Chapter Twenty-Two
Mr. Bennet visited Netherfield Park when the new tenant arrived, as his daughters had known he would.
Braddock and Mr. Bennet had known one another for many years.
Braddock led Mr. Bennet to Mr. Bingley at once and intoned, “Mr. Bennet of Longbourn,” sounding very butler-y indeed, but he tipped Mr. Bennet a wink as he left the drawing room.
“Mr. Bingley, welcome to Meryton,” Mr. Bennet said, bowing.
“I thank you for visiting, Mr. Bennet! I had heard that Longbourn was quite close to Netherfield, and I am delighted to meet my new neighbour. And though I am to have visitors quite soon, just now I was feeling rather lonely here.”
“I shall make certain that Mrs. Bennet invites you for dinner quite soon,” Mr. Bennet replied, politely. Then he added, “You might value your solitude after meeting my five daughters.”
“Five daughters! My word!”
“Indeed, and the word is noisy,” Mr. Bennet said.
“I would welcome a bit of noise just now,” Mr. Bingley said. “It is rather echoey here, if there is such a word as that.”
“I can well imagine,” Mr. Bennet agreed. “Netherfield Park is quite a large house for a gentleman on his own, though there are a good many servants.”
“I have two sisters, one of whom is married,” Mr. Bingley said. “But they preferred to stay in London.”
Mr. Bennet’s brows rose. “I suppose some people prefer Town to the country,” he said, doubtfully. “I do not understand it, myself.”
“If I am honest, I have always lived in Town and am here now to see if I like country living,” Mr. Bingley confessed.
“It was my father’s wish that I purchase an estate to help the family rise in the social ranks.
I have delayed for some time, but now I am leasing Netherfield Park to learn how to run an estate.
It may be that I have no talent or liking for it, and then I suppose I will have to leave the purchase to the next generation. ”
“It takes no particular talent,” Mr. Bennet assured him.
“It only requires application and hard work. Myself, I had rather read Horace and Virgil, but instead I spend many hours each week speaking with tenants, and several more hours each week studying the latest agricultural news in order to keep abreast of the latest techniques.”
“Has that been helpful? That research?” Mr. Bingley asked, in some concern. “I must admit that I am not much of a reader, sir.”
“You will become one,” Mr. Bennet said, almost grimly.
“Ours is an age of great change, and estate owners must keep abreast of those changes. And yes, it has been helpful indeed. I have increased my estate’s annual income considerably by implementing some of those changes.
The tenants are not always so keen on new ideas, but they must be persuaded, or the estate will not prosper. ”
Mr. Bingley sighed. “My friend Darcy says much the same.”
“Darcy?”
“Fitzwilliam Darcy. He is my dearest friend, and he owns a large estate in Derbyshire. He is the visitor I spoke of; he will come visit me next week with his sister. He will answer all my questions about running an estate; after he leaves, however, may I impose myself upon you and come to you with questions?”
“Of course, Mr. Bingley. I shall be delighted to assist in any way that I can.” With that, Mr. Bennet took his leave.
***
Upon arriving home, he told his wife that she should issue a dinner invitation to Mr. Bingley as soon as may be, as the poor man was rather desperate for society. He added, “You may as well have him meet the girls; that will teach him to value his solitude as he ought!”
“Is he as young and well-looking as Uncle Philips says?” Jane asked, shyly.
“He is, yes; but he evidently comes from trade, as he says he was tasked by his father to purchase an estate in order to raise the family’s social status.”
Jane glanced at her mother to see her reaction to this revelation, but Mrs. Bennet only shrugged.
Coming from trade herself, she could hardly scoff at a man who came from a similar background.
If the man was rich enough to support a wife and children, that was quite enough.
Perhaps he would be wealthy enough to be willing to forgo his wife’s rightful dowry, which could then be shared amongst the other girls.
Happily, the girls had dowries, and much as her second daughter might try Mrs. Bennet’s patience, she never forgot that it had been Elizabeth who had convinced Mr. Bennet to save money for his daughters’ dowries.