Prudence and Practicality

by C. J. Hill

  Charlotte was a sensible woman who noticed the world around her, even if it was confined to her observations of the village and its environs. She noticed how the tenant farmers lived in their small homes, some much too small for the number of inhabitants. She felt keenly how fortunate she was, living comfortably as she did with her family with only the assistance of a few servants and certainly no more than were necessary.

  Her father had made his money in industry and risen in that world; he had been recognised by the King, but now preferred to eschew the busy monetary London life for a simpler and more frugal existence of retirement in the country. His demeanour had improved with each changing season as he settled into the role of a country gentleman, enjoying the freedom from business and the company of his neighbours. Charlotte’s mother, while also preferring the country lifestyle as she was now in the company of people with whom she could relate more easily, found herself on occasion languishing in her room in a depression brought on by her perceived loss of status, hankering after the social whirl of London. It was these relapses, which fundamentally interfered with Lady Lucas’ ability to successfully run the house and which had prompted Charlotte to shoulder more and more of the duties of lady of the house.

  Now, after several years of Charlotte being almost solely in charge, Lady Lucas had no desire to restate her authority over her daughter, and Charlotte was delighted to have something useful with which to occupy her time as she found the more trivial pursuits of womanhood more than a little superficial and pointless. Why embroider when it would be more useful to sew garments like the seamstress in the village? Why redesign a hat when there was fruit to preserve for Winter? Why sit at the piano all day practising when there was a menu to plan and chickens to feed?

  The only occupation of which Charlotte thoroughly approved was extensive reading. She, like her friends Lizzy and Jane Bennet, had taken it upon themselves to improve their minds with reading not only the new novels, but also the more rigorous texts of the kind thrust upon thankless male students but thought to be beyond the female mind. Many hours had been spent in enjoyable companionship and discussion of literature found either in Sir William’s library or the equally well-stocked book-room belonging to Mr. Bennet. Their endeavours had attracted the attention of both sets of parents and while Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas shook their heads at the foolishness of their daughters trying to improve their minds at the expense of other, more feminine pursuits, the fathers, while reluctant at first, eventually found themselves proud to be encouraging the minds of their daughters and actively recommended books for them to study.

  Charlotte knew that the three of them were a rarity in the village, eschewing the accepted mode which was for young ladies to appear silly and untutored; they certainly were not fine-tuning their skills in the arts or in the handling and manipulation of men, because she, for one, refused to be forced into that type of life just because convention dictated it. Jane was perhaps the most reluctant to ignore the female role entirely and still clung tenderly to the usual female entertainments as well as the reading.

  As she neared Longbourn, the house where her friends lived, Charlotte saw the two younger Bennet sisters in the distance coming towards her, obviously heading to the village as they were wont to do on a daily basis having no interest in expanding their minds with intelligent discussion and reading.

  Lydia excitedly shouted out, “Charlotte! Our father has just told us that he has met with the new tenant of Netherfield Park! Mamma is so excited because he had told her he would not do it for any reason, and now he has! What a fine joke! So we can meet him at the Assembly Rooms next week, and his sisters. What fun it will be to have new people to talk to and dance with. I am sure he will dance with me even though I am the youngest of everyone!”

  Charlotte smiled at Lydia, the youngest Bennet daughter, a typical empty-headed girl of almost sixteen years with marriage and flirting well established in her mind as the only reasonable occupation upon which to expend her energy.

  “I’m sure you will find out what kind of man Mr. Bingley is when you observe him at the dance, Lydia, but do not be too eager to make his acquaintance. Remember, you are forward for your age. Indeed, you are luckier than my sister who is not allowed out in public yet and probably will not be for several years if my father continues his obstinacy. Your forwardness may shock a London-raised gentleman and his sisters; they will not be expecting that kind of behaviour from the youngest girl in the room, so do not anticipate being asked to dance.”

  Lydia pouted a little at her reprimand but was not in the least abashed.

  “I’m sure you are wrong, Charlotte, and I do not care how shocked you think he may be. He would be a very dull sort if he let a little thing like that confound him. What a lark it would be if he preferred me to everyone else!!”

  Lydia giggled gaily as she imagined all sorts of wonderful events happening between her and Mr. Bingley, to the shock of the town.

  “I think it is too unfair that your father does not allow your sister to come to dances. She would enjoy them very well and she should have some experience of life before she gets too old and all the best men are taken, should not she? You will see that Mr. Bingley will dance with me and maybe even Kitty, if she is lucky, and we shall be the talk of Meryton!”

  “Pray take care that you are not the talk of London as well, Lydia! Shocking news travels quickly you know,” Charlotte cautioned, trying in vain to dilute the high opinion Lydia held of herself.

  At this Kitty who, although the elder of the two, generally confined her activities to following whatever her younger sister said they should do, responded dutifully.

  “Oh, I’m sure Lydia is right, Charlotte. After all, he must accept us as we are and not judge us on his London ways. He has moved into our village and he should become acquainted with the country way of life which is, perhaps, more free than he may be used to. I dare say I should be delighted to have him as a dancing partner; I wonder though if he will know our dances?”

  “Of course he will, silly,” Lydia scoffed. “He will have learnt everything a young gentleman should learn and he will be prepared for any eventuality, I’ll wager!”

  At this, coupled with a knowing look from Lydia to Kitty, both girls broke off into peals of laughter, from which they had difficulty recovering enough to bid Charlotte goodbye. They linked arms and continued their walk towards the village where, Charlotte had no doubt, they would window-shop for new hats and gown fabric which, she knew, they could not possibly afford since they had already spent their quarterly clothing allowance within the first week it was received.

  Charlotte made her way to the front door of Longbourn and was greeted by the other four Bennet ladies in the morning room where a cheerful fire blazed and the women were variously arranged in quiet pursuits: reading for Jane, Elizabeth and Mary and needlepoint for Mrs. Bennet, who was also proclaiming, to mainly deaf ears, about the forthcoming dance and all that it portended for her girls.

  “Charlotte, my dear girl, how good of you to call!”

  Charlotte smiled and curtsied to Mrs. Bennet and then went to kiss her friends in greeting. She sat beside Elizabeth and noted the book she had just laid down beside her.

  “And how do you find Mr. Donne, Lizzy? I admit that I have enjoyed some of his writing although a few are rather too colourful for my taste.”

  “Charlotte! How good it is to see you! I hoped you would be visiting us; it has been days since we have talked. I agree with your impression of Mr. Donne. He is an interesting writer but I fear he writes beyond my comprehension at the moment. He would be a useful topic for discussion at our next meeting.”

  “Oh, you girls and your reading!” Mrs Bennet interrupted. “Go and ask your father, he will know all about your Mr. Donne, I have no doubt. He will explain to the smallest detail all that you should wish to know, and more I’ll wager, if you let him. You see you have Mary reading now, too? You see how she is ensnared in that book? She has caught it from you
three. I maintain it is not healthy for young ladies to want to know so much of a man’s world. Look at me – I have managed very well without extended reading and writing. And I caught myself a well-educated husband without it!” Casting a formidable glance about the room to ensure that no one considered disagreeing with her, Mrs. Bennet nodded and rang the bell for morning coffee.

  Unusually, Mary broke the silence first, having been engrossed in her reading before her mother’s opinion interrupted her concentration.

  “Do not concern yourself with my reading, mother. I only read Christian texts which improve my understanding of the faith. I do not concern myself with the worldly knowledge that my sisters seek from these male writers of the flesh. Nor do I waste my precious time upon novels or other written amusements. All of my reading is directed towards the improvement of my mind in a religious manner; much can be learnt from them to improve one’s mode of living while here on earth. Some people in this family would do well to adopt just a few of the ideas I have found in my reading.”

  And with that, Mary returned to her book with an air of justified superiority over the other members of the room.

  After the coffee was brought and served, Charlotte made enquiry about Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Bennet’s impression of him from his meeting.

  “Oh, a gentlemanlike man to be sure!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet before any other person could respond. “Mr. Bennet was extremely impressed with his manners and conversation. We were hoping that we would all have made his acquaintance before now but it appears he has returned to London to fetch his sisters and friends before the dance at the Assembly Rooms. We hope that Lydia’s information is incorrect in that she claims there will be many more ladies than men arriving. It would be most unfortunate if Mr. Bingley was not able to dance with our local girls because of the excess of London women of his acquaintance.”

  “Yes, my father was also favourably inclined towards him after their first meeting and expects his appreciation of Mr. Bingley and any of his party only to increase with further contact,” Charlotte concurred.

  “The most we have seen of him is that he rides a black horse of good breeding and that he wears the new fashionable hat,” Lizzy laughed. “We strained our necks as far as may be from this window but that is all we were allowed to base our judgments upon when he called. Let us hope that is not all he is when we eventually do come face to face with him!”

  “He does appear to be everything a young man should be, judging by the comments made by father and Sir William,” volunteered Jane, who had been listening quietly to the conversation. “I should be happy to make his acquaintance and that of his friends and sisters. Rarely do we have the opportunity to expand our circle of society and they will be a most beneficial addition for us all.”

  “Oh, yes, indeed! I would be delighted if you could make an impression upon him, Jane. You must put your best appearance forward at the dance and see if you cannot ensnare him before any other in the neighbourhood,” opined Mrs. Bennet.

  “Mother! Really!” Jane’s mortification was real.

  “Mother! Really!” Elizabeth echoed. “To even think such a thing, and speak it in front of Charlotte! We are too ashamed!” However, Lizzy’s wink directed towards Charlotte belied her words and they exchanged an infinitesimal smile.

  “No, Lizzy, Jane, pray do not discomfit yourselves!” Charlotte laughed. “My mother has the same hopes for me and Mr. Bingley no matter how much I refute my chances. I am to impress him too at the dance, because, as you know, I am well past the age of marriage and it is a sore point indeed for my mother!”

  “I am sure every mother in the vicinity will be thinking the same thing, mark my words,” Mrs. Bennet agreed. “If the Assembly Rooms are not filled to overflowing with neighbours with whom we have exchanged only the merest of cordialities and who live well beyond the district, I will eat my words. Mr. Bingley will be a prize for which most mothers will exert themselves and their daughters far beyond what is usual.”

  “Well, we shall just have to watch the events unfold and enjoy the exhibition they make of themselves.” Elizabeth laughed, bored with talk of Mr. Bingley and marriage. “Charlotte, let us go for a walk and discuss Mr. Donne; Mr. Bingley, while more understandable, tends to addle the mind just as much. Jane, will you join us?”

  “I thank you, no, Lizzy. I prefer to sit in the warmth and finish my reading. Enjoy your exercise!”

  And so, the two friends, wrapped warmly in their outdoor shawls, stepped out into the Autumnal sunshine.

  III

  The day of the much-anticipated dance at the Assembly rooms finally arrived, and hardly soon enough for some ladies of the village who had held their collective breaths in case Mr. Bingley did not return from London in time.

  Fortunately, word had escaped that he was, indeed, returned as promised, and with all of his close family and acquaintance, including the sister who would perform the role of mistress of the house. A role which would, hopeful ladies of the village reflected with a certain smugness, be a short-lived one for that lady once he had decided upon his wife. A collective sigh of relief could be heard around Meryton and its environs.

  Each eligible lady had chosen and re-chosen her dress for this momentous first meeting, along with all of her best accessories; hair was rolled up the night before and final presses given to the dress until it was hard to say which was more exhausted – the lady, or her wardrobe. Jane was amongst the many who was quietly anticipating an exciting evening and had done her fair share of calm planning, but naturally, not without her mother’s intervention at every turn.

  “No, not that one, my dear! Everyone has seen it! Try the silk with those gloves!”

  “But, Mamma! Mr. Bingley will not have seen it and I do prefer it to any of my other gowns.”

  “Nonsense! I will not have talk about you only having one presentable gown and the chance he may hear of it. You know how people will gossip! No, you must wear that silk. It is expensive enough to impress anyone who sees it, even London society, and there’s an end to it. Tell Hill to dress your hair carefully this morning so it lasts until tonight. Now where is my brooch that I lent you?”

  A similar attempt was being made by Lady Lucas at Lucas Lodge but with very different consequences. When she brought up the notion of preparing for the dance, Charlotte laughed out loud at the idea and tried to return to her household tasks, much to her mother’s chagrin.

  “Why will you not take this opportunity, Charlotte? You are not yet too old to attract an eligible young man if you hide your contempt and disdain for the matter. You are still fairly handsome and have a pleasant manner when you choose.”

  “Thank you, mother! I will attend the ball tonight but only as an amused observer; I predict that Eliza and I will have many comments to make over the course of the evening! Certainly, I would think Mr. Bingley very dull if he should prefer me to any other young lady in the room. I cannot believe that he could, so allow me to be as I am and think no more about catching me a husband.

  “ If one should come along, I will not deny him, if he is suitable. But I will not agree to such a thing being managed in such a deceitful way. Does not my future partner in life deserve to know my opinions on marriage and foolish men?” Charlotte smiled imperturbably at her mother and went on her way to complete the task interrupted by the conversation.

  The assembly rooms were, as predicted by Mrs. Bennet, and exclaimed over with great vehemence, full to the walls. There was barely enough room to arrange the dancing down the centre of the room and the chaperones, ladies and friends were obliged to squeeze themselves against each other in a most distressing fashion. Mrs. Bennet gave full vent to her feelings as soon as she was able to reach her friend through the thronging crowds.

  “I told you, Lady Lucas, and my sister only this morning, that this would be the case. All of these outsiders, whom we never see but once a year, all crowding into our rooms for the opportunity to impress Mr. Bingley. Well! We shall have the upper hand
for this evening, shall not we? Is Sir William here tonight, Lady Lucas? Mr. Bennet flatly refused to attend; he claimed he hates dances and that he has done all he can to further the chances of his girls by going to introduce himself to Mr. Bingley last week.

  “That was a surprise, I must say, but a welcome one nonetheless. He knows how backward we would be relying entirely upon Sir William for the introduction. For a gentleman, my husband does not care about the problems he creates through his antisocial disposition; he should have come tonight, indeed he should!”

  “Calm yourself, Mrs. Bennet,” exclaimed Lady Lucas, secretly pleased that she did, after all, have the upper hand over her friend as her husband was not one to prefer his own company to that on offer tonight. “Sir William is here and more than ready to introduce any young ladies who may desire to be acquainted with Mr. Bingley. I know he will give you and your girls preference, after Charlotte and Maria, of course.”

  At this, Charlotte rolled her eyes discreetly at Lizzy and they escaped their mothers into the entrance hall where there was still some opportunity to breathe freely. They laughed before regaling their experiences with their respective mothers thus far.

  Elizabeth pretended to be hurt.

  “Of course, Jane takes precedence over me in any thing, and so Mamma was entirely focused upon preparing her for this evening and I was merely dispatched to fetch sundry items for her hair or dress. I believe I am quite displeased at being the second in importance and less-pretty daughter! I shall never recover my self-respect, I assure you, Charlotte!”