[Pride and Prejudice] Dear Lydia

Lydia was chatting in the living room downstairs with Mrs. Burns, who was knowledgeable, articulate, and deliberately ingratiating to her, and before she knew it it was ten o'clock.

Looking up, he was very surprised, "Oh! It's already ten o'clock, Mrs. Burns was so pleasant talking to you, and the time passed before I knew it."

Mrs. Burns was very happy that Lydia liked her, "I feel the same way. You have extraordinary vision at a young age. Many ladies who are older than you are not as knowledgeable as you. No wonder Your Excellency the Earl thinks highly of you."

Lydia hurriedly humbled, "It's not that I value it, it's just because I also like painting, Your Excellency the Earl, he is willing to talk to me a few more words."

Mrs. Burns smiled meaningfully, "Mrs. Wickham, you are too modest. You are not the only one around here who can draw."

Lydia didn't want to say more about this, so she kept silent.

Seeing her avoiding, Mrs. Burns quickly changed the subject, "By the way, I heard something unexpected recently. I don't know if you have heard of it. The person involved is your relative, Sister Bingley. Woolen cloth."

"I haven't heard of it. The family has been in a mess these days because of Jane's difficult delivery. We can't care about anything, so we don't have time to inquire about the news." Lydia shook her head, "But it's a bit strange to say, I heard from Mr. Bingley that his sister went to London a few days ago, but my sister has already given birth to a child. It is really unreasonable that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst have not rushed back to visit such a big event. .”

Mrs. Burns was a very discerning person, and she had already heard from the gossip of the neighbors that there must be discord between Lydia and Miss Bingley, so she talked about Miss Bingley's misfortune as she liked. "Speaking of which, the two sisters Bingley are also well-educated and well-born women, so they don't even understand this bit of etiquette. It's because the two sisters have encountered difficult troubles recently, so they really don't have the time to come Visiting sister-in-law and little nephew."

"Oh? What trouble did they encounter?" Lydia was very interested.

"I heard that Miss Bingley's brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, has encountered a property dispute. He had already agreed to hire a well-known lawyer to help him with this lawsuit. Unexpectedly, something happened in the middle, and the lawyer Palmer didn't agree. Ken took his case, and Mr Hearst had to hire someone else and lost the case."

"Have you already lost! So fast!" Lydia was surprised, "We knew that Mr. Bingley's brother-in-law was involved in a property dispute, but we didn't expect him to lose the lawsuit so quickly. It will take a few months to see the outcome, how can it be so fast to file a property lawsuit!"

"Yes, it's really that the lawyer he hired is not good enough," Mrs. Burns replied, "Mr. Hurst's property is not rich, and now he has lost almost all of his family property. The two of them are at a loss." Urgent, they made up their minds to appeal, but firstly, they had no money to pay the lawyer's fees, and secondly, they might not be sure except for Palmer's lawyer, so they made up their minds to find out the real reason why Palmer's lawyer rejected them last time. And guess what happened?"

"how?"

Mrs. Burns pursed her lips and smiled, "It's because someone told Lawyer Palmer that Mr. Hurst's sister-in-law, Miss Bingley, has an arrogant temper, surly behavior, and no moral standards, so he advised Palmer not to get involved with this family as much as possible. You said How absurd to say this reason! Miss Bingley must have offended someone because she was too arrogant and harsh outside, so they blamed her sister and brother-in-law. To be honest, I have met her twice, and I don’t have a good impression of her , a very snobbish lady."

Because Lydia already knew the reason, she was not too surprised, she just nodded in response to the situation, "Yes, Miss Bingley's character has always been like this, she used to be very rude to us sisters, until Jane married Bingley, and Elizabeth also After getting married, she had no choice but to be polite to my two sisters." Then asked, "What happened afterwards, Mrs. Hurst quarreled with her sister over this?"

"I'm sure I'm angry, but it wasn't enough to quarrel at first, but then I encountered another difficult matter, and the two sisters couldn't come to an end, so they fell out. It is probably because Mr. Bingley has devoted himself to his wife and childbirth these days. In this matter, I didn’t take care to contact my sisters, so you don’t know yet, but a few acquaintances have already passed the news to Meryton.”

"Another difficult problem?"

"Yes, didn't you just say that Mr. Hurst is almost out of money to pay for the lawyer's fees? At this time, his wife will do her part. It is said that the two sisters Bingley have [-] pounds of property, both of whom are wealthy. Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst could still contribute the money for her husband, but all their property is included in one estate, and if they take it out suddenly, they will suffer big losses. Miss Bingley firmly disagrees, so Hurst It was Madam who quarreled with her." Mrs. Burns explained.

"So that's how it is!" Lydia sighed, she couldn't really sympathize with Miss Bingley, she could only lament that it was her own fault.

Mrs. Burns winked at Lydia, "Actually, this is a very good opportunity for you. As far as I know, Attorney Palmer has served the Pete family all the year round. His reputation today can almost be said to be a good opportunity for Chu The Earl of Tamm supported it with one hand, so it is bound to sell the Earl's face. You can ask the Earl to help you say hello and let him take over Mr. Hurst's lawsuit, so as to do your brother-in-law Mr. Bingley a big favor , and can suppress Miss Bingley's usual arrogance, Sister Bingley is your brother-in-law's relatives after all, if they make too much trouble, your sister and brother-in-law will also be troubled."

Lydia frowned, "Miss Bingley doesn't seem like a person who will reciprocate her kindness, I'm afraid she will be thankless for her efforts."

Mrs. Burns persuaded, "Mrs. Wickham, I said this with good intentions. Don't think I am too troublesome. I think it is best to help them even for the sake of your brother-in-law, Mr. Bingley. As long as you let Mr Bingley and your sister know that you have a hand in it as well."

Lydia smiled, "Thank you for reminding me, of course I won't blame you for being troublesome."

In fact, she had already decided to go back and talk to Mr. Peter, asking him to let Mr. Hearst go, because it was really inappropriate for his sister-in-law to go bankrupt because of her arrogance and meanness.

Mrs. Burns thought she was reasonable and straightforward. No wonder the Earl liked it. She pulled Lydia to stand up, "I guess Earl Chatham has something to deal with. Let's not wait. Come back tomorrow and go to Mallard now." The lady borrowed the carriage, so it's time to take my leave and go home at this late hour."

Longbourn's carriage happened to be unused tonight, so it was sent by Mr. Bennett to pick up his daughter, and was waiting outside the door, so Lydia politely invited Mrs. Burns to go with her, and she could let the coachman go around. A little way, take Mrs. Burns to Lucas's house first.

"Thank you very much!" Mrs. Burns readily agreed.

They were about to send their servants to Miss Mallard, when they saw His Excellency the Earl come back, followed by Mr. Pitt and Miss Mallard.

Mrs. Burns rushed up to meet her, "Mrs. Wickham and I just wanted to say goodbye to Miss Mallard."

"Don't worry, I haven't danced with Mrs. Wickham yet." Earl Chatham looked at Lydia, "I can't keep my lovely lady waiting all night."

"Father, you still want to dance? This—" Mr. Pete thought that the interest was too good.

Lydia also said, "It's okay, we can dance again next time, we should leave at this late hour, I'm afraid we'll be worried if we don't go back home."

The Earl of Chatham was in a depressed mood tonight, so he was not very good at talking, and he disagreed, "Send someone back and say it's too late. Lois will stay with you for one night and go back tomorrow." After finishing speaking, he called Robert ordered that someone should be sent to Mrs. Wickham's and Mrs. Burns's.

Mrs. Burns was kind, "Since Miss Mallard is so hospitable, we won't bother you. If you don't rush back, you can enjoy the entertainment in the evening." She took the initiative to sit by the piano again, "I'll come accompaniment."

Miss Mallard curled her lips where no one else could see her. She couldn't do anything about Mrs. Burns' wink and self-talk, so she had to call a maid to tidy up the two guest rooms and prepare for the night. Lydia lived with Mrs Burns.

As the melodious music sounded, the Earl of Chatham bowed slightly to Lydia, bent his waist in a graceful arc, and stretched out his hand gracefully, "Please, charming lady."

Lydia couldn't help but take his hand, thinking that Your Excellency the Earl is so attractive that even a capricious act is irresistible.

Over there, Mr. Pete looked at the two dancers with a straight face and pursed his lips, and suddenly turned to his cousin, "Lois, don't let down such a good music and environment, let's dance too."

Miss Mallard grinned and said in a low voice, "George, I don't think I need to join in the fun. You should think of other ways. Maybe it's a good idea to let Mrs. Burns suddenly collapse her wrist."

Mr. Pitt was not at all interested in her bad idea, "Lois, the second volume of the novel you are reading happens to be at my place. Maybe I will read it faster when I am in a better mood after dancing."

"Then I hope you can finish it tonight!" Miss Mallard made a sacrifice in order to continue reading her beloved novel, took her cousin's arm and walked off the dance floor.

Mrs. Burns first played a regular long dance, and at the end of the dance, she wanted to liven up the atmosphere, and then played a Scottish ditty.

Mr. Pete dragged Miss Mallard to the other two, "Daddy, would you like to exchange partners?"

"Not good!" Earl Chatham was in a bad mood and immediately refused.

"why."

"Your dance partner is not as beautiful as mine." His Excellency the Earl said bluntly, making the corners of Lydia's mouth twitch, thinking about what happened just now, as if he was not very happy.

"Father," Mr. Pete drawled, "it hurts Lois when you say that, doesn't you, Lois?"

Miss Mallard wanted to say that I didn't mind at all, but for the sake of the novel, she could only nod with a bitter face, "Yes, Your Excellency, but you are still my uncle, so I will be very sad. "

The Earl of Chatham snorted and had to exchange partners.

Mrs. Burns was playing the piano and enjoying herself quietly, thinking that the father and son were so interesting, and it was worthwhile for her to play the piano here so late for fun to see this scene.