CHAPTER TWO:

Being a seaside town within easy distance of London, being only half a day's travel away proved to be a factor when the -shire regiment of the miltia needed a respite from their duties. These soldiers were lately stationed in India and were in Meryton to relieve some soldiers and take on new personnel and stock up for the long journey back. They had also accompanied some merchant ships which had proceeded to go on to the ports near London to supply the traders in London. The same day as Pastor Collins arrival, the –shire officers and jumior soldiers of the militia had prepared camp near Meryton and had descended on the town in full force. The officers had been invited to the townspeoples homes and the soldiers had gone to the pubs and alehouses.

On the evening of Pastor Collins arrival, as the Bennets and their guest sat down to dinner, Pastor Collins was amazed by the bounty spread before him. His father had always maintained a very stringently frugal household and during his time at university, his father supplied him just enough money to keep him from starving. And after his father's demise, he had been the heir and inherited a small cottage and some little amount of money. He had hardly ever been treated to such feasts, save at Lady Catheribe's table where he was always reminded of his station in life. For Lady Catherine was one of those people who liked to boast about their charitable nature all the while being as patronizing as possible.

Mrs. Bennet had ordered a veritable feast. There was soup, roast beef, a haunch of venison, boiled potatoes, roast vegetables, jugged hare and for dessert there were 2 kinds of pie. She had wanted to make a good impression on Pastor Collins. After all there was a full chance of him marrying one of her girls. She waited and watched with sharp eyes the way Pastor Collins observed her daughters and found him affecting towards her middle daughter Mary. Mary was an affable, intelligent young woman who shared her father and sister's passion for books but unfortunately didn't inherit his sense of biting humor. She would spend a great deal of time on her piano and harp. She had taste and skill, but not the means to engage a master to teach her. So she carried on as best as she could in her limited circumstances.

Whilst they were at dinner, in another part of the world in Meryton, Mr. George Wickham was sitting in a alehouse with his fellow soldiers, all tensed up because of his cards. He had gambled away some portion of his pay and was finding the play more difficult than he anticipated. After a while, Lady Luck smiled down on him and he collected his winnings and stumbled outside the alehouse straight into the arms of one of the women who was waiting for a customer and took her to his lodgings.

After 3 days of these happenings, the town of Meryton held its breath in anticipation of the master's arrival. He and his party were to arrive late in the morning and the staff had been hired from among the local people. The ongoing gossip was that Mr. Charles Bingley was bringing with him his 2 sisters one of whom was married. Miss Caroline Bingley was the eldest of the siblings. Mrs. Louisa Hurst was the youngest, but had married early. Plus he had with him a Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy who was rumoured to be even richer than Mr. Bingley and had relations among the peerage. Mr. Bingley's family had made their fortunes in trade, specifically trade with the Indian colonies. But Mr. Darcy had among his relatives an Earl and a Count. He was bringing with him his 16 year old sister, Miss. Georgiana Darcy who had already been presented at Court.

All of this had been related to Mrs. Bennet by her sister Mrs. Phillips who resided in the town of Meryton and her husband was among the most prominent men in the town, being the only lawyer and the town magistrate . She was one the biggest gossips and gave her opinion on everything. She had hurried from Merton as soon as she heard the news from her cook who was sister to the cook at Netherfield Park. Her sister had let her know that lots of meat and game and vegetables had been ordered in. A whole pantry of cheeses and expensive imported Indian spices had also been sent in. The housekeeper was from their house on London and she had arrived 2 days in advance to prepare for her master's imminent arrival. She had brought with her expensive Indian fabrics and had employed seamstresses to run up cushion covers and curtains and other things in the latest fashions from London.

Mrs. Bennet gasped as soon as she heard about the spices and fabrics. She started spinning plans to get one of her very own daughters married to the rich Mr. Bingley who could afford such luxury. She immediately started badgering Mr. Bennet to visit him so they could claim an acquaintance with him. He had steadfastly refused to go, leaving Mrs. Bennet in hysterics and tears, remonstrating about her nerves being torn to pieces and took to her room with her smelling salts.

Mrs. Phillips watched all these proceedings with an amused eye and she sighed, Couldn't even gossip about this as the whole countryside was aware about Mrs. Bennet and her nerves and the drama which she did at the drop of a hat. She took the opportunity to invite the Bennets to a small gathering at her house where some of the military officers had also been invited.

had woken in the morning with a heavy head to find the chit he had got with him at night was gone. His clothes and belonging were flung about as if she had gone through them looking for money or valuables. Little did she know, as she slept. Wickham had risen and hidden all in a loose floorboard. He had a great deal of experience with these sort of people.

He got dressed and made himself respectable and called for a maid to clean up and left to report at the camp. His colonel was reading through some papers and he handed him one. Mr. Wickham looked at it and saw that he had been promoted to lieutenant. He was an officer now. No longer a lowly foot soldier of the militia based in India. He had been worried , he might be relieved of his duties and that meant he would have to struggle again. But now he was safe. Also he received an invitation for a small gathering at his lawyer's house who was also the local made him happy. Finally he had gained admittance into the circles of the landed gentry.