Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the seventh chapter of Pride and Prejudice.

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Today we'll be continuing pride and prejudice by Jane Austin chapter seven Mr.

Bennett's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of 2000 a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed in default of heir's mail on a distant relation, and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his her father had been an attorney in Merriton and had left her 4000 pounds.

She had a sister, married to a Mr.

Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only 1 mile from Maryton, a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliner's shop just over the way.

The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions.

Their minds were more vacant than their sisters, and when nothing better offered a walk to Maryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening.

And however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt.

At present, indeed, they were well supplied, both with news and happiness, by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood.

It was to remain the whole winter, and Maryton was the headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs.

Phillips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence.

Every day added something to their knowledge of the officer's names and connections.

Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves.

Mr.

Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown.

Before they could talk of nothing but officers, and Mr.

Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr.

Bennett coolly observed.

From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country.

I've suspected it some time, but I'm now convinced.

Catherine was disconcerted and made no answer.

But Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.

I am astonished, my dear, said Mrs.

Bennet, that you should be so ready to think your own children silly.

If I wish to think slidingly of anybody's children, it should not be of my own.

However, if my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it.

Yes, but as it happens, they are, all of them, very clever.

This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree.

I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.

My dear Mr.

Bennett, you must not.

Expect such girls to have the sense.

Of their father and mother when they get to our age.

I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do.

I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well.

And indeed so I do, still at my heart.

And if a smart young colonel with five or 6000 a year should want one of my girls, I shall not.

Say nay to him.

And I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir Williams and his regimentals.

Mama.

Cried Lydia.

My aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came.

She sees them now very often, standing.

In Clark's library, Mrs.

Bennet was prevented, replying by the entrance of the footman with a note from Miss Bennett.

It came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer.

Mrs.

Bennett's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out while her daughter read, well, Jane, who is it from?

What is it about?

What does he say?

Well, Jane, make haste and tell us.

Make haste, my love.

It is from Miss Bingley, said Jane.

And then read it aloud.

My dear friend, if you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives.

For a whole day's tett.

A tet between two women can never end without a quarrel.

Come as soon as you can.

On the receipt of this.

My brother and the gentleman are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever, Caroline Bingley.

With the officers.

Cried Lydia.

I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that.

Dining out, said Mrs.

Bennet.

That is very unlucky.

Can I have the carriage?

Said Jane.

No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain, and then you must stay all night.

That would be a good scheme, said Elizabeth, if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home.

Oh, but the gentleman will have Mr.

Bingley's shays and go to Maryton, and the Hearsts have no horses to theirs.

I had much rather go in the coach.

But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses.

I'm sure they're wanted in the farm, Mr.

Bennett, are they not?

They're wanted in the farm much oftener.

Than I can get them.

But if you have got them today, said Elizabeth, my mother's purpose will be answered.

She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgement that the horses were engaged.

Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day.

Her hopes were answered.

Jane had not been gone long before.

It rained hard.

Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted.

The rain continued the whole evening without intermission.

Jane certainly could not come back.

This was a lucky idea of mine.

Indeed, said Mrs.

Bennet more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own.

Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance.

Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth.

My dearest Lizzie, I find myself very unwell this morning, which I suppose is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.

My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better.

They insist also on my seeing Mr.

Jones.

Therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of as having been to me, and accepting a sore throat and a headache.

There is not much the matter with me, yours, etc.

Well, my dear, said Mr.

Bennett, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr.

Bingley, and under your orders.

Oh, I'm not at all afraid of her dying.

People do not die of little trifling colds.

She'll be taken good care of, as long as she stays there.

It is all very well.

I would go and see her, if I could have the carriage.

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, determined to go to her.

Though the carriage was not to be had, and as she was no horsewoman, walking was their only alternative.

She declared a resolution.

How can you be so silly, cried her mother, as to think of such a thing in all this dirt.

You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.

I shall be very fit to see Jane, which is all I want.

Is this a hint to me, Lizzie.

Said her father, to send for the horses.

No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk.

The distance is nothing when one has a motive.

Only 3 miles.

I shall be back by dinner.

I admire the activity of your benevolence.

Observed Mary, but every impulse of feeling.

Should be guided by reason, and in my opinion, exertion should always be in.

Proportion to what is required.

We will go as far as Maryton with you, said Catherine and Lydia.

Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.

If we make haste, said Lydia as they walked along, perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes in Maryton.

They parted.

The two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officer's wives, and Elizabeth continued to walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stills and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shown into the breakfast parlor, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise.

That she should have walked 3 miles so early in the day in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs.

Hurst and Miss Bingley, and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it.

She was received, however, very politely by them, and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness.

There was good humor and kindness.

Mr.

Darcy said very little, and Mr.

Hurst nothing at all.

The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasions justifying her coming so far alone.

The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

Her inquiries after her sister were not very favorably answered.

Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well enough to leave her room.

Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately, and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her notes how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance.

She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with.

Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters, and Elizabeth began to like them herself.

When she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane.

The apothecary came, and, having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold and that they must endeavor to get the better of it, advised her to return to bed and promised her some draughts.

The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased and her head ached acutely.

Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent, the gentlemen being out, they had, in fact, nothing to do elsewhere.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so.

Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it when Jane testified such concern at parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the shaves into an invitation to remain at Netherfield.

For the present.

Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and the servant was despatched to Longbourne to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.

Thank you for joining Bite at a.

Time books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

Again, my name is Brie Carlyle, and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of pride and prejudice.

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