“However, Lydia, I can assure you there are things a man would take from a woman, given the chance, that can ruin her life forever. Your constant flirting, and competitions with Kitty to be even worse, will almost certainly send the message that you will do more than flirt. I can assure you there are men who would be most willing to supply all the ink it takes to turn that glass black as night. Be warned, sisters! Your behaviour can cast a very long shadow.”
Lydia huffed. “You exaggerate. We are just having fun, and we know the difference between dirt and ink.”
“Marsha Blackburn was just having fun. Did it turn out well for her? Do you even remember her?”
Kitty and Lydia gasped. “But we would not… we would never—”
When they ran out of words for the first time in history, Jane leaned forward and spoke forcefully. “Shewould never, either. All she did was some innocent flirting and decided to meet aman alone—deliberately… just to have a bit more fun. It ended very badly, as you may recall.”
Kitty asked, “Is that truly what you think of us?”
Jane considered the question for some time. “It is not what Ifeel. You are my sisters, and I love you, but when Lizzy forces me to think rationally for a time, I can see a road to ruin, and you are both toying with it. I suggest you leave it, because it is a very steep road with a cliff at the bottom. Once you start down the slope, it is nearly impossible to get off.”
“Truly?”
“I am sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but that is the world we live in.”
The two youngest sat in contemplative silence, and Elizabeth and Mary were content to leave the conversation in Jane’s hands. It was far from their first attempt to educate their younger sisters, but perhaps Jane’s outburst had placed the girls in a listening mood; nothing else ever had.
At length, Jane said, “Let us examine it from a different angle. Who is the happiest couple you know? I do not mean the richest, best situated, most consequential, or handsomest—who ishappiest?”
Lydia thought a moment, and finally suggested, “The Gardiners, I suppose. It is certainly not our parents. They can barely stand each other. The Lucases are somewhat better, but still not especially happy, I think.”
Kitty said, “I never saw it before, but Lydia is right.”
Jane gently asked, “Girls… it seems you believe that the Gardiners arehappyand our parentsunhappy.Are we agreed?”
Everyone nodded.
“I barely understand now, and had no idea at your age, howlongyour lives will be. You are 15-16, which seems a very longtime. You will likely live another50-60 years. Are you willing to sacrifice 50 years of happiness for a few hours of amusement? Would it not make sense to emulate those who arehappy, rather than those who aremiserable, or worse yet,ruined—or worse?”
Lydia jumped up, but thought better of it at a stern look.
They sat in contemplative silence for a moment.
Lydia asked, “I am not saying I agree; but suppose Ididwant to behave more like a lady. How would I learn?”
Jane laughed. “You have ample teachers. I will help you, as will Lizzy and Aunt Gardiner. All you need do is ask, or even listen when we offer advice. While you are learning, let me suggest a simple trick. Whenever you mean to do something suspect, try to picture in your mind Aunt Gardiner doing the same. If you cannot, then do not do it. Can you picture her running through the house with a stolen bonnet, claiming it looks better on her than its owner?”
“Hear, hear,” Elizabeth and Mary whispered.
A few minutes later, being entirely fed up with maudlin thoughts, Lydia said, “Jane, I will give your advice due consideration if you do something for me.”
“What do you wish, Lydia?” Jane asked with a laugh.
Lydia was back to her cheerful self. “I want to know what kind of revenge you plan for Mr Bingley. I can think of dozens of things to make his life miserable.”
Everyone turned to Jane. Lydia was the first to say it, but far from the first to think it.
Jane gave a small lopsided smile that was less like her usual—in fact, it was a new expression. “I thought on it for some time.” She leaned over conspiratorially and whispered, “I even read some suggestions from the library.”
The younger sisters gasped that anyone other than Dull Mary or Odd Lizzy would do such a thing, but both wondered for just a second if Aunt Gardiner would voice such a thought, and the moment passed.
Jane said, “Hereis what I shall do.”
All her sisters, and even Mr Collins, leaned nearer to hear her words.
Jane kept them waiting for a moment, drew a deep breath, and said dramatically, “Nothing!”
