Lost in Jane Austen: Chapter 1
Approximately one month ago, during the morning of December 23, 2013, a young girl of the name of Cathy Parkington sat peacefully on a sofa at her home reading the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. For those of you who're unacquainted with this entrancing piece of work, allow me to fill you in. The satire is one about love, first impressions, and how prestige and wealth are of no consequence when it comes to genuine happiness. In this story, the spunky, vivacious Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of five daughters, captivates the attention of the uncommonly wealthy and complacent Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Cathy flipped the next page, and exclaimed inwardly "If only I could live the old English countryside life and meet these characters! But life isn't at all like a magic lamp, it does not yield to one's wishes. Ho-" before she could finish her contemplation, the ground started shaking clamorously like an amusement park ride that was out of control! She felt herself being sucked instantaneously into the book as if it were a giant vacuum cleaner! Swoosh! Thump! "Ouch!" She landed on a hard stone floor. Leaping up, she became cognizant of the fact that she was neither at her own house nor in her own clothes. In lieu, the girl was attired in a long, exquisite frock with an ostentatious bonnet on her head. The setting was a plain but immaculate house. On one table, she perceived a pile of newspapers which said in bolded letters "September 29, 1802; Feast of St. Michael". "What was in god's name is going on?" wondered Cathy.
Suddenly, four young women scurried swiftly towards her with ejaculations of delight and inquiries such as "Oh it is our cousin, Cathy Gardiner!" "Are you parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner in good health?" "It had been too long since we last met! For you were not here with all your brothers and sisters when they visited." "How long are you staying?" "Our uncle and aunt did mention you'd be arriving today." "But unchaperoned? Did you come all this way by yourself? What were your parents thinking?" "I entreat you to come in and sit down." "Here, let me take your bonnet."
Cathy's countenance altered from perplexity into eagerness. Was she actually in the saga Pride and Prejudice? She must've arrived at the denouement of the novel since Jane and Elizabeth were already engaged. The latter suggested a stroll around the shrubbery and her alleged "cousin" acquiesced. The opportunity to converse with one of the most beloved heroines in English literature is not one to come by often. But whenever she returned to her own dwelling and to her own time, she resolved to spend the remainder of her life in therapy.
The temperature was exceedingly warm that day, thus Cathy and her companion took their parasols outside. It was the former who initiated the discourse. "So Lizzy, I entreat you to enlighten me about all the events that occurred during this past twelvemonth, don't leave out any particulars."
"Well," riposted Elizabeth "last year on this very day, a rich gentleman of the name of Mr. Bingley took possession of Netherfield Park, which is a grand estate nearby. It was my mother's fondest aspiration to have all her offspring well settled and there seemed to be an attachment between that gentleman and my eldest sister Jane. At first, his intimate friend Mr. Darcy thought I was merely "tolerable" and not alluring enough to dance with! Therefore everyone considered him as the most conceited, aloof, and disagreeable man that ever existed, not like the amiable Mr. Bingley."
"Didn't Charles Bingley return to London at the commencement of winter? He was manipulated by his confidant and his two supercilious sisters that an alliance with Jane would be an imprudent match, right?"
"Yes," said Elizabeth, slightly bemused that her cousin knew so much of the particulars "Before that happened, our cousin Mr. Collins (a clergyman who is to inherit my father's property) made an offer of marriage to me and I declined because his indiscretion and other contemptible qualities could not make me happy. So he married my friend Charlotte Lucas instead."
"Poor Charlotte!" chortled Cathy "What did she do to merit such an absurd husband?"
"Meanwhile, a militia regiment arrived in the neighborhood and one officer, Mr. George Wickham, told me how Mr. Darcy deprived him of a legacy. How that gentleman refused to give him a living that was supposed to be his. This piece of intelligence increased my prejudice against Darcy. I was quite infatuated with Wickham, until he became betrothed to another. At springtime, I went to see Charlotte Lucas and her husband in Hunsford, where I met Lady Catherine de Bourg (Darcy's insolent aunt). Her nephew made a shocking proposal to me while visiting and I quickly refused because of his malicious dealings with Mr. Wickham and how he separated Jane and Mr. Bingley. The following day, Darcy sent me a long, informative letter, of which depicted how Wickham endeavored to elope with his sister a year ago and that he only detached Mr. Bingley from Jane because he had the notion that she was indifferent to his friend's attentions! That letter seemed to pardon him for all his past blunders and it ameliorated my opinion of him, I started to like him even more after seeing his lavish grounds in Derbyshire where I became acquainted with Georgiana Darcy, his timid but extremely affable sister. Meanwhile, my youngest sibling Lydia had eloped with Mr. Wickham and they had no choice but to marry (though there is little regard on his side)! We later found out that Mr. Wickham had originally no intention at all of marrying Lydia. He wished to seek his fortune with an heiress instead of my portionless sister. So he had meant to spoil her! If it were not for Mr. Darcy's persuasion and his discharging all of Wickham's debts, Lydia would've been lost forever. For that I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Darcy."
"I am informed of the rest! Charles Bingley came back to Longbourn and is as besotted with Jane as ever and you're engaged to Fitzwilliam Darcy!"
"I believe uncle and aunt Gardiner have been telling you too much," laughed Lizzy with a sparkle in her dark eyes. It was evident that her love and the fervor in her heart rendered her more handsome and livelier than ever. "All right now, I believe it is time for tea, let us go inside."
Cathy went in with her thinking, "Maybe I will stay in the county of Herfordshire for a while and witness first-hand the sequel to Jane Austen's most beloved novel."