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Chapter VII

Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in

an estate of two thousand a year, which, un-

fortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in de-

fault of heirs-male, on a distant relation; and their mother's

fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but

ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an

attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been

a clerk to their father, and succeeded him in the business,

and a brother settled in London, in a respectable line of

trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from

Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies,

who were usually tempted thither three or four times a

week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's

shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family,

Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these

attentions: their minds were more vacant than their sisters',

and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was

necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish con-

versation for the evening; and, however bare of news the

country in general might be, they always contrived to

learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were

well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent

arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was

to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head-

quarters.

Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the

most interesting intelligence. Every day added something

to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections.

Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they

began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited

them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity

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