There was a certain estate, by name, Mithlew Park, in a fine country
village which included an exceptional old house, owned by a respectable
family, very fine grounds of varying beauties, and a pleasant, well-to-do
parsonage nearby. The estate was owned by Sir Robert Raeworth, and the
parsonage occupied by his only brother, four years his junior. It is this
parsonage house, and its inhabitants, who will be our focus.
Mr. Samuel Raeworth considered himself a prosperous man, in spite of not being an eldest son. He, being intimate with his brother, was acquainted with those genteel men that otherwise may have been slightly above his own social circle, and, due to his duties in the church, was in the company of those who would have been slightly below his circles. Therefore, his overall situation allowed him to have a very wide range of connections.
Such connections as his brother provided him with made him able to be acquainted with Miss Julia Douglass, who was an educated, intelligent young woman of fortune, principal, and well-bred manners, who was eager to be sociable and, at a young age, to be married. Mr. Raeworth was a handsome man whose position in life and open temper had recommended him to her affection; and, due to her merits, she was recommended to his. Being so situated, it could not but be expected that their engagement was quickly announced and their marriage was of the utmost felicity.
Mrs. Raeworth brought her husband his first child, a daughter, with much joy, yet in spite the felicity his daughter's birth brought him, Mr. Raeworth looked to the time when he would have a son with greater delight; but it was not to be, as for several years Christine was his only child. It was with greatest trepidation that Mr. Raeworth looked to the future, for he had, since his brother declared his resolve of never marrying, valued it as he did from the knowledge that his son would be his brother's heir, thereby raising his family's consequence. If no son came, what value would the name Raeworth have? It would only be a maiden name of his daughter. His daughter--through the passing years, in expectation of his son, his initial affability for his daughter had diminished into near indifference. This was a constant source of sorrow for his wife, who cherished her child more for her husband's disinterested care. Christine loved her mother with all her small being, and though she could not understand her father, was grateful to him for his goodness to her, though it was usually given with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Christine's ninth year brought more happiness to her father than her first, for in that year James Robert Raeworth was born, an heir to Sir Robert. Sir Robert was a good man who was very fond of children, but being disgusted by the mercenary attentions paid to him, gave up the thought of marrying. He had devoted himself to the happiness of his brother, sister-in-law, and niece, and was nearly as happy as his brother upon the birth of James.
In Christine's fourteenth year, she became acquainted with a Miss Anne Lyons, a captivating, though inferior and unprincipled, young woman. Christine's guardians felt all of the impropriety of Miss Christine Raeworth of Mithlew Park associating with Miss Lyons of Ragerside from the first. In order to keep Christine from her, her uncle, having an excess of money due to a fortunate occurrence with his overseas accounts, nothing else to do with it, and an honest wish for preserving his niece's well being, sent her to a school. Christine, truly having regard for Miss Lyons, was not pleased, until her mother wrote her of what she had been protected from through quitting the acquaintance. Miss Lyons' captivating manners and ready wit had served her ill, for, combined with her meager fortune and vulgar connections, she could not but attract those creatures but would only bring her further down in the world. Mrs. Raeworth, wishing to have tact but not knowing how, informed her daughter that because of a Mr. ----- , the young man whose name Miss Lyons had previously filled Christine's ear with, Miss Lyons was now residing in an obscure country farmhouse away from respectable society. Christine felt for her terribly, and through her former friend learned what her guardians and religious training never could have taught her.the value of principles.
It was at the school that Christine became acquainted with Georgiana Darcy, whose quiet, unobtrusive manners and sweet countenance drew Christine to her, especially for their contrast to Christine's former companion. They formed a close friendship, which continued, through letters, for nearly two years after Georgiana was removed from the school. These two years passed before Georgiana had the occasion to write Christine the following.
My dear friend,
I sincerely hope this letter finds you as well as my last one did, and that the conclusion of it will find you better still. I have now the occasion to be at home for more than a few months at a time, and should like to know, would you care to join me at Pemberley for the summer? I have spoken to my brother of it, and he thinks it a most capital idea. My sister-in-law, Elizabeth, whom I have told you so much of, greatly wishes to meet you, for I have told her much of you. I most certainly hope you shall be able to come, for we shall never lack employment, though I cannot be sure of any frequent engagements that you may particularly enjoy. If it is impossible for you to come to me, I shall certainly understand, I assure you, but I cannot but hope that my fondest wishes will be fulfilled in your letter, which I must wish you to send quickly. Also, if you cannot stay for such a length of time, I beg you to suggest a date when you shall be able to travel here, during the course of the summer. I ever remain your friend and correspondent,
Georgiana Darcy
Mr. and Mrs. Raeworth, eager to promote Christine's friendship with Miss Darcy, gave their permission. Christine replied promptly with her exuberant acquiescence, and after some consultation as to the most convenient date for Christine to make her journey and an intermitting fortnight, she was at Pemberley with her friend.
Mr. Samuel Raeworth considered himself a prosperous man, in spite of not being an eldest son. He, being intimate with his brother, was acquainted with those genteel men that otherwise may have been slightly above his own social circle, and, due to his duties in the church, was in the company of those who would have been slightly below his circles. Therefore, his overall situation allowed him to have a very wide range of connections.
Such connections as his brother provided him with made him able to be acquainted with Miss Julia Douglass, who was an educated, intelligent young woman of fortune, principal, and well-bred manners, who was eager to be sociable and, at a young age, to be married. Mr. Raeworth was a handsome man whose position in life and open temper had recommended him to her affection; and, due to her merits, she was recommended to his. Being so situated, it could not but be expected that their engagement was quickly announced and their marriage was of the utmost felicity.
Mrs. Raeworth brought her husband his first child, a daughter, with much joy, yet in spite the felicity his daughter's birth brought him, Mr. Raeworth looked to the time when he would have a son with greater delight; but it was not to be, as for several years Christine was his only child. It was with greatest trepidation that Mr. Raeworth looked to the future, for he had, since his brother declared his resolve of never marrying, valued it as he did from the knowledge that his son would be his brother's heir, thereby raising his family's consequence. If no son came, what value would the name Raeworth have? It would only be a maiden name of his daughter. His daughter--through the passing years, in expectation of his son, his initial affability for his daughter had diminished into near indifference. This was a constant source of sorrow for his wife, who cherished her child more for her husband's disinterested care. Christine loved her mother with all her small being, and though she could not understand her father, was grateful to him for his goodness to her, though it was usually given with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Christine's ninth year brought more happiness to her father than her first, for in that year James Robert Raeworth was born, an heir to Sir Robert. Sir Robert was a good man who was very fond of children, but being disgusted by the mercenary attentions paid to him, gave up the thought of marrying. He had devoted himself to the happiness of his brother, sister-in-law, and niece, and was nearly as happy as his brother upon the birth of James.
In Christine's fourteenth year, she became acquainted with a Miss Anne Lyons, a captivating, though inferior and unprincipled, young woman. Christine's guardians felt all of the impropriety of Miss Christine Raeworth of Mithlew Park associating with Miss Lyons of Ragerside from the first. In order to keep Christine from her, her uncle, having an excess of money due to a fortunate occurrence with his overseas accounts, nothing else to do with it, and an honest wish for preserving his niece's well being, sent her to a school. Christine, truly having regard for Miss Lyons, was not pleased, until her mother wrote her of what she had been protected from through quitting the acquaintance. Miss Lyons' captivating manners and ready wit had served her ill, for, combined with her meager fortune and vulgar connections, she could not but attract those creatures but would only bring her further down in the world. Mrs. Raeworth, wishing to have tact but not knowing how, informed her daughter that because of a Mr. ----- , the young man whose name Miss Lyons had previously filled Christine's ear with, Miss Lyons was now residing in an obscure country farmhouse away from respectable society. Christine felt for her terribly, and through her former friend learned what her guardians and religious training never could have taught her.the value of principles.
It was at the school that Christine became acquainted with Georgiana Darcy, whose quiet, unobtrusive manners and sweet countenance drew Christine to her, especially for their contrast to Christine's former companion. They formed a close friendship, which continued, through letters, for nearly two years after Georgiana was removed from the school. These two years passed before Georgiana had the occasion to write Christine the following.
My dear friend,
I sincerely hope this letter finds you as well as my last one did, and that the conclusion of it will find you better still. I have now the occasion to be at home for more than a few months at a time, and should like to know, would you care to join me at Pemberley for the summer? I have spoken to my brother of it, and he thinks it a most capital idea. My sister-in-law, Elizabeth, whom I have told you so much of, greatly wishes to meet you, for I have told her much of you. I most certainly hope you shall be able to come, for we shall never lack employment, though I cannot be sure of any frequent engagements that you may particularly enjoy. If it is impossible for you to come to me, I shall certainly understand, I assure you, but I cannot but hope that my fondest wishes will be fulfilled in your letter, which I must wish you to send quickly. Also, if you cannot stay for such a length of time, I beg you to suggest a date when you shall be able to travel here, during the course of the summer. I ever remain your friend and correspondent,
Georgiana Darcy
Mr. and Mrs. Raeworth, eager to promote Christine's friendship with Miss Darcy, gave their permission. Christine replied promptly with her exuberant acquiescence, and after some consultation as to the most convenient date for Christine to make her journey and an intermitting fortnight, she was at Pemberley with her friend.
