pete is too polite and enthusiastic, you see, he has been very polite these two days He comes early in the morning and only leaves at night, and he does almost the same thing as Darcy, he is not related to our family, so how can we be ashamed to spend so much time and effort in helping?"

Now Lydia can't directly answer these insinuating questions from her family, so she can only act stupid as if she didn't understand, and smiled innocently, "No, it's too hard for him, Lizzie, and I feel sorry for it too. "

Elizabeth was very dissatisfied with her obviously perfunctory answer, "Lydia!"

Lydia listened, "Lizzie, I seem to hear my mother calling for someone, I'll go and have a look." After speaking, she ran away in a hurry, leaving Elizabeth staring behind her.

After running away, he patted his chest and let out a sigh of relief.

For the past two days, Mr. Pete has been naturally helping with this and that, as if the strange words about the childbirth problem were not his own.

And Lydia has never had the opportunity to confirm with Mr. Pete whether he sent someone to negotiate with Mr. Wickham and arrange for him to 'disappear'.

Mr. Pitt was a steady and dependable man--that was the best thing Lydia could say about him after knowing him for so long.

As for the pride, arrogance and other characteristics of this gentleman, after becoming his acquaintance, Lydia found that these problems in him had disappeared miraculously.

It's not that this person has changed his temperament, but that he basically doesn't put on airs and poses in front of his own people. Instead of being arrogant, he is very considerate, and he is a good friend.

Lydia has always known that Mr. Pete likes her, even if it is not so intense that she can tell it at a glance, but as long as she pays attention to some little things in daily contact, it is not difficult to see his affection that is not deeply hidden.

Lydia felt a little complicated about this.

At the beginning, it was natural that she had a strong admiration for Mr. Pete's lack of respect for others. After sternly rejecting his proposal of adopting a lover, Lydia gradually discovered that this man actually has some merits.

He didn't become angry with embarrassment when courtship failed like some unmannered men. On the contrary, he became more and more polite. As Lydia's best friend-Miss Mallard's cousin, a friendly neighbor, and even a The frequent acquaintances gradually integrated into her life, and became more and more considerate and affectionate towards her.

It's just that this tenderness can really motivate him to make up his mind to make such a big effort and such a large sum of money for himself?Lydia was still a little unsure.

Turning around Monday afternoon, Miss Mallard came to her door, "Honey, I was ordered to pick you up today."

"Ok?"

"Your Excellency said that you haven't been to Netherfield for several days. It was your sister who gave birth and not you. How could you suddenly not show up? He was very dissatisfied with this, so he ordered his French cook to prepare carefully. I have dinner, and you are invited to dinner," Miss Mallard told her.

"How dare you do that? You don't want to excuse me, saying that my family has a lot of things to do, so I'll visit him in two days." Lydia complained.

Miss Mallard was depressed, "Do you think that such ordinary perfunctory words can be casually brought before His Excellency the Earl? I dare not."

Lydia had to say hello to the family, and went to Netherfield with Miss Mallard dressed properly.

At this time, Mrs. Bennet had recovered both physically and mentally. She was very happy to hear this, and urged her again and again, "Go, go, Lydia, you must be exhausted these few days. Your Excellency the Earl is very fond of you, and is willing to let you show your face at his table and taste the French dishes cooked by his cook, what a shame, I dare say, the dinner will be delicious!"

Mrs. Bennet guessed right. Your Excellency the Earl invited guests. The dinner was indeed exquisite and rich. Besides Lydia, the guests included the eloquent Mrs. Burns.

The Earl of Chatham would talk and laugh casually when he was alone with Lydia, and he would get up when there were too many people, and he didn't talk much, he just ate slowly and gracefully. Mr. Pitt and Miss Mallard were not talkative either. people.

So the role of Mrs. Burns came to the fore. She talked eloquently. She first talked about a few small news nearby, then praised a few dishes, and finally talked about what she learned during her stay in Hertfordshire. to the local customs.

Thanks to her to enliven the atmosphere at the table, others don't have to worry about talking, they can just enjoy the food with peace of mind. The meal was enjoyed by both host and guest, and everyone was very satisfied.

Lydia thinks that Mrs. Burns should be very familiar with the Earl's family, and her attitude when getting along is just like that of the Collinses to Mrs. De Boer. The Collinses took it up a notch.

When Earl Chatham and Lydia get together, they usually talk about their common hobby—painting, and this time is no exception. After drinking tea after dinner, Earl Chatham asked someone to take two paintings Come down to show Lydia, one was painted when he went to Oliver Valley a few days ago, and the other is a collection with a similar style.

Others listened for a while. They talked about the use of brushwork and color, the layout of the picture, and went away to do their own things when they felt bored. Only Mrs. Burns accompanied her patiently, and from time to time cleverly praised the works of His Excellency the Earl and Mrs. Wickham's works. vision.

After looking at it for a while, the Earl of Chatham suddenly said, "I remember someone said that sitting all night is not good for your health, and it would be a good way to get up and have a Scottish country dance."

Lydia smiled, "I said it, but I can't dance without music right now."

"Maybe Mrs. Burns doesn't mind accompanying us." Earl Chatham looked at Mrs. Burns.

"My honor! Your Excellency the Earl." Mrs. Burns immediately stood up and walked towards the piano. "It has been a long time since I saw your graceful dancing posture. Today is really thanks to Mrs. Wickham's blessing."

The Earl of Chatham also stood up and smiled slightly and held out his hand to Lydia. Lydia readily accepted the invitation. The Earl's elegant demeanor and perfect image made it difficult for him to be rejected.

At this moment, Earl Chatham's personal servant, Robert, came over and whispered something in the earl's ear. Earl Chatham's face showed a hint of surprise, "Is the news reliable?"

"Yes, your lawyer has just arrived from London and is waiting for you upstairs in his study," answered Robert.

"Oh—" Earl Chatham pondered, and then smiled apologetically at Lydia, "My dear Mrs. Wickham, I am very sorry. I have something suddenly. Maybe our dance will be postponed for half an hour."

Lydia begged him not to mind, since there are people waiting, please go to the serious business first, this dance is just for entertainment, it doesn't matter whether you dance or not.

After the Earl of Chatham left, Mrs. Burns sat down beside Lydia affectionately, talked with her about her itinerary to Somerset, and enthusiastically introduced her vicarage, and What the room she was planning to entertain Lydia looked like.

Although I know that Mrs. Burns's kindness is definitely for the sake of His Excellency the Earl, but it is quite comfortable to have such a talkative person to talk with, and Lydia is glad that someone is willing to wait with her.

Mr. Pitt and Miss Mallard, having little interest in painting, had long gone off to their own errands.

Miss Mallard has been obsessed with a suspense novel for the past few days. Whenever she has free time, she goes back to her room to read. Mr. Pitt has a few business letters to write. These things have been put off, so I found a spare room and sat down to write letters.

Mr. Pete was very serious in his work. He forgot the time as soon as he sat down to write a letter. After he finished writing the last letter and folded it, he felt a little sore in his neck. He stretched his chest out and took out his watch. It was past nine o'clock, and he hurriedly got up and wanted to go to the living room to see if Lydia had left or was still chatting with his father.

I was stopped by Robert in the corridor, "Master George, His Excellency the Earl is looking for you and wants you to go to the study immediately."

Mr. Pitt knew that his father's lawyer was coming from London today. He didn't know whether he had something to do with the sudden search for him. He went upstairs with Robert and asked, "Is Mrs. Wickham gone?"

"Not yet. Mrs. Burns is talking with her."

Mr. Pete nodded.

When he went upstairs to the study, he found his father, Earl Chatham, frowning and sitting behind the large desk, tapping gently on the table with one hand, as if he had encountered something difficult to decide.

"Dad, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, George, come and sit down." Earl Chatham pointed to the seat opposite.

Mr. Pete sat down as he said, "What's the matter?"

"George, Charlie came from London today. In addition to reporting some daily affairs to me, he also brought a piece of news that surprised me and me."

The Earl of Chatham paused here, looking at his son.

Mr. Pete was very calm, and he remained calm when he was under scrutiny. He calmly waited for the father to continue.

"Charlie said that you urgently used the assets under your name, part of the cash, and part of the real estate sold for cash. The total amount is about [-] pounds. Is this true?"

"Yes." Mr. Pitt admitted frankly.

The Earl of Chatham rubbed his forehead, "The destination of this money is an island in the West Indies, and the beneficiary is Lieutenant Colonel George Wickham, right." Although it was a question, the tone was affirmative.

"That's right, Dad," Mr. Pete sat up straight, "but I just embezzled it temporarily, and I will return it when the money from Eshton arrives at the end of the year." Frowning, "I didn't expect Alan to be so Unreliable, when I entrusted the matter to him, I made it clear that this matter must be kept absolutely confidential, and he broke his promise to leak it!"

"You don't have to blame Allen. He was hired by me first and then you. When you spend a lot of money, they will of course report to me." Earl Chatham looked at him, "George, under your name You have the right to dispose of your property yourself, I have no intention of interfering, but I need to know what you have done with the money, no matter how old you are, you are my son, I can't turn a blind eye to your deeds , you won't be dissatisfied with your father for this!"

"Of course not, Dad, I know you care about me," replied Mr. Pete.

"Then you admit it completely? It astonishes me! You did it so quietly, you took Mrs. Wickham so seriously! Are you going to pay her so much trouble to get her single again?" She proposes?"

"I have this plan, but I have to wait until I am sure of her intentions. Don't you like her too, maybe she will choose you."

The Earl of Chatham didn't know what to say. He recognized Mrs. Wickham's cuteness, and he also planned to pursue her as his lover. To think her son would do this for her!

He knows his son very well. George Pete lived in an extremely affluent environment since he was a child. He is also the only son and his only heir. Therefore, he is proud and has a high vision. No matter how beautiful a woman is, she just admires it. Few Tempting, such seriousness is really unique.

After a long silence, he finally sighed, "Okay, I see."

Mr. Pete didn't quite understand this answer. He felt a little nervous about making such a confession. He wasn't sure what his father's reaction would be, so he asked cautiously, "Dad?"

"I will tell Allen to keep the secret strictly, and you have to be careful yourself, and don't let extra people know about it!"

"Dad, what do you mean?"

"It's just that you must be careful to protect your reputation!" Earl Chatham straightened his delicate and moving face.

"Oh!" Mr. Pete realized that his father didn't intend to say anything more about what he did, and couldn't help but stepped forward to hug his elegant father, "Thank you, Dad!"

The Earl of Chatham was a little angry because he had no choice but to give his son a look.This kind of emotional expression is rarely seen on his face, it is not scary but makes his son feel kind.