Mr. and Mrs. Hill
"Are you ready to retire, Mrs. Hill?" She could not help but smile as she had never tired of hearing her husband call her Mrs. Hill. In all the years of their marriage, it still thrilled her.
"Yes, Mr. Hill. Just as soon as I check the kitchen."
"I will check the doors and meet you in our room," he replied, making his way rapidly down the hall to complete his nightly ritual of ensuring the house was closed for the night.
Once the nightly tasks were completed and they were in their room, Mr. Hill could not help but notice the countenance of his wife. "What is the matter, Mrs. Hill? Did Mrs. B set a new record for calling for her salts?"
Mrs. Hill gave her husband a slight smile at that comment. "No, her record still stands at 17. No, it is something else."
"Let me get comfortable and then you can tell me all about it." Mr. Hill answered with a grin, just thinking about the number of times over the years that he heard that voice calling for his wife.
As he settled on the bed, he could see that his wife was slightly agitated and in need of movement as she told him of her upset.
She started with "It is our girls." Mr. Hill knew when she said 'our girls' in that way, that she was not speaking of their own children, but of the girls upstairs settling down into their rest.
"Mrs. Hill, we already know that Miss Jane has un unrealistic, and unhealthy, view of the world; that Miss Elizabeth has too much of a cynical view of the work; that Miss Mary and Miss Kitty are like shadows in this house and still trying to determine who they want to be as adults; and we have daily proof that Miss Lydia is setting herself up for ruin. What else could there be?"
"Mr. Hill, sit back and let me explain. And please, do not interrupt, as I need to get it all out before you say anything." He complied, sitting up in the bed with his hands folded in front of him, giving his wife time to compose herself and tell him what was weighing on her mind.
"You remember that today was the day for my monthly trip into town. I was running around this morning, getting the servants all settled into their tasks, reviewing my list of what needed to be done, and going over everything in my head so that nothing would be forgotten." Mr. Hill nodded his head as he knew that the monthly trip into town was a great stress on his wife. There were many things that only she could do with the shopkeepers and she always feared that she might forget something.
"Well, as I said, I was scurrying up and down the halls, making sure everything was in order before leaving, when Miss Lydia stopped me and demanded that I purchase some things for her. I stopped her before she barely got started and told her that if she wanted me to pick up anything, she needed to write down a list, making sure she noted very specifically what she wanted. I told her that if I could not determine what she wanted in sufficient detail, I would not purchase the item." She smiled slightly at the thought of Miss Lydia not getting what she was demanding.
"I told her I was leaving in just a few minutes and that she had better hurry with her list. I went on down the hall and she ran into her room to make her list. She came out a quarter of an hour later and found me to give me her list. Instead of looking at it right then, I put it in my pocket and finished giving directions to the maids. Thank goodness I looked at the list before I left the house." She paused as she shook her head in remembrance.
"I could hardly believe what was on her list. After looking at it, I determined that I needed to show it to Mr. Bennet immediately. So, I went immediately to his bookroom before I could change my mind."
Noting the look of surprise on her husband's face, she continued. "That list looked like it was written by a 5 year old. Our own children are more literate that Miss Lydia is. I was so upset that I went right into Mr. Bennet and put that list in front of his face! I then proceeded to tell him that our own children, children of servants, are more literate than his daughter, who is supposed to be a gentlewoman." She sniggered slightly at the thought of his response.
"He was silent for a good five minutes. And then, he tried to say something, but I kept cutting him off. I was so mad about the situation. I told him that with her lack of education, with her inability to communicate effectively through reading or writing there was no way she would be prepared to run a household, that if she did not get any further education, she would end up living with Mr. Bennet for the rest of his life. I tell you, that statement really made him sit up and take notice."
They both laughed at the thought of Lydia living with her parents for the rest of his life. Then both of them stopped laughing abruptly, realizing that if she lived with her parents, she would also be living with Mr. and Mrs. Hill. Suddenly, Mr. Hill sat up and said, "Aha! I have just the solution."
Mrs. Hill, who was sitting down as the thought of Lydia in the same house with them for years, was feeling faint. She pleaded with him, "Please tell me you have a solution."
"Do not worry, my dear. I have the perfect solution. Tomorrow, when Mr. Bennet is in the proper frame of mind, I will tell him of our conversation and then suggest, in a humorous tone, that as Mrs. Bennet is ultimately responsible for Miss Lydia's education, that it would be a kindness to send both of them to a room with no interruptions so that she can complete Miss Lydia's education. As she obviously has not been able to find such a place in the house, they should be banished, er, sent, to the dower house, so as to spend their days in quiet so that she can effectively teach Miss Lydia how to be a proper gentlewoman. I can also, in a slightly joking manner, remind him that the house would be very very quiet while they are gone. I might also be able to tell him that he could determine when Miss Lydia has been sufficiently educated before they would be allowed to return to the manor house."
Mrs. Hill beamed at her husband, "You are so wise. You must be sure to remind Mr. Bennet not to be in too much of a hurry, that Miss Lydia must be able to read, write, and understand what she is reading to such an extend that it might take months for Mrs. Bennet to accomplish it. You must also tell him that this would be a perfect time for his oldest daughters to practice running the house so that they, too, will be prepared when they are married and running their own homes."
With that, they were both able to settle down and sleep, knowing that as Mr. Bennet would always take the path of least resistance, their plan of the education of the Bennet girls was about to commence and it would be of great benefit for everyone, both now and in the future.