In which we are having some weather.
PREVIOUSLY ON THIS STORY: There is an epidemic and it is advisable to maintain social distance but certain people of our acquaintance keep bumping into each other, completely by chance I am sure. Everyone reacts differently to the news of the disease. Miss Bingley sent invitations to the Netherfield ball but if no one came it would not be near so much like a ball. The last we saw them, Darcy and Elizabeth were talking science and Mr. Hurst was wingmanning.
Sorry for the long hiatus between chapters. This chapter has Mr. Wickham in it, and he is not funny.
Chapter 9 – Such Happy Manners
When Mrs. Bennet left her basket at Mrs. Long's door they spoke with one of the nieces through an upstairs window. She told them that Mrs. Long was no better. She had had a fever in the morning and a fever all through the night, but she had recently been able to drink some tea. They all were very grateful for whatever was in the basket. Nobody else in the house was currently ill but the apothecary had said that it was a possibility in the near future and they should be wary of any symptoms. For the time being, they had been ordered not to let anyone in the house or out of it, so Mr. Collins would not be able to deliver his prayers in person but he was very welcome to pray for their health in an alternative location of his choice.
Mrs. Bennet, her daughters, and Mr. Collins had planned to go straight home afterward, but they were surprised by a sudden spate of rain on the way. They were close to the Phillips house and sought shelter there until the worst of the downpour was over.
"They said to limit contacts outside the family, and you are family," Mrs. Bennet reasoned.
"We are family." Mrs. Phillips said. "Of course, I could not in good conscience let you drown in that weather."
"I do believe you can get the disease from family as well as strangers," Miss Elizabeth said.
"Yes, dear, but if you catch your death in this rain then you are not any better off, are you?", said Mrs. Bennet.
"Just look at Jane," Miss Catherine said. "When she got drenched in the rain she became terribly ill."
"I do not see Jane," said Mrs. Phillips.
"Jane did not feel like walking so far," said Mrs. Bennet.
"But she has walked here so many times," said Mrs. Phillips. "Is she quite recovered?"
"My dear Jane is the picture of health," said Mrs. Bennet.
"She still gets a little out of breath," said Miss Elizabeth.
When Mrs. Phillips was introduced to Mr. Collins he explained his devotion to his Bennet cousins and thanked her profusely for allowing him a sanctuary to protect a stranger from the fury of the elements. This brought to mind some Bible quotes about charity to strangers that he had included in the second sermon he had preached in front of his esteemed patroness, who apparently had plenty of opinions about charity and its proper applications. Mrs. Phillips was pleased to hear she had done a good deed comparable to that of the Good Samaritan, and with so little trouble to herself. After Mr. Collins had complimented her for the elegance of her furnishings she was quite prepared to accept him as a cousin of her own and showed him into the parlour.
The maid brought some towels and the ladies attempted to fix their appearance in another room. There was quite a bit of water damage.
"I look like a drowned rat," Miss Lydia complained.
"Goodness, your dress was certainly designed to be worn dry," Mrs. Phillips said. "Here, take this shawl to cover up."
When everyone was as presentable as they could be in these circumstances they joined Mr. Collins in the parlour.
Mrs. Phillips was quite happy to see Mrs. Bennet and the others. "It is so nice to catch up with you all. These restrictions are getting on my last nerves and I do wish that we could entertain properly again."
"Doctors are saying that limiting social contacts is really the only thing that can help prevent the infection from spreading," Miss Elizabeth said.
"Yes, I know, dear, but it is quite impossible to shun everybody forever. Are we to write only letters for the rest of our lives?"
Miss Lydia opined that letter writing was an overrated art, and people who crossed their lines should be deeply ashamed. Miss Catherine wondered how one could ever form any new acquaintances if personal contact was prohibited. Mrs. Bennet told her she certainly could not write letters to any young men she was not engaged to, which was a great shame, considering Mrs. Bennet had five unattached daughters, and who would have them now? Mr. Collins said he was sure at least one of his fair cousins would be pleasantly settled before long, and mentioned that naturally he took great pleasure in writing and receiving letters. One could learn many edifying things from a thoughtful missive, especially if one was lucky enough to be in correspondence with his patroness, Lady Catherine DeBourgh, of Rosings Park, Kent. If anyone could know what was proper etiquette in this social distancing situation, it would be Lady Catherine.
"I just wish that I knew when this is going to end," said Mrs. Bennet.
"There are always diseases," said Mrs. Phillips. "I do not understand what is so special about this one."
"I worry about Mr. Bennet," said Mrs. Bennet. "I hope he can avoid catching it, for where would we all be without him? Mrs. Long is so unwell."
"Poor Mrs. Long," said Mrs. Phillips.
"Her nieces must stay at home for ever," said Miss Lydia. "They must be bored to death."
"Not for ever," said Miss Catherine. "Just long enough to miss the ball."
"It is going to be cancelled, I am sure," said Miss Elizabeth. "Who would even want to go?"
"I would," said Miss Lydia.
"And I," added Miss Catherine.
"A fine sight that would be, you two dancing alone," said Mrs. Bennet. "But no one would see, because no one will come. It is not safe."
"It is so tiresome to miss all the entertainments," said Mrs. Phillips. "Say, sister, will you lend me a couple of daughters to keep me company?"
"But my dear Mrs. Phillips," said Mr. Collins. "I confess I had hoped that I would get to know all of my fair Bennet cousins during my visit."
"Surely to know one of us is to know all," said Miss Elizabeth."We are not so very special after all."
"Oh, what nonsense do you speak, Lizzy!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet.
"I am certain you cannot spare Jane, dear, but this house would be less lonely if Lydia or Kitty came to stay," said Mrs. Phillips. "When Mr. Phillips is at work it is so quiet now that nobody visits."
"Yes, please, we would both like to stay here," said Miss Lydia.
"In Meryton, you can see more people, even if they do not visit," said Miss Catherine.
"More officers, you mean," said Miss Elizabeth.
"Exactly," said Miss Lydia. "Please, Mama, may we stay?"
"Very well, girls, if you insist," said Mrs. Bennet. "I suppose it would be a good thing because if you get sick here, you will not bring it home to Mr. Bennet."
They spoke of the practical arrangements for a moment until they were interrupted by Mr. Phillips who arrived with a soaked officer in tow. "Look, I rescued Mr. Wickham from the deluge. Oh, I did not know that you already had company, dear."
"It is not company, it is just family," said Mrs. Phillips. "Have you met Mr. Collins? Have you met my husband? Goodness, Mr. Wickham, you are entirely waterlogged."
"I apologize for bringing in the rain," said Mr. Wickham. "I had better stand here for I would certainly leave a wet spot on your furniture."
"Thank you, so thoughtful of you," said Mrs. Phillips. "There is a wet spot on the carpet."
"Come here, Mr. Wickham, this is a great location for standing," said Miss Lydia.
"Lydia, you dropped your shawl," said Miss Elizabeth.
"That is a lovely gown, Miss Lydia," Mr. Wickham said.
"I am very glad to meet you again, Mr. Wickham," said Mr. Collins. "Pray allow me to thank you for your service to the crown. Our country needs all of our courageous officers who will brave the fierce elements of nature in order to protect these shores."
"Why, thank you, kind sir," said Mr. Wickham. "One must do what one can, and no duty is to be disregarded."
"That is exactly what my patroness told me," said Mr. Collins. "For you know, or perhaps you do not, that I am so fortunate to hold a living in Kent, and my duty is for my parishioners, never to be disregarded."
"Oh, splendid, Mr. Collins, you are a clergyman," said Mr. Wickham. "As it happens, I was to be a clergyman too. My godfather's final wish was for me to get a living in Derbyshire and guide his people in the ways of God. But alas, his son was terribly jealous of me and would not let me have my bequest."
"That is very distressing," said Mrs. Phillips.
"So unfair," said Miss Catherine.
"I for one am glad that you did not get it," said Miss Lydia, "for if you were preaching in Derbyshire then we would never have met you."
"There is that, certainly," said Mr. Wickham. "Always look on the bright side of life, that is my philosophy."
"Such happy manners," said Mrs. Phillips.
"Do you need legal assistance?" asked her husband. "You might be able to sue the man if he refused to honour his father's last will and testament, and I am quite willing to help you."
"Oh no," said Mr. Wickham, "Very grateful for you, sir– but I am afraid I must suspend that pleasure, for there was a certain amount of informality in the terms of the bequest, you understand, and I am assured that a suit could not prosper."
"You should let me look at the documents," said Mr. Phillips. "No charge. What reason did he give for refusing to give you the living?"
"Oh, everything and nothing... he said I was too imprudent, too extravagant, all sorts of manufactured charges. But I am certainly too poor to be extravagant, by anyone's definition."
"How would you have liked preaching?" Miss Elizabeth asked.
"Exceedingly well. Beyond anything – I always thought that is what I was destined to do, and what my studies tended towards. But sadly it was not to be, as my living is now held by a young man who is likely to keep it for many decades to come."
"We must pray for his continued good health. But you should have faith, for it is by no means too late for you," said Mr. Collins. "You cannot be so very old. I was not destined for any parish in my youth, and I knew not where I would find myself, but one of my teachers at the seminary recommended me for my curacy, and then a living became vacant, and my excellent patroness thought I would be well suited for it. Certainly, if I could find a place so easily, you too might get another living, or start out as a curate which is a fine way to serve God as well."
"Yes, no doubt that is what I would do if I took orders," said Mr. Wickham.
"You expected to get a living and had not taken orders?" asked Mr. Phillips.
"Yes, no, well," said Mr. Wickham. "It was impractical for me at the time."
"But I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that I am exceedingly sorry that the Church of England has been deprived of your talents," said Mr. Collins. "A man of your education, your address, your countenance, and your happy manners would no doubt be an asset to any church."
"Yes, that is what I thought, and what the late Mr. Darcy thought when he recommended me for the living. It was his fondest wish, and mine."
"Mr. Darcy?" cried Mr. Collins.
"Yes, Mr. George Darcy of Pemberley. His son Fitzwilliam and I grew up together."
"Were you boyhood companions, by any chance?" Miss Elizabeth inquired.
"Yes, definitely. There were no other boys our age on the estate, and we were great friends," said Mr. Wickham. "Until he gave up on the friendship suddenly, to my detriment."
"How interesting," said Miss Elizabeth.
"There can have been no reason for it," said Mrs. Phillips.
"There must have been a reason for it, said Mr. Collins. "My patroness..."
"His reasons are his own," said Mr. Wickham. "Jealousy, pride, selfish disdain for the feelings of others, resentful temper, among other character flaws. I was the steward's son, and he must have been too proud to associate with anyone not of his own rank. Perhaps greed, for although he was rich he might have sold the living for a respectable sum and become richer."
"How despicable," said Miss Catherine.
"It is not widely known for I shall always refuse to slander him for I loved his father dearly and would not dishonour his memory."
"It is to your credit I am sure," said Miss Lydia. "But the militia is a very worthy occupation and you look very fine in a red coat, Mr. Wickham."
"Let me tell you what is not a worthy occupation," said Mr. Phillips. "The law! There is hardly any point in going to the office now. I received a couple of letters asking for advice but nobody came to the door all day. If this goes on I shall not be able to afford the office for long, and I might as well start working from home."
"You might as well, as everyone in Meryton knows where you live, and then we might get some visitors," said Mrs. Phillips.
"And what a charming home to visit," said Mr. Wickham.
"Why, thank you. You know all about charming, I am sure," said Mrs. Phillips.
"You are too kind," said Mr. Wickham. "I have been so elated to have met with so much hospitality in Meryton in just a few days."
"But I thought you and Mr. Denny were still supposed to be under quarantine at your barracks, and avoid all social contacts," said Miss Elizabeth.
"Yes, that is correct," replied Mr. Wickham. "That is what we have been doing. But certainly one cannot stay cooped up in one room all day for a week. Today I had to go get some supplies, and fresh air, and to see some people. I will be quarantined later tonight, and it is so aggravating."
"Quarantined!" cried Mrs. Bennet. "What on earth for?"
"My friend Denny and I came here from London, and our orders are that we need to lock ourselves up until it can be verified that we do not carry this silly disease that is going around."
"Silly disease you say! Mrs. Long is very ill! Mr. King died! Silly disease indeed! If you are sick we might all get it from you and where will we be then? Dead and buried, and do you even care? No, of course not!"
"I am sure I am not sick, madam," Mr. Wickham said placatingly.
"There was an article in the bookshop window," Miss Elizabeth said, "and according to the doctors you might be contagious without feeling sick."
"There, you see, we are all going to die and we shall have you to thank for it!" said Mrs. Bennet. agitated.
"Oh no, not I, I will survive," said Mr. Wickham. "In town, the people who died were mostly elderly or had other health troubles, and I am sure even if we all get it, it will not kill strong, active young man like me."
"What a shame we cannot all be stellar young men like you," said Mrs. Bennet cuttingly. "Mrs. Long has bad lungs, so she might as well die, according to you. Mr. King was fifty, so it can make no difference if he lived or died, as he was so old."
"Except to his niece. Mary King inherited ten thousand pounds," said Mrs. Phillips.
"It is a great comfort to all of us, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet. She stood up. "Girls, you are all to keep your distance from Mr. Wickham. There is no telling what diseases he has, the way he is carrying on, and he does not care whether we live or die. Remember the hedgerows!
.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Two years ago I received some private feedback saying that the disease in this story was either too much like COVID-19 or not similar enough, that either I was taking COVID-19 too seriously or not seriously enough, and I got writer's block because I felt that no matter what I wrote it would offend somebody. I should probably be more explicit in saying that the nameless disease is not going to be exactly like COVID-19. Back then, I left the mortality rates vague intentionally, not to devalue science in any way but simply because I think realistically the Regency era doctors would not have been able to say anything reliable about that shortly after the first cases were noticed given that they had no diagnostic tests and had no way of telling definitely who died of the nameless plague and who died of something else and more people died without medical attention. Current mortality rates are largely irrelevant to my story since different strains of the virus vary, and treatment options are entirely different today. I didn't want to make up any arbitrary numbers, because at the end of the day this is a fictional disease that will infect or kill everyone I need sick and dying for plot purposes, no more, no less. For now it is enough that the characters know that the if they get the nameless disease doctors aren't able to do anything and it might kill them. The disease needs to be bad enough that the social distancing measures would start to make sense to at least some of them. But it also can't be so deadly that Lizzy and Darcy are mourning half the people they ever knew by the time we get to chapter 13 because I want a happy end. Stories about death and bereavement can be wonderfully moving, but writing angst is not my forte and humor helps me cope so this is story is going to continue to be mostly fluff. While Mr. Hurst may not care for scientific reading overmuch I want to thank all the scientists who have worked to find out more about the disease, thank you doctors and nurses caring for COVID-19 patients, thanks to everyone who has done whatever they can in order to keep themselves and others safe. Most people in my family have had it by now and one family member was hospitalized. But we've been lucky and we all have recovered. My condolences for everyone who has suffered loss and bereavement during this difficult time. Hope 2023 will be a good year to us all.